Eames Era Mirrored Shadow Box Wall Display Shelf White and Gold Back in the 1950s and early 60s, it was hard to find a home that didn't have a shadowbox display shelf on the wall. This one is quite attractive with a gold-veined mirror back with wooden frame and shelves painted creamy white with gold accents along the outer frame molding edges. The shadow box measures 28 by 24 inches. It extends five inches from the wall and has 3" deep inner shelves.

The shelf is in very good condition with no damage and little wear. The upper and lower inner wood panels (shelf and top pieces) have a couple of small nicks or scratches to the paint, and there is some minor chipping and wear to the corners and edges, none of which will be at all noticeable when hung on the wall. The back top has two sturdy metal hinged loops for hanging. A wonderfully retro piece of Eames Era wall decor to display your Mid-Century treasures. This item is too large to safely ship internationally and does not qualify for free shipping.

Circa: 1950s
Country of Origin: US
 

Pair White Wicker Round Bathroom Towel Hangers A vintage hanging bathroom towel rack set in scrolly white painted wicker. They date to the 1960s or 1970s. There are two hangers, each 7-1/2" diameter with a 6" diameter thick willow towel ring attached to a knobbed wooden post in the centers. The backs have metal keyhole wall hangers. Excellent condition with no breaks or damage.

Circa: 1960s - 1970s
 

Egrets Oriental Sculptured Cork Scene In Glass and Lacquered Stand This vintage Asian decorative tabletop sculptured scene depicts two white plumed egrets or cranes among carved cork trees and foliage. Encased in a black lacquer and glass box which is removable on its matching stepped stand, the scene is 6 by 4-1/4 inches, a little over 5 by 8 inches overall in the stand. The cork sculpture is in terrific condition with only one small loose blossom having fallen off onto the "ground", where it looks perfectly natural. The glass needs a bit of cleaning but there is no damage or issues. Remains of a glued paper label are on the underside of the stand.

Circa: 1950s
Country of Origin: CN
Manufacturer: Mid Century Chinese Import  

Art Nouveau Spelter Wall Candle Sconce A beautiful single Victorian candle sconce in heavy spelter metal from the Art Nouveau era. It's 15 inches tall, depth from the wall to the candle bobeche is 8-1/2". At some point it was painted white, but the original finish appears to have been gilded. The narrow sconce has a lady's face in high relief at the center focal point, the candle cup is ornately engraved with floral motifs. There is some natural age wear to the paint as shown but the new owner may wish to completely strip it and restore the original finish. There are no breaks or repairs to the metal.

Circa: 1900
 

England Brass Repousse Tavern Scene Magazine Rack This attractive tooled repousse brass and wood magazine rack was made in England between the 1930s and 1950s. The front is covered with a brass sheeting panel embossed in high relief with an outdoor provincial tavern scene. The sides are also covered in brass panels with a hammered texture, the back is plain solid wood stained dark. The holder is divided into two sections, each 2-1/4" deep, the front section staggered a little shorter than the back. In the center is a sturdy decorative cast brass handle. In very good vintage condition with a bit of very slight oxidation to the brass at the corners, no damage. Measurements 11-1/2" high (not including handle) by 14 inches wide by 5-1/2 inches deep.

Circa: 1930s - 1950s
Country of Origin: GB
Manufacturer: Mid Century English Import  

3 Tier Wicker and Rattan Wall Display Shelf This vintage natural wicker and rattan wall shelf measures 17 inches high by 17 inches wide by 6-1/2" deep. There are two shelves (three including the top) spaced just over 7" apart. The sides are framed in crossed round wicker rods, the back is flat rattan reeds woven in an open diamond pattern. Two metal keyhole hangers are attached to the upper back for mounting on the wall, or you can let the unit rest on a table or countertop.

The shelf is in good condition with no splits or breaks. The natural light brown or tan finish lends itself to fast and easy repainting - a can of spray paint in your choice of colors or white will give you a nice decorative wall display to match your decor.

Circa: 1960s
Country of Origin: US
Manufacturer: American Mid Century Production  

White Wicker Shoe Shine Box Kit With Contents In the 1960s, my father found this white wicker shoe shine box in a dilapidated old house my parents were fixing up to resell. Not having a real kit of his own, he kept it and used it for many years. Dad was a blue-collar guy and didn't have many events that called for shined shoes - just the occasional wedding, funeral, or big night out with Mom so much of the wear on the box pre-dates his possession. It wasn't new when he found it.

The box stands 11" high and is 12" wide by 5-1/2" deep front to back. The black painted wooden lid has an applied marbled finish below the wooden shoe rest. The sides are woven white wicker, all the way around. The interior of the box is pretty clean for having held about 60 years worth of shoe shine products. Inside are four wooden brushes, one with a chrome or silver colored metal covering. The two larger ones are marked "Dart Sterilized Hair" (type not specified) and "Essex 100% Horse Hair Sterilized". The contents of the box also include 4 cans of Kiwi shoe polish, a toothbrush, and several used and unused shoelaces.

The box frame is sturdy without breaks or structural damage. There is a faded stain on the right front corner as shown and wear to the wicker tape borders, including a tear at the top of the top left short side. The wicker covering around the box is unbroken.

Circa: 1930s - 1940s
Country of Origin: US
 

Red and White Woven Plastic Covered Sewing or Hair Curlers Basket When I bought this retro 1960s red and white covered basket at a local estate auction, it was filled with hair rollers, curlers, and plastic hair picks. I think it would make an excellent sewing or crochet / knitting basket, or even a funky box purse.

The basket is 6-1/2" high to the top of the fully removable lid, about 9-1/2" high to the top of the handle, by 8" diameter. It's very strong and sturdy, made of red and white woven spaghetti plastic over a heavy wire frame. The handle is white plastic over rattan or bamboo wood. It's in excellent condition with no splits or tears anywhere. The only sign of wear or age of note is the top of the lid has some fading of the red color.

Circa: 1960s
 

Antique Carved Wood Black Forest Style Thermometer Barometer I'm not sure if this antique European (probably German) carved wood wall thermometer would be considered Black Forest or not, as the design is not the typical rococo style. The shape and decoration have definite Arts and Crafts elements. The wood appears to be oak. The very dark finish is original. Measurements are 19-3/8" long by 6-1/4" wide.

The white porcelain enamel thermometer is marked for centigrade and Reaumur scale, an obsolete European unit of temperature measure. It works but I don't know how accurately. Note the wonderful spiral coiled thermometer bottom. The aneroid open face barometer has German or Dutch wording, I don't know whether it works. The beveled glass cover is original and undamaged. The wooden case is in excellent condition with only one scratch on the back. It has not been refinished. The only thing that might be considered a condition issue is that the thermometer plate slides a bit, exposing less than 1/8 of an inch of what looks like old paper behind it with columns of numbers (see picture 3).

Circa: 1895 - 1910
Country of Origin: DE
 

Antique Carved Wood Black Forest Thermometer Barometer White Paint This beautiful late 1800s to early 1900s Black Forest style carved wood wall thermometer has a high quality Danish barometer but was likely made in Germany. Made of mahogany, the flower and leaf hand carved frame has been painted white with gold trim. It think it was done long ago by a previous owner, the white paint is a little chippy and you can see the original very dark brown finish underneath. Overall measurements are 19-1/2" long by 8-3/4" wide.

The white porcelain enamel and glass thermometer is marked for centigrade and Reaumur scale, an obsolete European unit of temperature measure. The thermometer appears to work fine and accurately. The aneroid open face barometer is marked Cornelius Knudsen Kjobenhaven (Copenhagen). The Cornelius Knudsen Company was known for making very fine quality scientific instruments in the 1800s and early 1900s. The beveled glass cover is original and undamaged. The wooden frame is in excellent condition under the paint with no discernible cracks or chips.

Circa: 1880s - 1910
Country of Origin: DE
Manufacturer: Turn of the Century German Import