Archive

Welcome to the P.O.S.H. Archive. We like to think of our Archive as a walk down memory lane at P.O.S.H.! Here you’ll find a happy mix of the publications and blogs that we’ve been featured in, as well as photos of of some of our favorite gone–but–not–forgotten finds. Enjoy!

Pinocchio Marionette - From Mexico With Love

If ever there was a miserable month in Chicago, it's probably the month of February. Yes, there is the one bright spot of Valentine's Day, but beyond that, the festive holiday season is long over, the first day of spring is still almost 2 months away, only a few brave souls venture out to shop and outside the window there is nothing but grey skies and dirty snow.

In an attempt to remain sane, I've taken to using the slow, dreary month of February as a time to escape to the sunny climes of Mexico. It has really become a mental health break: a time to pause, to recharge my batteries and to begin to feel human again. Being the obsessive person I am, however, I can never fully let go. Thus, I find myself drawn to the thrill of the hunt at the flea market - even while "getting away from it all" in Mexico.

The one market in Mexico that I always enjoy is found in the sprawling city of Mexico City. It is held on Sundays and is called La Lagunilla, named after the neighborhood where it is located. There are permanent vendors that are open every day of the week selling everything from bridal dresses to car parts, but on Sundays the place really comes alive as street vendors spill out into the neighborhood selling antiques and collectibles. This antique market is referred to as a tianguis (the Aztec word for an open-air market) or as mercado de pulgas (Spanish for flea market).

I've found everything there: from real European antiques (lovely but expensive), to charming Mexican collectibles (cheap and cheerful). Not everything is necessarily an antique or even vintage, and at a Sunday tianguis a few years back, I came upon a vendor selling adorable, vintage-looking-but-newly-carved wooden Pinocchio marionettes. Knowing it was a "now or never" moment, I bought every marionette he had and happily hauled them back to Chicago.

Everyone who saw our little Pinocchio fell under his magical spell and before long, they were all gone. Each time I'm at the tianguis, I look for the marionette vendor, but have never found him again...or his charming wooden puppet who wanted to become a real boy by proving himself to be "brave, truthful and unselfish."

"Now, remember, Pinocchio, be a good boy. And always let your conscience be your guide."

Vintage Eva Perón Pin Tray

It was a "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" moment to be sure. On a lovely Sunday morning visit to a flea market just outside of Buenos Aires, we were feeling a little bleary-eyed and, well...emotional. For those of you who haven't had the chance to visit the beautiful country of Argentina yet, be forewarned: every night will be a late night. No matter what your intentions may be, in a country that considers 10 pm as an early dinner hour, there is no hope in getting a full night's sleep.

Perhaps it was the lack of sleep then...or perhaps it was the fact that we had visited Eva Perón's tomb in the amazing Recoleta cemetery only the day before. Whatever the case, when we stumbled on a collection of Eva Perón memorabilia, you would have thought we had found the Holy Grail. I'm not embarrassed to admit that a few tears were shed, a few Argentine pesos were spent and a few lovely milk glass Eva Perón Pin Trays made their way back to Chicago with us.

"Don't cry for me Argentina
The truth is I never left you
All through my wild days
My mad existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance..."

Vintage Swiss Glacier Goggles

A few years ago, we stumbled on a cache of vintage Swiss Army Blankets in Switzerland. (Where else would you stumble across Swiss Army Blankets?) Long story short, the blankets were a huge hit. We called every dealer we knew to hunt down as many blankets as possible. Unfortunately, as with all things vintage, the supply was limited and before we knew it, they were gone from every military supply depot throughout the tiny country of Switzerland.

The up-side of all that frantic searching however, were a few other unexpected finds. One of which was a small supply of vintage glacier goggles that had been produced in the 1920s and issued to the Swiss military. They were funky for sure, in that end-of-world-as-we-know-it-Mad-Max kind of way, but they were also somehow dashing and romantic. We were certain that when we put a pair on, we looked just like James Bond skiing down the mountainside in On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

Of course the glacier goggles are all gone now. Will we ever find them again? Who can tell. ...Never Say Never Again...

Vintage Silverplate Matchbox Stand, Claridge's of London

I'll be honest. I was raised that it simply wasn't polite to "toot your own horn". But, sometimes...well, one just can't help oneself! Here at P.O.S.H. we have always sought to take the path less traveled, and in so doing unearth for our customers the unique and the unexpected. Case in point is our ever-changing range of vintage hotel silver. Beautiful, functional pieces with provenance. Pieces that tell a rich story anchored in a time and place that is no more. Perhaps most things appear more romantic while wearing the glasses of nostalgia, but far be it from us to turn our noses up at nostalgia. A good example of this was this gorgeous silverplated matchbox stand we found at market in the north of England. It has long-since sold, but at times we rather enjoy looking wistfully back on some of our more glamorous offerings.

In case you've forgotten Claridge's illustrious history, I've included the following brief synopsis:

"I don't want to go to heaven. I want to go to Claridge's." - Spencer Tracy

For over a century Claridge's Hotel in London has enjoyed the patronage of the most illustrious families, leaders and dignitaries from around the world. In the heart of Mayfair, the hotel is within easy reach of Bond Street, Regent Street, Berkeley Square, Grosvenor Square and Hyde Park. Claridge’s first seed was sown in 1812, when James Mivart opened a hotel in the house at 51 Brook Street. The hotel was named Mivart's and was designed for guests who wished to stay in London for extended periods of time, rather than simply passing through. Apartments were let by the month, rather than by the night. The Great Exhibition of 1851 brought a large influx of visitors and foreign royalty to London, including the Grand Duke Alexander of Russia and King William III of the Netherlands. Both of them made Mivart’s their home away from home.

At 49 Brook Street there had always been a separate hotel, run by husband and wife William and Marianne Claridge. In 1854 they purchased Mivart’s; Mivart, now in his 70s, was able to retire, and the Claridges owned the entire row of houses from no. 49 to the corner of the block. The goodwill associated with the Mivart name was such that the hotel initially traded as “Claridge’s, late Mivart’s” until Mivart’s death in 1856. Claridge’s, as the hotel would now be known, continued to attract the best of British and foreign aristocracy. Perhaps its greatest seal of approval came when Queen Victoria arrived with Prince Albert to visit the Empress Eugènie of France, who had made Claridge’s her winter quarters in 1860.

Claridge’s truly came into its own after the First World War, when many aristocrats were forced to sell their London homes. Keeping a house in London which one might only use for six months of the year had become very expensive. Renting a suite at Claridge's was a great deal cheaper as the hiring and keeping of staff was no longer an issue. Claridge’s was fortunate to escape bombing during World War II, and remained a popular social gathering spot. Many royal families who found themselves exiled from their own countries as war raged across Europe made their way to the familiar haven that was Claridge’s. Notable among them was King Peter of Yugoslavia, exiled from his country in 1941 and his son, Crown Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia was born in Suite 212 in July 1945. Indeed even the British Royal Family became familiar with Claridge’s standards of hospitality and service, and chose to host many of their own private family parties at the hotel.

From Claridge's Hotel in London, an exquiste silverplate Matchbox Stand. Bottom-stamped Claridge's, this is a wonderful relic from one of the world's grandest hotels.