Sunday, January 19, 2014

Thrifts and treasures


I spent last weekend in Stavanger at my parents house, just relaxing, taking in the salty North sea air, watching the waves, photographing, having delicious prawns and doing no (yes, that's right:-) thrifting! Still, I managed to bring home some treasures. My dad's been at it again, and has made me another gorgeous bag. He makes them out of thick, delicious, natural tan leather that turn into a wonderful golden brown after some use and a few rounds of beezwax. I've had the large bag to the right for around a year. It's my everyday bag that I use for work. It has a long strap and can carry just about anything, my laptop, umbrella, hairbrush etc. The new bag is a much smaller size with a short strap. I'm such a lucky girl, he's made me a camera bag, belt and make- up bag. Apart from the unsurpassed leather and handcrafted quality, they're extra precious because dad made them! See more pics here.


I also brought home some of my grandmothers old pottery. Aren't they lovely? The one to the left is traditional Sandnes pottery. It's not stamped, but it must be either Gann, Graveren or Gann Graveren (after the two companies merged). My collection of this pottery is now quite numerous, and this is the smallest one until now, it's only 13 cm tall (the largest one is almost 40 cm and is the home of a large Monstera). My dad told me he remembers his mother used it for jam. It has a little less glaze than the bigger ones. The two planters in the middle are unmarked, and I have no idea who made them. They have an unusual glaze that's quite lovely. The last and biggest one is Strehla.


  

 
Do you remember I showed you my husband's lovely Stavangerflint plate that he had as a child? The pattern is "Venner" (Friends) and was designed by Gro Pedersen Claussen. My mum let me take my own Stavangerflint set back with me. The pattern is called "O du som metter liten fugl" and was designed by Anne Lofthus. I remember how I knew the pattern by heart and made up stories about the little birds and animals. I showed it on Instagram today, and got the sweetest comment from a lady from my home town, saying she remembers it from her kindergarden in the late 60s. She also told me she was sure one of the birds was named after her sister. I guess this shows how important the visual surroundings are for a child's imagination.


 
 
 



This weekend has been busy, but I managed to squeeze in a short stop at my nearest thrift store yesterday. It's a large shed really, but the owner really makes an effort, she lights candles and plays 30s music, trying to create a vintage atmosphere, she's a really sweet woman. I do pick up the occasional treasure there, this time I found these following pieces.

First out, a lovely little pitcher in Brunette by Stavangerflint. It's bigger than a creamer, smaller than a jug, perfect for custard or some other dessert sauce. Of course, a little bouquet of wild flowers would look just perfect in it too! Brunette was designed by Kåre Berven Fjeldsaa in the 60s.


I was really thrilled to find two Stavangerflint "Mesterkokken" (Chef) dishes. The pattern was designed, silkscreened and handcolored by Inger Waage, and also came in blue. The design is from around the same time as "Bambus", as the same techniques were used. There was a tv-show made by BBC in 1961 that featured Inger Waage and her design "Mesterkokken", which means it was designed in 60 or 61, or maybe even the late 50s.
The pattern is a feast for the eye, so quirky and rich in detail. The colors are a combo I haven't really seen before, reddish brown, yellow and teal. They look great together. The blue version makes me think of the great dutch patterns used on Delft and the likes. I found two old pictures on the web, probably from Stavangerflint ads, of tables set with the two versions of the design. I must say those flower arrangements surpass mine by far!! That wooden backdrop is gorgeous, don't you think?








Not quite so quirky is this simple award- winning Hadeland "Multe" (cloudberry) bowl, designed by Willy Johansson in 1966. I really looks like it could have been designed today, doesn't it? I've found two larger bowls in this lovely smokey grey earlier. The design also comes in a deep emerald green.

 
Finally, a small Stavangerflint souvenir dish, handpainted by Inger Waage. It shows scenes from the city of Bergen, Norway's second largest city which is known for it's picturesque city centre, surrounded by mountains.


17 comments:

  1. I'm very impressed by the quality and workmanship of your dad's leather bags. I also checked the links to his previous gifts to you, they all look awesome. I especially liked the camera bag. All these are a labor of love, you're lucky indeed.

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    1. Thank you so much!! I'm so glad you liked them, they're so precious to me! The camera bag turned out exactly like I hoped it would, a bit old school:-) Thank you!!

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  2. All wonderful pieces, but I'm especially in love with your new bag, your Strehla planter and your Brunette piece. I'm glad you had a nice visit with your parents.

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    1. Thank you so much, Dana! I posted the same picture of my bags on Instagram today, and had some overwhelming response. My dad will be so thrilled to hear that you guys like his work! I had a great weekend at mum and dad's, I love coming home, it's good for my soul:-) Thank you, Dana!!

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  3. what a lovely treasure from your dad....my dad used to make me little trinket boxes and they are my favourite things. I do loe that brunette jug, great colour. Al x

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    1. That's so sweet, Allison, thank you so much!! I'm sure those were the most beautiful boxes, what great dads we have! So glad you liked the Brunette, I fell for that design early on in my "thrifting career":-) x

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  4. Such a lovely post Tove! How ace is your Dad! Lovely finds too....so pleased you got to go home and recharge the batteries. xx

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    1. Oh, I'm so glad you liked it Pippa!!It's been some time since I've had anything to post, really! Dad certainly is ace, and I seem to remember you have the sweetest of dads too:-) We're blessed! I only wish I had my parents closer, I love spending time with them. It definitely feels like my batteries have been charged when I've been back home:-)

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  5. Your Dad gets a gold star Tove. How lovely is he to make you such beautiful leather goods?!

    And you really do find the best things and I like how you share your knowledge about each piece. xx

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  6. Oh, that's so sweet, Anita, I'll be sure to tell him you said so:-) I had a landslide of comments over at Insta when I posted that same pic, he will be so thrilled when he hears it!
    Thank you so much for those heartwarming words!! xx

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  7. Tove, wonderful post! Your dad is a master! Great bags! I love the large one best, but the smaller one is beautiful too. How lucky you are, and I am not surprised you are a creative person as well.

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    1. Oh, thank you sooo much, Beatriz, you are really sweet!! I posted the bags on Instagram too, and the large amount of lovely comments will make my dad so happy:-) The large one is still my favorite too, I love the simplicity! Thanks again!!

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  8. as usual there is a feast for my eyes here, and the lofthus designs are so sweet. but i have to agree the handbags are very much the stars of the show here, they look so silky soft and i bet they develop a wonderful, individual patina over time. what a talent your father has!

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  9. I'm so happy for those lovely words about dad's bags, Max, I must tell him!! The large one is a really warm tan now, I love the way they age! Thank you so much again! xx

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  10. I just read a lot of your blog and identified I own an Ultima Thule bowl too! Thank you for all the detailed, careful information!

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    1. You're so very welcome, Anny, I'm glad you enjoyed reading my blog! I'm also glad you were able to identify your bowl! I love that design, as I'm sure you've noticed:-) Do stop by again!

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