Olga and I stumbled onto a strange find while walking yesterday morning. On the street behind our local post office -- which has been closed as long as we've lived here -- someone abandoned this old wooden toy oven.
It's really a toy kitchenette, I suppose, since it's more than an oven. There's a fridge unit, a sink, and a stovetop with one remaining burner (above).
I'm thinking it's from the '60s or thereabouts. I mean, who makes anything from wood these days? The graphics definitely seem to date from the "Bewitched" era. Or maybe "The Brady Bunch."
The detailing was neat, like the red ring on the "hot water" knob on the wooden faucet. The cold water knob had a blue ring, naturally.
I toyed with the idea of carrying the whole thing home to try to rescue it.
But on the inside, the oven had been colonized by fungus. From the looks of it, I'd guess the entire unit had spent a few years sitting out in someone's back garden.
In the end, and no doubt to Dave's great relief, Olga and I left it sitting where it was.
Try the 1950s. I had a toy kitchen...pink sheet metal. It dated from 1963.
ReplyDeleteOh my. If only we could magically transport that darling thing to my yard. I hope that someone found it and will love it back to use and that children can use it for pretending again.
ReplyDeleteI agree with e that's it's more like the 50s. It's darling! Someone took great care to make it and I hope it was well loved in its day and made many tasty pretend meals.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing that makes me feel better about it staying in place is the mildew factor- bringing that into your flat would have been nasty. What a cute little unit! Great find! Wonderful photo of the oven and door! Beautiful, so cool! I am sure the mushrooms appreciate having their picture taken instead of being removed to repaint the little oven thing. ( I would not have been able to leave it, I am a packrat, kudos to you!)
ReplyDeleteI would have had a hard time tearing myself away -- even with the mold and fungi!
ReplyDeleteSomeone with a lot of love made that thing. I see why you would want it - also why you wouldn't!
ReplyDeleteBesides, Olga would have taken to chewing on it eventually. It's wood, after all.
A good example of how well photography can communicate.
ReplyDeleteYou are killing me! I have been tying to get a toy oven into our dramatic play area for weeks and you stumble upon one?!
ReplyDeleteI love the shots you got of this relic! It is definitely taking on a life of it's own now.
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