Before you could google lyrics online, before you could google lyrics online and get a nasty computer virus in the early days of this mad, mad online world, if you wanted to be up on the latest tunes, there was sheet music. We’ve all watched enough vintage movies to know that many houses had pianos and social gatherings had a piano player and people really did sing along together. The sheet music in this week’s fresh to market vintage could have been sold as a prop for the 1949 movie In the Good Old Summertime with Judy Garland and Van Johnson.
Haven’t seen it? Here’s the plot: two co-workers in a sheet music and musical instrument store are distinctly not fond of each other, bickering constantly. Unbeknownst to both of them, they are secret romantic penpals, writing affectionate letters to each other. The longer the summer stretches, the more they natter at each other in person and the more they fall in love by letter. Sound familiar? It’s a remake of The Shop Around the Corner (1940) and it was the inspiration for You’ve Got Mail (1998).
We know this isn’t a movie review post, but it gives context to how important sheet music was to popular culture before things like radios and MP3 players. There were even special music cabinets built to store and organize sheet music. So while it is delightful framed and hung on the wall now, back in the day it was how hits were made and shared.
There’s some other nice stuff featured this week too…
Norcrest Skunks Salt & Pepper Shakers
You can always count on me to deliver the kitsch and cuteness. These two sisters are wearing darling little yellow hats trimmed with a pink posy. They are dressed to add some spice to your garden party. They are sincerely hoping to not frighten anyone away, as is the usual case. They were hoping to meet up with some frogs wearing bowties or some mice wearing tutus. They would certainly like any invitation as long as it is not from the pest removal folks.
Skunks Salt & Pepper, $51.99
-Mary Ellen, AuntHattiesAttic
Vintage Sheet Music c 1910-1920
Two pieces of vintage ephemera that are suitable for framing: “Until You Get Someone Else” dated 1928 from the Ziegfeld Production that starred Eddie Cantor in “Whoopee” and “L.J. Oscar Fontaine” dated 1911 with butterflies gracing the cover in shades of rust, gold and blue.
Two Pieces of Vintage Ephemera, $20
-Linda, Selective Salvage
Green Tri-color Lucite Cuff
I love bright colors so this bracelet caught my eye right away. While I know that Fall is upon us and the earthy golds, oranges, reds, and browns are everywhere, this funky bracelet still makes me smile. Most likely from the late 60s or early 70s, it’s large enough to fit a bigger wrist and would look great stacked between some chunky bangles.
Tri-color Green Cuff Bracelet, $29.95
-Pam, Vintage Renude
1970s Rosenthal Studio-Linie Brotzeit vase
Regular readers of our fresh-to-market vintage will recognize the name Björn Wiinblad, who designed this vase for Rosenthal. The warm coffee brown with the dark peacock blue is a striking color combo that complements the simple lines. The two bands of curls seem very Wiinblad-ish, his small wall plates have curly lines worked into the illustrations.
Björn Wiinblad Rosenthal Brotzeit Vase, $48.
–Laurie, NextStage Vintage
That’s this week’s fresh-to-market vintage. If you’re curious, we featured Björn Wiinblad plates in posts in July and September. He seems like the kind of guy we should write a post about. We’ll add that to the list…
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