Category Archives: I love Lucy Props

Lucy’s Kitchen Wall Matchbox holder

Matchbox holder on wall in Lucy's kitchen
Matchbox holder on wall in Lucy’s kitchen

matchboxholder0
No longer a commonplace item in the home, the matchbox holder was found in most homes in days gone by when matches were in constant use to light lamps, stoves and fires. Seen here in the kitchen, the wall mounted holder, usually of metal or wood, kept the matches dry and  safely away from tiny hands.matchboxholde1r
Lucy’s matchbox holder is painted tin, in a design that can still be found by collectors, the floral nasturtium decal has a gingham check lower border.

I see a red version on Etsy this week Click Here for Details< Etsy (US)

Look for similar items on eBay

Tip: Vintage tin often has rust spots, use raw potato dipped in baking soda to gently clean rust spots, dry completely, a hairdryer on low heat is useful, then apply some oil to any bare spots where paint is missing to prevent more rust.

Ricardo’s Bookshelf: On Your Guard ! by Warren

books on i love lucyBooks on the ricardo’s Bedroom Shelf: On Your Guard ! by Warren

cover
On Your Guard ! by Carl Nelson Warren

On your guard ! The prevention and treatment of sex dis-
eases, by Carl Warren, advised and assisted by eminent specializing physicians ;
foreword by M. J. Exner . . .
frontispiece and illustrations by C. D. Batchelor. New York, Emerson books, inc., 1937 Pre war study of Venerial diseases and Contraception.  Bookseller Inventory # 003004

This pre-war book was written before the widespread use of Penicillin which occurred during WW2.
See it at Amazon

http://www.abebooks.com/Guard-Carl-Warren-1937-Emerson-New/1072889458/bd

http://www.alibris.com/search/books/author/Warren-Carl/title/On-Your-Guard-the-Prevention
ref:
http://journals.lww.com/ajnonline/Citation/1937/08000/ON_YOUR_GUARD___THE_PREVENTION_AND_TREATMENT_OF.41.aspx

Ricardo’s Bookshelf: Source Records Of The Great War

Source Records Of The Great War 7 Volume Registered Set - 1923
Source Records Of The Great War 7 Volume Registered Set – 1923

Here is some heaver reading from the Ricardo’s library. Source Records Of The Great War by Charles F. Horne / Walter F. Austin,  published  in seven volumes – a decorative bound set that shows up on the I Love Lucy bedroom shelf in the screen capture above.
Source Records of the Great War A comprehensive and readable source record of the world’s great war, emphasizing the more important events, and the chief officials and most eminent leaders.
Find more like this on eBay.

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Lucy’s Rooster Figurine

Lucy's Rooster Figurine
Lucy’s Rooster Figurine

Lucy’s Rooster figurine is seen in various places from the livingroom, to the kitchen and in Ethel’s livingroom after she gets the Ricardo’s old furniture.
roosterfigure
The Rooster uses a similar mold to the rooster of a Kay Finch rooster and hen pair of chickens called BUTCH n BIDDY.  The Rooster & Hen  figurines were a popular California pottery set hand painted in various patterns. However the pair I have seen that most closely matches the paint pattern of  the rooster on the show does not have the “Kay Finch” signature on the base, it signed M. K.

rooster
Rooster figurine  in pattern similar to Lucy’ seen on eBay

The rooster figurine above is one that resembles the painted pattern seen in the screen shots from the show. This pair is black and white has the initials M.K. on the base. The Hen measures about 5″ by 5″ and the Rooster is about 9″ tall by 4″ wide.

M. K. signature on base.
M. K. signature on base.

I have seen a similar mold in use under other marks as well. The distinctive rooster tail design makes it easy to identify. The coloring  and angle of the rooster tail matches the characteristics of the Japanese Mottled Bantam.  (This may or may not be a clue that it was made in Japan)

kayfinchrooster
This pair was found on Etsy View details here.
Find more like this on eBay
Reference:
http://www.aboutbantamchickens.com/bantam-chickens-japanese-bantams-luxury-feathered-lap-dog-of-the-aristocrats/

Lucy’s Chinese Seated Woman Statue

Chinese seated statues on the Mantel - I Love Lucy
Chinese seated statues on the Mantel – I Love Lucy
Seated Chinese Woman Statue
Seated Chinese Scholar Statue

This is a Famille Rose Porcelain Statue of a scholar holding a book, made in China for export. It is often seen  on the I Love Lucy set, usually near the planter at the center of the mantelpiece. It represents a scholar holding  book. The pink robe reflects the fashion for using the color pink (or “rose” in french) for export market products and does not suggest this is a female, although collectors may mistakenly assume the character represents  a women. Other times it appears on a high shelf above the door to the kitchen, or as pictured above, it is placed on a table.  It is one of a pair of Chinese porcelain statues seen on the show. The other is the Chinese Famille Rose statue of a seated man mentioned in my previous post.
This statue is often listed under the name of Quan-Yin, the goddess. The pink statue pictured above shows a statue like the one on I Love Lucy that was sold on eBay recently details here.

It happens that there is a pair of very similar ones on eBay this week CLICK HERE to View.
See pictures from the current listing below: The pale pink one is very similar but the pose is a mirror image of the I love Lucy one. The second one on the listing is also very similar and the pose is correct  but the clothing is not patterned.

Quan-Yin statues Seen on eBay this week
Statues Seen on eBay this week
chinesestatue
This is very similar to the Chinese  statue on “I Love Lucy”

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Ricardo’s Bookshelf: Christendom Astray

Christendom Astray by Roberts
Christendom Astray by R Roberts

Christendom Astray – hardback
Author(s):Robert Roberts
Binding:Hardback
ISBN:9780851890135
Pages:272
Publisher:The Christadelphian
This books is seen in the screen capture on Ricky’s bedroom bookshelf.
Find it at Abe Books

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Full text on Google Books at

http://books.google.com/books?id=V4RUAAAAYAAJ&dq=christendom%20astray%20roberts&pg=PR10#v=onepage&q&f=false

Ref:
http://www.thechristadelphian.com/christendom_astray_hardback.htm

Ricardo’s Bookshelf: Out of the Frying Pan

moore
From Abe Books “OUT OF THE FRYING PAN, By Winston and Marian Moore/ DeVorss, Los Angeles, 1939. Terrific vintage political griping from the depression. Dedicate to the Liberals, whom the truth will never hurt. Discusses the Ham and Eggs philosophy, hardtime etc.  Bookseller Inventory # 1147″ Journalistic treatment of the “Thirty Dollars Every Thursday” pension scheme which appeared on the California ballot in 1939. According to the dust wrapper blurb, this book contains “amazing revelations about California’s most sensational political movement, ‘Ham & Eggs.'”

OUT OF THE FRYING PAN By Winston and Marian Moore DeVorss
OUT OF THE FRYING PAN By Winston and Marian Moore DeVorss

Click here to find it on Amazon Continue reading Ricardo’s Bookshelf: Out of the Frying Pan

Lucy’s Grandma Moses Prints

grandmamosessoling
Grandma Moses “So Long” – depicts villagers going on a sleigh ride

grandmamosesprint
The framed print is of a Grandma Moses original painting entitled “So Long”. It is on of two prints seen near the entrance door of the Ricardo’s living room set.

Thanks to the generous commenter below we have an ID for the second  Grandma Moses print which  appears to be “The Old Snow Roller” 1948

The Old Now Roller 1948 Grandma Moses signed MOSES
The Old Snow Roller 1948 Grandma Moses (copyright reserved to Grandma Moses Properties, New York)

gramdnamosos-snowrollerAnna Mary Robertson Moses (September 7, 1860 – December 13, 1961), better known by her nickname of “Grandma Moses,” was a renowned American folk artist who only began painting earnestly at the age of 78. Grandma Moses was a celebrity at the height of her popularity when the I Love Lucy show began in October 15, 1951 so this print would likely have been recognized by many of the I Love Lucy viewers.

1953 Time Magazine Grandma Moses cover
1953 Time Magazine Grandma Moses cover

To give you an idea how famous she was at the time:

  • In 1949 President Harry S. Truman presented her with the Women’s National Press Club trophy Award for outstanding accomplishment in art.
  • In 1950 a documentary of her life, directed by Jerome Hill  was nominated for an Academy Award.
  • In 1950, the National Press Club cited her as one of the five most newsworthy women .
  • In 1951 the National Association of House Dress Manufacturers honored her as their  Woman of the Year.
  • In 1948 at age 88, Mademoiselle magazine named Grandma Moses “Young Woman of the Year”.
  • She was awarded two honorary doctoral degrees. The first in 1949 from Russell Sage College and the second two years later in 1951 from the Moore College of Art and Design.

Find Grandma Moses prints on eBay
Continue reading Lucy’s Grandma Moses Prints

Ricardo’s Bookshelf: Storm House by Kathleen Norris

Storm house Hardcover – January 1, 1943 by Kathleen Norris
Storm house Hardcover – January 1, 1943
by Kathleen Norris

This romance novel has to be Lucy’s. This book is seen on the book shelf behind Lucy’s twin bed on I Love Lucy.
Storm House by Kathleen Norris. Pub 1943
book2

Find it on eBay
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Kathleen Thompson Norris, an American author who lived from 1880 – 1966. She was a prolific writer, churning out 87 novels, two omnibuses, four collections of short stories, one play and ten non-fiction works


Ref:

  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathleen_Norris
  • http://kathleenthompsonnorris.org/pages/bio.html

Ricardo’s Bookshelf: Dave Dawson with the Flying Tigers

Dave Dawson with the Flying Tigers
Dave Dawson with the Flying Tigers

This one had to be Ricky’s book, Dave Dawson with the Flying Tigers was one of a war adventure series by Robert Sidney Bowen known for his boys’ series books written during World War II, the Dave Dawson War Adventure Series and the Red Randall Series. It is missing its dust cover on the shelf.
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The book on the show is this verion with the graphic on cover
The book on the show is the edition with the graphic on cover
Dust Cover
Dust Cover

Ref:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Sidney_Bowen