PLAYING FAVORITES
getting all sorts of graphic inspiration from this set of japanese matchbox labels. they date from from 1920-1940. one of my favorite things about these labels is the simple illustrations and all of the unique color combinations.
i always like to pick favorites (favorite restaurant, favorite color, favorite season, etc). it drives my boyfriend crazy because i always ask him “which is your favorite?” and he most likely replies “i like them all in different ways.” and usually i reply “yeah, i know, but which is your favorite?” haha. we are quite different sometimes.
if i were to choose a favorite of these stamps, i would say the lady in the purple dress with the white collar. she looks like a good time.
what about you? what’s your favorite? …and you can’t say all of them 
13 Comments
Add your own1. ali | September 23rd, 2012 at 2:17 pm
Wow where did you find these? I think I like the Shikishima Pan and the Tea Room designs. But they are all wonderful. Great find!
Ali of aliandang
2. April | September 23rd, 2012 at 2:24 pm
I love the cafe Arabia! They’re all so fun!
3. Matisse | September 23rd, 2012 at 2:49 pm
I’m usually a sucker for colour but that black and beige one is smart. But love the colour combos of all of them… And the whole cut-out feel of the woman in pink and the one in black reminds me of Henri Matisse’s work.
4. Alison | September 23rd, 2012 at 2:57 pm
These are incredible! Of your choices, I’d say:
1. SHIKISHIMA PAN, 2. TEAROOM, 3. geisha, 4. sunset
But I also love these from the original set: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
What a great find, Bri! Thanks for sharing. – Alison { aliology.com }
5. Kate | September 23rd, 2012 at 3:04 pm
The tea room–I love yellow and orange lately! Also I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had the exact same conversation with my boyfriend, just not about matchbooks!
6. bri | September 23rd, 2012 at 3:30 pm
ha kate – this conversation happens just about everyday with us!
7. Malori | September 23rd, 2012 at 6:57 pm
I love the shikishima pan one. Black and white and stripes get me everyyyy time.
8. stephanie | September 24th, 2012 at 7:05 am
The striped black & white one is my fave!
9. sally | September 24th, 2012 at 8:33 am
These are so pretty, they remind me of the Eastern European vintage matchbox covers I’ve come across on Flickr.
My boyfriend is the same way about favorites…I just can’t understand it! Haha. Makes it hard to know what kind of cake to make for his birthday, even. :-p
10. saudia | September 24th, 2012 at 9:11 am
I seriously love all of these so much! So inspiring.
11. monica | September 24th, 2012 at 2:32 pm
Great stuff! Love the textures, as well. My favorite is the pink one.
12. Do-Hee | September 24th, 2012 at 6:23 pm
i love these! My fave has to be the Shikishima Pan matchox. I came across a book of woodblock Japanese postcards and they were just the most lovely sources of inspiration… <3 Thanks for sharing!
13. Aiman | September 28th, 2012 at 2:12 am
These are soo lovely! When I was on holiday in the Venice beach area I bumped into this adorable shop on Abbot Kinney Blvd. I don’t recall what it’s called but it’s full of gorgeous cake stands and other cute bits and bobs including matchstick boxes. It took me forever to choose just one and my husband was getting pretty fed up! If I had to I think I would probably choose the Shikishima Pan!
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