This week’s fresh to market vintage scratches a lot of vintage lovin’ itches. That Egyptian vase, mmm, tasty. Can’t you imagine it filled with anemones or ranunculus, infusing your house with the hope of an early spring? And those seed packets might be just the thing you need in your kitchen. Imagine them framed and hanging surrounded by vintage green handled kitchen tools. The March kitty may not be perfect, but whom among us is? What a fun vintage sport it would be to try and collect all the Norcross calendar cats. And while your valentine might be expecting flowers and chocolates, what they will not expect is a love note typed on a manual typewriter. (They will be expecting one yearly though, if you start the tradition.)

You could call this week’s fresh to market vintage a variety show, because we’ve got variety and we’re about to show it to you.

Egyptian Art Pottery Vase

This beautifully simplistic vase was made by Suzanne Wissa Wassef. I love the clean lines and minimalist decoration of this vase. I must admit, I’ll be sad to see it go. Although my hope is that its new owner appreciates the history behind it as much as I do. Suzanne is the eldest daughter of renowned architect and artist Ramses Wissa Wassef. She took over the Wissa Wassef Art Center in Harrania, Egypt after her father passed away in 1974. The story of the Art Center is as beautiful and pure as this vase. It was Ramses’ wish to have a place where traditional arts and crafts would continue to thrive. You can read more about both the Art Center and its fascinating architecture here and here and more about Suzanne here.

Suzanne Wissa Wassef Vase, $32.95

-Pam, Vintage Renude

Norcrest March Calendar Kitty

I am sometimes asked why I would sell an impurrrrfect figurine. I am always mindful to disclose whatever I find as flaws so a buyer would not be taken by surprise and be disappointed with their purchase. I have a section of my shop called “Rescue Mission,” in which some of these items go. I also use the word “shabby” a lot but define it with further descriptions. People purchase these items despite their flaws because they are difficult to find, or they want to upcycle them in a shabby kitschy tableau or they just fell in love with them at first glance.

Vintage things have been around the block so to speak and may have wear and tear and bumps and bruises in their lives. Quite a few of my customers enjoy the lower cost of them and have a collection of similar items. I recently got an image and thank you for a ceramic wall mermaid that had a cut on her cheek. It showed her happily swimming with a few dozen other mermaids from different manufacturers flawed and flawless and all, and I can tell you we both knew she was accepted and perfectly loved with her imperfections.

March Calendar Kitty, $48.99

-Mary Ellen, AuntHattiesAttic

Unused Galloway Vegetable Seed Packets c 1918

If you’re thinking about starting up a new collection, vintage ephemera is one to consider. Defined as “collectible memorabilia designed to be used for a short amount of time,” ephemera is relatively inexpensive, lightweight to ship and easy to store. I like ephemera because creating a theme for a collection is not difficult. In this case, these unused seed packets would be interesting additions to a collection of country store items or memorabilia from Wilmington, N.C. They’d also be a thoughtful gift for your favorite vegetarian if framed as decor for a kitchen. 

Antique Peas and Squash Seed Packets, $30

-Linda, Selective Salvage

Underwood 312 Typewriter

This is old school vintage, as in taking typing class in high school. That jarring transition from high school to college, where papers had to be typed, not handwritten still stings. Manual typewriters predate electric ones, although they co-existed for quite a while. My fingers have not forgotten how to type on a manual, although they are out of shape for that kind of rigorous exercise. You have to hit those keys with some authority. That being said, the satisfying clack of the strike and the zing of advancing a line and returning the carriage still feels like good work is getting done.

Underwood 312 manual typewriter with hard case, $50.

-Laurie, NextStage Vintage

In her post for this week’s fresh to market vintage, Mary Ellen’s point about always being meticulous in describing condition flaws is well taken. When you try hard to be reputable, it stings when you get a review that accuses you of hiding flaws. Every vintage seller has had one. We do our best, but sometimes something slips past us. If, as a buyer, you feel something has been misrepresented, the first place to start is NOT by leaving a bad review. The first place to go is to whatever messaging system is available on the selling platform–contact the seller immediately and supply pictures if possible. Always keep communication inside the selling platform and not on outside email. Then if a dispute can’t be remedied between buyer and seller, the platform can review all the communication and make a decision.

Now, that doesn’t happen often. Most of us can’t think of more than one or two times in long vintage selling careers. Online selling is based on trust; without the underlying assumption of trust, who would ever buy or sell anything online? We’re not saying there aren’t bad actors out there, but what we are saying is, always assume the seller and/or the buyer is acting in good faith but keep your communication where it can be documented.

Speaking of communication, subscribing to our blog is a good way for us to communicate with you once a week with a listing of all our posts from the previous week. You’d hate to miss a fresh to market vintage post, we just know it!

If you are taken by the Norcross kitty, you might enjoy Maryellen’s post about the equally delightful Wee Forest Folk.