Thursday, November 3, 2011

Mid Century Kitsch: Inflatable Terrarium Footstool

Ok, what the ****?  Some crazy things came out of the 60's and this has to be on the top of the list.

I came across this one on Craigslist Los Angeles this morning for $60.  I suppose it's something coveted just because it's so bizarre?  If I keep talking about it I suppose I'll want one too.


You know I had to go searching for more.  Here they are.....









Wow, a lot of them are out there - and all of the stools I found on Etsy have sold.  I guess I'm out of the loop on this one.  I must say, the more I look at them the more interesting they become.  Would I pay $100 for one? No, but it would be a funny kitschy item to own I guess. 

What do you think of this bizarre design? 

14 comments:

The Thrifty Picker - Rachael said...

I have never seen anything like this! I am trying to figure out what I think of the piece and I am completely torn.

Dana@Mid2Mod said...

Funny you should post about those, because I just ran across a picture of one for the first time a couple of days ago. I don't know why, but the things give me the creeps...must be some repressed childhood memory about fake roses or something. :) They're definitely interesting though. They're kinda ultra mod meets ultra traditional.

nickarmadillo said...

Wow! Just when you think that you've seen everything...

Rhan Vintage said...

Dana, I agree that they are creepy and I think it's the fake flowers that's doing it. I wonder what else could go inside that would make them look a little better? They must come with the flowers inside already right?

Thrifty Picker, I'm torn too. These things are just so weird...

Dana@Mid2Mod said...

I've found some very realistic-looking succulents online, which would make it look more like a real terrarium to me...and I think that would scare me less. :)

I think my aversion stems from memories of seeing plastic roses in vases at the cemetery when I was a kid.

moviemag46 said...

My Aunt Frances had one of these in yellow, and it went beautifully with her yellow plastic rose bouquet that had a tiny light inside each flower. Yes, I was raised surrounded by unerring good taste....:-)

Vintage Hunter said...

I've seen these before and they are a bit much for me. They wanna be cool but there is a definite creep out factor about them. They remind me of a funeral home or something. It's where fake flowers go when they die.

Rhan Vintage said...

Definitely creepy. So funny- "where fake flowers go to die". It's sort of like a permanent fixture of hideous fake flowers. As if they're not bad enough on their own, here they are forever preserved in a plastic blow up stool. Yuck!

bopfish said...

The only times I've seen these, they are badly yellowed and the plastic is stiff.

Sudha said...

h my..this is so cool..never seen one or knwon about them :),thanks for sharing...but not sure if i would get one home..:)

Peyton talk said...

I have one. We are going through the parent's house and have come across one. I found your page when trying to figure out what it is worth.
Are you interesting in purchasing?

Anonymous said...

I have one and I'm trying to find out what it would be worth. Mine has a light in the center and I haven't found another one the same.

Propagatrix said...

I have two and I adore them. One is at home and one is at my workplace so my feet don't dangle (I'm short).

It's not possible to replace the flowers inside with anything else because the vinyl has no zippers or openings other than the little inflation nozzle.

Anonymous said...

I have one and it is different from all of those I've seen on line. It has fish in it and looks like the bottom of the ocean. I had no idea they were collectors items. Mine was a little discolored on top but it seems to be coming clean very easily and the plastic is not stiff. If anyone is interested, I'm willing to sell.

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