These Christmas gift ideas from the ’60s turned housewares into presents
This round-up from the mid-’60s shows how holiday giving once aimed to balance good design with everyday needs. Think mirrored trays, lacquered wastebaskets, compact desk clocks and decorative chests. Whether you were shopping for a new homeowner or just wanted to brighten up someone’s space, the goal then was the same then as it often is now: Wrap up something they’d actually use.
Creative holiday gifts for the home: Give something out of this world (1964)
On the launching pad and ready to go in Santa’s space capsule are a collection of A-OK gifts for the home.
Since much of the fun and joy of Christmas lies in deciding what the perfect gift for a home should be, we’ve come up with a new idea: the “package” gift.
By that, we mean a group of related or correlated gifts that in the giving add up to one magnificent gesture on your part. We’ve also included some single gifts mainly because they are too beautiful in themselves to be overlooked.
We start off with our Christmas gift package idea:
(1) Bathroom ensemble for the new homeowner. The old-fashioned washbowl and pitcher with matching soap dish and toothbrush holder (not shown) are accessorized with a good-looking shower head, soap, and towels in coordinated colors.
(2) Fireplace package from the family to the family includes a handsome antiqued wood mantel and…
(3) …fire screen, plus…
(4) …andirons and white birch logs.
- 【𝐀𝐥𝐥-𝐢𝐧-𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥...
- 【𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧】:Unlike other open mesh board designs, our firewood rack features a solid metal base that contains ash...
- 【𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚-𝐋𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 】:Designed for maximum firewood storage! This indoor fireplace log rack measures 29.1" x 15.7" x 11.8", with its 15.7" x...
(5) Very ornamental, this barometer. Usually, barometers are gifts for men. Why not make a woman happy with one so she’ll know how to dress in the morning?
- This traditional weather station is both a work of art and an instrument at home in any fine study, library, office or upscale restaurant. The rich, wood framed classic weather station measures...
- The concept that 'decreasing atmospheric pressure predicts stormy weather' was postulated by Lucien Vidie -- and it's the basis for a weather prediction device called a storm glass or liquid...
- A narrow spout connects to the body below the water level and rises above the water level, where it is open to the atmosphere. When the air pressure is lower than it was at the time the body was...
(6) Mirrors are magic any way you look at them. Large or small (see 19) they add visual space, color, and life to a room.
https://clickamericana.com/holidays-seasons/christmas/4-crafty-creative-christmas-decorations-1963
(7) Tray package: a great idea because nobody ever has enough of them, this one in plastic. (Add to the collection with 12.)
(8) Pamper package: Fake fur baby pillows team up with bolsters and reversible fur and red flannel chaise throw (not shown).
(9) Wine lover’s bottle basket contains an all-purpose wine glass (give at least a dozen) and bottles of rose – an all-purpose wine.
- ORIGINAL DRINKER GIFT for Wine lover and Perfect for BBQ’s, picnic, parties, tailgate, travel on boat and so much more. Great Gifts for Father’s Day, Christmas, Birthday, Anniversary and other...
- UNIVERSAL – for wine with glasses or beer bottles. Practical Wine 4 Pack Holder. Strong and Steady Beer Carriers. Unique way to display your favorite bottles of wine. Magnetic corkscrew holder...
- EASY ASSEMBLY and COLLAPSIBLE. Instructions included. Simply assemble is all hand fit – no glue, no screws, no nails. Eco Friendly Wooden Handcrafted Bottle Case is packed in quality rustic gift box
(10) For the kitchen, a group of emerald green glass jars to hold staples while a pretty file stores favorite recipes.
(11) Area rug of felt fringe done in exciting colors.
(12) Lacquered trays come in six colors and three sizes-the large size shown. You might add to the collection with silver, wicker, or wood.
(13) Wastebasket package – a whole houseful of them – is geared to this brass scuttle for the living room. (See also 17 and 20.)
(14) An automatic pencil sharpener could be packaged with a fistful of pencils.
- 【Quickly Sharpen All Standard 6-8mm Pencils】 Coloured and traditional graphite pencils, suitable for round and triangular and hexagonal pencils、art pencil.Suitable for classroom, library, home,...
- 【Auto Stop & Fast Sharpen 】ZMOL Electric Pencil Sharpener can sharpen a new pencil in 5 seconds, and sharpen a blunt pencil in 3 seconds. The Pencil Sharpener will auto stop when it sharpen at a...
- 【3 Adjustable Sharpen Modes】This plug-in electric pencil sharpener has three adjustable sharpen modes, sharp, medium, and blunt. Pencils can be sharpened in 3 different modes. Adjust the mode...
(15) Rosewood lighter is handsome alone or with an ashtray that’s equally attractive.
(16) Copy of a Swiss grain sack has many uses in many places.
(17) Painted bucket makes a fine wastebasket for a child’s room.
(18) Small, brightly decorated chests for kitchen, family room, or desk.
https://clickamericana.com/recipes/dessert-recipes/decorative-christmas-desserts-1969
(19) Unusual octagonal gilt mirror.
(20) Paisley print wastebasket for bedroom or bath.
(21) Modern desk clock has a happy face.
(22) Tiny lamps are much in fashion this season.
- Portable LED Table Lamp: Built-in 2000mAh battery, can provide up to 10-15 hours of continuous lighting, perfect for those long nights studying or reading. The wireless feature allows for easy...
- Touch Control Lamp:Long press the top of the lamp touch control button can easily change the brightness, perfect integration of modern and chic charm, suitable for outdoor camping, family gatherings,...
- 3 Color Stepless Dimming: The bedside lamp provides white light, warm light, neutral light three kinds of light color, its light color can be freely adjusted according to your mood and needs. Warm...
(23) Sewing package: a bright basket becomes even more useful with a pair of pretty pincushions.
(24) Model of a Mercury Space capsule is not for sale!
