It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

It's almost December, the Christmas lights have been switched on and it's time to start thinking about what's on your Christmas shopping lists this year.

Last week the Telegraph came to visit Alfies to find out why antiques and vintage make the perfect gifts.  With vintage luggage, silk dressing gowns, danish table lamps and silver napkin rings they found a wonderful array of items to suit all tastes and budgets.

Here is our very own Christmas wish list from Alfies:

1.  Sparking gold and seed pearl jewellery. From Pari's Jewellery.

2. Magnificent pair of silver game birds Royal Irish Silver Co, c 1971. From Adrian Cohen Antiques.

3. A single sun head table lamp, signed 1968. From Astor Place London.

4. A blue and white Worchester butter dish, c1775. From Janes Antiques.

5. An advertising poster for Mackintosh's toffee by Jean D'ylen, 1928. From Dodo Posters.

6. A 1940s silver plated desk calender. From Good Time Antiques.

7. A pretty tortoiseshell mantilla comb. From Melinda Colthurst.

8. A glamorous mirrored frame (we'd love a blue one!). From Mirror Master.

9. A dainty matching cup and saucer. From W&L Antiques.

10. Enough colourful vintage decorations to make our Christmas tree shine. From Persiflage.

Don't forget we are hosting our annual Christmas Shopping Party this Thursday 29th November, from 5pm-9pm. Come and explore all four floors, find some special Christmas gifts and get into the festive spirit!  RSVP for your free invitation by emailing info@alfiesantiques.com or join the event on facebook.

Adire African Textiles

Adire African Textiles is a small gallery based on the first floor at Alfies where you can find an extraordinary selection of hand woven African textiles. One of the best sellers in Duncan Clarke's shop are the indigo dyed vintage cotton fabrics from various parts of West Africa.

Indigo was the foundation of numerous textile traditions throughout West Africa. For centuries before the introduction of synthetic dyes the ability to transform everyday white cotton into prized deep blue cloth was a mysterious and highly valuable skill passed on by specialist dyers from generation to generation. A century ago blue and white striped cloth was the normal attire across a vast area from Senegal to Cameroon, while numerous traditions of "shibori" type resist pattern dyeing flourished. Although today only isolated pockets of real indigo dyeing remain it is still possible to source old cloths from some remote areas. Adire African Textiles stock a large collection of vintage strip weave hand-spun cotton indigo cloths which are popular for use in interior decoration as well as appealing to indigo enthusiasts and African textile collectors. Part of the appeal of indigo is the way it fades with years of wear and this is represented in many of the cloths shown.

Here's a selection of our favourite indigo cloths:

Hand-spun cotton natural indigo dyed strip woven man's cloth from north-eastern Ivory Coast. 

 Age estimated circa 1920-40.

Hand-spun cotton natural indigo dyed strip woven man's cloth from north-eastern Ivory Coast.

Age estimated circa 1920-40

Hand-spun cotton natural indigo dyed strip woven woman's cloth from north Ghana. 

Age estimated circa 1920-40

Hand-spun cotton natural indigo dyed strip woven woman's cloth from northern Ivory Coast. 

Age estimated circa 1920-40.

Hand-spun cotton natural indigo dyed strip woven woman's cloth from the Mossi peoples of Burkina Faso. 

Adire African Textiles - F013

13-25 Church Street

NW8 8DT London 

T: 07710791497

For more information visit http://www.adireafricantextiles.com/
or read more about the Mossi Indigo Wrapper Cloths here

Feliks Topolski Trunk

Feliks Topolski studied at the Warsaw Academy of Art and went on to become a war artist for Poland and Great Britain. From 1953 to 1979 he produced a fortnightly chronicle, 'Topolski's Chronicle', which communicated his art and observations to a wider audience, since his death the chronicles have gained great respect as a pictorial and political record spanning nearly thirty years of world history.
 

Feliks Topolski

We were delighted to be hear that Tin Tin Collectables Luggage have Feliks Topolski's trunk in stock..

Feliks Topolski's trunk from Tin Tin Collectables Luggage

"Feliks Topolski used this trunk on his travels as a war artist on the Western Front where he executed some of his most compelling work. He is also well known as a textile designer and his work can be seen on many a silk scarf from the 1940-1960s. He painted the 600ft mural under the Hungerford Bridge.

This trunk was made to his own design. The top opens to reveal a drop down tray, there is another tray which when removed reveals a hanging wardrobe complete with custom made hangers. The front opens show space for folded shirts."

- Leslie of Tin Tin Collectables Luggage, Stand F014.