Dansk Fjord and Kongo Flatware Price Lists and Care Card, 1960 and circa 1964

Primary documentation is always useful when trying to figure out 20th century design.  I find it terrifically frustrating that a vast amount of printed information was produced but relatively little of it seems to be available for reference.  If I have it, I will share it!

Above is a price list for Dansk's Fjord line of flatware, conveniently dated March 1960 (you can read my post on Fjord here).

Interesting that the prices are given in Danish kroner--Dansk was an American company and the flatware was made in Germany, but giving the price in a foreign currency certainly stressed the connection with popular Danish design.  At that time, the exchange rate was 6.89 kroner to the dollar, so the dinner knife listed would have been about $2.28. 

The second price list is not dated, but presumably a few years later (circa 1964?) as the price has gone up by nearly 30%.  Also curious (to me, at least) that the teak-handled Fjord and the nylon-handled Kongo were the same price.  I would have guessed that the plastic Kongo would have been less expensive than Fjord, with the imported teak handles.

I also have this hang tag for Fjord, which gives care instructions for the flatware.  Basically, don't put it in a dishwasher or let it soak in water and give it a little oil treatment now and then.  I use my Fjord every day!

I usually have some Fjord flatware and other Dansk pieces in my shop (check out that section of my website) and I am always looking for more to buy. 

White Chenille Bedspreads - Vintage Summer Bedding

As much as I love brightly colored chenille bedspreads and the crazy peacock spreads (like the ones in my post on caring for chenille bedspreads), I think all-white examples are my favorites.  Popular in the 1940s and '50s, these fuzzy bedspreads still look good today.
I'm pretty particular about the spreads I favor--some patterns are too fussy or twee for my taste.  I tend to gravitate to large-scale patterns, or geometrics, or those inspired by the ultimate sources for most chenilles--early American quilt patterns.  
With white spreads, you can get a lot of pattern and texture but still keep a crisp feel overall.  Someday when I have that beach house...chenilles in every room!

Switching out bedding is a great way to 'summerize' a room.  Chenille bedspreads vary in weight--more tufting makes a spread warmer, less tufting leaves more of the cotton sheeting exposed and creates a lighter weight spread.  You'll sometimes see some of these spreads called 'summer weight'.  Chenilles really do provide the perfect amount of warmth needed in the wee hours of summer nights.
I often have some chenilles for sale in my Etsy shop--you can check them out here.  And I am always looking to buy good examples!
© All text and images are copyright of Jeni Sandberg

Vintage Hawaii Map Tablecoth and Scarf - 1950s Hawaiiana

In keeping with my obsessions about maps and Hawaii, I recently came across a couple 1950s pieces that have maps of Hawaii printed on textiles, which for me is kind of like hitting the trifecta.

First up is a printed cotton tablecloth that depicts the Dole map of the Hawaiian Islands from around 1950 or so.  The Dole Food Company was a leading producer of pineapple in Hawaii and in 1937 commissioned a map of the islands from Parker Edwards.  

Similar to Ruth Taylor White's pictorial maps from earlier in the decade (read more about those in my post here ), Edwards used small drawings to indicate major points of interest on each island.

You can just see the same boat with fishermen off the west coast of Oahu on both the Edwards map and the tablecloth.

Edwards' map is framed by bands of indigenous flowers and fish, which is turned into a decorative border on the tablecloth.

This type of printed tablecloth was popular throughout the 1930s, '40s and '50s.  Judging from the two-color printing this one is probably from the 1950s (the 'Remember Pearl Harbor' clearly indicates that it is at least post-1941).  There was a 1950 version of the Dole map done by Joseph Feher, but this piece seems to adhere to the earlier version.

Another similar printed map can be found on this scarf, which could be tied over the shoulders. 

Each corner has a decorative scene that would show well when folded on the diagonal.

Like the tablecloth, this scarf is printed in two colors on cotton, albeit a lighter weight fabric. This type of souvenir scarf was very collectible in the 1950s. 

I'm always looking for more fun Hawaiiana from the first half of the 20th century--be in touch if you have any items you think might be of interest!