Category Archives: 50s Retro

I Love Lucy’s Toleware Wall Clock

I Love Lucy Tole Wall Clock
I Love Lucy Tole Wall Clock

The Toleware Wall Clock is hard to miss on the I Love Lucy show. It can be seen over the mantel  in the Ricardo’s living room for most of the early episodes. In a rare color set photo ( detail above) we see that the  octagonal tole clock was a deep red color.  I have seen this  model on ebay from time to time in other colors too.Tole clocks are usually made of painted tin. This one has hand painted floral decorations and was a wind up model. The clock we see above was actually the second tole clock to be used, in the first few episodes of I love Lucy there was a round one with leaf decorations in its place on the same spot.

I Love Lucy Tole Wall Clock
I Love Lucy Style Tole Wall Clock on eBay from eBay ID chatsworthranch

Collectors looking for one should search ebay for “tole wall clock” or “toleware wall clock”.   There is actually one just like it on ebay as I write this click here for details or on the picture above.

Ricky Ricardo’s Cocktail Shaker

vintage Cocktail Shaker
As seen in I love Lucy: This Vintage Chrome Cocktail Shaker is just like Ricky Ricardos

In the 4th episode of season 1 “Lucy Thinks Ricky Is Trying to Murder Her” Lucy (Lucille Ball) sees Ricky (Desi Arnaz) mixing something into her drink and thinks he is trying to do away with her.

Ricky is seen using a cocktail shaker set that would look good in a mid-century style home bar,  and was a popular item for 1950’s home entertaining. The picture above came from an ebay auction for a similar cocktail shaker,  it is not an original Desilu prop but it is vintage and in fine condition, and exactly like the one on the shelf  in the screen capture below from “I love Lucy” Season One, Episode 4.

Desi's cocktail shaker in episode 4 of season one
Ricky’s cocktail shaker in episode 4 of season one

Lucy & Ethel’s Royal Copely Rooster & Hen

Royal Copely Rooster & Ren
Royal Copely rooster & hen

The “I Love Lucy” set props included a pair of  Royal Copely rooster & hen figurines. We first see them in the living room of the Ricardo’s apartment on top of the bureau. Continue reading Lucy & Ethel’s Royal Copely Rooster & Hen

Restoration Project: Lucy Ricardo’s Breadbox

New update here: RESTORATION PROJECT: LUCY RICARDO’S BREADBOX Part 2

Before: Shabby Nesco Breadbox/Pie Safe
Before: Shabby Nesco Breadbox/Pie Safe

I found a vintage Nesco breadbox (above) in shabby rusty condition to restore. This one is the same type as you see in the Kitchen set of “I love Lucy”, except it was white and had a “garden girl” decal which is barely visible in its current condition. It will take a bit of work to restore it to anything close to original condition, and I have never done anything like this before so its a learning experience for me. Continue reading Restoration Project: Lucy Ricardo’s Breadbox

The Ricardo’s Sierra-Columbia Planter

lucyplanter The Ricardo’s set also had a Sierra-Columbia planter. The one indicated in the screen capture above from an “I Love Lucy” episode is a typical design from Sierra-Columbia of Pasadena California. The design seen above is a ceramic planter inside a brass effect metal holder. An interesting thing about the metal holder is that it  was recycled leftover metal from their scissors manufacturing. Continue reading The Ricardo’s Sierra-Columbia Planter

I love Lucy Ricardo’s Pottery Planters

Planter on I love lucy The Planter props seen on the set of “I love Lucy” on the mantelpiece and on the ledge of the hutch between the kitchen and living room are frequently seen in the background in dialog scenes.

The pieces I have identified were sourced locally from California Pottery makers. The Stewart B McCulloch plume design planter is one that often caught my eye, an example of which is pictured below in green. Continue reading I love Lucy Ricardo’s Pottery Planters

I Love Lucy Ricardo’s Canister Set

lucyscanistersetLucy Ricardo’s Canister Set in the “I Love Lucy”  was one of the latest on the market in 1951 when the series launched. Made by Nesco, you can see them in the kitchen scenes of the “I love Lucy” set of the apartment in 623 East 68th St. in New York City, for the entire series until the Ricardo’s moved to Connecticut. In the screencaps here you will notice the kitchen props included  four nesting canisters and a matching bread box  plus a pair of cylindrical salt and pepper shakers. Continue reading I Love Lucy Ricardo’s Canister Set

50’s Retro: Lucy Ricardo’s Kitchen

On The Sitcom Kitchen SetIMG_1967 50’s and retro continues in popularity, you can pay a small fortune for mid century vintage furniture and decor items from big name designers but there are plenty of affordable genuine 50’s items available on sites like eBay.com and Etsy to add a vintage touch to your home. Continue reading 50’s Retro: Lucy Ricardo’s Kitchen