There’s a celebrity sighting in this week’s fresh to market vintage, a bracelet from the Joan Rivers jewelry line. For those who aren’t familiar with the name, Joan Rivers was a groundbreaking comedian, author and television personality for decades before her death in 2016. Like others in the entertainment business, she used her name recognition to diversify into clothing, makeup and fine costume jewelry.
When it comes to celebrity diversification, the most successful example has to be Paul Newman. There are people walking the planet who are fans of the salad dressing and other foods from Newman’s Own who have never seen The Sting (1973) or Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) so they have no idea that he was an acting god that walked among us before he was grocery store merchandise.
A good product, like Joan Rivers costume jewelry and Newman’s Own salad dressing, sells because of the quality. The celebrity name on the product more like a brand name, meaning the product popularity is somewhat constant. On the other hand, celebrity vintage based on the popularity of the performer, like magazines and promotional products, is trickier to sell if the celebrity’s fame has waned due to the passing of time and aging of the fans. Some celebrities are timeless; Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley vintage is still in demand. But memorabilia for personalities like Shirley Temple, the Lone Ranger (Clayton Moore) or Joan Crawford, who were huge in their time, is a smaller niche market. There are fewer buyers because fewer people are around who remember their work.
Reruns on cable networks and resurrections through popular culture can raise the profile of celebrities whose fame has dimmed. One of those fame resurrections is dead ahead. Vintage sellers lucky enough to have antique Clara Bow memorabilia are probably in snapadoodle mode to get it listed before April 19, the day Taylor Swift’s album drops with a song titled Clara Bow. One has to assume it will spark keen interest in the It Girl of the silent film era.
Until then, may we direct your attention to this week’s fresh to market vintage…
Vintage American Toys Xylophone c 1940s
The “New Metal Zil-o-Phone” xylophone was manufactured by American Toys in the 1940s. In the original box, it includes the instrument and two wooden mallets. It’s hard to believe kids dressed in suits and ties to play a percussion instrument in the mid-century, but according to the graphics on the box, that’s true.
If you’re a musician, you may know that the xylophone is a very old form of percussion instrument with a disputed lineage. If you’re not a musician, you can read about its roots on the Vienna Symphonic Library’s website and how it got its name on Cool Percussion.
Vintage “Zil-o-Phone” in Original Box , $25
-Linda, Selective Salvage
Joan Rivers Pansy Bracelet
Joan Rivers wasn’t only famous for her comedy, her jewelry line is still just as popular now as ever. This enamel pansy bracelet is bright and fun. It reminds me of spring which is finally heading our way. I can’t wait. If you, like me wish for springtime all year, this may be for you.
Joan Rivers Pansy Bracelet, $48.95
-Pam, Vintage Renude
Smiling Frog on a Lily Pad
It’s a time for the green to proudly show itself and my green pottery frog is all smiles. We are celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with corned beef and colcannon and will be wearing something green. A few days later it will be officially spring. We’ve been feeling it coming in slowly, but nothing has come up green yet that I can spot. It will be here soon. Along with the green and the warmer temperatures, we will start hearing the spring peepers, tiny little tree frogs, making our hearts swell in delight. When we walk near the wetlands we will hear the deep low quacks of the wood frogs. Happy green days ahead.
Greyson Potteries Ceramic Frog, $97.99
-Mary Ellen, Aunt Hatties Vintage
Victorian Palate Cleanser Stems?
The question mark is intentional, because sussing out the actual purpose of these comely looking stems has been challenging. Online sleuthing revealed one similar set being described as wine glasses. The Victorians were taken with whimsical table pieces to the point that it’s not out of the question these could have been used for a sweet wine or sherry. You can drink from them (tested with water for the protection of my shirt in case they were more like dribble glasses), but the flared petaled top makes it impractical. Most sherbet dishes are not this tall. The leading contender for what they are came from our own Mary Ellen, who suggested they might have been used to serve a palate cleansing sherbet or ice.
If you know what they are, please educate me!
Four Antique Stems that may or may not be for serving a Palate Cleanser, $95.
-Laurie, NextStage Vintage
That’s this week’s fresh to market vintage. Aside from the celebrity sighting, the rest may not attract paparazzi but they make an interesting line up.
We try to have interesting posts for our readers three times a week. If you subscribe to our email newsletter, you will never miss a single post–we’ll send you links to all of them.
If you’re a vintage toy fan and the New Metal Zil-o-Phone made you flap your flippers with joy, you might enjoy our post on collecting Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars.
