1 In order for the furniture restorer to work on the flood damaged desk, I had to empty out the top section very quickly into a box and have today been sorting through it all. I’ve discovered lots of long forgotten treasures, old letters, a Christmas list written by one of our daughters and some old toys…….
Mum’s desk, restored and more beautiful than ever
Inside the desk. I just love all the little compartments and the drawers – and the old, old ink stains.
2 There’s a fabulous collection of dice of all sizes and in different materials. Most of the dice are ordinary 1-6 for board games but there are some others in sets of five with King, Queen, Jack, the Ace of Spades and the 9 of Clubs, Spades, Diamonds or Hearts. I wonder if anyone reading this knows what game they were for?
Dice -but to play which game?
There are some card games including Lexicon and Main Line and there are some tiddlywinks – remember those anyone?
‘Main Line’ the railway card game
Tiddlywinks
There are some small puzzles where the pieces had to be moved around to be in a particular order.
Puzzles, to be ordered correctly. The Football one cost 1/11d
3 I remember this lovely Knitting Nancy! As a little girl I made yards and yards of ‘knitting’ with her and then sewed it into mats of all sizes, coaster size and dinner plate size that everyone was then given for Christmas.
Knitting Nancy
Kate Johnson
December 19, 2012 at 5:39 am
Childhood memories are always delightful. Thanks for making me remember my old childhood memories….
mybeautfulthings
December 19, 2012 at 7:49 am
I’m glad I was able to do that for you. 🙂
petit4chocolatier
December 14, 2012 at 2:10 am
I love everything 🙂
thoughtsfromanamericanwoman
December 13, 2012 at 3:33 pm
That desk is amazing – wow. I love the detailed work. I enjoyed seeing your little treasures too, brought back some memories for me. But that desk – oh my gosh, it is breathtaking. Blessings, Patty
mybeautfulthings
December 13, 2012 at 4:28 pm
Thank you. I really love it too. I have the bill from when it was bought for my Mum in 1946 when I was a few months old. It needed some repair at the time. The Wall Bureau cost £27.15.0 , the Repairs £1.00 and Care 7/6. Isn’t that just delightful too. I like to think that ‘care’ meant that they polished it up for her. 🙂
Lakshmi Loves To Shop
December 13, 2012 at 11:21 am
I absolutely adore the Knitting Nancy…I have one shaped like a mushroom 🙂
mybeautfulthings
December 13, 2012 at 2:38 pm
That sounds lovely. 🙂 I’m looking forward to the day when I can teach our Grandchildren how to use her. All the best 🙂
tartanpants
December 13, 2012 at 6:13 am
What a beautiful piece of furniture, a real treasure. And a very stylish knitting nancy, you have inspired me to dig mine out!
babyjill7...Marilyn Griffin
December 13, 2012 at 1:30 am
The handles are unique…Rabbit??? Cat???
mybeautfulthings
December 13, 2012 at 6:59 am
I always thought they were lions as a kid…. 🙂
mixedupmeme
December 13, 2012 at 12:57 am
I love playing games. Perhaps should say lovED playing games. Sometimes I wonder if families and kids sit down and play board games any more. I haven’t seen dice with the kings and queens on before.
hjbryant
December 13, 2012 at 10:10 am
I think these are poker dice, but don’t remember how to play – used to do so at Uni – mis spent youth!
mybeautfulthings
December 13, 2012 at 10:11 am
Thanks! I’ll have to look them up. 🙂
Shelagh
December 12, 2012 at 10:57 pm
What a beautiful piece your Nancy is! I made reins for invisible horses myself, mostly on home made ones with sewing thread spools & nails. And, yes, that desk is a treasure indeed.
The Wisdom of Life
December 12, 2012 at 10:17 pm
Love the desk! I can’t tell if that is a faux finish or quarter sawn oak. In either case, it is beautiful.
mybeautfulthings
December 12, 2012 at 10:33 pm
I don’t know what quarter sawn oak is. I’ve always been told that the desk is carved oak. I just love it and was always fascinated by the handles when I was little. 🙂
Thanks for taking the time to comment – always much appreciated. 🙂
The Wisdom of Life
December 12, 2012 at 11:27 pm
You are quite welcome. Years ago I restored antique furniture and I have a great appreciation for these types of things. If it is oak, then it is quarter sawn by the looks of it in your case. The name comes from the way the saw the log. There are three ways they saw logs; plain sliced, bastard sawn and quarter sawn. Quarter sawn is the most expensive because it does not yield as much usable lumber from the log, but it also looks beautiful, especially in oak. Thanks for sharing. Here is a link to a picture of how it is cut if you are interested; http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9EPZm2S5P2I/RvmojwD8GKI/AAAAAAAAAAs/HKZWEhJhvaU/s320/quartersawn.jpg
hjbryant
December 13, 2012 at 10:13 am
Gorgeous desk and lovely to see the games – I remember as a child playing a board game called Ivory Castles (or Towers) which was a promotion from a dentrifrice/early toothpaste – probably Victorian, but very beautiful – it belonged to my Gran and it was a specuial treat to be allowed to play it.