Tag: 1940s

Categories / Toys and Games

“Toy Box Memories” Jigsaws

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The favourite toys of each decade from in 1940 to 1970 are commemorated in a series of “Toy Box Memories” Jigsaws.

Each thousand-piece jigsaw has a collection of that decades most popular games and toys. As well as offering a nostalgic reminder of childhood, the toys offer an interesting of reflection of their respective period. The Forties have plenty of war-related games, the Fifties are inspired by the television including games based on Dixon of Dock Green and Take Your Pick and the Sixties reflect obsessions with space, fashion and spies. The Seventies jigsaw features the toys I remember best, which includes Paddington Bear, Emu and a Starsky and Hutch game.

All of the jigsaws cost £14.99 and are available from Strawberry Fool.

Categories / Homeware

1940s-style Campaign Bedside Table

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The Sleep Room has recently diversified its product range, so that as well as beds, mattress and linens, they now sell bedside tables too. They have started their collection off with three style, including the Campaign Bedside Table.

Not sure about the origin of the name, but the design was apparently inspired by a 1940s sideboard spotted in a Parisian market. It is made from oak with vintage bronze finish metal legs and has one drawer.

The table costs £225 from The Sleep Room.

Categories / Design and Interiors

Newgate’s Mondaine-style Metropolitan clock

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Metropolitan

Another great retro clock from Newgate is hardly a surprise. However, this Metropolitan clock looks like its been influenced by another design classic: the distinctive Mondaine clock.

The Mondaine clock dates from the 1940s and was designed for the railways to be easily read from distance. This new design takes on some of that readability in that it uses the chunky block divisions around the dial and has the same clarity of design. A crucial difference though is in the clock's hands – the Mondaine relies on a red hand to mark the seconds, in the case of the Metropolitan it's just a red hour and minute hand. 

The Metropolitan clock is also bigger at 60cm across and, crucially, is also cheaper. Not by masses though. While you can buy an official Mondaine clock for around £230, this design costs £190. 

Buy it from Bloomsbury Store

Categories / Christmas, Toys and Games

V&A Seasonal Toys Christmas cards

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Seasonal toys card

These Seasonal Toys Christmas cards are inspired by objects in the V&A museum's massive collection. By seasonal, they mean toys very much in the Christmas spirit, such as the clockwork reindeer pictured which dates from the 1970s. 

Each pack contains three designs so, as well as the reindeer, you also get an image of a 1970s toy train and a late '40s clockwork turkey. Perfect for a bit of seasonal nostalgia. 

A pack of twelve cards costs £4.50. 

Buy them online

Categories / Art and Photography, Women's Fashion

Dior Illustrated exhibition at Somerset House

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Dior illustrated
Opening today at London's Somerset House is a new exhibition called Dior Illustrated. Subtitled René Gruau and the Line of Beauty it looks at the work of illustrator René Gruau who created iconic fashion imagery for Dior in the 1940s and 50s. 

Gruau worked for some of the most famous couture houses and style magazines of the period but is best known for his collaboration with Christian Dior, for whom he created the marketing images for Dior's first perfume, Miss Dior, in 1947. The exhibition includes some of his illustrations for Dior parfums, alongside the original bottles. Gruau's fashion illustration remains influential today and there's the opportunity to see some of his sketches, alongside some of the haute couture dresses that inspired them, providing a glamorous snapshot of the era. 

The exhibition runs until 9 January. Tickets cost £6, with concessions at £5. 

Find out more online

Categories / Books, Christmas, Design and Interiors

Book plate gift wrap sets from Present & Correct

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Book plate
Without mentioning the word, it's soon to be that time of year when you'll need some wrapping paper close to hand. For a more stylish than Santa option, take a look at these new book plate gift wrap sets from Present & Correct.

Each set contains four sheets of paper with a different design. The sheets all reference classic book plates from the 1940s and 50s, using eye-catching geometric patterns. To add the finishing touch, each sheet bears the inscription 'This gift belongs to' in the place of where a book lover would normally claim their ownership, therefore eliminating the need for separate address labels.

Both good-looking and time-saving, a set costs £6.75.

Buy them online