1950s Collectibles and Curiosities

Corhaven was built by the Blyth Dry Docks & Shipbuilding Company Ltd. for Cory Tankers Ltd. based in Bermuda. Launched in 1958, she served under numerous names until decommissioned i...

"Low Bridge" casting cry of the salt water angler by Kenneth Bayless. Fish and Game Publishing Co., 1950. Signed and numbered (#175) 1st Ed hardcover no dust jacket. illustrated with...

A beautiful tool set from the 1950s. This unique object, is made of bronze with bamboo, was traditionally a cactus gardening tool set. A nice original ...

This mid-century vintage lighter is a unique collectible or gift, shaped like a golf ball and clubs, and holds a lighter at the top slot. Its intriguing history adds to its allure, h...

Hobé necklace and earrings set constructed from gilt brass and glass beads. A serpentine collar chain necklace with filigree hidden clasp. The central ...

Original midcentury leather wrapped letter opener lighter with a blank monogram. The lighter comes fully functional with fresh flit and fluid ready for use.

Framed maritime signal flag representing the number “7”, “SEVEN” in the international code of signals. This authentic and ocean used pennant is made of individual panels of yellow an...

A wonderful ceramic dish or ashtray with a craquelure gloss mint green glaze with unglazed incised corners. Designed, made, and signed by Los Angeles Ceramicist Barbarba Willis. Strong Usonian and or Native American design...

This French ashtray stand with brass body and metal base, has an original black ceramic bowl with a few flea bite chips.

Pair of mid century trench art bookends in copper circa 1950's. Features a rustic hammered texture and bullet casing in patinated brass. The perfect accessory to organize your books or library and pairs well with industrial modern and Scandinavian decor.

Small collection of light duty metal clips, from German newspapers. Silkscreen on thin metal. All working. Kölnische Zeitung (Cologne Gazette) Frankfurter Rundschau Rheinische P...

Bison in solid silver made in Arezzo, Italy in the 1950s of the last century by L'etruria Oro di Garzi Marcello. The sculpture was made in "fusion" and a chisel finish. The burnishi...

Pair of solid brass ships taffrail spinners with rope and coupling. With original ropes in fact, look at images. Incredible weaving and serving. These have been highly polished and l...

6 and a half inch round dish ashtray with cork bottom, and makers markings.

Brass vintage toy bottle opener from the 1950.

Teak wood with brass vintage toy bottle opener from the 1950.

A three-part articulated gilt bronze brooch named "Le Travail Dominant le Mond" by French Parisian art jewelry and sculpture Line Vautrin (1913-1997...

A rare poster for the first Swedish release of the 1958 Classic French slapstick comedy "Mon Oncle", written, directed, produced by and starring Jacques Tati as the eccentric hero Monsieur Hulot, struggling to fit into an increasingly modern and mechanised France. Tati's satire of Postwar consumer society was popular even in the US, winning the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Olle Olsson...

An emblem of mid-century grace, this South Sea light golden tone sea water pearl choker necklace is a refined statement featuring delicate pearls, elegantly strung on fine silk cord....

Ships bridge telegraph with highly polished brass head and printed iron base top of unit has brass plates from Donkin and Company, New Castle on the TYNE, rings well. Ships commands ...

Vintage miniature toys artisan made Fruit vegetables market stand. Lavishly decorated. Collectible

Collection of large, roll-up vintage teaching charts on linen backed paper with original wooden dowel rods. Dated 1956. Pictures portrait the era nicely. Used in a Belgian school ho...

Solid copper industrial ship or factory tube with clear view glass. Mounted to a round base that looks original. Tell us what this is! 62" H x 15" D. 92 lbs.

Truman, Harry. Memoirs by Harry S. Truman: Year of Decisions [and] Years of Trial and Hope. New York: Doubleday & Company, 1955-1956. Special Kansas City Limited Edition. Two Volumes. Signed and dated by Truman. In publisher's original silver embossed black boards with Missouri map...

Delve into the pages of Stendhal's classic novel "The Red and the Black" with this vintage book from the USSR. Dated circa 1955, this hardcover edition boasts 597 pages of gripping n...

Explore the timeless tales of Giovanni Boccaccio's "Decameron" with this vintage book from the USSR, dated 1955. This heavy and beautifully crafted hardcover edition features a trans...

Set of three teak and limba wood monkey figure with movable arms and legs. Made and marked by Kay Bojesen, Denmark, Copyright.

Richard Rohac Ashtray, Brass, 1950s, Vienna Austria, good original Condition Item Number: 041022 / 4

These pieces are attributed to the School of Line Vautrin. A wonderful vintage rhinestone studded early plastic jewelry set, procured in Paris. Ear...

Gouache painting showing the iconic aircraft carrier USS WASP as painted by legendary Marine artist Worden Wood. The WASP is shown in great detail with cre...

Originally Issued to RAF Squadron Leader Dick Woodhead, who was a highly successful pilot, later to become head of aptitude testing for future pilots at RAF Cranwell, and featured on screen in Jeremy Clarkson's 2001 Speed television series, (one series, episode three). This helmet is medium sized, with serial and customised by the original owner who is named and date stamped 1/ 1971 M A&B and complete with throat set microphone. This is a RAF Pilots...

Solid brass marine air intake cowls from a yacht or large speedboat. Great nautical relic. Outer flange is pierced with mounting holes as are the bases. Very large in size. 12"T x 7"...

Set of Japanese Hand Painted Perfume or Snuff Bottle in Original Box This is a Complete set of 4 Japanese Reverse Hand Painted and Glass Snuff or...

Gouache painting of the steamship Southern Cross, with red, white, and blue stack. Vessel is sailing amongst a great group of ships and yachts, all with...

Chrome yacht winch mounted to a wood block. Classic boat winch with chrome over bronze. Still retches. Quite decorative. Weight: 11 LBS Overall Dimensio...

Pipe shaped box by Aldo Tura for Macabo. Parchment covered piece with brass and ash wood details

Small Italian Gymnastic Horse of FONTI production with beautiful 1950s patina in excellent vintage condition. The frame is blue painted tubular iron, well solid to support large loads. The iron feet are IN THEIR ORIGINAL CONDITION with wear from their use. The brown colored leather or hide is in its original condition. The saddle is still in excellent condition without losing their original character and patina. With original label SOURCES. The workhorse can be included in a country or vintage retro style decor...

Crystal We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau and Vintage styles since 1982. Why are there so many antiques in Argentina? In the 1880 – 1940 there was a grate wave of immigration encouraged by the periods of war that were taking place. 1st World War took place between 1914 and 1918 2nd World War took place between 1939 and 1945 The immigrants options were New York or Buenos Aires. Tickets were cheap and in Buenos Aires they were welcomed with open arms, as it was a country where everything was still to be done. Argentina was the country of new opportunities, labour was needed and religious freedom was assured, in many cases the of the family travel first until they were settled and then the rest of the family members join them. In the immigrant museum “Ellis Island Immigrant Building” in New York you can se the promotional posters of the boats that would take them to a new life. Between the years 1895 and 1896, Argentina had the highest DGP (gross domestic product) per capita in the world according to the Maddison Historical Statistics index, this situation arose due to the large amount of food being exported to European countries, which were at war. The Argentinean ships left the port of Buenos Aires with food, but they returned with furniture, clothes and construction elements, (it´s common to see this the old buildings of the historic neighbourhood of San Telmo, the beams with the inscription “Made in England)”, as well as many markets that were built in Buenos Aires, such us the San Telmo Market, whose structure was brought by ship and afterwards assembled in 900 Defensa Street. With the great influence of European immigrants living in the country, the children of the upper classes travelled to study in France, resulting in the inauguration of “La Maison Argentinienne”, on 27th of June 1928, in the international city of Paris, which hosted many Argentinians that were studying in Frace. It´s the fourth house to be built after France, Canada and Belgium, being the first Spanish-speaking one. Still in place today (17 Bd Jourdan, 75014, Paris, France). Many of the children of these wealthy families who attended international art exhibitions, museums and art courses abroad, took a keen interest in the European style. This is why Buenos Aires was at the time referred as “The Paris of South America”. Between the years 1890 and 1920 more than a hundred Palaces were built on Alvear Avenue the most exclusive avenue in Buenos Aires. Today some of these palaces have been transformed into museums, hotels and embassies. In the year 1936, the Kavanagh building was inaugurated, it was the tallest reinforced concrete building in South America. During 1994 the American Society of Civil Engineers distinguished it as an “international engineering milestone”, and it´s now considered a World Heritage of Modern Architecture. At the time was common to hire foreign architects such as Le Corbusier, who visited Buenos Aires/Argentina in 1929 and in 1948 he drew up the blueprints for a house built in La Plata City (which was declared a World Heritage Site). In 1947, the Hungarian architect Marcelo Breuer designed “Parador Ariston” in the seaside city of Mar del Plata. After an Argentinean student at Harvard University convinced him to come to Argentina. He worked on an urban development project in the Casa Amarilla, area of La Boca. The Ukrainian architect, Vladimiro Acosta, arrives in Argentina in 1928 and worked as an architect until que moved to Brazil. Antonio Bonet, a Spanish architect who worked with Le Corbusier in Paris, arrives in Argentina in 1937, where he carried out several architectural works and in 1938 designs the well-known BFK chair. Andres Kálnay, of Hungarian origin, made around 120 architectural masterpieces, among which the former Munich brewery stands out, he even made the furniture’s design. The German architect, Walter Gropius, director of the Bauhaus, lived in Argentina, where he wrote articles for “Sur” magazine and founded in Buenos Aires, an architectural firm with Franz Möller, who was also an architect, where he built two houses. At the same time several famous designers decided to immigrate to Argentina, among them we can find the well-known French designer, Jean-Michel Frank, who arrived in the country in 1940 and also worked for the Rockefeller family. Special pieces were made, which were sold exclusively in the country, such as the well-known German company “WMF”, who sold their products by catalogue, which were chosen by the ladies of high society in the list of wedding gifts, as well as the pieces designed by Christofle. The Swiss sculptor Alberto Giacometti, made special pieces for Argentinean mansions. In 1904 the first Jansen branch outside Paris was established in Buenos Aires, as the Argentinean clientele demanded a large amount of furniture, from the end of the 19th century to the mid-20th century. In 1970, the brand Rigolleau Argentina made pieces authorised by Lalique. The brands Maple and Thompson also set up shop in the country. The French plastic artist, Marcel Duchamp moved to Argentina in 1918-1919. Glass signed Gallé, Charder, Leverre, Schneider, Muller and other French firms. They were bought in flower shops and were given to ladies with beautiful floral arrangements. Some furniture manufacturers travelled to international fairs and bough the patterns to produce the furniture in Argentina, such as the furniture firm Englander and Bonta, who bought the patterns ins Italy. It is worth mentioning that in Argentina we have the largest community of Italians outside...

Very rare one-of-a-kind jewelry piece designed by the famous Mexican artist Alfredo Zalce ( Mexico 1908-2003), and depicts an abstract fish shape hanging from a very special chain ma...

A nautical signal flag representing numeral "1" one. The flag has a sturdy canvas hoist that is fitted with a white rope and wood toggle. The linen field is white with a red oval. Fi...

Large pair of carved wood Buddha heads. Great patina to wood and great off-white coloring. Very good condition.

A hanging articulate three-piece gilt bronze brooch "Purgatoire" also known as "Le Ciel, la Terre, et l'Enfer." by Line Vautrin. Each element with figure symbolizes Heaven, Earth and...

Carved half model of a catboat sloop. Hull is painted white and is mounted to a painted backboard. The name "Cook" is printed on backboard. Weight: 4 lbs. Overall Dimensions: 6"H x ...

Massive ships porthole built of solid aluminum with glass window and hinged solid aluminum door. Industrial design at its best. Circa 1955.

Italian exercise horse with beautiful 1950's patina in excellent vintage condition. The frame is made of tubular iron that is well solid to support large loads. The iron feet are IN ...

Walter Bosse Asymmetrical ashtray in brass, 1950s, Vienna.

Extremly rare three-dimensional ceramic medallion depicting a stylised female silhouette. Rich glazes with a juxtaposition of vivid colours. Signed on back. The piece is in its o...

Vintage toy car from the english brand 'Tri-ang'. The charm is in the wear and tear of this item, it makes this little truck very attractive and decorative. Good original condition...

Extremly rare ceramic medallion depicting a stylised female figure. Rich glazes with a juxtaposition of green and brown colours. The piece is in very good condition for its age, j...

Vintage 1950s cameo "Knight" cuff links, full marked "14K" featuring a 14-karat post with a hand carved portrait of a knight fixed to a back clasp...

This figure from Italy from the second half of the 20th century and shows a knight on horseback Silver test: 800 Weight: 1939.40 g Designation: LAVORATO A MANO...

Hallmarked in Sheffield in 1954 by Viner's Ltd., this handsome Elizabeth II period, Sterling Silver Menorah, is of traditional form. The menorah measures 9.75"(24.5m) tall, by 10.25"...

Important relief earth globe representing the oceans and the continents. The globe is made of painted plexiglas, fixed to the marble base by a brass axis. France around 1950.

The concert is a silver brooch realized by the artist Mirko Basaldella in the 1950s. Measures: 2 x 5 cm. Excellent conditions. Mirko Basaldella, Brother of Afro and Dino ...

Cubic lighter by Carl Auböck made of horn.

Three steel cast rockets movable and suspended on 16 foot long cables. Each sculpture has designated cable. Turn buckle mounting mechanism on each cable.

Original candid photographic production still for the American romantic musical romantic comedy directed by Vincente Minnelli and starring Leslie Caron, Maurice Chevalier and Louis Jourdan...

A brass & white oak desk stand with horse racing theme by H. Greaves (silversmiths) of New Street, Birmingham England. Horseshoe back piece attached to rectangular oak base flanked by a pair of square cut glass inkwells with brass jockey...

Aldo Tura smoking stand made from stained fruitwood and a scalloped parchment covered top. A patinated nickel and copper plated ashtray with cigarette ...

Sports parade film is an original film from the 1950s. It includes original packaging. 8mm or 16mm. Good conditions