Another gem from Albert Kahn's big color photography project. A true colour photo from Russia around 1912. Real colour photograph, not colorated!
Tradition Endures at The Andover Shop
3 days ago
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Albert Kahn (..cont.)
Another gem from Albert Kahn's big color photography project. A true colour photo from Russia around 1912. Real colour photograph, not colorated!
Citroen DS
Most beautiful car ever made, all categories. The Citroen DS. Another example of remarkably innovative French engineering. Decades ahead of its time.
Fouga Magister
This cool little twoseater training jet is the Fouga Magister. It's so French. It's as much part of the French 60ies as Louis de Funes and the Citroen DS. These planes were used to train Dassault Mirage fighter jet pilots.I remember seeing these planes with their characteristic V-tails when on summer vacation in France. They would come in low over the beaches. Beautiful airplane.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Gamla Stans Cykel
Visited this bikestore in Stockholm's Gamla Stan (the old city) during a lunch break to buy a Brooks saddle for my Biomega bike. This store is just a small miracle. Almost like a museum. Beautiful century old vintage bikes, enamel bike brand signs, vintage saddles. Truly passionate owners. This is the best bike store in Stockholm.Stora Nygatan 20
Stockholm
www.gamlastanscykel.se
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Pashley
Very very nice bicycle. The Pashley Guv'nor. Based on a racer the company produced in the 30ies, it comes with Reynolds 531 tubing, 28'' wheels, and a Brooks leather saddle. So cool. At 695 British Pounds it is not even unreasonably priced.Pashley Cycles is England's longest established cycle manufacturer. Established in 1926 and based in Stratford- upon-Avon
Do check it out this bicicletta favoloso at:
http://www.pashley.co.uk/guvnor/gallery.html
Crockett & Jones
A year ago or so, I walked into a gentleman's shoestore offering classic English bootmaker Crockett & Jones. I was looking for a pair of black Jodhpurs, but the styles on offer were not really to my liking. I was looking for more of a 70ies round-nosed look. No problem said the salesperson, who invited me to his office. There he produced Crockett & Jones catalogues dating back to pre-war days.He informed me that Crockett & Jones could still produce one-off pairs of boots or shoes from past collections, since they keep an archive of all the mandrels and molds of their old styles. The boot would be a standard size - eight and a half in my case - not made-to-measure, but if would be a boot identical to the boot produced decades ago. Not a reproduction, not a copy, but the real thing, produced by Crockett & Jones with the same mandrels, molds and tools. This service was priced accordingly, approximately at regular retail price plus fifty percent.
I chose a pair of black 1972 Crockett & Jones Jodhpurs that set me back five hundred euros, with a three month delivery time. Well worth it. I have now worn the boots for one winter season, and they're absolute heaven.
http://www.crockettandjones.co.uk/
Monday, May 4, 2009
Moods of Norway
A quirky colourful Norwegian fashion brand. Love their necklabel text:Made in Europe by Really Really Pretty Blond Girls
Check them out at:
http://www.moodsofnorway.com/
The Green Fairy
Absinthe, an almost mythical green-colored alcoholic drink that for many years was forbidden in most European countries. The Green Fairy, as Absinthe is sometimes called, is anise flavored and made with the Artemisia Absinthium (wormwood) herb, which gives it its distinctive flavour.Spurred by the teetotalism movement at the beginning of the 1900s, absinthe was publicly associated with violent crimes and social disorder. As one critic put it: Absinthe makes you crazy and criminal, provokes epilepsy and tuberculosis, and has killed thousands of French people. It makes a ferocious beast of man, a martyr of woman, and a degenerate of the infant, it disorganizes and ruins the family and menaces the future of the country.
In 1906, Belgium banned the sale and distribution of absinthe. The Netherlands in 1909; the United States banned it in 1912, and France in 1915.
Since a few years back Absinthe is once again manufactured and available and has since regained some of its former cult following.
I for one am a big fan!
Grappa di Barolo
Marolo is an Italian grappa producer. My favourite: Grappa di Barolo, created from a distillation of Barolo Nebbiolo pomace. Aged in barrels, amber-toned in color (so not the usual colorless grappa), with an intense aroma particularly rich in vanilla, almonds, licorice, and cocoa. Very elegant. Warmly recommended. And the etched label with the Kingfisher is just absolutely beautiful.Saturday, May 2, 2009
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
President Kennedy receives a gift salamander from his nephew, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., in the Oval Office in March 1961.
Amalia Rodriguez
On 25 April 1974 the Carnation Revolution in Portugal ended the dictatorship of Antonio Salazar, one of the last Fascist regimes of Western Europe.Amalia Rodriguez is Portugal's Queen of Fado.
Her song Grandola Vila Morena is the hymn of the Carnation Revolution and it still gives me goosebumps everytime I hear it.
Umm Khalsoum
Umm Khalsoum was a fabulous and world famous Egyptian singer who reached the summits of her fame in the 60ies and 70ies. She is perhaps the biggest Arabic music artist ever to have lived. In the Middle East everybody knows and loves her. She was referred to as "The Lady" by Charles de Gaulle and was regarded as "The Incomparable Voice" by Maria Callas. The rich and famous would fly in from the entire region for her concerts at Kasr el Nil. Muammar Khaddafi's revolution in Libya was postponed because of a radio broadcast of an Umm Khalsoum concert. She has sold more records than The Beatles, and her funeral in Cairo in 1975 was attended by four million people, making it one of the largest gatherings in human history.It is known that she had the ability to sing as low as the second octave, as well as the ability to sing as high as between the seventh and the eighth octaves at her vocal peak. Her remarkable ability to produce approximately 14,000 vibrations per second with her vocal chords, her unparalleled vocal strength (no commercial microphone utilized for singing could withstand its strength, forcing her to stand at a 1- to 3-meter radius away from one), and her voice’s unique and breathtaking beauty that surpassed convention arguably made her one of the voices of all time
This is a YouTube video from 1966 of The Pearl of The Nile singing Al Atlal (The Ruines), my alltime favourite piece of Arabic music.
Dry cleaners
On our way from a nice dinner at bistro Mäster Anders on Kungsholmen, we passed this wonderful 1950s drycleaner's sign on St Eriksgatan.Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Albert Kahn
Albert Kahn was a French banker, philantropist, art lover and photography maecenas. In 1908 he decided to use the recently invented color photography technology (yes color!) to document the world in images. He hired renowned photographers to travel the world and photograph people high and low, landscapes, cityscapes, buildings.
An amazing project that went on from 1909 to 1930. The legacy is remarkable, and remarkably unknown. Probably because it is French rather than American or British...
His big project was interrupted by WW1, but that did not stop the photography. He continued, which has given us an unbelievable collection of WW1 images in color. Just look at these pictures of colonial conscripts from Algeria, Senegal and Indochina. Fighting for the French on the fields of Flanders, in Verdun, at the Somme. Amazing from more than one perspective...
True color photos; no post-coloration, no present-day digital manipulation. It's the real thing: color images almost a century old. Truly amazing.
There's a fantastic book on Albert Kahn and the photo's:
http://www.albertkahn.co.uk
An amazing project that went on from 1909 to 1930. The legacy is remarkable, and remarkably unknown. Probably because it is French rather than American or British...
His big project was interrupted by WW1, but that did not stop the photography. He continued, which has given us an unbelievable collection of WW1 images in color. Just look at these pictures of colonial conscripts from Algeria, Senegal and Indochina. Fighting for the French on the fields of Flanders, in Verdun, at the Somme. Amazing from more than one perspective...
True color photos; no post-coloration, no present-day digital manipulation. It's the real thing: color images almost a century old. Truly amazing.
There's a fantastic book on Albert Kahn and the photo's:
http://www.albertkahn.co.uk
Ministeck
My oldest friend commented on one of my blogs on Brezhnev, that Leonid's breastful of medals looks just like that 70ies children's "thing with the small bits of plastic that you lay pictures with on a white little board", and of course he meant Ministeck! Yes! Ministeck! I had forgottten about wonderful Ministeck, but it all came back. The long hours of nittygritty work with these frustratingly small pieces. The warming satisfaction of the result to show to mom and dad. God how many hours and days did I spent with Ministeck. Loved that stuff as a kid. Melancholy strikes me down!
Billy Reid
After a quick flyby Jeffrey's, I went and took a good long look at the Billy Reid store on 52 Bond Street (corner Bond Street and Bowery) today. Very nice store, nice staff, nice collection. Interesting guy. Originally a Southener, from Louisiana, he happily plays the southern comfort card. One t-shirt reads Make Cornbread, Not War. His shirts are fabulous, as are his piquet polos and some of the jackets. I also saw some nice khaki desert boots. Billy Reid won the 2001 CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year Award, and looking at his collection it is all quite obvious: Steven Alan, Michael Bastian, Tim Hamilton, Thom Browne...all great...and please add Billy Reid to the list in case you hadn't already.
I bought a black t-shirt with deep-burgundy print that says Ole War Skule; Louisiana State University's nickname - apparently i lieu of all the all american warriors the school has brought forth, a pink piquet polo and a nice checkered shirt.
http://www.billyreid.com
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Herr Judit
Also had a look at Herr Judit, a store for 2nd hand exclusive brands. Saw some nice Comme des Garcons shirts, lots of Ralph stuff, lots of Eton stuff. A bit of Gant and Acne. The store has an interesting concept: you actually can hang nice 2nd hand pieces there (of course they will have to approve the piece), and when it gets sold, you as the still-owner get a commission. Facinating concept; but I'm not sure whether this is sustainable. Didn't like their leather accessories though; they looked like newly and poorly manufactured copies of nice 70ies and 80is pieces. Still, if you're looking for nice 3-5 year old exclusive clothes at a very reasonable price (for example a superb Comme des Garcons linen shirt at ca. 500 Skr = 50 €) this place is sure worth a visit.Herr Judit, Hornsgatan 65, Södermalm , Stockholm www.herrjudit.se
Beyond Retro
Spent some time during Saturday afternoon in the Beyond Retro vintage store on Åsögatan on Södermalm in Stockholm.Found and bought a very intriguing blue and white Lacoste tracktop. It looks early 70ies and carries some interesting necklabels: a Chemiste Lacoste label with a blue croc, a label of IZOD, including the words by Odlo of Norway, and a third necklabel carrying the words Odlo, Made in Norway. Fascinating! A Norwegian Lacoste Tracktop!
Some Googling revealed the following: IZOD Lacoste was a brand name licensed by Lacoste to IZOD from 1952-1993. While IZOD was already established in America, the name "Lacoste" was added for prestige and introducing "Lacoste" to the American market. IZOD/Lacoste hit its peak popularity in the late 70's. Odlo of Norway was a Norwegian Skiwear company that had a license to produce Lacoste/IZOD apparel for the Norwegian market in the 60ies and 70ies.
Also bought a 60ies shirt made by GANT Shirtmakers for Nathan's Men's Shop in Galveston, Texas, USA. The shirt type is called The Hugger. With some very cool necklabels.http://www.beyondretro.com
Friday, April 24, 2009
Deeply depressing
This image, taken during one of the earlier years of the War in Iraq, has a profoundly depressing effect on me. Looking at it still makes me feel enormous anger!
This Iraqi father in his jallabah and slippers with a black sack over his head, sitting in the hot desert sand behind barbed wire as a prisoner of the occupation forces of George W. He is holding and trying to console his little son next to him. So very angering and depressing.
Somehow...
...somehow, this image fills me with an enormous sense of hope and optimism for the world.
The Ultimate Bling Bling Lover: Brezhnev (cont.)
Brezhnev was well known for his love of medals (he received a total of 114). In December 1976, for his 70th birthday, he was "awarded" the hero of The Hero of the Soviet Union. The award, the highest order of the Soviet Union, is normally only given for heroic feats in service to the Soviet state and society. Brezhnev received the award, which comes with the order of Lenin and the Gold Star, three more times in celebration of his birthdays. Brezhnev also received the Order of Victory, the highest Soviet military award, in 1978, becoming the only recipient receiving the order after the end of World War II. Brezhnev's controversial award was, however, revoked posthumously in 1989 for not meeting the requirements for the award.By comparison today's Russian leadership looks rather tame....
Ah... where did those days go....? The days of Leonid "MedalMad" Brezhnev, Konstantin "NonEvent" Chernenko, and Nikita "TableBanger" Krushchev...
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Waltz with Bashir
We went to see the Israeli film Waltz with Bashir last Saturday evening at Zita Cinema in Stockholm.
The movie is about the Israeli war in Lebanon in 1980. It's told from the perspective of some rather traumatized and alienated individual soldiers. At the heart of the story are the massacres at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Beirut.
It's a cartoon movie, but that's something you fail to take notice of already after a few minutes. It's a truly beautifully made movie. The drawing is magnificent; the poetry of the images and scenes just fabulous. It's also well told, incredibly captivating and moving. It is also a deeply disturbing movie.
The atmospere of the movie is highly claustrophobic and haunting. Borderline psychotic; the soldiers are high on drugs and so is the movie. It brings Apocalypse Now to mind, but less embellished, more naked, more honest.
Strongly recommended. Very strongly recommended.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Zarautz 1970ies
In the classic Basque resort town of Zarautz I spent many of my childhood summers. Chocolata con Churros on the promenade, the wild waves of the Gulf of Biscaye, the surf dudes, the peninsula of El Rato always on the horizon, the pelota playing, the red berets, the always present ETA grafiti, the nightly raids by the Guardia Civil, the traditional dinner of paella at nostalgic Hotel Duce (now long demolished), and on the beach the megaphone announcements in Basque, always followed with es karrikasko - thank you.
Any guess?
So who is this guy? Any guess?
This is Sirhan Sirhan, the Christian Palestinian who on 5 June 1968 shot and killed senator and presidential candidate Robert Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. He is serving a life sentence at California State Prison, Corcoran.
Katanga
In June 1960, The Belgian Congo gained independence from Belgium, and was renamed omitting "Belgian".
Independence proved to be chaotic and civil war erupted with the two main factions being supported by the USA and USSR in opposition. The United Nations mounted a peacekeeping operation.
The richest province, Katanga, with its natural resources including copper cobalt and uranium, declared itself a independent state. This secession was led by Moishe Tshombe, supported by the Belgian owned mining company and an army of European mercenaries, among whom the infamous Colonels Schramme and Denard.
In The Congo, Joseph Mobutu lead a military coup which overthrew the government of Prime Minister Patrice Lubumba. By 1963, the dream of an independent Katanga was over and it was renamed Shaba or Shabasa, and the capital Elizabethville was renamed Lubumbashi, and integral part of The Congo. later named Zaire.
In its brief period of independence, Katanga issued a beautiful gold coin of 5 franc.
The obverse design consists of a large bunch of bananas, quite a rare symbol on any coin. On the large flat raised border is ths single word KATANGA. The reverse design is a large "Katanga cross", and the inscripion 5 FR BANQUE NATIONALE 1961.
A Katanga cross was a form of ancient money used in this area from about the tenth century until about 1920, and called "handa".Connie
Monday, April 20, 2009
Whyred
Three purchases during the weekend. Just had to.A great pair of Samie the Shoes blue canvas and suede shoes;
Rain the Jersey, a great dark burgundy raglan piquet polo,
Bosmans The Knit: a beautiful, extremely thinly knitted, navy blue zip up cardigan.
http://www.whyred.se
Our Legacy
Almost next door to Nitty Gritty on Krukmakargatan on Södermalm in Stockholm lies a (the?) Our Legacy store. Never saw a store dedicated to this up-and-coming and very interesting Swedish brand before. Beautiful retro feel racing bike in the window.
Our Legacy makes very nice stuff; Grandpa feel, nice contemp-interpreted sportswear. Incredible relaxed style. Very nice make. Great details. http://www.ourlegacy.se
Nitty Gritty
Krukmakargatan 24 in the Södermalm district of Stockholm. Nitty Gritty. A cool multibrand store. Feels a bit like a very small Barneys COOP. Swedish brands like Whyred and Acne can be found, but I also found a rack of Steven Alan shirts, and some very nice pieces by Woolrich Woolen Mills. http://www.nittygritty.se
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