Since this is the place we show off our fresh to market vintage finds, and since it’s still a relatively new year, this seemed like the time and place to calibrate everyone’s inner vintage gyroscopes. Although there is no governing body of vintage selling, it’s usually understood that to be vintage, something must be at least 20 years old. (Antiques are typically 100 years or older.) That means things from 2005 are now vintage. It’s true. The end of the last century was not a couple years ago. Babies born in 2000 are college graduates and their baby toys can be sold as vintage.

Another shocking bit of context is that “We’re Not Going to Take It,” “Dancing in the Dark,” “Karma Chameleon” and “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” were all released closer to the end of WWII than to today. You read that correctly.

The point of this was not to make anyone feel old, it was to celebrate that we have another whole year that is now vintage. Yee-haw! It means toys from the first four Harry Potter movies are vintage, Guitar Hero games and iPod Nanos are vintage, cargo pants and tunics with leggings are vintage as is so much more from 2005, some of it deeply regrettable.

We don’t have anything from 2005 in this week’s fresh to market vintage collection, but we sure do have some other nice things for you to consider.

Satsuma Tea Bowl

This Satsuma tea bowl is decorated with cherry blossoms and a bird in flight. Decorated with a gold painted rim in a lobed style, it was most likely originally part of a complete tea set. While it can still be used for tea, it has so many others uses now as well. It would make a lovely trinket dish, or tea light candle holder, or perhaps a home for a small faux plant, even a tiny candy or nut dish.

Satsuma Cherry Blossom Lobed Tea Bowl, $64.95

-Pam, Vintage Renude

Bride and Groom Vases or Candleholders

It may be cold and snowy here in New England, but I know there are couples hard at work designing their weddings for the upcoming warm weather. The couple who will want this sweet duo will be vintage lovers. They will put this on their simpler home made wedding cake. She might be wearing her mother’s wedding dress with a few creative alterations and he has his eye on a vintage linen suit. The dog will be one of the attendants. The tables may have mixed patterns of dinnerware and crystal with a floral centerpiece in any variety  of vases or containers. I would LOVE being at a wedding like this!

Bride and Groom Candleholders, Made in Japan, $75.99

-Mary Ellen, Aunt Hattie’s Attic

Hand Woven Wicker Gathering Basket c 1920s

I’m a big fan of vintage gathering baskets and this small wicker one is something special. It is tightly woven from wicker, which has developed a lovely mellow patina. Its size makes me think it was possibly made as a May Day basket. If you’re unfamiliar with that holiday, enjoy this article from The Pioneer Woman blog.

Vintage American Gathering Basket, $30

-Linda, Selective Salvage

1970 Revell Bug Bomb Model kit

Illustrator and Baja off road racer Dave Deal designed a line of model kits for Revell in the early 1970s that has been reissued a few times. This Deal’s Wheels Bug Bomb model is original to the 70s, something purists will appreciate.

Dave “Big Deal” was legendary for his car illustrations, but he was also respected as a race driver. He built the first true racing Baja Bug and set a record in it, racing with Revell Product Manager Don Ernst over the 1000 mile course from Tijuana to La Paz in 1968.

1970s Revell Bug Bomb Model Kit , $125.

-Laurie, NextStage Vintage

If the news about 2005 being vintage knocked you for a loop, hopefully our older vintage fresh to market picks have helped bring you back to steadiness on your feet. There’s nothing more grounding than a beautiful gathering basket or satsuma tea bowl.

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