When Ducks Fly
Flying ducks - the epitome of bad taste or kitschy cool?
Originally made in 1938 by Beswick, they have since become synonymous with 1950s living rooms (at least in the UK). I've never really thought much about them either way but Dave says he wouldn't mind having some - which I didn't expect, to be honest.
You can now buy modern reproductions all over the net (like in the pic above from dotcomgiftshop) but obviously if I were going to get some I'd want them vintage. The picture below is the only one I could find of these ducks in their natural environment (circa 1960s):
image via zazzle
So, what do you think? Is this just a British thing?
I love those. I'm not sure I've ever seen anything similar in the US, but we have a sort of metal oval with radiating spokes and small metal birds interspersed throughout that's quite common. I prefer yours. :)
ReplyDeleteHave seen tons of these in the US. Look at the 1950's Showtime show "Mad Men" that's so popular. Saw some in one of the offices.
ReplyDeleteYou can get them cheep, cheep, cheep on eBay all the time. =) Why? because most folks doing 50's style now don't like the ducks. I say it's more "period authentic" and as always, do what YOU like best!
I really like them and remember them from the old days of coronation street on tv, I see these original ducks on sale on trademe once in a while but they normally go for over $100
ReplyDeleteThe ducks were before my time, I don't really remember them, but I do come across them when vintage "shopping." I'm with you, I prefer the true vintage as opposed to reproduction.
ReplyDeleteMy friend at MidCenturyMadness found some at Salvation Army!
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, I remember seeing loads of flying bird plaques growing up in the 80's here in the US! (They were always in houses that haven't redecorated since about 1971.) I used to despise them but honestly, the older I get the more I appreciate their kitschy factor and now I kind of love 'em !
ReplyDeleteThanks for your opinions everyone.
ReplyDeleteThey're not really my thing normally but like Kim says, the kitsch factor makes me like them.
I'm interested in these metal oval with spokes and birds that anon mentioned in the first comment. Can anyone show me a pic?
i don't believe i've ever seen this, but i love it :)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a British thing, I remember Hilda Ogden had them in her living room on Coronation Street! Definitely kitsch-cool :-)
ReplyDeleteThere's a picture of the metal duck/goose sculpture at huntforvintage.blogspot.com the March 19 2010 entry (sorry, tried to link but without success). They used to be very inexpensive but I saw one on Thursday for $140, I hope it was just an overpriced anomaly.
ReplyDeleteThanks Anon - I remember seeing that post now.
ReplyDeleteThe link for everyone else is http://huntforvintage.blogspot.com/2010/03/metal-sunburst-geese-wall-sculpture.html
In some ways I prefer this as the birds are more stylised and the 'spokey oval' has a definite mid century look to it. They don't seem to have caught on over here - not the same way the flying ducks did anyway.
Who knew ducks could be so daffy with the decor.
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