You’ve heard of the Avengers and the Incredibles. This week’s fresh to market vintage features a super vintage lineup you could call the Endurables. Trends come, trends go, but mid century beaded necklaces, teacups and saucers, novelty vases and King’s Crown goblets are forever. Their popularity is enduring. We’ve racked the dusty recesses of our vintage brains, and we can’t think of a time when they weren’t popular.
There are other Endurables. Pyrex is an Endurable. Bakelite jewelry, mid century printed barware, tea towels and Catherineholm enamelware are also Endurables. If we’ve done our work well and implanted a curiosity seed in your brain, you’ll spend the rest of your day thinking of other Endurables, which you should definitely post in the comments below.
We’re glad this isn’t a Q&A so you could try to make us tell you why things become Endurables. It’s not something specific. It’s what the French would call je nais se quoi, which translates as “I don’t know what” or “beats me.” It’s not something quantifiable, it can’t be put into words and it’s slippery as an eel to describe. Endurables just are. If you’re a vintage lover, you know what we mean.
One thing we can put into words are the descriptions of this week’s fresh to market vintage picks, which can be found if you scroll down just a smidge.
Mid Century 3 Strand Beaded Necklace
Marked Japan on the clasp, this necklace is representative of jewelry created and worn post WWII. This style was popular well into the 1960s, when it was eclipsed by the bright colors and geometric forms of the late 60s. These necklaces, although rather formulaic, varied in colors and bead styles as well as the number of strands. You could easily create a collection of these Japanese necklaces and never wear the same one twice.
Japan 3 Strand Necklace, $24.95
-Pam, Vintage Renude
China Cup and Saucer, Unmarked c 1950s
Offering a delicate off white china cup and saucer handpainted in an abstract floral design. Gold paint trim on both pieces. Unmarked. Purchased in Japan in the 1950s. Perfect for tea for one.
Off-White China Cup and Saucer, $18
-Linda, Selective Salvage
Relpo Stork with Book Vase
I know for certain that spring is coming. The robins are already here, even with the snow on the ground. We also heard the bhuh-breeeee! of the redwing blackbird near our post office. Here is another bird harbinger of things to come. I was in shock when I came across it. It was so pristine I wondered if it was stored in a vault. Relpo was a Chicago company that imported ceramics from Japan after World War II until the 1960s.
Relpo Vase, MCM made in Japan, $67
-Mary Ellen, Aunt Hatties Attic
Indiana Glass Kings Crown Goblets
King’s Crown, aka Thumbprint, is a venerable pattern inspired by a turn-of-the-century design from Adams and made by Indiana Glass, U.S. Glass, and Tiffin in the mid-century era. It was made in at least 18 colors, and that doesn’t count the clear glasses with color “flashing” made by Tiffin. These glasses are stemware that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s sturdy enough for every day and pretty enough for special occasions, like birthdays, cocktail parties and days that end in “y.”
6 Indiana Glass King’s Crown Goblets, $48.
-Laurie, NextStage Vintage
Have you thought of any other Endurables yet? The argument could be made that Raffiaware mugs, made in USA vintage Whiting and Davis evening bags and Mirro cookie cutters are also Endurables. We know in all our years as vintage sellers, our flippers have always flapped with glee when we find them. Of course, it doesn’t take much to flap our flippers. We hope this week’s fresh to market vintage flapped yours.
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