Do you collect vintage but shy away from using it because you’re afraid of something happening to it? We see you. We understand you. Some times we are you. But we’re sending you a message with this week’s fresh to market vintage: use it!
That McCoy flower pot deserves to have a plant. Use a pot to line it to preserve the condition (or don’t, it’s your pot). Hang those vintage curtains. Wear that vintage sweater. Rock those 1950s thermoset earrings. Frame up those Buerger Bros. labels and hang them in the loo or your dressing room where you can see and enjoy them. Put that snowshoeing medal on a chain or add a new pinback and wear it on your winter coat. And for heaven’s sake, visit the bakery and put something on that antique cake pedestal.
Obviously, there are some things too fragile to use. But if you can, find a way to display and show those things off. Having something is good, but being able to appreciate it is even better.
Here’s this week’s fresh to market vintage, hopefully sparking your creative juices to think of ways use the vintage in your life…
1950s Thermoset Earrings
These festive earrings feature creamy beige molded thermoset oval centers surrounded by gold mesh chain entwined with brown faux pearls and dotted with three AB rhinestones each. Just waiting for a party, these clip-on style earrings show no signs of wear and are just right to accessorize a vintage outfit.
1950s Thermoset Clip On Earrings with Mesh, Pearls and Rhinestones, $18.95
-Pam, Vintage Renude
Vintage Ephemera, Buerger Bros. Bottle Labels
The Buerger brothers were in the barber supply business, as you might have surmised from this collection of labels. Great 1930s graphics and snappy slogans were meant for bottles that contained: “Shop Ade – a standard shop preparation” (whatever that is…), “Camphor Cream – for chapped hands and face,” “Reveille Hair Dressing – the hair stays put” and “Daisy Hair Lotion – a dressing for the hair.” If you’re thinking about starting a new collection, I’d suggest you take a look at unused advertising ephemera because of the interesting look into the past it provides.
Four Unused Bottle Labels, $24
-Linda, Selective Salvage
Snowshoe Award Ribbon and Medal
I wasn’t certain that winter was going to fully arrive in Central Massachusetts until I woke to find a thick white feathering of snow on even the tiniest of branches on the trees down to the smallest of weeds. Its beauty still delights the child in me. I knew I had to show this medal today. New England had, and I hope will still have, winter carnivals for the public and schools to celebrate the fun and athleticism in the midst of snow and ice. There might be snow sculptures, skating races and even ski events. This award was given to someone who placed in a snowshoe race. I cannot walk in snowshoes, let alone run. Just writing this makes me thirsty for some hot chocolate!
Snowshoe Award Ribbon and Medal, $32.99
-Mary Ellen, AuntHattiesAttic
Antique EAPG Wedding Cake pattern cake stand
This Adams & Co. EAPG glass cake stand from the late 1800s is a thing of beauty. It’s thick glass with bold details. You can see the waves from the making. The pattern is called Wedding Cake, but don’t be fooled, this workhorse would happily hold your muffins, upside-down cake or a pile of chocolate coconut donuts.
Adams & Co. Wedding Cake Glass Cake Stand, $120.
-Laurie, NextStage Vintage
Hopefully you’re not reading this because you’re getting one of your awesome vintage treasures out of its hiding place to use it. Tulips look awesome in bohemian glass vases. Antique trivets can hold hot casseroles as well as folded dish towels. Vintage handbags make a nice change from the all-purpose 50 lb. bag you haul around with out most days.
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Still wondering about using your vintage? We wrote about that collector’s dilemma.
