Curious Friends - Daddy Saddle

Today's truly astonishing object comes from the collection of ItaliaIrish who shares his wonderful photos on Flickr. Yes, you read it right, it's a 'Daddy Saddle'.

Oh my word, I just don't where to begin. Did they really sell these? Actually, now I think about it, I can imagine a few sadistic Mummies buying one of these, just to get Junior off her back and on to Daddy's.
'Sorry darling, the saddle is for Daddies only - it just doesn't work for Mummies!'

The text in the ad below reads-
'Giddeyup, ole Daddy! For hours of the most exciting fun any child and parent ever had playing together. Real-looking saddle with horn, stirrups, girth, and real "tooled-leather" Western trim. Vinyl skim coat over foam rubber looks like real leather. Fits any size Daddy.'

Eeek! Can you imagine how sweaty Daddy is going to be after hours of fun wearing a vinyl leatherette saddle? With an over-excited toddler on top? Thank goodness it's washable!

And look at the poor girl bottom left, who has to make do with a cardboard box. I can't imagine she's going to have hours of fun...

I take my hat off to the Kenner Toy Company for coming up with such a bonkers idea, AND calling it a 'Daddy Saddle'. Of course, the thing that really gets me about the name, is that it sounds like some sort of kinky sex toy. Oh come on, admit it! You were thinking the same thing too!

Many thanks to ItaliaIrish, who originally posted these photos on Flickr.

Monkey Brooch

If money was no object, I would love to collect novelty jewellery. There are some marvellous examples out there, and their weird novelty seems at odds with the supposed purpose of jewellery to enhance the wearer. 

I have a few pieces though, like this wonderful old brooch, with its three cheeky monkeys dangling from it. Why is the middle one naked, when the others have clothes on? And why do the others have clothes on anyway? And more to point, why is the one on the left smoking a cigar?

It seems an odd choice for a brooch, all round. Maybe an organ grinder had it specially made for his girlfriend. "Every time you see the monkeys, you'll think of me..."

Glastonbury the Knitted Pig

I have a soft spot for any strangely knitted soft toy. (And I don't think I'm alone - what about the popularity of Harry Hill's knitted character?) I picked up this knitted character at a fete or some such place, where his lopsided features made me laugh.

I should, of course, appreciate that some well-meaning soul has put a lot of work into this creation to raise money for charity. But then again, have they? Really? You see, if you were spending a lot of time over your knitted pig, would you give him three nostrils? And wouldn't you try to make him a bit less... weird looking?

But then again, I'm glad they didn't, because then he wouldn't be quite the character he is. Mr Kitsch and I have kept him around the place for the last 15 years at least. And we called him Glastonbury because... well, Mr Kitsch thinks we bought him in Glastonbury and I think it was because the Glastonbury festival was on at the time. It's just lost in the mists of time...

Friday Postcard - With My Little Ukelele in My Hand

I know what you're thinking. Do I own more strange postcards of dolls and soft toys than a grown woman should? We-ell, I think by now, you know the answer to that one. Yes, that's right - it's not possible to have too many!

So here's another classic. I like the hint of 'tropical island' they've added with that palm frond at the back, and the way the boy is 'playing' that guitar. A-one, a-two, a-one, two, three, four!

Tea for Two

I am extremely fond of vintage children's china. I don't know why all china isn't decorated with bunnies and bears and nursey rhyme characters. I'm sure the world would be a jollier place if it was.  Here are a couple of pieces from my large collection. I think they were parts of the same set. The little cup portrays Mummy Bear washing Baby Bear with an elephant looking on. The words read 'You dirty boy'. On the saucer, a golly is riding in a cart pulled by a pig. All very ordinary, you may say.

And I would agree. It's the scene on the teapot that really intrigues me.

The caption says 'Sweethearts', and there are two bunnies arm-in-arm under an umbrella. How sweet, indeed. But how remarkable for a child's teaset from the 1930s, that these are two boy bunnies. I don't think there's any doubt, is there? Unless the one on the right is a cross-dressing girl bunny? I keep wondering whether some avant-garde children's illustrator was striking a blow for gay rights. Or was the caption put on by mistake? Whatever the story behind it, it's a charming little teapot.

Curious Friend - Kylie's Apple Doll

 Today's Curious Object comes from Kylie of Lucy Violet Vintage

I'm thinking this blog post should have some sort of warning. 'Contains an object of a disturbing nature', perhaps. Or 'Not suitable for those of a squeamish disposition'.

You see, an Apple Doll sounds rather sweet and lovely, doesn't it?

But the reality is somewhat different...

Good grief, maybe the close-up was a mistake.

Hmm..Not really much better.

You have to wonder at it. Imagine, there you are in Tasmania, with all those Tasmanian apples and timbers. What do you make? A wooden crate of apples? No, a scary doll, with no face, just a blackened and withered apple for a head. But you still put her in a pretty dress and bonnet.

And did the 'Early Settler' children play with these frightening objects? Heavens, Australia must have been a tough place back then!

'There is none other quite like it'. No indeedy. As Kylie wonders in her original post about this doll, is that a good thing or a bad thing? http://lucyvioletvintage.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/cute.html

Many thanks to Kylie for sending me her curious doll photo. Please do contact me by comment or email, if you have any curious objects you think might fit in here!

As Recommended by a Doctor

Yes, you read it right - it's cola flavour toothpaste! And in case you're not sure whether that's a good idea, the whole thing is given an air of medical authority by the character on the tube  - Dr Mopp.

It doesn't sound like the best taste for toothpaste, but I guess it was meant to tempt children. Perhaps now they might have chicken nugget flavour?

I was very fond of Camberwick Green when I was little, and I can actually remember this toothpaste. Mainly I remember wanting it all the time, and not getting it. I think my mum eventually humoured me and I got it just the once. My memory is that it was strawberry flavour. This may have been the case, as it appears there were various flavours and lots of characters on the tubes. Take a look here.

 

The illustration style on the packet is lovely, too, isn't it?