One of the true pleasures of collecting handmade pieces is that you never know what you are looking for until you find it. The pyrographic brush holder in this week’s fresh to market vintage is a fine example of that. If you collect pyrography, you never know what shape or form you might find. On the other hand, if you collect something like McCoy pottery, you know what pieces are out there and you know what pieces you are looking for. When you spot that elusive McCoy piece that’s been on your wish list, you can check that box as object acquired. There are no boxes to check when you collect handmade. Each piece is different, each piece is a surprise and each piece you collect speaks to you in its own way.
It’s not that collecting one thing is better than collecting another thing, it’s just that they’re different. As long as you are collecting your heart’s desire, there will never be a bad choice. Speaking of choices, we made some when deciding what to feature from our shops in this week’s fresh to market vintage.
Bride and Groom Figures in Original Box
I love how weddings can be exactly what a couple wants. Forest Wedding? Hippie Style? Courthouse Vows? Yes yes yes! These two would be charming on a cake for a vintage-loving couple who fill their lives and home with vintage clothing, furniture and decor. They look like Dolly Dingle goes Downton Abbey and can add that slightly shabby but loads of fun to a marriage celebration or even an anniversary cake. Some couples just love having a meaningful alternative cake topper. You do you, my friends!
Bisque Wedding Couple, $ 62.99
-Mary Ellen, AuntHattiesAttic
Folk Art Pyrographic Brush Holder c 1920s
I have collected hearts for years which is one of the reasons this piece caught my eye. Throw in the elaborate wood-burned decoration and I have to believe this was a gift of love created for someone special. It’s made of wood and is designed to hang on the wall holding what was probably a clothes brush. Another example of the type of folky Americana that is near and dear to my own heart.
Antique Wood Burned Brush Holder, $ 75
-Linda, Selective Salvage
Florenza Cameo Jewelry Set
Florenza jewelry was known for its renaissance revival style. From the mid-1940s to 1981 the company produced high-quality jewelry, sold through wholesalers around the country. This set is a good example of the versatility of their designs. The necklace pendant easily converts to a brooch by slipping it off the chain as it has a built-in pin back. The earrings, while not an exact match, are of a similar style and can easily be worn as a set or with other similar items made by the company. This gave the wearer the advantage of buying pieces over time to create a complete collection.
Cameo Earrings and Pendant/Brooch Set, $ 65.95
-Pam, Vintage Renude
Franciscan Sandalwood MCM china
Elegant with a quintessential mid-century shape, Franciscan Sandalwood is but one of many patterns and colors on their Encanto blank. Many china companies use blanks, a simple shape that is decorated in a number of ways to make different patterns. The Encanto blank was made from 1953 to 1981. Over that time, it was made both with and without a platinum band in colors including Ivory, Magnolia, Dawn, Spruce, Birchbark, Willow and Teak. The original cream blank was also produced in its own right as well as decorated with roses, a sheaf of wheat and small flowers.
The nice thing about china blanks made in a range of colors, like Fiestaware, is that you can mix and match colors within the set. Sandalwood was only made for a short period from 1953-1965, but it would blend well with any of the other shades to make your own customized china set.
Franciscan Sandalwood Dinnerware for Four, $150.
-Laurie, NextStage Vintage
That’s this week’s fresh to market vintage. As always, we all went in different directions, but we all arrived at the destination–this week’s post.
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Mary Ellen has some ideas about alternative cake toppers like her salt and pepper shabby sweeties in this post. Read more here.
