When you’re out vintage shopping, do you ever fall so madly in like with something that you don’t notice it’s got damage until you get it home? Not patina or signs of age, those are vintage attributes. We’re talking damage here, like a crack in a pottery vase or a chip in the lid of a Pyrex casserole. You won’t find any damage in this week’s fresh to market vintage. And if there was any, we would detail it in the listing. (Damage is not always a dealbreaker, depending on the piece.) But we bet you’ve had the same experience we’ve had, not noticing a boo-boo until you get home with your treasure.
It’s hard to work past the thrill of finding something really cool and take your time to do your due diligence on the spot. If it’s dusty, you can’t always see things like hairline cracks. If the damage is subtle, sometimes we only find it when we’re cleaning a piece. Crazing on china sometimes doesn’t show up until you get a piece wet, for example. A missing doodad on a figurine might only catch your eye when you are dabbing the details with a cotton swab to get imbedded dirt out.
Don’t feel bad if you find that your prize isn’t quite as pristine as you thought. You’ll find a way to use it anyway, right? Now relax and check out this week’s fresh to market vintage.
Thelwell Mug and Figurine
Norman Thelwell was born in 1923 and had mastery over the art and cartoons of the British countryside. He is best known for his humorous cartoons of little girls and their little plump ponies. He also painted landscapes, that are quite serious indeed. To learn more about him, canter into Thelwell The Official Website to see why he is beloved by horse and pony lovers. He died in 2004, but his humor lives on.
Norman Thelwell Mug and Figurine, $49.99
-Mary Ellen, AuntHattiesAttic
Joan Rivers Czech Glass Torsade Necklace Tropical Colors
Joan Rivers’ jewelry remains popular for many reasons. Mostly because it was well made, well designed, and of high quality at an affordable price. This necklace checks all those boxes. The tropical color palette, versatile length and torsade style make it an easy wardrobe staple. If these colors don’t suit your fancy, I have another one in shades of reds, blues, and greens as well. Or if you prefer, one for winter and one for summer.
Joan Rivers Tropical Torsade, $59.95
-Pam, Vintage Renude
Patterson’s Seal Cut Plug Tin, c 1930s
I’m a fan of vintage packaging like this tin…not just for its looks but for the story it tells. The seal on the front of this lunch box style tin refers to the R.A. Patterson Tobacco Co. which was founded in Richmond VA. in 1856. But there is also a reference to The American Tobacco Co. which acquired the Patterson company in 1905. Those graphics date the production of this tin to the window of time between 1905 and 1930. One of the few redeeming qualities of the tobacco industry, in my humble opinion, is the great packaging that outlived the contents.
Vintage Patterson Seal Cut Plug Lunch Box Tin, $50
-Linda, Selective Salvage
1960s Tole Painted Tray
Decorative tole painted floral trays were a decor trend in the 1950s and 1960s. There is no shortage of them on the vintage market. Some are wood and some are metal. I’ve never seen a wood one that wasn’t hand painted. The metal ones are both hand painted and printed. If you can feel the stroke marks, it’s painted.
The metal ones are my particular favorites because they are magnetic, making them useful as memo boards. So much nicer than a memo board from a big box home decor or office supply store.
1960s Tole p\Painted Metal Tray, $35
–Laurie, NextStage Vintage
That’s this week’s fresh to market vintage lineup. If you’re like us, you’re looking forward to a summer’s worth of auctions, flea markets, estate sales and thrift stores. Oh the treasures we’ll find, you and us! But no matter how smitten you are with your find, make sure to take a minute to run your finger round all the edges and hold it up to the light, whatever you have to do spot any disappointing damage before you get home. We’re going to do our best to try, but oh my, it’s soooooo hard…
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Looking for a flea market to check out? We wrote about some regional flea markets.
