I love Lucy Props, Magazines, Ricardo's Bookshelf

Fred Mertz’s Sports Illustrated Magazine

December 22, 2015 Patricia

Fread reads Sports Illustrated Magazine in Little Ricky Learns to Play the Drums

In the I Love Lucy episode Little Ricky Learns to Play the Drums Fred Mertz is seen reading a copy of Sports Illustrated dated Nov 22 1954. This was actually Season 6 (1956–57) of I Love Lucy and the film date of this episode was June 28, 1956 which aired on October 8, 1956 so the magazine was over a year and a half old when the episode was filmed. This was not just any back issue though, it was the magazine’s first cover to feature a professional football player.

Vol. 1 No. 15 Sports Illustrated November 22, 1954 with San Francisco 49ers quarterback and Hall of Famer Y.A. Tittle on the front cover.

See one on eBay HERE

Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y._A._Tittle

50s Retro, Ethel Mertz, I love Lucy Props, Luggage, Mid-century, Travel, Uncategorized

Ethel’s PAA Airline Bag

December 14, 2015 Patricia

paa-bag — Ethel shows Fred her new PAA Pan Am airlines carry on bag

When Ricardo’s and the Mertzes board their Pan Am flight to return from their European tour Ethel is seen carrying her new PAA flight bag. “Isn’t that cute!” she says to Fred. “That’ll come in handy won’t it.”

paa-airline-bag — Here is a vintage PAA Pan American World Airways Bag on eBay – click picture for the listing on eBay

50s Retro, Ashtray, I love Lucy Props, Mid-century, Monte Carlo, Travel

The Ricardo’s Cinzano Ashtray

December 12, 2015 Patricia

Below is a collectible vintage Cinzano ashtray like one seen in the Ricardo’s hotel room in the screen capture above. At that time Cinzano was still a family run business based in Turin Italy that had been in business since the 1700’s. The I Love Lucy set dresser added well chosen European pieces to evoke a sense of place for the Ricardo’s trip to Europe, in this instance to decorate the set of Lucy and Ricky’s Monte Carlo hotel room.

cinzanoashtray2 — Vintage Cinzano glass ashtray – click picture to view the eBay listing

Canisters, I love Lucy Props, Kitchen, Toleware

Lucy’s Antique Tole Tea Tins

December 10, 2015 Patricia

Lucy’s pair of Victorian style toleware tea tins can be seen on the kitchen window ledge in her Early American Connecticut home. They are cylindrical tin tole painted tea caddys. Shabby antique tea tins can still be found in the characteristic toleware hand painted style on black laquered tin. Lucy’s set are quite shabby and are in keeping with the Early American style of the Ricardo’s new home in the country.

tole-tea-tin — Vintage Tole Tea Caddy on eBay – click picture to view the listing on eBay

50s Retro, Perfume

Lucy’s gift for Mrs Trumble: My Sin Fragrance

December 9, 2015 Patricia

Lucy's Souvenirs from Paris include a bottle of Lanvin "My Sin" for Mrs Trumble — Lucy’s Souvenirs from Paris include a bottle of Lanvin “My Sin” for Mrs Trumble

Lucy brings back a bottle of My Sin perfume by Lanvin Paris for Mrs Trumble. Vintage perfume bottles are collectors items and rare boxed vintage perfumes are the most sought after. Below is a vintage in box Lanvin My Sin in packaging like the one Lucy is holding in the screen capture above. Vintage perfumes are collected for the bottle and packaging and the rare fragrances. Vintage fragrances can alter if not properly stored over time.

lanvin-mysin — Vintage bottle of My Sin by Lanvin Paris seen on eBay – click picture for full listing details

Fragrance Notes: bergamot, heliotrope, neroli, clary sage, lemon, carnation, ylang-ylang, lily of the valley, violet, iris, orris, clove, rose, jasmin, musk, vanilla, cedarwood, tolu, styrax, vetiver and sandalwood

50s Retro, I love Lucy Props, Mid Century Lamps, Mid-century, Vintage Electrical Appliances

Nautical Sconces as seen in Lucy’s kitchen

December 9, 2015 Patricia

These nautical wall sconces are on ebay this week – just like the nautical ships wheel wall lamp in Lucy’s kitchen which we looked at in a previous post. They also convert to a table lamp.

Ships Pilot Wheel Wooden Wall Lamp on I Love Lucy Kitchen Set

Cookware, I love Lucy Props, Kitchen, Vintage Cookware

Lucy’s Copper Cookware

December 8, 2015 Patricia

Lucy makes a racket on her copper cooking pots

In the I Love lucy episode Little Ricky Learns to Play the Drums we see that a set of copper cookware has appeared in the kitchen where there used to be shelving. The copper cookware set looks like the traditional French style copper pots widely favored by chefs. Top of the line ranges such as Mauviel are much desired for their traditional style and craftsmanship and for the excellent heat conducting properties of copper when used over direct heat such as a gas flame (BTW copper bottom pots do not work on ceramic stovetops as far as I know).
Vintage sets of copper cookware can easily be found on eBay but some are only suitable as decorative items when any of the lining has worn away inside the pot. As decor hanging on the kitchen wall as seen in Lucy’s kitchen they give off a warm copper glow and lend vintage charm for the holiday season.

copperpots — Vintage Copper cookware seen on eBay – click image for full details on eBay

50s Retro, Ashtray, I love Lucy Props

Ricky’s Glass Ashtray

November 3, 2015 Patricia

Ricky Ricardo’s glass ashtray on I Love Lucy looks like Erickson Art Glass

In an I Love lucy scene from Lucy Thinks Ricky Is Trying To Murder Her we spot an interesting looking glass ashtray on Ricky’s desk. Ricky’s ashtray looks very like an Erickson Art Glass piece.

Carl Erickson founded Erickson Glassworks in Bremen, Ohio. they were world famous glassworks and the hand made art glass pieces are now in several museums. The were in production from 1943-1961. The ashtray in green above (also on eBay HERE) is an example of their trademark bubble design – small bubbles encased in thick glass.

Art Glass

Reference:

Coffee Pot, Cookware, Kitchen, Vintage Cookware

Lucy’s Swedish Coffee Pot

October 29, 2015 Patricia

Swedish Coffee Pot in I Love Lucy Kitchen

In the above picture from the I Love Lucy kitchen we see a Swedish style coffee pot by Svensk on the top of the fridge. svensk This type of antique three legged goose neck kettle (sometimes described as a Turkish coffee pot, chocolate pot or teapot) is usually made of copper so it adds a nostalgic traditional touch to the kitchen decor.
I see a nice “Swedish Hand Hammered Vintage Arts and Crafts” one on Etsy this week HERE and another one on eBay pictured below:

swedish-coffee-pot-copper — Copper Swedish Coffee Pot Kettle seen on eBay

The handle is hollow to hold a long wooden stick to be used when placing it over a hot fire without getting too close to the heat. Some people like the vintage patina on copper but you can bring back the shine by rubbng the copper with with a paste of vinegar and salt, or instead lemon juice and baking soda, or some use tomato ketchup.
Click Here to see it on eBay or Click Here to Search for similar listings on eBay. Lucy’s copper kettle appears to be about 8″- 9″ tall when compared to the height of the breadbox below.
swedish-coffee-pot-2

50s Retro, I love Lucy Props, Little Ricky, Vintage Toys

Little Ricky’s Jack in the Box