How does this week measure up? This week’s fresh to market vintage seemed a good opportunity to talk about the importance of measurements when buying and selling vintage.
Most vintage sellers will include the measurement of what they are selling in their listing. Sometime the photos help, like with the floating bead choker. Showing it on the mannequin gives you a good idea of its size. But necks are not all the same size, double checking the listing for the actual length is a good idea before buying.
We all have a good idea who big salt and pepper shakers are, but suppose you are buying them to put in a particular spot in a curio case or cubby hole, knowing how tall them are means when you unwrap them, you won’t be disappointed.
Victorian tumblers come in all sizes and shapes. The photograph with the drawers gives the glasses scale, you know they aren’t tall like iced tea coolers. If you are trying to add to an existing set, even a difference of half an inch will make it stick out like a sore thumb.
And vintage clothing, here you have to check the measurements but also to take the design of the garment into consideration. A garment that’s meant to be worn oversized might have what appears to generous bust measurement, but you have to remember that the closer you are to the stated measurement, the closer the garment is going to fit. So while you can get it on, you might not be able to wear it comfortably based on the construction.
What if the listing for something you want doesn’t have a measurement? Message the seller and ask. There’s a very real chance the seller forgot to add it.
We didn’t forget to add anything to this week’s fresh to market vintage, it’s all right here.
Floating Bead Choker Necklace
Sometimes subtlety is more fitting than standing out. For those who prefer to fly under the radar with their accessories, this dainty choker-length necklace fits the bill. Hung on a delicate silver chain and strung with small graduating beads in pearl and silver, it quietly makes its own statement. It can easily be layered for a more dramatic look but worn by itself it says “I’m quietly sophisticated.”
Graduated Floating Bead Choker, $ 27.95
-Pam, Vintage Renude
Pink Kittens Salt and Pepper Shakers
I was fortunate to come across part of a salt and pepper shaker collection owned by a woman who was a curator at heart. What a gift I had been given, as she marked the date and the place (most often some sort of tourist attraction) on the base of each of her sets. They were put on display in some sort of glass cabinet so they are in like new condition.
Why do people collect salt and pepper shakers in the first place? I believe it is not for their table function. They are small for the most part, which is helpful. An entire collection might fit in a 5 gallon tub on moving day. This collection had a specific theme the curator loved, which is cats. Salt and pepper shakers are mementos of places visited or are birthday or holiday gifts given by a friend or family member who knows how or what they collect. They also were relatively inexpensive at the time of purchase, which is very helpful for the budget. Now I can move them on to a new generation of collectors!
Kittens S&P, $ 28.99
-Mary Ellen, AuntHattiesAttic
Antique Glass Tumblers, Hand Painted c 1900s
From frivolous to practical, from extravagant to simple, from strictly decor to useful, vintage glassware has something to offer collectors whether you’re a seasoned one who is looking for a special piece or one just getting started. On one end of the spectrum, you have glass made by companies like Tiffany and Steuben that fall into the high-end category that is out of the reach of most of us. On the other end, you have fun pieces like these two Victorian-era tumblers where the maker is unknown but they serve a purpose, both decorative and practical. I’m sure you’ll agree that freshly squeezed OJ tastes even better when it’s served in a glass that was painted a century ago.
Two Victorian Glass Tumblers, $ 85
-Linda, Selective Salvage
1980s Russ blouson top
There are two kinds of people: those who love shoulder pads and those who haven’t tried them yet. Admittedly, they are an acquired taste for those who have never felt the power that emanates from a perfectly fitting pair. The 1980s was the era of the power suit, and scientists have determined that the source of that power was the shoulder pads. This blouson blouse has shoulder pads for days.
1980s blouson top WITH SHOULDER PADS by Russ, $24.
–Laurie, NextStage Vintage
That’s this week’s fresh to market vintage. If you could slap a ruler down to take a measurement for variety, we would try and meet that mark every single week.
We try and bring variety to Vintage Unscripted every week. Subscribe over on the right and we’ll deliver that variety to your email inbox once a week.
