More Ephemera from the Antiques Arcade...Paper Armchair-Travelling

I didn't just buy the dolls :-). I also acquired this old - (not very old, mostly just 1950's) album for £4.00 - but I think it was worth every penny, as it is full of nice postcards, some of which are a good deal older than 50 years. (The Hessian wedding above, for instance, is post-marked 1912).

What a charming smile from this Swiss maiden!

It seems to be an album which once belonged to a British couple who (quite adventurously) visited Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Switzerland and, interestingly, Bulgaria, in the 1950's. Some of the Bulgarian postcards feature the bleak, oppressive architecture of post war eastern bloc countries, but the ones I found most interesting are those showing a variety of folk costume, of which I have made a small collection over the years.

Costume from Axel - in Germany - or Scandinavia?

My friend in Norway, Britt-Arnhild, and her family still keep the tradition of wearing their "Bunad" local costume on high days and holidays...do any of my other readers have and wear their own traditional garments? I do hope some of you do...

From the selection of postcards in the album, here are some more old images of European costumes and ways of life that may well now have disappeared, for you to enjoy....

Two postcards from Volendam in the Netherlands, where traditional costume was still worn on a daily basis until the last decade.

One for Britt-Arnhild - waiting to cross at Gudvangen on the Sogne Fijord - 1950's?

A traditional "tourist card" of Alpine flora -  Edelweiss, gentians and ?

(28.10.08...thanks to Brigitte and Dagmar, I now know that the red flowers are Almrauch, the Alpine rose, Rhododendron hirsutum. Thank you so much, ladies!)

Comments

[Darla]

The cards ar so interesting Roz. I particularly like the hats in the ones from Volendam. I wonder when something changes from fashion to traditional cosutme - or the other way around.

Darla

[Dagmar]

Hi Roz, I am Britt Arnhild's Austrian friend Dagmar. Regarding the postcard of the Alpine flora: the red flowers beside the Edelweiss and gentian are called Almrausch here in Austria, the correct name is Alpine rose, the latin word is Rhododendron hirsutum L.

Greetings from Austria to beautiful England

Dagmar

[Marilyn]

Whenever I see the Dutch women's hats I cannot help but wonder how that shape became the traditional style. Thanks for sharing your loot, Roz.

[Bernideen]

Everything is very interesting and those hats are incredible!

[Fran aka Redondowriter]

These are so interesting. In a box in the attic I know I have a shoebox filled with old postcards from my parents and step mom. I also have some old photo albums that came into the archives but aren't connected to the school. Don't you feel like you somehow or other tap into "another world" when you get this kind of stuff?

[Jade Blue]

I just loved reviewing these photographs and then perusing your blog more. It looks like you enjoy life!

The photograph of the Hessian wedding is so complicated -- elaborate and yet somehow sad. The children trailing behind the couple remind me of Victorian funeral children for some reason. And yet the clothes' color and designs suggest festivities.

Also impressive photo of the artichoke you grew. Makes me want to grow one next year!

[Stephanie Lish]

OK. I have to say this. Those two girls from Axel look like some sort of insects, do they not? Wings and all. Maybe grasshoppers? They even have antennae on their heads!

LOL

[Britt-Arnhild]

You always find such wonderful things Roz. Where will you take me to shop when I come in February?

I am glad Dagmar could be of help :-) She is a Venice lover, just like the two of us.

[SonyaSunny]

Hi,
Not enought information

Have a nice day
SonyaSunny

[Fancy Dress]

this is this wonderful flowers it's looking very beautiful..
nice blogging........