1950s Christmas Chocolate Boxes

I love this old 1950s chocolate or biscuit box. Made from card, it still has the paper lining - I've got 2 boxes, both the same design.

This design of a decorated Christmas tree, complete with sprigs of holly, is so typical of 1950s, and so traditional - love the glow of the candles....

Christmas tree boxes now sold
You can see the inner paper liners here.

Santa in his sleigh now sold
This is another typical 1950s design - Santa in his sleigh full of presents for good boys and girls...see the cute squirrel and rabbits - such fun!


And again, I have two boxes - they even have the grease paper cases for each choccy! SO sweet! I can't believe the trouble taken for just six chocolates, but they meant something special to someone to have kept them all this time.




This set of three boxes have similar designs of snowy villages, churches, cottages etc - very traditional and quite charming - and you can still send Christmas cards with similar designs today!


Again, still with their paper inserts


sorry, but all the boxes are now sold
This box is fun - the village station in the snow - is the man saying hello or goodbye?

I love these boxes - they are quite small and I think reflect the little austerity that rural France felt during the fifties - you could give or receive chocolates, but only a few at a time! Quality rather than quantity I guess...

Perfect for a collection of packaging or boxes, they could be used to packing a Christmas gift, or for maybe home-made chocolates or petit-fours for re-sale or gifts.

Incidentally, you can still smell the gorgeous chocolatey scent in each box...yummy...!

If you want to know more or buy a box - see my Ebay page for boxes here!

Fashion through last 100 years

I'm sure that many people will have already seen this Youtube video but if not, you're in for a treat:



clic here



Enjoy!

Baby clothes - SO adorable!

These are a couple of photos taken at the museum at Agde in Herault, from our holiday this year. What a fabulous museum - I nearly swooned with joy to find it. Flash photography was forbidden of course, so please do excuse the lack of light - everything looks a bit blue, but I'm sure you will get the gist of it all. These are of the baby and childrens' clothes, ranging from around 1830 to 1925




Over the years, I have collected and sold antique and vintage baby clothes - there is just something about them that I love. It's the smallness of them, the love and attention put into each piece, the history behind each piece, and very poignant to consider that some of their owners may have never worn adult clothing - life was so precarious for babies then, regardless of how rich their parents were.

Most of the clothes in these cabinets were for children of the well-to-do, but I love the clothes of the peasants too, often with repairs and darns where they have been handed down. So adorable...



Isn't this just gorgeous? This is a hand-made bonnet, made from the palest apricot silk, with lace overlaid, and satin ribbons. Sadly, in was in pretty poor condition the silk was beginning to shatter, and the ribbons had holes and rust marks. Still, I just had to rescue it and I kept it for quite a while. Eventually though, it found a new home.
bonnet now sold


This bonnet, on the other hand was in almost perfect condition - I just love the broderie anglaise (always a sucker for a bit of BA)...and again, already sold.


This bonnet has patterned quilted cotton fabric, slightly 'flannelette' and cosy to the touch inside and a little lace round the edges. Hand-made again, so sweet!
bonnet now sold


These are about the most simplest bonnets, slightly different, but oh so tiny! Perfect for new-borns. Were my kids ever that small? Actually, I don't think they were as they were both over 9 and a half pounds at birth!
bonnets now sold


And, just to finish, this is a gorgeous little petticoat, but with all this hot weather recently, I can just see it as a sun-dress.
dress now sold


Lovely lace on the bottom edge - quite firm to the touch so robust enough even for a toddler!



You can see more details and photos here for the last three items.

Have a good week!