Ah, spring. The time when a vintage seller’s mind turns to sweetness and light. The time when this week’s fresh to market vintage is all of a mind, that spring enchantment lies straight ahead if only we pull up our socks and be patient for a few more weeks.
Online vintage sellers are no different than retailers when it comes to gearing product towards the next big holiday. Of course, most sellers list holiday gear all year long, but special emphasis goes into getting the things that fit people’s moods in front of their eyes. Scrolling through Instagram, it’s easy to see that we are all thinking happy thoughts of flowers and light, bright colors.
We don’t hold long Slack editorial meetings about what we’re showcasing for fresh to market vintage, so the fact that we all chose things that are happy and magical just like spring is proof positive that we each independently have heads full of bunnies, fairies froggies and flowers!
Kelvin Chen Frogs Soap Dish
This adorable enamel soap dish by artist Kelvin Chen reminds me of Spring. It’s a copper enamel piece of which I am very fond. While it’s not quite vintage (dated 2005) it was too good to pass up. Kelvin is best known for his miniature enameled teapots and eyeglass trays, so this piece is a rarity. In fact, I have never seen another in this design. The two little frogs are so cheerful sitting on their lily pad. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for Spring!
Kelvin Chen Copper Enamel Dish, $27.95
-Pam, Vintage Renude
Annalee Easter Rabbit
This cheerful foot-high felt rabbit is dressed to the nines to attend The Easter Parade. I do include all the holidays in my shop, if I can. If you are thinking of Easter right now, it will benefit you to pick up what you need for decor soon. Annalee’s made all sorts of creatures and humans with the ability to make you smile in Meredith, NH, until about 2006. Hope you get to stroll with someone you love…Spring is coming!
Easter Rabbit, $69.99
-Mary Ellen, AuntHattiesAttic
Floral Painted Glass Vase c 1920s
No need to suffer from a lack of fresh flowers in the dead of winter when a brightly colored vintage vase, hand painted with a floral design can stand alone. Happily, it also lends itself nicely to a wildflower bouquet since as we all know, spring is just around the corner.
Vintage Cottage Style Vase, $36
-Linda, Selective Salvage
Pair of 1950s Disney Princess Books
These books took a lot of time to list and photograph because, of course, I had to read both of them and melt into the pictures. The insides of these books are in remarkable condition considering they belonged to a child who grew into the adult who gave them to me to sell. But the covers, oh my. The Big Golden Books had some kind of lamination on the covers, almost like cellophane, that has not aged well. It peels, it flakes, it cracks. The bottom of the spines of these books also seem prone to tearing, based on entirely anecdotal evidence, but still…
The illustrations are so wonderful though. The illustrations in Cinderella are reimagined from the movie. The illustrations in Sleeping Beauty are adapted from the movie. Whether they are removed and framed or integrated into the story time routine, these books will enchant another generation.
Walt Disney’s Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty Big Golden Books, $50.
-Laurie, NextStage Vintage
That’s this week’s fresh to market vintage line up, some frogs on lily pads, a dapper bunny gent, a vase to fill with spring flowers and books to dream on. We’re all ready for spring. Are you?
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If you’re thinking of spring, think ahead to some vintage ways to celebrate the first day of spring (it’s not for a while but we believe in planning).
