The first of this week’s fresh to market vintage picks stopped us in our tracks. It’s the perfect quintessential 1950s necklace. It sparks many happy TV rerun memories of afternoons spent drooling over the costumes on shows from the 1950s and early 1960s. We aren’t ashamed to admit we have a serious girl crush on Donna Reed, star of The Donna Reed Show (1958-1966). She had so much drop dead style. We love Lucy and her wardrobe by costume designers Elois Jenssen and Edward Stevenson. We especially love the fit and flare dresses that were open from the waist and worn with cigarette pants underneath. There is a name for that ensemble that we once knew, but we no longer do. We would desperately like to know it again.
The one we love best of all as a fashion icon is Della Street, legal assistant (with benefits?) to Perry Mason from 1957-1966. We would love to give credit where due to the costume designer but the name(s) proved elusive on the internet and we went pretty far down that rabbit hole. If it’s out there, we’re going to need a bigger internet excavator. There is not a single show where Della is not perfectly dressed. She would absolutely wear the perfect 1950s necklace.
It’s not that we don’t like frogs, baskets and flat lead characters, the other picks in this week’s fresh to market vintage. Of course we are fond of them. But heavens, that necklace and all the fabulous women and fabulous fashion it brings to mind. Does it do the same for you?
Pink Crystal & Faux Pearl Necklace
Calling June Cleaver and every 1950s Mom fashion lover. This choker-length necklace is just the thing to accent a silk bow blouse and pencil skirt. The aurora borealis pink crystals add just a touch of shine to the otherwise standard pearl and crystal necklace. You know every 1950s housewife had a similar necklace. Now you can too.
Faux Pearl and Pink Crystal Necklace, $35.95
–Pam, Vintage Renude
Frog Music Festival
I tend to find little things that I can eventually make into a collection. This combination of West Germany, Japan and Taiwan ceramic frogs made me think about frogs making their music in the swamp areas of our town. The sax player and pianist are accented by two lily pad tiny frogs with BIG voices. Of course, the drink coasters are the audience and were made by UTCTI. I encourage you to check out this company’s ceramics as they are quite desirable and collectible. What amazing music their real counterparts make in the early morning or near dusk.
Frog Collection, $67.99
-Mary Ellen, AuntHattiesAttic
Woven Wicker Gathering Basket
I’m a big fan of vintage baskets because they are both decorative and useful. This woven wicker gathering basket features an offset handle and is dated to the 1930s. Fill it with an assortment of wrapped retro candies for a conversation-worthy candy dish. I grew up with Hershey’s Kisses, Peppermint Patties and Werther’s caramels. What candy brings back childhood memories for you?
American Handled Wicker Basket, $45
–Linda, Selective Salvage
Heinrichsen Flat Lead Miniatures
We stumbled into a large lot of these awesome German flat lead miniature figurines, made in the 1920s and 1930s by Heinrichsen. They may be tiny, but they pack a lot of personality. These skaters are so very much in motion. The boys chasing each other on the ice, the woman with her two suitors, the couples gliding together and the woman being pushed in her chair–they are each a little story all by themselves. I can think of lots of ways to use these, particularly in creating miniature dioramas.
Set of 7 Heinrichsen Flat Lead Skater Figurines, $140.
–Laurie, NextStage Vintage
That’s a wrap on this week’s fresh to market vintage. Listening to summer frogs is delightful. Candy in a vintage basket is one of our favorite dinners…er, we mean after dinner treats. And who doesn’t love tiny skaters on a tiny mirror ice rink? But truly, don’t you want that necklace to wear to swan around the market with your t-shirt and jeans?
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If you like vintage costume jewelry, you might like our post on identifying bakelite, one of the most beloved materials for awesome jewelry.
2 comments
Omg! Linda, when I was a kid my stepdad always had a bowl filled with Andes mints. We would gobble them by the handful!
They were popular in our household too, Pam!