Mint The Shop

Royal Adderley Scottie decanter for James Buchanan & Co

I know that some of you will probably think I’m a wee bit loopy for buying such a super-kitsch piece, but there’s something very special about this little 1970s Scottie decanter. It was produced for James Buchanan & Co Ltd, a reptuable Scotch whiskey blended for the English market. The company supplied the House of Commons with their whiskey from the early 1900s right up until the 1970s. Clearly designed as a promotional device for the upmarket consumer, this little Scottie dog would originally have had a collar around his neck – but I have to say that I prefer the clean white glaze without the busyness of a tartan fabric collar. There’s a hairline crack in the glaze around the dog’s neck, and a more notiecable one on the base, but for the most part it’s a clean looking piece. These dogs can fetch upwards of a $100, although if you hunt online there are some bargains to be had. A great piece that would be the perfect addition to a quirky drinks cabinet.

Dimensions: 20cm tall x 20cm long x 10.5cm wide

Price: R250

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Lundtofte ice bucket & sugar bowl

This ice bucket and matching sugar bowl were manufactured by Danish firm Dansk Knivfabrik (Lundtofte). From what I’v read it looks like the company closed in the 1970s and were most popular for their stainless steel and rosewood designs in the ’60s, presumably the era that these pieces date from. Both items are in near immaculate condition, with some very minor scrtaches to the metal. It’s great to see some real design is such a simple object – I love the use of a strainer in the ice bucket. It may seem a bit odd to partner the sugar bowl with the ice bucket, but seeing as they came from the same design house, it makes sense – plus if you’re serious about your cocktails it’s handy to have a matching sugar bowl for dipping the rim of your cocktail glass into (attention’s in the detail folks).

Note: Please pay attention to the dimensions of the ice bucket – it’s quite a petite bucket, and I think that the photos make it seem bigger than it is.

Dimensions: Ice bucket – 11cm tall x 12.5cm in diameter; Sugar bowl – 4.5cm tall x 9cm in diameter

Price: Ice bucket – R150; Sugar bowl – R45

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Retro thermos

I love the shape of this retro vacuum flask from Zojirushi – a Japanese company that started nearly 90 years ago with the development of the glass flask. There’s a fair amount of wear to the metal casing and the rubber stopper has yellowed with age, but the seal seems fine. Perfect for a stylish summer picnic!

Dimensions: 28cm tall x 13cm in diameter (at its widest)

Price: R120

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Pair of art deco brushes

Now I know most of us won’t have thought to equip our homes or travelling bags with clothes brushes, but they can be very handy items to own. A year or so ago I was visiting my sister and a particularly well-groomed friend who had stayed the night whipped out a lint brush to get rid of the flecks on his black coat (a JHB icy winter morning!). And while I have to say that I was well-impressed, I would have been even more impressed had he pulled out a beautiful art deco brush as opposed to his plastic version from Clicks! The perfect Valentine’s gift for the man (or lady) who has it all.

Dimensions: 12cm long x 7cm wide x 4.5cm high

Price: R95 each

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Set of Kitchen Canisters

This unusual set of kitchen canisters have seen a fair bit of use in their time, and they have the battle scars to prove it – the black finish on the wood is worn away in places, with a few scratches here and there. That being said I’d guess that they’re at least 50 years old, so I don’t think they’re doing too badly. I’m also not sure how practical they are given that they’re made of a thin plywood, but sometimes you have to forgo functionality for outstanding good looks! They really are a very handsome set indeed – probably one of the most unique, and coolest looking sets I’ve had the good luck to happen across. I paid a fair bit for this set, which unfortuately in-turns means I need to sell them on at a high price, but I think that they’re worth it – I’d consider myself very lucky if I came across another set like this anytime soon.

Note: This set would originally have had a fourth container; i.e. one of the canisters is misisng

Dimensions: Large – 19cm tall x 16.5cm wide; Medium – 17cm tall x 14.5cm wide; Small – 12cm tall x 10.5cm wide

Price: R420 for the set

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