EMSA Emsa German Plastic HomeStyleCollect

German Emsa Coaster set from Home Style Collect here.

EMSA Everywhere!

Just look at these fine gems I found at retro shop Home Style Collect on Etsy. This shop is run by Mark van der Werf from Rotterdam, The Netherlands. In it you will find mid century modern items of all kinds and plastic just waiting to be had.  Today I found a stash of Emsa German products are hidden in this shop, and wanted to expose it and tell you more about this plastic ware!

Only $13.69 German Emsa Bowl for Candy @homestylecollect

Emsa German plastic has been quite hard for me to find, possibly because most of these wares were used overseas. The company was founded in 1949 by Franz Wulf. According to Wikipedia, the Company went by Franz Wulf & Company Plasticwarenfabrik and was located in Greven, Germany. They are still operational today!

These egg cups part of a set (below) at HomeStyleCollect note the adorable feet 

Egg cups were quite popular throughout Europe and vintage examples can still be found today.  Some of Emsa's egg cups were stout, adorable and footed making them more on the fancy side.  Due to their functionality and lightweight it is totally conceivable that that some of these ended up shipped to the States as holiday gifts as the cost was low for such light plastic items.  Perhaps this is why these, as well as spoon rests or drip catchers are easily found here (more so than other items).

Emsa Kitchen Set $35.59 at Home Style Collect

It is said that Plasticwarenfabrik's first item was a butterfly drip catcher. I am quite sure this can still be found but mistaken as a spoon rest.  If I happen across one, I'll be sure to post it.  In the 1970's patents were applied by Franz Breitenbach for a Cat, Great Horned Owl and Monkey Figurine.     Although not melmac or melamine, this was certainly a great plastic manufacturer that should be noted.

Emsa.com  "Landhaus" Flowerbox Picket Fence

Today Emsa makes everything from kitchenwares to flower boxes. My favorite is this called Landhaus, which is a picket fence style available in hot pink, blue or green. They also made bird feeders to match. The whole Landhaus line is for the home and is quite stunning and chic.

As for Home Style Collect, they have much vintage plastic in stock, not just Emsa. You'll find a big allotment from 1940s to 1970s here, and decorations for your entire home.  Here are a few of my favorite items!

1972 Vintage Braun hairdryer $29.02!

HomeStyleCollect tells us the hairdryer above was fashioned by Reinhold Weiss, for Braun. A similar style was made in the USA but I am not certain if it was the same designer or a copy, I actually use one!  Below, a date changer made in the UK fashioned of plastic for the Dutch is a registered design and in modern colors!

Only $12.59 this very mod looking Dutch Date Changer is a steal!

Melamine Attack!  Who did this great atomic design (below) in red? Surely some famous designer!  The peanut bowl is covered as so no dust or dirt goes in it, and the members of the card game or guests at your cookout function will each have their own individual bowl.  A stunning piece of history!

Mystery Atomic Bowl Melamine Melmac by Home Style Collect $25.74 here.

Vintage Plastic Thermos at Home Style Collect $19.17

The Safari 600 above thermos was made in Italy ! Simply stunning retro design and not to mention still fully functional!

HomeStyleCollect has a brick and mortar store in the Netherlands and ships worldwide.  Check them out at:

HomeStyleCollect.etsy.com

German Plastic Involvement Plastipedia

Vintage Brooch: Made in East Germany, found at Etsy Shop RetourDesCourtisanes in Berlin, Germany.

Germany's Contributions to Plastics

Although we mainly talk about American made melamine dinnerware and plastics, and have touched on some Canadian, British, and Danish, or Italian plastics we don't talk much about the German Plastics. It's important to know that worldwide, contributions to plastics were being made by German companies and this is crucial in plastics history.   For instance,  according to Plastipedia, as early as 1899  a company of Krische and Spittler in Germany were awarded the patent for Casein Plastic from milk.   The Plastipedia goes on to indicate inventions in 1935 by Troester in Germany produced the first extruder designed for thermoplastics. Later in 1937 came the first commercial production of polystyrene by IG Farben, Germany.  You can read more on their website, but clearly one can summarize that the world had many great chemists, scientists, and members of the plastics society working together (albeit independently) to move the world forward in plastics inventions.

On Etsy, Fabulous Etsy EMSA Coffee Pot by Kchoos

EMSA

One of the best modern plastics made in Germany is by EMSA.  They have made the cutest, space age, atomic designs I've ever seen. Collectors should know these items are collectible, and can be pricey.



Fun German Fact

There is something called Old German Handwriting!  A well known graphic designer, Ludwig Sütterlin, came up with this form of  handwriting. Truth is, this old language is so old and archaic, (sometimes just referred to as Sutterlin), that a special website does nothing but specialize in the Translation of German Handwriting .  That just goes to show that Germany has much to offer in the way of art, history, and design secrets.

Oddity in Melamine : German Newspaper Advertising Ashtray Hall of Shame

DawnAtTheMarket is offering this at a bargain price of $16.

I am sure this was an advertising premium, possibly handed out to employees or the public to encourage readership in the paper the,  "neumarkter nachrichten". I first suspected this may be referring to the pretty village of Newmarkt, Bavaria, Germany but the small region only has less than 40,000 people it seemed odd to me at one time they were handing out advertising premiums to gain readership to their local paper.  I thought no....it can't be....

Well it must have worked. That small paper is a highly respected paper now and has it's own website thanks to the glory of the Internet and no doubt loyal readers from it's ashtrays it gave out decades ago. After all, the bottom of the ashtray reads die komplette information, (complete information!)



I suppose the original thinking was, enjoy a "cig" and read our paper!  Call me a cynic when it comes to encouraging people to snuff out a hot butt on someone's face but that just gives me the creeps.  So, I'm adding this to the Melmac Hall of Shame.  Still a good deal and a RARE piece to add to your melmac collection at the price of only $16. Go buy this thing NOW please!

UPDATE:  IDENTIFICATION Thanks to

madpiano said...

Haha - I am from Bavaria and not even too far from Neumarkt. We mainly read local papers in Germany, there are only a couple of nationals, this one is quite a big one as it covers quite a large region. I remember those ashtrays, they weren't given to readers or staff, they were given to restaurants and cafes. It's been a long time ago though. I didn't like these much when I was working as a waitress, they were too big and left no room on the table for the beer!!