In the past, we have espoused the theory that vintage ephemera is extra cool because it should not exist. It should have been tossed years ago, but somehow it managed to stick around to be found and treasured by a thrilled vintage lover. Vintage product packaging falls into that category. This week’s fresh to market vintage has three fine packaging picks, all of which would make good decor.

Product packaging should be regarded as art. It was designed by a graphic artist with the specific intent of being attractive. The images, the typeface, the colors, the layout…all of it is intentional. Whether or not someone buys a product depends on how they respond to the packaging. It has to be informative and eyecatching. And that is why vintage product packaging makes excellent decor.

If perchance you have trouble mustering up excitement over a typeface or layout, we’ve still got you covered. The Miriam Haskell necklace is otherworldly stunning.

Nine Card Seed Co. Packets c. 1920s

I love this lot of unused packaging that was created for the Card Seed Co. of Fredonia NY in the 1920s. The graphics on these seed packets, produced by the Genesee Valley Litho. Co. of Rochester, NY, transform them into nine small works of art.

Vintage Ephemera – Vegetable Seed Packets, $45

Linda, Selective Salvage

Miriam Haskell MOP Floral Necklace

I’ll be sad to see this go, it’s such a rare beauty. When I first spotted it, I knew exactly what it was and scooped it up immediately. Miriam Haskell jewelry has always been of the highest quality. As a jewelry lover and seller, it’s the cream of the crop. Each mother of pearl disc was hand stitched onto the silk braided cord. The flower clusters were set lovingly and the whole thing was finished off with a single beautiful shell closure. Made in the 1940s, this necklace is just as relevant now as it was when it was made.

Mother of Pearl Silk Cord Necklace, $185.95

Pam, Vintage Renude

NOS Fire-King Casserole

Finding something like this Fire-King baking dish new, unused with its original label is initially gives you the giddy kind of exciement you always hope for when you’re sourcing. But that fades when you realize it has never been filled with anything delicious, it has never generated a single memory, its just been lurking in the cabinet, hoping today will be the day. I am one of those people who cringe when I see dishwasher destroyed Pyrex bowls, but on the other hand, those bowls got used and used and used.

Fire-King itself is pretty common because its made to last. Unused Fire-King with the original label, that’s less common for sure. The graphics and illustration makes it 100% decor worthy. But can someone please explain to me slowly, using small words and maybe some pictures, what is in the photograph of the pan and why, when there is a huge world of things you can put in casseroles, did the designer choose that.

Fire-King Utility Baking Dish with Original Label, $28.

Laurie, NextStage Vintage

1960s Moth-Killer Tin Collection

I don’t know who was first inspired to add a moth repellent tin to their Halloween decor, but hand this clever person an orange and black ribbon. The colors are perfect and the subject matter is, well, killer!

This instant collection includes a terrifyingly large five pound container of Snowhite Nuggets; a hard-to-find plaid(!) can of Value-Pak moth crystals; and a short, stout No-Moth tin—the perfect little stage for a witch or Jack o Lantern in your display.

Three Moth Repellent Tins With Excellent Halloween Decor Potential, $38.99

Mary, Sentimental Favorites

Thanks to Mary from Sentimental Favorites for being our guest this week. Guests always have free reign to pick what they want to feature and we definitely did not whisper softly “ooooo look at those moth repellent tins” into her ear. What a serendipitous turn of affairs that she happened to pick them.

It’s October, the month where we gird ourselves for the sprint into the holiday season. You’ll need good reasons to take a break in the weeks ahead, and sitting down to read Vintage Unscripted is always an excellent reason. And that is why you should subscribe to our email newsletter. You get one email a week with links to all the posts from the previous week. And we would rather compost our pumpkin seeds instead of roasting them than ever share your info.