Gardening Season

Work Clothes for the Garden

Rofa – in Bentheim, on the Dutch border – is one of the last textile firms in Germany where everything is done under one roof – no outsourcing! Our clothes are made of strong cotton canvas, a material that ‘breathes’ and absorbs moisture – in other words, ideal for gardening – and which has been pre-washed.

Work Clothes for the Garden

Garden Décor and Fences

For home-owners who appreciate good workmanship and design this natural screen is the perfect alternative to the conventional screening mat available in any chain store. Learn more about our other suggestions for decorating your garden or fencing in plants and ponds: for example our movable metal fence, flexible, multi-purpose and even suitable as shrub support; or the traditional hazel fences. Also on offer: large planting buckets made of oak wood and, for your rambler roses, a durable stainless steel climber trellis. Garden Décor and Fences

Sports and Leisure: Outdoor Games

One question may come up now that spring is in the air and everyone is in high hopes for a long spell of fine weather – where did last summer’s outdoor games, balls, and bowls disappear? Not that closet, garage, or attic might have mopped them up; perhaps they were of such quality that they never found their way there to be stored for next year. Learn more here about the durable alternatives we have on offer.
Garden Games

Warm Lighting For Rugged Environments

This light bulb made in Switzerland has an impressive spiral filament lamp with ball plunger but can only be used with special limitations. In the pasted it was used as the daily household lighting and the technical details have not changed since then but today it is considered unsuitable for domestic lighting.

The fact that this item can still be obtained is due to its’ multiple spiral insert which makes it impact resistant in rugged environments

Globe Light Bulb with Spiral Filament...

In Your Study. Organising and Writing

At your service! Our big desk organizer provides enough room for just about anything the busy desk worker needs. It is put together on the unit construction principle – and how else, considering it has been designed by an architect. And as far as the writing goes – if you are among the few who are still sending out actual letters (on paper and handwritten with a pen, not just typed on a computer and forwarded via electronic mail!), check out our writing utensils and the ‘Original Crown Mill’ writing paper from Belgium.

» Organising and Writing...

The Vienna Coffee House – an Endangered Species

There’ve been coffee houses in Vienna since the end of the 17th century. The story goes that the beverage reached Vienna in the wake of the second Turkish siege of the city, when the Emperor’s troops, having raised the siege, brought with them the first sacks of coffee beans – as booty. The coffee house culture of the 18th century has left its mark on many European capitals, but none more so than on Vienna, with its incredible variety of coffee brands and mixtures and the cafés or ‘houses’ where these are served – for generations now, the centres of artistic and cultural life. It would be sad if the modern ‘coffee to go’ trend were to bring this tradition to an end. » Vienna Coffee House...

Kaweco Liliput

The ‘Liliput’ has now been reproduced with an aluminium body – the original was of ebonite. When closed, it’s only a little bigger than an ordinary filter cigarette. The cap is equipped with a two-way thread that can be used either to screw it tight or elongate it to a full-length pen. This way it’s small enough to fit into a shirt pocket or be used for hours of writing if need be. Kaweco have also made a leather case big enough for two Liliput pens.

» Kaweco Liliput...

Armor lux

Armor lux are based in Quimper, Brittany, and the unisex Fishermen’s Smock (with characteristic collar) that we offer in our new catalogue is the sort of local product they’ve always been famous for. What may be new to you is their present range of fresh, casual, sometimes sporty ladies’ things – shorts, trousers, jackets, dresses and shirts. All of these in the unmistakeable French style – casual, chic and comfortable.

» Armor lux...

Slippers

Who said slippers were boring? We offer slippers made of elk leather, wool from Tyrolean stone sheep, or one-piece wool felt (with elegant red velvet border). They come from renowned Austrian makers, and it’s our opinion that Austrian slippers have a certain ‘character’ that you don’t find elsewhere.

» Slippers...

Flemish Linen

Flanders has always been a major European flax-growing area. The linen we use not only comes from this area, but is woven and tailored there too – by a firm with over 150 years’ experience of the linen business; Libeco in Meulebeke, near Bruges. They use long-thread flax to ensure unvarying good quality of weave. The linen is dyed before knitting, and the natural nuances of colour in warp and weft show up as an ever-changing, vibrant picture in our elegant linen tunic. The tunic is made with three special features – the characteristic ‘flecks’ and fine ‘uneven’ spots that are only found in a superfine linen like this, easily notable and always admired; a stand-up collar; and slim peats at collar and sleeves. Flemish Linen

Sicilian Mandarin Marmalade

Hand-picked, full-flavoured ‘Tardivo di Ciaculli’ mandarins – one of the noblest varieties – are the basic ingredient of this delicious marmalade. The mandarins are practically pipless, thin-skinned, are very juicy and have an extra-high fructose content. They get their concentrated flavour from the fact that they’re harvested as late (‘tardivo’) as January through to March, and the careful way the marmalade’s prepared ensures that none of the flavour gets lost. The fruit is grown by the makers, the Consorzio Il Tardivo di Ciaculli in the Conca d’Oro near Palermo. The mandarins have been officially classified as ‘Slow Food Products’. Sicilian Mandarin marmalade

The Rimowa-Manufactum Edition. The classic large Suitcase

This Manufactum-Rimowa edition is based on “Topas”, a product first launched by Rimowa as early as 1950. For our special edition, we had the beautiful details from its first decade reconstructed: handles made of cowhide, combination locks of pure metal (without the plastic coverings of today), polished corner reinforcements and a lining of black, Rimowa-branded viscose. The interior is fitted with lashing straps and two small bags closed with an elastic band for stashing small objects at the sides of the base. There is a net zippered at two sides and tightened across a bent plastic tube that keeps the clothes stored in the lid in place and can also take small pieces of clothing. Rimowa-Manufactum Edition Suitcase

Over 50 years old. The wooden Sandal

The Berkemann wooden sandal is a classic among orthopaedic shoes. Designed in 1946 when Prof. Thomson developed a sandal to stimulate the gripping movement of the foot and to provide support and relief when standing or exercising the leg muscles - the Original Berkemann wooden sandal. The sole is made from poplar wood, varnished at the sides to protect it in wet areas, and natural rubber. The leather strap which runs through the sole, is covered with felt (80% wool and 20% viscose) on the inside. Berkemann have added - especially for Manufactum - a buckle with the old-style rivet (i.e. not simply tacked on), flexible on both sides for comfort and durability. Berkemann Wooden Sandal

Heavy-duty hose. The ‘golden snake‘

The famous black hose with the wavy yellow line – the ‘golden snake’ – takes a lot of work to make. It’s expensive, we admit. Rubber hoses are in any case not cheap, but the ‘golden snake’ comes into the three-figure category: and rightly so, as it’ll last you a lifetime.

This kind of hose has been around since 1930, and is used chiefly in industry and by landscape gardeners and other professionals. It’s the benchmark for quality. It’ll take any amount of bending, battering and treading, will put up with all changes in temperature and with pressures of up to 30 bar. ½ Inch ‘Golden Snake’ Rubber Hose

Café au lait in a »bol«

This bowl is made in the old glazed pottery workshop »Moulin de Loup« near Valenciennes, in a style typical of the 19th century, with a raised pedestal base. They were more often seen in less well-off households in the poorer region around Horchis, where people were more likely to drink coffee made from chicory rather than coffee beans.

The pattern, which is characteristic of rural artefacts, dates from the beginning of last century. Ceramic Coffee Bowl