Monthly Wish List - April

I have been slacking off the Monthly Wish Lists recently, I could fib and say it's due to a lack of shopping interest...but that could never be true!

To kick off Aprils list in style is this absolutely beautiful British oil painting by Margaret Fisher Prout (1875-1963). This painting, to me, is perfection. I adore the colours, the quintessential English afternoon scene and the tailored fashions of the time. It's said to be painted around 1941 with the most beautiful light and brushwork, a true gem of the British School Impressionist Paintings. It depicts the Fisher Prout family in their home, a wartime interior with the colour codes representing the political climate of the time. Behind the cosy home scene lies the threat of war, but for this captured moment, they are given peace. The price tag is out of this world (£7,000!), but I highly recommend looking at the Richard Taylor Fine Arts store as there is a good range of original artworks, with plenty of British artists.

This next item is a real curiosity, a solid silver Cicada brooch C1890, which would have been very popular during the Art Nouveau movement when they didn't shy away from unusual insect motifs. Despite this being her favourite era, my Mum winced at the sight of this, but I think it's a brilliantly odd statement piece! I like to imagine what sort of lady would have worn this originally, I can imagine it perched on swathes of lush velvets and printed fabric. Anything silver and animal/insect themed always goes for a good price, this eventually sold for £220.

Two more paintings that caught my eye are these Racing Pigeon portraits from the late 1920's. I am not usually the biggest pigeon fan, but these chaps were undoubtably prime examples in their day, and obviously did their owners proud in the racing. But I love how proud and poised they are, makes a change from the more common pastoral scenes.

If I had a pen of rabbits or guinea pigs I'd be pretty tempted to put this nearby, it's an original plaque from Yarmouth Zoo, and would always be sure to raise a smile!

And finally, I couldn't resist including this delightful vintage photograph of a lady and her three dogs on an outing, so jolly! I love the contrast of the English Bull Terriers to their smartly dressed owner, a refreshing change from traditional lapdogs! That car is also a thing of beauty. Yes please.

Hope that was an interesting selection of odds&sods, It was great fun finding these wonderful things!
What have you been hunting for recently?

Thanks for reading as always!

Katie

Monthly Wish List - February

February has certainly gone in a flash! It's always a bit of an awkward month, with us all feeling impatient for lighter evenings and less knitted layers! But many hardy flowers are now springing up and providing some colour, which is a sign we're heading in the right direction!

The first item on the wish list this month certainly injects some springtime into this grey week! Now I'm beginning to learn how to paint on glass, I can appreciate any detail on stained glass, it's a tricky business! This Victorian panel may not be a masterpiece, but I really like the artists style, it's warm and quite nostalgic, and lets face it, I love anything with a bird on it! I'm really enjoying my stained glass class, it's teaching me lots of patience and attention to detail - thank goodness for that!

Speaking of springtime, this lovely painting caught my eye instantly. It was painted in the early 1900's, described as an 'Impressionist School Effort', so sadly, no name to research. These two girls walking in the woodland just remind me of Mary from The Secret Garden, or maybe even Alice in Wonderland with the blonde hair and blue dress! The detail of the woodland flowers is superb, and the breakthrough sunshine on the forest floor is gorgeous, you can almost feel the beams on your face, with leaves crunching underfoot. If only it had been in my price range, it sold on Ebay for £723, but i just think it's a scene that seems familiar to many peoples childhood memories...

The following items come from mine&mums recent trip to our local (and favourite) Bourne Mill Antiques Centre, where we spent a good few hours this half term, and didn't leave disappointed  (Although I have yet to photograph our purchases - next time!)

These door knockers were very painful to leave behind. The door knocker we had when I was young was a Fox, so I've always admired novelty shaped examples, but this chubby bumble bee was delightful and as soon as I have the funds I'll be racing back, praying it's waiting for me! The owl is equally gorgeous, but I will soon be "The Weird Owl Lady of Aldershot" if my collection isn't limited to only the necessary...well, i'll give it a try!

In the main taxidermy dealers room, I found this beautiful Victorian dome full of jewel coloured birds...although I will admit, so many little bodies in one piece does unnerve me slightly, just like when I went to The Booth Museum. But none the less, this dome was beautiful and very reasonably priced, Ebay has gotten far too expensive now taxidermy is acceptable again!

Finally, an item I knew Bruce would appreciate, featuring a fox of course! This was perched in a room otherwise filled with furniture, so stood out a mile! I practically knocked other browsers out of the way to get a closer look, I can't help it, I'm a lady on a mission! We all know the debates surrounding foxes in the UK at the moment (best not go into it!) but I'm sure that hasn't hindered their popularity in collectables and design, disappointingly! ;) That purple, cold winter sky is painted perfectly, and the fact you can see foxy's breath as he surveys his kingdom is brilliant, I wonder if it'll hang around for long...

I think that's enough 'wants' for this month! As always, thanks for stopping by, I won't leave it so long until my next post, I've been writing this next book review for ages, I just need to press PUBLISH!

OH! And you may have noticed the blog has had a re-vamp over the last week, what do you think?

Hope you're having a good week!

Katie

"Land Girls" portraits by B.Salmond

  Portrait of a Land Girl 1946

On Ebay recently, I found these fantastic family portraits by an artist B.Salmond, who captured the women in their Land Girl uniforms. I must admit, the uniform itself is not necessarily the iconic green jumper and jodhpurs/dungarees featured in the War propaganda posters, but the utilitarian and tailored styles certainly refer to working women's styles of the time. I think the portraits themselves are charming, quite nostalgic - similar to children's albums of the time? Soft focus and big bright eyes!

 Portrait of a Land Girl 1949

Portrait of a Land Girl 1946

This earliest example of his work portrays "Two sisters before the War" and although I can imagine many finding it slightly unnerving (I think intensely staring children often has that effect on people!) I actually, think it's a great addition to the collection! I like the awkwardness, and the beautiful tones of the background hints at the 'green and pleasant' childhood these girls had before The War took over their lives (suddenly it becomes clear what I wrote my dissertation about eh?)

Portrait of Sisters before the War

They all were sold seperately, and none of them went for more than £12, which surprised me! I would only have brought the whole set, rather than just one. Hope these proved interesting for those other 1940's fans, I would love to know of any other similar examples you know of!

Thanks for reading,

Katie

Monthly Wish List - July

The Wish List is slightly late this month, as I've been on holiday at the Jurassic Coast, my favourite seaside stomping ground! This has perhaps influenced my choices this month, although we had drastically improved weather than that in the first item, a stunning 70s oil seascape. The texture is perfection, and the sky is simply mesmerising, perfectly depicts an angry and powerful sea. I wish I could have afforded this one, went for over £50 sadly, it deserves it, but I am being thrifty at the moment.

1970s Seascape, Oil on Canvas

Keeping with the coastal theme, a beautiful Etsy find, an unusual lithograph dated 1899. Along with a very thoughtful photograph of the item (fresh flowers for your shop items? now that's attention to detail!) the young woman (who appears to be a nurse?) gazing out to sea, I would assume, after the ship in the distance whisking her love away...maybe? What ever the story, it's really charming, and fantastically detailed.

1899 lithograph by Ullman Mfg. Co., New York - From The13thClock HERE

The final item on the seaside theme is this very unusual French Art Deco brooch, with a silhouette including a sailboat, light house, a man smoking a cigar and women lounging in a beach chair - perfect holiday scene! I've never seen one this detailed, have to keep a closer eye out!

Vintage French Celluloid Seaside Brooch from SeasideStudio HERE

RIGHT! Enough with the coastal delights. I found this watercolour portrait which I think is very Bloomsbury in style and tone, and an unusually striking study of a younger person. I wouldn't usually be drawn to childhood portraits, but I hope you'll agree this is special too!

1930's Watercolour portrait  

After visiting the Booth Museum in Brighton (see earlier post) I got back into searching out taxidermy, particularly British birds. I would usually only buy antique examples, but this item at TopHat Taxidermy comes with a certificate to guarantee this specimen was not illegally taken from the wild. Blackbirds give me great joy, hearing their songs both in the morning and during the night is always uplifting, and I think they deserve more celebration. This lovely example by TopHat Taxidermy is very Victorian in style, I am a fan of the painted mural, but the detail of the nest is what drew me to this item. For me, very reminiscent of plates in antique children's books.

 Blackbirds by Tony Armistead, sold by Top Hat Taxidermy HERE

And finally, we couldn't leave July without mentioning London 2012, I actually just returned from the Men's road race today, so am feeling pretty enthusiastic! Here is an issue of a Picture Post from the 1948 London Games, featuring Opening Ceremony, pictures of women competing in many sports, and much more. I am always a fan of the photography in this magazine, the photo of the two boys is particularly good!

 

Original Picture Post from the 1948 London Olympic Games

And that's it for July, it certainly went quick! Thanks for reading! 

Katie