History's Runway: The Mappin & Webb Vanity Case, 1935

Gold Vanity Case
Mappin and Webb, 1935
This and all related images from:
The Victoria & Albert Museum

By the 1930, the use of snuff had long been out of favor and producers of luxury goods looked for something to replace the elegant gold boxes which had long been a mainstay of their concerns. Though not good for world health, the cigarette case was a natural successor to the snuffbox as smoking was quite the thing. Similarly, vanity cases of gold and other precious metals began to take center stage in the world of opulent accessories. Here we see such a vanity case. These were made for Society ladies as a container for their personal items. This one holds an eyebrow pencil, lipstick and compartments for powder with puffs.

The gold case was made by Mappin and Webb in Sheffield, England in 1935 and is set with cabochon sapphires. 

Wednesday Wackiness: Silly Symphonies - King Neptune (1932)

This is why I don't like the sea.

At the Music Hall: A Peach of a Pair, 1930

Jack Haley

"Follow Thru," a 1930 Technicolor musical from MGM featured a host of songs which would become popular hits of the era. The film was based on a 1929 play of the same name by Frank Mandel and Laurence Schwab which starred Jack Haley (of “Tin Man” fame). Haley went on to reprise his role in the film. One of the songs, unique to the film version, “A Peach of a Pair” by George Marion was a real stand-out. 

Enjoy!

Mastery of Design: A Double Clip Diamond Brooch, 1930-1940

Lady Abingdon's Double Dress Clip Brooch
This and all related images from:
The Victoria & Albert Museum

 

I thought that this double-clip diamond brooch would be the perfect jewel to conclude today’s posts. 

I don’t need to tell you that this was made between 1930 and 1940 during that luscious period when dense concentrations of diamonds and other gemstones were en vogue. The fashion started in the 1920s and is also known for the use of platinum settings which did not intrude on the look of the piece. 

Brooches like this one were quite popular during this period. Not only were they attractive, but they were versatile. And, in a way economical since a lady could get several looks from one piece of jewelry. The brooch can be worn as a whole or it can be divided into two identical halves which were worn as clips. Diamond clips were placed on lapels or opposing one another on the neckline of a gown. 

This example gleams with brilliant-cut, baguette and square-cut diamonds. It was made in England by a now unknown jeweler. It’s part of the beautiful collection of The Bettine, Lady Abingdon in the V&A. 

Other brooches (with a necklace and earrings) from the collection.  We've studied most of these.

Mastery of Design: Anne Hull Grundy's Morning Glory Brooch

Brooch of Diamonds, White Gold, Nephrite, Chalcedony
The British Museum

Click on image for larger size.  

Made in Germany circa 1930, this handsome brooch of white gold, nephrite, diamonds and stained chalcedony still is matched with its original invoice for £400, as purchased by Anne Hull Grundy.  Taking the form of a brilliant morning glory, the brooch is an interesting combination of Art Deco design ideals and the romantic naturalism favored in the late Nineteenth Century.

Obviously, this is part of the important Hull-Grundy Gift of hundreds of unusual jewels which was bequeathed to The British Museum.

History's Runway: An Ermine Evening Coat, 1936

Evening Coat
1936
The Victoria & Albert Museum

With a design that is wholly typical of the 1930s Hollywood look, this fashionable evening coat with its combination of gold satin and supple white ermine is the work of designer Madeleine Vionnet. Vionnet was born in 1875 in Aubervilliers, France and apprenticed to a seamstress at an early age. Later, Vionnet joined Kate O’Reilly, a London dressmaker, in about 1897. 

By 1912, Vionnet had returned to Paris and opened her own celebrated, stylish fashion house. The First World War closed Vionnet’s business, but she re-opened in 1918, moving to 50 avenue Matignon. There, she became known for her glamorous Hollywood-inspired designs such as this coat and her work remained popular until her retirement in 1939.

The attractive coat would have looked stunning over a champagne silk gown, as modeled by one of the V&A's scary mannequins.  

Saturday Silliness: Chicken a la King, 1937

If a chicken sultan had Popeye's voice, this is what would happen.

Saturday Silliness: Silly Symphonies - King Neptune (1932)

This is why I don't like the sea.

Sunday Morning Special: Grandfather's Clock Tiny Tot Cartoon early 1930s

This rather peculiar short film from the 1930s combines filmed footage and animation and…weirdness.  I can find nothing about it, in fact.  So, let’s not examine it too closely.  Just sit back and let it make you cry.

Figure of the Day: The Doves, 1935

The Doves
John Adams, 1935
The Victoria & Albert Museum

This stoneware figural group is the work of John Adams. Not the U.S. president, but rather, a mid Twentieth Century modeler in Poole, England. Adams was a partner in Carter, Stabler & Adams Ltd., a manufacturer of decorative objects like this pair of doves. Perched on a branch of grape vine, the birds are picked out in blue, white and buff with the foliage finely glazed in blue and green. This group is indicative of the manufacture’s work of the mid 1930s. 

Saturday Silliness: Chicken a la King, 1937

If a chicken sultan had Popeye's voice, this is what would happen.

Mastery of Design: A Double Clip Diamond Brooch, 1930-1940

Lady Abingdon's Double Dress Clip Brooch
This and all related images from:
The Victoria & Albert Museum

 

Since we’re looking at stereoscopes and double images today, I thought that this double-clip diamond brooch would be the perfect jewel to conclude today’s posts. 

I don’t need to tell you that this was made between 1930 and 1940 during that luscious period when dense concentrations of diamonds and other gemstones were en vogue. The fashion started in the 1920s and is also known for the use of platinum settings which did not intrude on the look of the piece. 

Brooches like this one were quite popular during this period. Not only were they attractive, but they were versatile. And, in a way economical since a lady could get several looks from one piece of jewelry. The brooch can be worn as a whole or it can be divided into two identical halves which were worn as clips. Diamond clips were placed on lapels or opposing one another on the neckline of a gown. 

This example gleams with brilliant-cut, baguette and square-cut diamonds. It was made in England by a now unknown jeweler. It’s part of the beautiful collection of The Bettine, Lady Abingdon in the V&A. 

Other brooches (with a necklace and earrings) from the collection.  We've studied most of these.

At the Music Hall: A Peach of a Pair, 1930

Jack Haley

"Follow Thru," a 1930 Technicolor musical from MGM featured a host of songs which would become popular hits of the era. The film was based on a 1929 play of the same name by Frank Mandel and Laurence Schwab which starred Jack Haley (of “Tin Man” fame). Haley went on to reprise his role in the film. One of the songs, unique to the film version, “A Peach of a Pair” by George Marion was a real stand-out. 

Enjoy!

Saturday Silliness: Silly Symphonies - King Neptune (1932)

This is why I don't like the sea.

Sunday Morning Special: Popeye in "Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp," 1939

Further proof that 1939 was the greatest year in cinematic history, this needs no explanation.

History's Runway: The Mappin & Webb Vanity Case, 1935

Gold Vanity Case
Mappin and Webb, 1935
This and all related images from:
The Victoria & Albert Museum

By the 1930, the use of snuff had long been out of favor and producers of luxury goods looked for something to replace the elegant gold boxes which had long been a mainstay of their concerns. Though not good for world health, the cigarette case was a natural successor to the snuffbox as smoking was quite the thing. Similarly, vanity cases of gold and other precious metals began to take center stage in the world of opulent accessories. Here we see such a vanity case. These were made for Society ladies as a container for their personal items. This one holds an eyebrow pencil, lipstick and compartments for powder with puffs.

The gold case was made by Mappin and Webb in Sheffield, England in 1935 and is set with cabochon sapphires. 

Sunday Morning Special: The Cuckoo Murder Case, 1930

Images by Ub Iwerks

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Music by Carl Stalling

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1930

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Flip the Frog

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This...

Sunday Morning Special: Molly Moo Cow And Robinson Crusoe, 1936

I like Molly Moo Cow. She’s a gentle soul, and, not entirely as incompetent as one might think a cow to be. This, of course, leads her to all sorts of adventures not available to the average cow. For instance, we see in this 1936 animated short, that Molly has dreams beyond those of chewing cud.

For instance, why is a cow on a raft in the first place?

Saturday Silliness: Greedy Humpty Dumpty, 1936

Deep in the horrors of Fairytale Town, Humpty Dumpty lords over the citizens with a miserly fist and a desire to see sheep humiliated.

From Flesicher Studios, this 1936 animated short requires no further explanation. Well, it needs a lot of explanation. But, I have none. 

Sunday Morning Special: Three Little Kittens, 1933

I picked this screen capture just for your viewing pleasure.

Scary Van Beuren cartoon from 1933.  Also with a decidedly bad rip-off of “The Sun has Got His Hat On”  at the start.  Enough said.  

Happy Sunday!