Categories / Books, Design and Interiors

eBay watch: L’Utopie Du Tout Plastique 1960 – 1973 book

Lutopie

If you want to start collecting space age design of the 1960s and '70s, don't buy anything until you own a copy of L'Utopie Du Tout Plastique 1960 – 1973, a copy of which is on eBay right now.

It's an exhibition catalogue from 1994, specifically for an exhibition of space age design at the Brussels Foundation for Architecture. That has long gone, but the catalogue has become the definite guide to the area of design, featuring names and brands including Ettore Sottsass, Joe Colombo, Verner Panton, Maurice Calka, Anna Castelli, Eero Aarnio, Peter Ghyczy, Vico Magistretti, Gae Aulenti, Giotto Stoppino, Marco Zanuso, Maurer-Becker, Cazenave, Kartell, Guzzini, Archizoom, Artemide, Superstudio, Videosphere, Ericofon, Olivetti, BrionVega, Braun, Panasonic, Weltron, Courrèges, Cardin…you get the idea.

158 pages, 194 illustrations and even though the text is in French, non-French speakers will still find much in the detail on offer. Always expensive these days (especially as it's looming out of print), the copy we've spotted on eBay is just £5 right now.

Find out more at the eBay website

Categories / Design and Interiors, Homeware

Tube Tea Towels

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We’ve featured so many tea towels over the years that I expect all our readers dry their dishes with something interesting or stylish, but until I saw these Tube Tea Towels I still wasn’t convinced I would buy a tea towel as a gift.

There is a choice of three tea towel, each with a classic work of vintage typography; Practically Perfect in Everywhere (a quote from Mary Poppins), Votes for Women (the iconic Suffragette poster) and the classic eye test chart. The towels are interesting in their own right, but selling them in a cardboard tubes confers work of art status on them and I think makes them much more acceptable as a present.

Present Provider has all three designs, priced £7.95 each.

Categories / eBay watch

eBay watch: 1970s Carlo Santi space age lamp by Kartell

Kartell

A lovely design and one that's no longer in production – but this Carlo Santi lamp by Kartell could be yours via eBay.

Designed in 1972, it's described as a floor or side lamp, standing around 60cm tall. The base is tubular steel, the shade is plastic and according to the seller, the original item is in 'very good condition' with 'only marginal signs of wear'. It also works, most importantly.

Loads of images on the seller's page. If you want it, the lamp is on a 'buy it now' for £290 or you can make an offer.

Find out more at the eBay website

Categories / Homeware

Silk Festival of Britain cushions from RE

Silk festival of britain cushion
Just last week we featured the Minimoderns festival rug, now here's another object inspired by the same event – this silk Festival of Britain from RE

It's the 60th anniversary of the Festival of Britain which is being celebrated this year. This design is inspired by a vintage silk scarf and shows a suitably jubliant city scene. The scarf is backed with a contrasting silk fabric to complete the vintage feel.  

The cushion costs £55. 

Buy it from RE

Categories / Homeware

Retro Luggage Storage Trunks

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Whilst modern wheelie cases may be more practical for travel, these Retro Luggage Storage Trunks show that old-fashioned hard-sided suitcases can still provide a stylish storage solution within your home.

The large cherry red case measures 28cm high by 43cm deep and 68cm wide and costs £155, whilst the blue-green version is smaller at 23cm by 35cm by 60cm and costs £125.

They will both be available to buy online from Berry Red with new stock expected soon.

Categories / eBay watch

eBay watch: 1970s Guzzini iGuzzini table lamp

Guz1

I probably don't need to tell you the era of this Guzzini iGuzzini table lamp, the design pretty much tells you.

Yes, we're in the space age era of the early 1970s, with a dome shade that's hinged on both sides to attach to a curved base, with both shade and base made of sheet metal with a white painted finish. That hinge also means you can adjust the amount of light given out too.

It's described as being in 'good' condition, with some age-related marks and scratches on the white lacquer, but not to the point of severely diminishing the design. Want it? Right now bidding is at £1.20.

Find out more at the eBay website