utter dapper amass

Figurative finds...

2011-03-20T17:11:00.008+11:00

It's been nearly a year since the last post, pretty slack eh. Anyway, the good news is I have not given up on this blog and have three pieces to offer you. These were found while going through some boxes in the garage during a clean up this weekend. Enjoy...
Ceramic Boxer Baby in nappy made in Japan guessing circa 50's? Pretty ugly, but to be fair he's probably just been through a few rounds!
approx 2 inches.

Vinyl Hula Girl figurine also from Japan circa 60's, again guessing, however the "Made in Japan" sticker on the base was very common from this period. Roughly the size of a Barbie doll, however this is a fixed figure with non moving limbs. Got this from a swap meet for ten bucks several years ago...in great nic!

One very full mouse "I'm tired of eating" plastic money box made in Hong Kong, circa 50's/60's? Found at a garage sale as I recall.
Approx. 5.5 inches.

Avon Calling.....

2009-04-25T20:48:00.003+10:00

Small World cologne bottle, 2 fl oz. By Avon Products Pty. Limited, Sydney.

We found this cool little islander girl bottle while on our honeymoon, 7 years ago to the day, at a little thrift store somewhere near Grafton on the New South Wales far north coast. I couldn't remember where we acquired it until Alison soon reminded me of how some "dimwit" locked the keys in the car! It was Anzac Day and I was desperately trying to break into our car on the main street armed with a coat-hanger,(supplied by the nice lady at the thrift store), as the tiny town held it's Anzac march!

It is made of glass, the zebra style pattern is screen printed, the pink lai around her neck is a vinyl cut-out and her head looks to be formed from vinyl too. Judging by the font on the label on the bottom I think it's late 60's/early 70's. From memory we only paid a few dollars for it.

...so I just thought to jump on google and do some research and low and behold...check this! Turns out she's an African Girl, but I wasn't too far off the era though.

btw. Alison is very jealous of Snagg's collection!

Unidentified Lighting Object.....

2009-04-22T18:26:00.000+10:00

I just won this great UFO shaped ceiling light fitting on ebay. Should tie in nicely with our pink cast iron/enameled pedestal basin and the overall bathroom renovation plan, eventually...just gotta pull my finger out and get the kitchen reno finished!

Made from plastic with a chrome strip. No idea of Country/Manufacturer. Guessing circa 1950's. Paid AU$31.01.

The Creature Feature.....

2009-04-16T20:54:00.000+10:00

"The Creature"
(Model Kit #426 Aurora Plastics Corporation, Circa 1960's)

This piece is a favourite of mine. The model kit was probably assembled by some thrilled kid in the 60's and has remained untouched. I have chose to leave it in this original state, with it's sloppy glued joints and the amateurish paint job with blood and all!. I think it gives it character and besides I don't think it would be right to re-work it anyway. Found at the Granville model car and toy swap meet, around 2003.

You can check my inspired sculpture piece "the Kreature" here and here. To see more of my art go here.

Day Flipper......

2009-04-09T14:51:00.000+10:00

Picked up this cool little 1970's "bubble" flip calender from the local Sunday markets for ten bucks. Made in Hong Kong.

Alison's Owl.....

2009-04-05T19:26:00.000+10:00

I finally got down to Outré, Sydney and picked up this little McLaren Owl that they had put away for me. It was a surprise gift for my wife, Alison, who had shown a liking to him in the most recent Outré catalogue. Needless to say, she was thrilled and the boys, including myself, have also taken to this little fellow.

"Gus and Betty McLaren together made a legendary body of work which represented the mid-century folk warmth of Australia in the 50s and 60s. In the wake of Gus's passing this year, Betty has continued to produce these classic pieces of Australian pottery from the original molds. It is an absolute pleasure for us to be showcasing a whole range of McLaren Ceramics. Beautifully handcrafted, original and symbols of an Australia that is still in our hearts. Nostalgic yet classic.
Absolutely authentic and wonderfully crafted."
— this exert was taken from the Outré website.

— photo compliments of mclaren-pottery.com

Beer, a mug's drink.....

2009-03-31T15:06:00.000+11:00

Continuing with the mug theme, I found this cool "Beer" mug a few weeks ago at the local Sunday markets and it cost me a whopping five bucks! It is made in Japan and the fella I purchased it from says it's roughly 1960's. The bamboo look fits in just great with my tiki mug collection. Although I am a big fan of the tiki mug, I must say I am more partial to a nice cold beer rather than a cocktail, so I would say it has found the right home!

My suave Moai.....

2009-03-30T13:59:00.001+11:00

As Derek Yaniger got a little mention in the previous post I thought I'd follow it up with my newest edition to my tiki mug collection, Moai Suavé (pron. Mo-eye Sua-vay), also by Derek. I purchased my mug from the Outré Gallery in Sydney and I think I snapped the last one up...but they are still available online through Tiki Farm, where I actually pinched the above pic from, coz' I was way too lazy to take my own!

The dog's lounge.....

2009-03-29T17:12:00.000+11:00

This is our two-seater that lives in our sunroom. A good pal gave it to me a few years back after finding it on a kerbside pickup, yep a rubbish pile, of course it was in quite a different state when it was found, but he thought I may be able to do something with it.

Unfortunately, I do not have the "before" pics to show you, (this is something I'm not very good at, but promise to do better in the future). Anyway, I saw the potential and set out to restore it. It is actually a nanna-lounge —the armrests on each side fold down and it has a framed spring base to make a little bed.....except this was no bed for someones little nanna, it had been used as a dog's bed! It was missing the cushions, there was a heap of dog hair over the base and the wood veneer surface was not in the best condition, however I was surprised to find the black vinyl covering was fine after a wipedown.

It received a thorough cleaning, the woodwork was sanded back, I applied some walnut stain and finished it off with a satin clear coat. My wife, Alison came up with the diamond design and we decided to have the single cushion made, by a local car upholsterer, from auto grade vinyl in matching black and off-white. The piece hanging on the wall above is "Enchanted Tiki", a limited edition serigraph by Derek Yaniger.

Nod if you're a drunk scott.....

2009-03-27T18:29:00.000+11:00

I got this fella from an antique store about 10 years ago for $25, I only remember this because the price is still stuck on the bottom. At first he looks to be made of ceramic but I think the material may be papier maché? He not only has a wobbly/nodding head but also serves as a money box. Looks to be hand-painted and his moustache appears to be real animal fur! The neck of the bottle he's holding had been snapped off when purchased and was replaced using some resin putty, some guesswork and colour matched with acrylic paint. Made by Lego Japan in 1960.