BAKELITE

These were found in an old shop in Porto, still ran by an old couple who does all the accounting and expenses with pen and paper. They're not made anymore, and they don't comply with EU electrical standards, so functionality is limited. But the designs are beautiful and still typical in hundreds of old houses who got electrified in the mid/early 20th C. The clicking sound they make is forever part of my childhood memories from our country house (which still has them).
The examples here were made by two companies: SIPE in the South and EMIR in the North. Not a lot of information is availabe online about these now obscure companies whose final stock has almost disappeared. There are outlets as well, and exterior switches. I have seen other models (such as a flat circular switch, which was installed at my grandparent's) and similar (but functioning) designs can be bought from German and British companies, based on contemporary models. These to me retain the unpretentious softness which characterizes my favorite Portuguese designs.

OFFICIUM DEFUNCTORUM

I have found this book in an old library cabinet in my great grandparent's house. It was published in 1731. The book is a wonderful miniature, measuring 2" × 4" and so opening into a full square proportion. The typeface is the one used for the title of this blog, similar to the fonts William Caslon published between 1720 and 1766. The book uses two font sizes and two colors: red and black. There are just three illustrations (prints). On composition alone, this book is a delight to browse.