Knowlton's Danderine

It's time to wash this month of posts right out of our hair, and maybe even beautify ourselves a little too! This is a very old bottle of late 1800's Knowlton's Danderine Hair Cleanse and Scalp Tonic. Used for dandruff (the bottle even says it can aid with "falling hair" and hair growth), and the very faded box is highlighted on both sides with pictures of a Victorian woman and young girl, each with extremely long hair, visually adding to this claim. As great as the box design is, I freakin' love that tombstone-esque bottle face with the black label and cramped, shimmery gold lettering. The bottle itself still has a bit of solidified Danderine residue inside which has turned an amberish dark orange color. The ancient cork stopper has of course rotted away, though a bit of it is still stuck inside the opening. Invented in 1895, patented in 1909, one online source says this stuff was still available as late as 1922 via Montgomery Ward's catalogs.

Squeaking Beauty

A follow-up to last month's vintage squeak toy post (HERE) with a classic Disney character in her own racket making rubber rendition of Sleepy Beauty! Okay, that's not true, the squeaker doesn't actually work at all anymore, but she brought along a few forest friends, and everything is wonderfully composed in a sweet little scene right out of the classic animated film feature. Produced by Dell in the 1950's, it's kind of an odd sculpt for a squishable squeak toy, with lots of elaborate character and detail, and she's still nearly 7'' high while kneeling. The paint job is focused mainly on Beauty herself, with her blonde hair and blue crown / dress trailing off into the natural rubber putty color of everything else, plus minor splashes of red on her lips, cheeks, and a few of the animals and flowers (not sure how this color ended up in her eyes though, it makes her look high as a kite!) She's still in decent shape too, despite a few discoloring smudges, and some deterioration to the tip of one of the rabbit's ears. I love the graceful / tasteful way her booty blends into the base, pulling everything together along with her name etched into the front.

Goodman Goes Playboy

Someone was asking me about the infamous Kurtzman and Elder story that got them sued by Archie Comics, and this is it. And fortunately for us, Archie never renewed its copyright, so it later fell into the public domain, which now means it can fall directly into a comfy spot for all eternity here at AEET too! Enjoy! From the February 1962 issue of Warren's HELP! V2#1.

Lady with Flowers

For those of you that enjoyed my posts earlier this month about "The Bather" Czech figural statue (if you missed it CLICK HERE), then allow me to present another barely covered young lady sitting on a rock in her birthday suit, and this time in the lovely form of "Lady with Flowers", as sculpted (and signed) by French Nouveau artist, Moreau. And though featured here in a later plaster reproduction version, she's still wonderfully realized at nearly 24" high, and with every wonderful cloth fold detail captured, and every supple body curve creating flawlessly vivid, Victorian beauty. She looks absolutely gorgeous here in my backyard, but unfortunately that's not where she'll stay, as it didn't take long for her to be covered in midwest bugs, not to mention my crazy cat practically knocking her over by simply rubbing up against the base. Ah well, she looks just as spectacular in my dining room now too, so no loss...

Baseball Watch

Well, baseball season is upon us once again. Not that I give a crap because I don't watch baseball, (or any type of competitive sports for that matter), but I do like this cute child's wrist watch, made in Germany, and sold back in the day for 10¢ at S. S. Kresge Company dime stores --later to become everyone's favorite blue-light beacon of bargains-- K-Mart! Highlighted with adorable art on the backing card, as well as the watch face itself, and features "moving hands" coming right out the batter's jockstrap! I guess you couldn't get any more on the nose by naming the product "Baseball Watch", because, I mean, that's exactly what it is... a baseball themed wrist watch.

Rap Wrap '70

Okay, if you don't have a cool Victorian paperweight to hold down your papers (see previous post HERE!), then maybe you can put your stuff in an ultra-groovy Rap Wrap folder instead. Full of gorgeously colorful, psychedelic artwork by Gene Bellos, this is actually a KISN AM (Portland OR) radio promotional item from 1970, un-used, and in its original cardboard mailer box. What's so funny 'bout peace, love, and scattered papers? Get organized now with a radical Rap Wrap!

Girl Under Glass

Some of you might remember my antique paperweight of love post from February 2024 HERE, --and now guess what? I've found another! This one is more traditionally round / domed glass instead of heart-shaped like the other, and this time we get a single, lovely girl, dressed in what appears to be her night clothes and cap. Is she pondering the great mysteries of the Victorian Age as she prepares to enter her slumber chamber? Is she plotting something sinister? Something sexy? Either way, I love her long brunette curls, the subtle, hand-tinted coloring of her cheeks, and that perfect feminine expression is to die for. The gold flowers encircling her are also a wonderful, texturally pleasing addition, framing her beauty for all eternity. Speaking of, where is she now?