Vintage from businesses and organizations make awesome collections. T-shirts, restaurant ware and hotel/motel hangers are probably at the top of that heap, but paper ephemera is not far behind. This week’s fresh to market vintage has three pieces that fit into that category.
The Worcester, MA bank bag and the Burlington, VT restaurant ashtray are interesting because they are both from businesses that no longer exist. The IOOF Rebekah staff toppers come from an organization that is still active, but they come from a different era.
What makes these business emblazoned items so appealing is hard to articulate. You may be uninterested in a McDonald’s glass, but feel completely weak at the knees over a historic hotel hanger. Like with so many vintage pieces, nostalgia of some kind is at the root of it. It might not be first hand nostalgia. It might be nostalgia for an era long before your time. Whatever it is, it’s yet another reason vintage is awesome.
Oval Gold Tone and Black Enamel Brooch
This brooch appears to be a more modern rendition of an antique. The style harkens back to the early twentieth century, while the manufacture is clearly much newer. So in my mind, the best of both worlds. The cabochon-style bubble in the center is gold tone metal rather than glass or gem. Although the black enamel surround is reminiscent of Victorian era mourning jewelry as well as the shape and openwork details. Overall a very pretty smaller brooch just right for a lapel or delicate scarf.
Gold Tone and Black Brooch, $18.95
-Pam, Vintage Renude
Worcester, MA Bank Deposit Bag
Bank bags have a purpose, to wrangle cash for safe keeping on the way to deposit it. Some bank bags are still used for that purpose, but they also make eclectic and fun clutch bags. If you’re handy with a needle, you can also add a strap to wear it over your shoulder. This historic Worcester, MA bank was merged out of existence in 1994, making it extra cool.
Worcester County National Bank Zippered Deposit Bag, $15.
-Laurie, NextStage Vintage
Pair of Dove-Shaped IOOF Rebekah Staff Toppers
As you may have noticed if you are a regular reader of our blog, I’m a big fan of lodge memorabilia. This pair of Rebekah staff toppers was acquired when the contents of an IOOF/Rebekah lodge in a small town in South Dakota were auctioned off in the 1990s, 70 years after the lodge closed. They’ve been mounted on wooden bases and serve as a reminder that the tenet of “peace on earth and goodwill to men” is something to strive for all year round.
Vintage Lodge Memorabilia – IOOF Staff Toppers, $250
-Linda, Selective Salvage
Valade’s Terminal Restaurant, Burlington, VT, Glass Ashtray
Glass Advertising Ashtray, $44.99
-Mary Ellen, Aunt Hatties Attic
Don’t you wish you could time travel back to have a meal at Valade’s? Someone loved eating there enough that an ashtray made its way home with them. You know Valade’s made killer egg salad and pancakes that were fluffy as heck. Our fresh to market vintage doesn’t usually make you hungry, but all we can think about right now is diner food.
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