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Related post: http://www.50slucy.com/lucys-margo-alexander-schoolhouse-print.html
Category Archives: Mid-century
Lucy’s Carpet Sweeper
Lucy sweeps the carpet in her fur coat in this publicity photo from the set of I Love Lucy.
Her carpet sweeper looks quite like the green Bissell Flight sweeper in the vintage ad below from WOMAN’S HOME COMPANION, Dec 1952
See vintage Bissell Sweepers on eBay
Anchor Andirons
In a 1954 Newsreel Lucy and Desi introduce their two children, and urge viewers to contribute to a campaign by the March of Dimes to raise money for the testing of the polio vaccine.
These brass anchor andirons look similar to the pair seen in the publicity photo and video.
The mark “Rostand” Milford.Conn. is seen on similar ones online.
Continue reading Anchor Andirons
I Love Lucy’s Mersman Hi-Lo Coffee Table
On eBay this week is a Mersman Tables Hi-lo convertible coffee table similar to the one on I love Lucy. 
It appears to be walnut wood and identical in style and construction to the one on the show. It can be adjusted in height and the leaves opened for use as dining or card table just like the one seen on the show. It has a product number 1402S pictured in the listing. See pictures below from the seller’s listing or Click here to view full details on eBay
Alternative Listing for this table: CLICK HERE See this table on Etsy (US)
Measurements:
Lowered 15.75″ high
Raised 26 2/3″ high
Top:
Leaves Down 36″ x 20″
Leaves Up 36″ x 36 1/4″
Inventor of the spring and hinge mechanism:
Boris Hoppe
Patented Mar. 6, 1951
US2544229
Patented Mar. 6, 1951
US2544229
Lucy’s Margo Alexander Schoolhouse Print
Here is a mid century print by folk artist Margo Alexander of a little red schoolhouse that I have only seen on the show from the point of view of the screen capture above where Lucy is on a ledge outside the window of the Ricardo’s apartment. Continue reading Lucy’s Margo Alexander Schoolhouse Print
Lucy and Ricky’s Landscape Art Print
Here we refer to a framed print seen above the mantelpiece in the screen capture from the episode “Ricardos Change Apartments” in which Lucy tries to convince Ricky to let them move to a bigger apartment. This is a busy folk art print that seems to add to the effect Lucy creates when she fills the room with stuff to convince Ricky their apartment is too small. At first glance the picture resembles a paint by numbers creation. this is because the artist Margo Alexander was known for her gouache paintings in the style of a tapestry.
Farm Scene 17.5″h, 23.5″w by Margo Alexander 1894-1965 from her series of California Artist Provincials.
Margo Alexander’s original medium was gouache painted in a flat tapestry like finish as seen in her colorful farm scenes and country landscapes. Her original folk art gouache paintings and serigraph silk screen prints are seen on the market occasionally. She also painted people and murals. Continue reading Lucy and Ricky’s Landscape Art Print
Lucy and Desi’s Spice Rack
In this publicity shot of Lucy and Desi Arnaz at home in the kitchen there is a 12 piece Griffith spice set in a metal rack.
I see a similar Griffith spice set on eBay this week There are several sets of vintage Griffith spice sets on eBay at present but not many in the metal rack. The racks are also found in other materials. These are very collectible milk glass spice sets that can be found in very good condition. They were made and distributed by Griffith Laboratories Inc., Chicago, Illinois, from the 1930’s – 1950’s. Click here to see similar Griffith spice racks on eBay.
Lucy’s Kitchen Wall Matchbox holder
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.
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.
Lucy’s Grandma Moses Prints
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
Anna 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.
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
The Ricardo’s Bookshelf: TRY AND STOP ME by Bennett Cerf
A copy of this book can be seen on the bed headboard bookshelf on the Ricardo’s bedroom set, its easy to spot behind Lucy in the I Love Lucy episode where she has pregnancy cravings and eats pistachio ice cream with hot fudge and sardines – which in reality was substituted mash potatoes and gravy instead of the ice cream and fudge to make it easier for Lucille Ball.
Click Here to find it on eBay
Click here to Find it on Amazon
From Wikipedia:
Try and Stop Me (1944) was a best-selling book written by American publisher and writer Bennett Cerf and illustrated by artist Carl Rose. The first of a series of joke books compiled by Cerf, the founder of Random House publishers, Try and Stop Me sold over one million copies in the first two years of publication.
The book is mainly a compilation of anecdotes, urban legends, jokes, ghost stories, what Cerf calls “shaggy dog stories”, and profiles of news makers. Celebrities profiled by Cerf include Alexander Woollcott, Gertrude Stein, Robert Emmet Sherwood, Albert Einstein, Herbert Bayard Swope, Dorothy Thompson, Monty Woolley, George Gershwin, and Lucius Beebe.
Ref:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Try_and_Stop_Me_(book)