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eBay watch: 1970s B&B Italia La Bambole sofa by Mario Bellini

Bellini

You just know it's going to be comfortable – but this B&B Italia La Bambole sofa by Mario Bellini is actually a design classic too.

It's a chunky piece, designed in 1976 by Bellini and remade today – but you'll be looking at well in excess of £2,000 to secure a reissued one, which makes this all the more of a steal, especially with a leather finish. The design itself is unusual, with no rigid supports, no traditional armrests, no base frame and no feet. Just a great place to flop into.

Condition is down as 'very good', with only minor scuffs due to age, but there are no rips or tears to the leather. It's also Signed with printed manufacturer's mark to underside: 'B&B Italia Modelo Le Bambole Designe Mario Bellini'. Price? Right now it's up at just 7p. Yes, you really did read that correctly.

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Categories / eBay watch

eBay watch: Finnmirror 1970s mirror

Finn

Not the most eye-catching item we've ever featured, but this Finnmirror mirror has some style and a very low price tag.

It's a Scandinavian design, produced by Finnmirror in Finland around 1970 and sold in Habitat stores 'back in the day'. It's very much of that era – a rounded, plastic frame in a pale grey.

There is some slight damage to the rear – check the description for that – but nothing too alarming by the sound of it. If you want to go for it, the mirror is just 99p right now.

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Categories / eBay watch

eBay watch: Merrow Associates drinks trolley

Merrow_drinks

Not the rarest item in the company's range, but this Merrow Associates drinks trolley is certainly one of the more functional item.

Produced from the mid-60s and sold in the likes of Harrods and Heals, Merrow Associates had a reputation for well-made, good quality furnishings. It's that reputation that makes them collectible to this day.

This trolley dates from around 1970 and this particular one has a teak veneer as opposed to rosewood, plus all that stylish chrome and glass. According to the seller, there is some chrome flaking and a little bit of veneer damage, but at £250 (or 'best offer'), the price is about right.

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Categories / eBay watch

eBay watch: 1970s Ekstreme Chair by Terje Ekstrom

Ekstreme

I think the new ones retail for between £600 and £700, so this Ekstreme Chair by Terje Ekstrom seems quite a bargain.

Ekstrom originally designed it back in 1972, but the chair didn't go into production by Stokke (now Varier) until the 1980s. As much a piece of sculpture as a seat, it's got a metal frame with a cushioned cloth covering and by all accounts is very comfortable.

This example is described as being on 'good condition', with some stitching to the main seat. So not perfect, but at £100, priced well.

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Categories / Cars and Bikes, eBay watch

eBay watch: Fully restored Austin Mini Designer Mary Quant Edition

Quant1

Yes, I know we featured one of these a short while back, but that was a model in need of full restoration. This Austin Mini Designer Mary Quant Edition has been full restored and is ready to go.

For the uninitiated, around 2,000 of these Mary Quant-designed Minis were made, a good number no doubt rusting away since the 1980s, so it's very much a case of future collectible we reckon. This one looks a real gem too.

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Categories / eBay watch

eBay watch: 1960s Dansette Tempo portable record player

Dansette

Scan through eBay and you'll find a good number of Dansette record players for sale, some cheap, some not-so-cheap, some working, some nothing more than a pile of parts. This Dansette Tempo portable record player is probably near the top of the pile, with a few bids already placed for it.

It's a classic Dansette in both shape and colour, oozing authenticity and after being on the receiving end of a full service, working as well today as it did back in 1962. The 4 speed Garrard Autoslim autochanger will play speeds of 16, 33, 45 and 78 rpm manually or can load a selection of up to six records of either 7, 10 or 12 inch to be played automatically. 

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