Can you give vintage as a gift? Of course you can, that’s not even a question. But if you’re giving a vintage piece to someone who is not a vintage aficionado, add deeper context by including a little background info similar to what we write each week with our fresh to market vintage picks.
Not everyone understands that vintage means having a history and that shopping second hand makes economic and ecological sense, particularly if it comes from a charity thrift. If wine glasses are on someone’s list, wouldn’t they rather have a fine vintage crystal rather than a big box store pre-packed set of plain glassware? Who wouldn’t love a vintage cashmere sweater more than a fast fashion sweater? A nice vintage edition of a book has much more character than a new edition. Wrapping and handing down a family piece is not re-gifting. It’s extending the story of that piece through another generation.
Adding a note explaining the era it’s from or maybe a little about the company that made it would absolutely bring more meaning to a vintage gift. Who knows, it could even be the start of a new collection.
Speaking of collections, here’s the fresh to market vintage we collected this week…
Christmas Elf With a Candlestick
When I see a vintage Christmas item that I have never come across before I get giddy! This guy was made in Japan and that’s all I know of him. His peaked cap without the snowy white pompom gave me the idea that he is not just any kind of elf. Is he a “tomten” of Scandinavian lore? Did one of the reindeer eat his pompom? Maybe he’s an elf who is still in training and will get his pompom when he has completed his apprenticeship? All in all, he is useful with his candle-spreading light and cheer at the darkest part of the solar year!
Ceramic Elf, $43.99
-Mary Ellen, Aunt Hatties Attic
Vintage German Beer Stein with Pewter Lid
Most of us who buy and sell vintage associate beer steins with Germany but I for one knew little more than that. I have a small collection to dispose of so was pleased to come across an enlightening article in Collectors Weekly: Beer Steins, From Stoneware to Faience which contains a link to the Beer Stein Library. I’m not going down that rabbit hole right now, but it’s nice to know someone already has.
Small Pictorial German Beer Stein, $35
-Linda, Selective Salvage
Whiting & Davis Cameo Earrings
The name Whiting & Davis is known for its mesh purses and accessories. Costume jewelry is not the first thing that comes to mind here. Certainly not cameo-style earrings. These rose cameos defy the standard in a few ways. The blue and white mimic the jasperware of Wedgwood, while the border of silver-tone leaves isn’t exactly the stuff of delicate cameos. The roses are definitely not the expected vision in a cameo. Yet it all works together creating a lovely pair of earrings by Whiting & Davis.
Whiting & Davis Earrings, $35.95
-Pam, Vintage Renude
Pair of EAPG Cake Stands
Finding an antique cake stand is pretty awesome. But what superlative is enough to describe finding a matching pair? I’m a mixy-matchy kind of human, not a matchy-matchy kind, but even I can appreciate the beauty in the symmetry of two matching cake stands. Each stand has its own variation of wavy glass, bubbles, inclusions and straw marks which makes it unique. These would be the star of any table or buffet, perhaps with a candle in the center surrounded by sweets.
Pair of EAPG Cake Stands, $60.
-Laurie, NextStage Vintage
We’re biased, but we think everything in this week’s fresh to market vintage is giftworthy. A baker would love those pedestal twins. Those Whiting and Davis earrings would absolutely make the right outfit for a fashionista. The beer stein would hit home with the beer snob on your list. And that little elf without a pompom would delight that friend who starts preparing to prepare for Christmas the day after Halloween.
In terms of preparing, we prepare one email a week with all our posts for our subscribers. Don’t miss a vintage moment, subscribe!
We’ve also prepared lots of gift guides over the course of the year, featuring some of our favorite vintage from awesome sellers. Try a clowder of cats for cat lovers or a November garden for the gardeners in your life.
