Mon Oncle – 1958 – The Most Modern Movie Ever?
February 28, 2009
Mon Oncle is a French comedic film from 1958 by director Jacques Tati. The film deals with France’s post war obesession with modern architecture. The main character, Monsuier Hulot is a charming gentleman who gets himself into some interesting situations and is terribly awkward in the modern space. The sets, landscaping, and furniture is unbelieveable! There is a great running gag throughout the film involving a fish fountain that is only turned on when important guests arrive. Larry Weinberg has a great article on the interior design of this film on Interior Design.net.
The Arpel's Home
The Plastac Factory office
Jouve vase on the table
Staircase and malm fireplace
Awesome rocking chair and great landscaping with colored gravel
Amazing Harper sofa
Vintage Aviation Posters
February 28, 2009
I found these incredible vintage aviation posters on AllPosters. I love the illustrations and fonts!
Artist: A. Roquin
Artist: Kerne Erickson
Related Posts:
Airline Luggage Tags of the Past
Athletes of the Past
February 28, 2009
I found these incredile old photographs of athletic teams from the Library of Congress via Shorpy.
Harvard University varisty crew team - 1911
Baseball Team - 1906
Eastern Track Team - 1905
Football Team - 1895
Girls Crew - 1926
Junior Preps Rugby Team - 1906
Harvard Crew - 1913
Princeton Hockey - 1910
Rosedale Girls Basketball Team - 1924
St. Johns football - 1923
Polo Team - 1908
Tech High Basketball - 1920
Fencing Team - 1895
Busby Berkeley – Amazing Choreography!
February 25, 2009
Image: Google Images
Busby Berkeley was a movie director and musical choreographer from the late 1920’s – 1970’s. His most famous work was during the 1930’s. He was known for his large extravagant sets and aerial shots of showgirls creating kaleidoscopic effects in camera. Below are some great stills from various films along with a clip from the 1934 film “Dames”. I found these images on Google Images.
Fiberglass Chair by Steen Ostergaard – Late 1960’s
February 21, 2009
I love this fiberglass chair by designer Steen Ostergaard from the 1960’s.
Kit-Cat Klock
February 20, 2009
The original Kit-Cat Klock has been manufactured in the USA ever since it’s creation in the mid 1930’s. The clock with moving eyes and a wagging tail was designed to help take people’s minds off of the depression. Below is an example from the 1950’s that was up on Ebay a few weeks ago.
The new version of the clock is still made in the USA and now it features a bow tie! It’s available on Kit-Cat’s official website.
How to Design a Tie
February 19, 2009
Now that my neckwear collection has officially hit the floor at Bergdorf Goodman, several people have asked me about my design process. I hope the below images and explanation of my Doctor T.J. Eckleburg tie from my Spring 2009 collection will help!
The inspiration for this tie began with Doctor T.J. Eckleburg’s all seeing eyes. The sign from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” was the start! The book which was written in the 1920’s mentioned the dilapidated sign which was most likely a trade sign that had been left over from the Victorian Era. I began to research Victorian optometrist signs. Here is what I found:
I also liked the idea of having a chain on the glasses. They would have properly been worn in the Victorian Era with a chain pinned to the lapel of your jacket. I began to research old cabinet cards to find an example.
Next, I created a CAD in Adobe Illustrator making sure that the chain wrapped around to the back of the tie as though it was pinned on. I handed the CAD off to my weaving mill in England:
Next, my mill came back to me with a first submit for comments:
Comments are made and the corrections are made to the pattern through weaving. Here is the second submit:
I still thought that this was missing a pop of color, so we added blue to the center of the eye. At this point, I began working with my factory to develop a marker to get minimum wastage when cutting this pattern. As you can see on the sample yardage below, we had to work on the placement of the motif because they were too close together.
Once the yardage is woven perfectly it is cut, folded, and sewn by hand in our union shop in New York City.
David Hart & Co. ties being made by hand in our union shop in New York City
Here is the finished product ready to ship!:
Related Posts:
David Hart & Co. Ties Available at Bergdorf Goodman
1962 Austin Enterprises Chess Set
February 19, 2009
This amazing modernist/Eames Era chess set by Austin Enterprises from 1962 is swell! I’m dying to find a set. This one is on Ebay.
The set also comes with a storage window and can be hung on the wall as part of your decor!
Austin Enterprises 1962 is marked on each piece
Vintage Sputnik Barometer
February 19, 2009
I found this incredible Sputnik inspired barometer on Ebay. This is incredible!
Western Electric Telstar Phone
February 19, 2009
I’m obsessed with the Western Electric Telestar phone from the early 1970’s. I saw one of these at the Brooklyn Flea a few months ago and I’m totally regretting not buying it. I love that the lid flips back and the retractable cord is the best!
The Invisible Agent 