High-end UK dealer Vintage Seekers is offering an expertly curated selection of mid-century posters featuring ski resorts throughout the Alps and other destinations. These are all uncommon original prints and the price tags reflect that fact. Those of us without the budget for these classic works of advertising art will have to admire them via our computer screens. Fortunately, VS has supplied us with a few larger images for an even better view. Twelve of our favorite posters are below — click to enlarge.

Alpensonderzüge, Germany
Otto Ottler, 1936
German Railway System

Zugerberg
Martin Peikert, 1948
Gebr. Fretz AG, Zurich

World Skiing Championships, Czech Republic
Kovar, 1969
International Ski Federation

Zermatt, Switzerland
1964
Swissair

St. Moritz
Enis, 1955
J.C Muller, Zurich

Sun Valley, Idaho
Sheets, 1956
United Air Lines

Crans Montana, Switzerland
Hans Erni, 1987

St Moritz Piz Nair
Martin Peikert, 1948
Wolfsburg A.G, Zurich

Ski Colorado
Gates, 1957
Colorado State Winter Sports Committee

Norway
Claude Lemeunier, 1957
Norwegian State Railways and the Norway Travel Association

Niederösterreich, Austria
1950s
Christoph Reissers Sohne, Vienna

Les Diablerets, Switzerland
Martin Peikert, 1949
Klausfelder S.A., Vevey

A few more favorites.
See the rest at Vintage Seekers »

See also: A Trip to Europe, 1963

Director Jeremy Konnor was clearly inspired by “American Look”, the 1958 film by Chevrolet, in this music video for She & Him’s “Don’t Look Back”. See both videos below.

A couple of years ago, we featured the “Teak Cabinet of Curiosity”, a sewing box with some unusual swinging drawers. Since then, that model or similar — always without a design or maker credit — has made several appearances on eBay, both in Europe and the U.S. So it’s not very rare, but I’m still quite enamored with it.

Since then I’ve run across several other types of mid-century sewing boxes, each with its own clever way to store and reveal its contents, be they needles and string, or paints and brushes. Here are three favorites.

Red Felt Box — Delicate and unique. I haven’t seen anything quite like this one.

Tripod Box with Swinging Drawers — Still available!

Rolling Box with Removable Tray — Still available!

Want to see more? Bookmark the Sewing Boxes page in the Gallery. We’re always keeping an eye out for these lovely little storage pods. What would you store in them? Tell us in the comments below.

A BT637 calendar clock by Pierre Bodet, produced in the ’70s. Here’s the patent (PDF). It sold on eBay today for nearly $400.

This tasty bit of eye candy for flip clock fetishists brought to my attention the piece that was probably its inspiration: the Dator 5 designed by Gino Valle and manufactured by Solari Udine in the mid- to late ’60s.

A Solari Dator 5 in blue

And as luck would have it, a generous Dutchman, Raymond Van Orsoy de Flines, has published video of the Dator 5 and its dateless cousin, the Cifra 5, in action. Witnessing all the noisy mechanics whir as it changes from one month to the next only makes my lust for this marvel grow deeper.

There are more followers of Valle’s design in production today, including this wide range by Homeloo, but they clearly lack the spirit of the Solari Dator 5 or even the Bodet model.

Here’s another beautiful example of a Bodet flip clock, this one with months in English.

Finally, Adam Dorrell shot the innards of his Dator 5, noting the leap year function and blithely commenting, “This is why it’s great. No one would make a clock like this today. It would be cheaper to use ICs and a clock chip.”

Solari is still a key producer of those fantastic split-flap displays seen in railway stations and airports. In fact, such displays are often called “Solari boards”. Thanks to Luke McKenzie for the info, who notes:

Sadly, like most mechanical things that are awesome to behold, they easily fall into disrepair, and reliable, versatile, dull electronic signs are driving them to extinction.

Marimekko is about to celebrate its 60th birthday and it feels as young as it did when it took modern textile design by storm in the ’60s. The Legendary Finnish brand continues to produce new and original design, yet everything still feels very Marimekko. Perhaps it’s because they are able to court designers who fit so well into their graphic mold.

Maija Louekari is a fine example. After winning a Marimekko-sponsored design competition in 2003, she’s designed several prints and textiles for the brand. Her latest work is emblazoned on a new line of tableware called In Good Company: Oiva.

Thanks to Laura and Nestled In for introducing me to Ms Louekari.

Everyone knows George Nelson’s whimsical wall clocks, but not until I ran into Wright’s latest auction did I realize how many models he made for the desktop. Creating a clock that has to sit upright on a table presents scores of design opportunities beyond just the face. Each of these pieces is a charming little trophy of mid-century modernism.

Flickr group member brum b pulled in quite the harvest from the Utrecht Collectors Fair.

This may be the greatest planter ever created. Praise be to Danish ceramicist Lars Knudsen for having the guts to fill the cranium of a powdered wig gentlemen with flowers. Actually, it’s hard to think of a plant worthy of a home this grand. Probably best to simply set this beautiful piece of clay somewhere prominent and let the fellow make his stately statement unadorned. $385 from Trébor Nevets via Bond & Bowery.

Anyone know something about the artist? Knudsen was apparently active in the 1960s but that is all the info I can find.

This series, designed by Tapio Wirkkala [the guy had a mug as impressive as his work] in 1968, employs the “Incalmo” technique wherein two different types of glass, worked separately, are fused together to obtain, within a single object, separate areas differentiated by colors. — Moss

Don’t look at the price. Just look at the picture.
More below.

“ready”, recently submitted to our photo group by kaylovesvintage

Never seen a fan like this one by Itho, a Dutch company that doesn’t seem to make consumer products anymore. Pity.

See also: Erres Fan