Showing posts with label vintage photograph. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vintage photograph. Show all posts

Gents in the Garden - Vintage Photographs




These gentlemen are the newest additions to my 'In The Garden' collection, all Ebay finds! 
The first image is probably the oldest original print I own, it's nearly 10x8 in size and is quite stunning, despite it's damage! Really, I want to frame it and enjoy it properly - what a proper beard eh? I believe it to be a Victorian example, if you think i'm way off do let me know, but apart from his own style, the greenhouse behind him is quite telling! The second one is certainly a proud-between hard graft-shot, and as for the last one, well, a vicar in a greenhouse - need I say more?

I hope you've seen at least some of this gorgeous sunshine this week! I have so much to crack on with in the garden now, it's hard knowing where to start, so I'm starting out right after I finish typing, honest!

Katie 

OH! And due to Google Friend Connect soon becoming obsolete  I've signed up to Bloglovin to ease the transition! 
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Women in the garden (2) - Vintage photographs




"I love all things most gardeners abhor! - moss in lawns, lichen on trees, more greenery than 'colour' (always said as though green isn't a colour!), bare branches in winter..."
Edna Walling

As much as I adore the first cold snaps of winter that turn our footsteps deliciously crunchy, I do miss the outdoor 'hands on' tasks that go into hibernation until spring! I know now that being stuck indoors does me no good, I feel much better when putting myself to use outdoors, or at least taking a minute to really ENJOY these seasonal changes! Branches of fallen evergreens find themselves on every surface of my home before you can say "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" as I can't bear things to look grey or dull!

In respect to this, I thought it was about time I shared a few more from my 'In the Garden' vintage collection. The above photograph is actually a large 10x8 print that I purchased from my beloved Bridport market - I thought she was the most perfectly dressed woodland rambler I'd ever seen! It is enough to re-affirm my love of large format, it is the best.

I am currently reading (amongst other things, I can't lie - I am a serial book-cheat!) "The Virago Book of Women Gardeners" which is a fantastic compendium of female gardening writing, containing anything from humorous anecdotes to inspirational battles against health, war, and prejudice. 


 "...perhaps the chiefest attraction of a garden is that occupation can always be found there. No idle people are happy, but with mind and fingers busy cares are soonest forgotten
Alica Amherst, 1902 




As the author Deborah Kellaway states: "Of course, you can't make an anthology of women gardeners unless they sometimes lay down the trowel and pick up the pen..." which could give the impression that women's advice can be seen as being from "fireside gardeners" - those who live through the pages of books rather than the dirt and the changing weather. But with iron-strong characters such as the glorious Vita Sackville-West, Gertrude Jekyll and Beatrix Potter all giving advice, you know you're in safe hands!

Staying with the great Gertrude Jekyll, here is a fantastic anecdote which sums up my current philosophy:

"For planting ground is painting a landscape with living things and I hold that good gardening takes rank within the bounds of the fine arts, so I hold that to plant well needs an artist of no mean capacity". (Wood and Garden)



It's common for people to turn to horticulture as a second career, many from an arts/literature educational background. To me, it's all one and the same. I think those of us who harbour a traditional 'romantic' side can easily see the transition between admiring nature in novels or canvas, and proceeding to involve yourself into such inspiring landscapes. Anyone object to this? Well, I'd recommend you step outside, and take a proper look!

If you are missing the daily pottering at the moment, I highly recommend you curl up in front of the fire with this book. There's plenty to inspire, I can't wait to get planning my 2013 efforts, it's looking busy! I hope you've enjoyed this selection of photographs too, I've been squirrelling them away for a while, I knew I'd need a boost this time of year.

Wishing you a good week, thanks for reading!

Katie

A dog by my side - Vintage photographs

In my collection of vintage photographs I have some key themes including 'In the garden', 'Our family at home', and a range of soldier domestic portraits. However, I've realised I've also gained another - "A dog by my side". I have always loved dogs, when I was younger I'd pick up any dog ornaments at charity shops/boot fairs, although I have had to downsized that particular collection (it's for the best!)

I hope you enjoy these most recent finds (all from Ebay), the first two are definitely new favourites of mine! Contrasting the women to the stocky old-breed bulldogs is very interesting. Particularly considering how we view bulldog/staffordshire type breeds today, and what the usual stereotypes follow certain owners of these breeds are. The captions are also quite a contrast to modern day expectation: "Types of English Beauty" and "That island of England breeds very valiant creatures"- quite different to the popular modern "British Bulldog" iconography, don't you think? Physically, you can see how more recent breeding has effected the Bulldog, their faces and bodies are less squashed and stocky in these examples.



This last photograph is just so gentle and beautifully lit, I think she was a famed glamour girl of the times? Irish Wolfhounds are one of my favourite breeds, they are always so graceful despite their size.


I have plenty more where these came from, never fear!

Thanks for popping by,

Katie

50 years.



50 years since we lost her, but we all know she could never be forgotton. No need to say more, except I wish she could have made herself as happy as she makes us. 

I've never fooled anyone. I've let people fool themselves. They didn't bother to find out who and what I was. Instead they would invent a character for me. I wouldn't argue with them. They were obviously loving somebody I wasn't.” - Marilyn Monroe.

In an English Country Garden - Vintage photographs




My collections of vintage photographs fall under only a few themes, one of which being "Garden Portraits". Here are some new favourites that i picked up at The Pantiles 40s Fair, and also Spitalfields Market recently. It can be quite overwhelming (in an exciting way) to find a box filled with mixed photographs to rummage through, hence why I only allow myself certain topics, or I'd be utterly surrounded with them! I hope you enjoy seeing these recent finds. If you too are a fan of the vintage photo, what subjects do you tend to look out for? I'd love to know!

Katie



Monthly Wish List - June

Well it's seemingly time again for this months Wish List, that came around very quickly! The flavour of this June, is of course, Jubilee and all things British, so forgive me one last dabble into royal memorabilia this year! First up, a 1953 silk coronation scarf, which caught my eye quite a while ago now, needless to say it went for some major ££'s so i had to give up! Compared to modern day souvenirs, I think this is in a different league! I know the V&A had some scarves to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee, but i can't say I was very taken with them.

1953 Silk Coronation Scarf, £28 from Ebay

On a similar "Blighty" theme, how about this authentic 1940s Home front embroidery of the UK, with adorable details which depict what areas are most famous for!  For example, London has St Pauls (complete with a blimp balloon fly over), fishing in Cornwall, etc!

Sold For £80 on Ebay HERE


It was from a pattern given in "Woman" magazine entitled "The Land We Love", which thankfully means there must be quite a few of these around! This is a particularly clean and bright example though, i even love the colour of the frame, although personally I'd turn it into a wall mounted piece rather than a fire screen.

Now, on a different note, how about these two little chaps? Early 1900s photograph, adorable little wire haired terriers. I love pet portraits from this era, as they must have really loved these dogs to give them their own portrait session! And in this case, two is definitely better than one!


1900s Dog Portrait, Found on Ebay

If you are a fellow dog-person, you may appreciate this charming tankard! A sturdy drinking companion, mixed with a hilarious Poodle handle, I absolutely love it, and i think Bruce would be more than happy to enjoy his ale in this! Am i right?

Pewter Tankard with poodle handle

Now for something utterly useless, but utterly charming! (My favourite sort of find!) This Home Gardener Championship Medal caught my eye because of the fantastic engraving of the people, very similar to prints done by my favourite Clare Leighton! I have googled it, and found no clues to where this has sprung from, as these championships go on worldwide, however it looks decidedly British to me, if only the chap had a pipe too!


Another cheeky vintage picture which seemed appropriate, as despite it being June, we are decidedly lacking in seaside-friendly weather! Its entitled "Early RP Cleethorpes Bathers" from the inter-war years (1918-1939) however I would say its definitely at the earlier end of the dates, ladies wouldn't have troubled themselves with those long skirts on the beach for much longer! They all look dashing, and i really enjoy the boardwalk behind them with the people admiring the view!

Cleethorpes Bathers Picture found on Ebay, sold for £7.99 HERE

And keeping on the coastal theme (because i am literally counting down the days until my Dorset holiday!!) my final Wish List item is this 1950s Yacht pattern decanter set, in a unusual tawny glass colour! A nice description by the seller too "This comes from a time when an after dinner drink meant a nip of cognac or some exotic liqueur brought back from a foreign holiday. Still charming for the table and an excellent addition to a home cocktail bar" - and i quite agree! A thoughtful description gives an item even more likability in my books!



Lets keep our sights set firmly on the summer everyone! The coastal themed items were also influenced by by best friend moving to Brighton this week, I will miss her everyday but I am excited to have a new seaside town to visit regularly, and i know she will love it there! 

Hope you have a great weekend, as always, thanks for reading!

Katie

Vintage British Basking - Vintage photographs

I know I'm fulfilling every British stereotype by talking about the obvious (positive) change in weather...but regardless, here are a few of my collected photographs which i think accompany this weeks heatwave quite nicely!

 Perfect parasols, he's a lucky guy!

A classic British garden scene! Obviously the sun was in everyones eyes.

 My newest find, an inpecably dressed young lady on the beach...could it be a studio though? 
Somethings a little TOO perfect about this scene!

And speaking of basking, what would be better to sit out in the sunshine than the beautiful and iconic Antelope Chair, seen on BBC's "Undercover Antiques" program last week, originally designed for the terrace of the new Royal Festival Hall at the 1951 Festival of Britain. The Antelope defined British expectations of what it was to be modern, there are plenty of 50s inspired pieces surfacing this month...can't think why!


Festival of Britain, May 1951. Photograph: The Royal Festival Hall Archive

I will be indulging in several Jubilee themed posts, that's a promise! Have a wonderful weekend, get out in that sunshine! Katie

Happy National Gardening Week

A fine fellow I brought on Ebay this year - What a cabbage selection! And WHAT a beard!

Just a quick blog post as i am just about to head out the door to the Imperial War Museum to have a look around their new exhibitions! As this week is National Gardening Week i thought it a good time to share with you this fine gentleman! I've already posted some pictures from my patch so far this year, so instead, here is the Gardening-related reading material I'm currently enjoying!

Firstly, "Women Rule the Plot - The story of the 100 year fight to establish Women's place in farm and garden" by Peter King. This is the one i knew fine fellow blogger Landgirl1980 would enjoy, so i will be scanning sections from this one very soon!

Secondly (the one I'm about to take with me on the train!) "Virgins, Weeders and Queens - A history of Women in the Garden" by Twigs Way (possibly one of the best names I've ever heard!!) which looks absolutely fantastic, LOADS of unusual photographs and paintings I've never seen before, can't wait to get stuck in!


 And lastly, "The Once and Future Gardener: American Garden Writing from Magazines 1900 - 1940" by Virginia Tuttle Clayton (another great name!) Perhaps slightly off-topic for me because I do tend to stick to British history books BUT this had such beautiful lush illustrations taken from the magazines, i couldn't resist! I recommend to all who enjoy Art Deco illustrations, no matter what the topic!


Once I've finished these beauties they'll be on the blog again, so stay tuned! Hope you have a fantastic weekend!

Katie


Oh ok just one from our garden, the shed looks mighty inviting when the April showers kick in! :)