Cigs, and Hooch, and Home Decor.

Though I rarely indulge in cigarettes, and try to drink only when it's bubbly, if there were a vice i'd need rehab for, it would surely be vintaging. And though i've no use for it personally, i'm constantly coveting beautiful, or humorous smoking and cocktailing accoutrement. And collecting such things is actually quite an unselfish thing to do, as it's only polite to be prepared whilst entertaining ciggy or hooch addicted guests . . . able to offer them amusing ashtrays or coasters to assist in their habit of choice.

Below are some fun items i've spotted that totally have me jonesing (click photos to view full-size) . . .

(Above, L to R) 1960s cowboy "Bar" TV lamp, mid-century Danish wooden apple ice bucket, Porcelain pink elephant bottle stopper c.1950s.

  1960s umbrella ashtray, figural ceramic Mexican slipper ashtrays c.1950s, naughty 1930s porcelain Japanese nodder ashtray.

Hand-painted 1940s Japanese chianti bottle plates, 1950s bar bell ("Ring for another round"), 1950s "Nite Life in Hollywood" mixers ("hi-ball mixers from filmlands gayest nite spots").


French 1920s celluloid cigarette case with figural hand clasp, wooden 1950s "coffin nails, I like 'em" cigarette dispenser, ceramic turtleneck and pipe planter by Relpo c.1960s.


Parisian nite-club linen napkin set c.1930s, figural bathing beauty bottle opener c.1910s, 1940s Hallmark pink elephant party greeting card.

 
1950s Pipe-a-lite table lighter (seen on eBay), hand-embroidered "Man's Home Companion" pillowcase c.late-1800s, the perfect Magritte-style '30s burl wood pipe (spotted on eBay).


Cast iron 4-eyed-man bottle opener c.1930s (trip-out!), pretzel-shaped ceramic liquor flask c.1908!, neon bar sign (from Max's Bar, Los Angeles, CA) c.1920s


Vibrant Villeroy & Boch porcelain coaster set c.Early-1970s, giant Coca-Cola bottle cap tray and coaster set  (so pop arty!) c.1979, old timey bar glasses c.1970s.

 
Inlaid bakelite cigarette holders c.1920s, Japanese straw hat coaster set, housed mini hat-box c.1940s.

And on a sad note . . . today we mourn the loss of Bea Arthur. In honor of the Golden Girl, here is a Bea portrait I adore, as painted by John Currin in 1991;

Portrait © Gagosian Gallery