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Saturday, November 21, 2015

Lucite grapes and lavabos

A couple of decorator items were de rigueur in middle class mid-century homes, at least all the ones I remember. One was a cluster of Lucite grapes on a driftwood stem. The other was an inexplicable nod to more traditional styling: the lavabo, consisting of a wall-mounted water tank with spigot and bowl, usually non-working and used as a wall pocket for artificial flowers or fruit.

While the Lucite grapes were rather modern in appearance, with their exaggerated size and leafless stems, the lavabos definitely were not. No matter how sleek and low-slung a home's sofa, chairs and coffee table, the curlicued planter, reminiscent of ornate French or Italian design, somehow crept into the entryway.

Today we'd call it eclectic. Back then, it was merely incongruous.


etsy.com - KaeidoscopeModern

etsy.com - EuroFair


If I were ever tempted to revisit the lavabo, I might consider one like this atypical Italian ceramic set, with its stylized leaves and fruit. I would fill it with herbs and hang it on an exterior wall or fence.



etsy.com - lookonmytreasures

15 comments:

  1. I remember those grapes. My sister and I were always in trouble for playing with them. To a child they were not a table decoration, but a neat toy left there by grownups so we had a handy toy!

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    Replies
    1. My brother and I played with them too. They were way to tempting to leave alone!

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  2. We didn't have a lavabo but my mom STILL has her Lucite grapes! Hers are in shades or orange. :)

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    Replies
    1. My mom's were green, and my dad's mom had orange ones. My mom's mother was all blue, all the time! :)

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  3. Dana, I have to stop myself from bringing those Lucite grapes home when I find them. We are very eclectic at our house, or possibly incongruous, lol.

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    Replies
    1. haha I've had to pry them out of my own hand more than once. The ornate lavabos aren't that tempting, but the more I look at the second one I posted, the more I think I might like to have it. I have a streak of the eclectic/incongruous in me too. :)

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  4. My parents had a lavabo by the front door with fake grapes in it.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, entry hall for us too, with green rubber grapes. The lucite ones were in the living room.

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    2. Actually my parents used rubber grapes too.

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