Our family Kartell

Yesterday Your Vintage Life traded at the fabulous, award-winning Furniture Flea. It’s a mid century, affordable fair full of furniture and  home wares brought to you by Judy’s Affordable Vintage Fair. York Hall, Bethnall Green was awash with orange, funky flowers and more teak than you can shake a stick at.

We arrived early, still very sleepy to unpack our wares. We have collected 60s furniture, mirrors, lighting, coat stands, glassware etc since our last outing here…so at 8.30 we started to set up.

All the furniture was at the front of the pitch with all the lights grouped together at the back. We had some G Plan coffee tables, Chippy telephone tables, side tables from Denmark and Finland including one with a tulip base, picture coffee tables from the 1950s and an adorable kidney-shaped occasional table.

Then a selection of  our smaller items were displayed on the table. (Thanks to my friend Sarah for this!)

Using original 1970s Kartell units our glass and ceramics looked fab.

So, where did you find the AMAZING Kartell I hear you ask. Well, back in the 70s, my mum and dad bought them for their trade shows. Selling new items (that we now collect and sell…funny old world) to independents, all items were lovingly displayed on the units.

Check out my mum, standing next to a chrome coffee table and leather footstool…..also the silver large pear in the background I think is a winner too!

Fast forward into the 1980s…my aunt and mum designed, made and sold jumpers…..and yes, you guessed it..they used the Kartell again within their stands at yet more trade shows.

So who is Kartell? They are an Italian company specialising in plastic. Originally selling accessories for cars in the late 40s, they then went onto sell home accessories in the 60s and still make great chairs today. Their items are very collectable…their lights are stunning. The clear plastic chair designed by Phillipe Starck is a design classic. They made storage units for the home such as the ones we have…….I’m thinking of introducing them into the kids playroom to show off their retro Fisher Price!

But for now…I think I will continue the family tradition and use them to display stock on!