Doris Day’s Wicker Handbag in The Man who Knew Too Much

Doris Day's wicker handbag
Dorris Day's wicker handbag

Doris Day carries a white wicker bucket bag in The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) the suspense thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring James Stewart and Doris Day. The top handled bucket bag is made of wicker/rattan with metal fittings and is painted white with red lining. Continue reading Doris Day’s Wicker Handbag in The Man who Knew Too Much

Household Wants Indicator Available on Ebay

householdwantsindicator
The household wants indicatior is a much wanted Downton Abbey related collector item and this is one that is on eBay currently - click picture above to go straight to the listing on eBay.
Recent news about the Downton Abbey movie is sure to please fans and to heat up the demand for vintage collectibles again:
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/sep/19/downton-abbey-movie-maggie-smith

Rear Window Camera and Lens

Camera and Telephoto Lens used in Rear Window movie 1953
Camera and Telephoto Lens used in Rear Window movie 1953

One of my all time favorite movies is Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window which goes along with my favorite era for 1950's collectibles. I decided to dedicate a shelf in my bookcase to the movie with some easily found 1950's items as seen in the movie. The piece-de -resistance has to be the Exakta camera, which was surprisingly easy to source. Continue reading Rear Window Camera and Lens

Downton Abbey Props: Sardine Dish

English Majolica Sardine Dish
English Majolica Sardine Dish seen on Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey, the PBS series, was set in the Edwardian era, however many of the original antique props were from previous eras such as this Victorian  Sardine dish, which is appropriate considering that household items in such a great house would have accumulated over years. Continue reading Downton Abbey Props: Sardine Dish

Travelling with Agatha Christie

Cream Tea with Clotted Cream and Scones - a favorite of Agatha Christie
Cream Tea with Clotted Cream and Scones - a favorite of Agatha Christie

I called in to Marks and Spencer yesterday to pick up some of their clotted cream - fortunately it was in stock - it is frequently sold out here in Ireland and hard to find anywhere outside of the UK,  apparently because it does not travel well. I began to acquire an appreciation for the traditional Devonshire cream teas (the cream is not actually served in the tea but on the scones) after I read an account in Agatha Christie's autobiography about her taste for the local Devon clotted cream   Continue reading Travelling with Agatha Christie

Downton Abbey: The Dowager’s Elephant Clock

Figural Elephant Clock on Lady Violet's Mantelpiece
Figural Elephant Clock on Lady Violet's Mantelpiece

Lady Violet, played by Dame Maggie Smith in a scene from Downton Abbey is seen next to the mantelpiece of the dower house. An antique figural elephant clock is easy to spot on the mantel. A similar clock was up for auction at dickinsauctioneers.com Lot 86 - Rare 19 thC French 8 day Elephant Clock:
Rare 19 thC French 8 day Elephant Clock Continue reading Downton Abbey: The Dowager’s Elephant Clock