Oldies but Goodies: Vintage (1800s) Edition

I've been gone a lot these past few weekends, mostly for work, but this weekend I traveled across my home state with friends to see the Honey Creek battlefield, the site of a major Civil War conflict that decided my home state's position as a Union-held territory in the war.  Most of the photos I took of the place are the "you had to be there" kind, but I had one I thought I'd share.

This was a group of Civil War reenactors who fired a cannon and marched around us into the parking lot at the dedication ceremony for the museum that is being built. I failed to get a picture of the cannon going off, but it is an experience you should have at least once in your life.

The important take-away from that place is a tangible connection to the past. I walked where soldiers stood 151 years ago and I saw where the battle lines were once drawn. It is a part of this world that we shouldn't forget.

That's what vintage collecting is all about---keeping a connection to the past.

Everything I have curated in my stores is a connection like that.  I don't have anything from the era of the Civil War (I imagine artifacts like that rarely end up in estate sales, anyway), but I have a couple that are much older than the rest. 

This rose gold stamped brooch actually did come to me from an estate sale. I picked it out because the pin back just looked old to me and the color was unusual. After consulting with some vintage jewelry experts, I now know it dates to approximately the 1880s or 1890s. I sometimes find myself wondering what dress this pin once accessorized.

This miniature dry sink may also date to the very late 1800s, but I've conservatively dated it to the 1910s or 1920s. It hearkens back to the time when there was no indoor running water and all "washing up" had to be done in a washbasin with water that had been brought indoors. Of course, this is the tiny version of a normal American dry sink. It either served as a salesman's sample or as a "mommy and me" child's toy.

I've only had one other true Victorian piece in my store, although it has since sold. If you want to know the story of the doll chamber pot, here is the link to my earlier blog post:

A Little Off-Color Humor Here...Don't Mind Me

Do you have something in your home or family that connects you to the distant past? I'd love to hear about it in the comments.

A Little Off-Color Humor Here...Don't Mind Me

As we get older, we may not be able to keep our looks or our health, but we can at least keep our sense of humor, right? On that note, welcome to Extreme Vintage Hunting--Potty Humor Edition!

I have had this little ceramic cup with one handle on it, sitting on my bookshelf for a couple of years, now. I had hesitated to make it available for sale, because something about it told me that it was a joke, and possibly a crude one.  I just didn't know what the story was.

Well, it turns out that I was right!

This happens to be a Victorian miniature chamber pot.  Yes, you read that right. It's a bit of subversive potty humor, probably meant for a baby doll.  The outside reads "Morning Exercise" (are we talking about "eat more fiber" or the exercise servants got when carrying it out of the room?). The inside of the chamber pot has a little off-center stamped emblem that depicts a "Goo-goo" eye. I think it's a target to hit.

So...yeah.  Who said Victorians were all the prudish type?  That person was obviously very, very wrong.

My research has uncovered that these were made in Germany in the late 1800s.  The date really does make sense, since the chamber pot was eventually forgotten with the advent of the indoor water closet.  Little girls like to have a miniature version of their house, so I'm sure as the chamber pot was left behind (oops, I made a pun!), so was the market for these doll potties in turn-of-the-century Germany.

However, if you want a genuine collectible for your Victorian doll collection (or just like a nice, subversive dose of potty humor every now and then to keep life interesting), here you go!  It's actually in pretty nice shape, considering the age.  I guess it wasn't used much. Okay, I think I hope it wasn't used at all!  As one of my friends put it (he just couldn't resist), you never know what fun little "nuggets" you'll find when you buy vintage.

P.S. While we're on the subject of old potty humor, I thought I'd mention my vintage cedar outhouse salt and pepper shakers. You can find them here, although eventually I may move them over to Etsy to keep the chamber pot company.

Vintage Holiday Sale: Travel Memorabilia

I've been extremely busy filling poodle ornament orders the last few weeks, but I wanted to pop in here  today and talk about my holiday sale in my other shop.  If you are looking for Christmas or New Year's party gifts or decor, you might want to check my Artfire shop, where I'll be making discount coupons available throughout the rest of the month.  Visit often!

Today, the discount is over the travel section of my shop.  This section contains a fairly large selection of vintage map trays, travel plates, and other memorabilia.  Pictured here is the "Colorado" themed map tray.  These trays feature major cities, tourist sites, and a large color lithograph of the state flower.  I have several different states to choose from, and I must say, they are a wonderful way to commemorate a vacation or memorable place.

Take 15% off each item you order from this section, from December 7 through December 11, using the coupon code "TRAVELLOVERS2011."

I'll have another coupon available in a few days.  Meanwhile, Merry Christmas and happy shopping!

Shopping Guide: Fun Gifts Under $5

If you've only got a few dollars, holiday shopping can be tough.  I understand that completely.  I've been there.

Holiday gifts don't have to be exorbitantly expensive in order to be fun.  I've got a pretty large selection of great gifts for low prices, and I'm going to start sharing them now.  Here's a few to start with!

Fun Gifts Under $5

Curated By: CandyAppleCra...

ArtFire.com

Vintage Fashion

Vintage Has History: The Story of a Painting

Some time ago, I picked up a small vintage painting from a thrift store.  It was another one of those things that peaks my curiosity.  I always wonder what the object is and where it has traveled before I found it.  This one had one of the more unusual histories.  It was a tiny vintage painting--not a print.  The piece was hand-painted on a piece of recycled wood or particle board, and mounted by hand into a tiny vintage frame.  It bore a tantalizingly obscure signature, "Tootie," and a date, '74.

The subject matter was also intriguing.  There was a crude little footbridge with a wooded backdrop.  The scene appeared to be fall, yet many of the trees were green and visibly pointed.  Where could this place possibly be?  I imagined that if it was a setting in Oklahoma, it had to be in far southeastern Oklahoma, where there are more tall and pointed evergreen trees.

Well, boy was I wrong!  I listed this picture and months later, it sold to a lady in a state far away.  Then, a couple of days later, I received an email from my buyer, sharing with me a hint of the amazing story behind this little painting!

It turns out that "Tootie" was actually her grandmother, and this painting was created in Washington state, where her grandmother lived and worked.  Although her grandmother always signed her work "Tootie," her real name was Maxine Ardis (Hodney) Tarabochia.  She was a painter and a pen and ink artist.  The buyer had seen only a few of her grandmother's pieces, because her mother had moved several states away early in life, but now she is trying to collect her grandmother's work again.

That's where I come in.  Who knew that the little painting I brought home from a vintage store in central Oklahoma had traveled all the way from Washington!  Pretty cool, huh?  My guess is that this painting was donated from the estate of a local art collector.  It is possible that some family members didn't realize what they had.

I am glad that I went with my instincts and optimized the description for those searching for that artist specifically.  My buyer has been combing the internet for this work, so I'm sure she was able to find me in a Google or other search engine query.

One parting question, as requested by my buyer.  If you own any pieces signed "Tootie" and would be willing to part with them, please contact me and I can pass your information on to her.  Thanks!

Collecting: Vintage Salt and Pepper Shakers

Over the years, but particularly in the 40s and 50s, companies have made salt and pepper shakers that did more than distribute our favorite condiments.  These were art forms.  They ranged from funny animals and cute children, to abstract colorful shapes, to elegant touches on a formal dinner table.

I gave a pair of postwar Japanese novelty salt and pepper shakers to my cousin and his wife when they got married.  The shakers were shaped like children dressed in wedding clothes.  They were seated and when you set them next to each other, the groom was kissing the bride on the cheek.  The original bench they sat on was missing, so I made one with the wedding date on the back.  I wish I had a photo to share.

Apple Halves.  Together...

Separated. Cute, right?

Since then, I have been the most interested in the informal novelty shakers, especially the humorous ones.  In my opinion, the cute ones like the little bride and groom are the most desirable for collectors.  They just have boatloads of personality.  Sometimes they even serve as historical documents of their era. 

I have purchased a few sets, but I'm frequently reminded of the ones that got away, like a set I once found of two squirrels (salt and pepper) that hung from a tree.  Absolutely adorable!

If you are interested in collecting salt and pepper shakers, I have a few in my Artfire shop.  Here are a few other links you might want to check out:

• Flickr photo group: Housewares Shaped like Food---There are some adorable novelty shakers in this group, like corn on the cob with smiley faces!
• Flickr photo group: Salt and Pepper Shakers--Lots of salt and pepper shakers of every kind!  This group also has some interesting discussions about them.
• Novelty Salt and Pepper Shakers Club--Resources, lots of pictures and laughs, even large collections for sale.
• Amazon: Collector's Novelty Salt and Pepper Shakers Encyclopedia--Pictures and identification information for the serious collector.

Collecting: Maps and Globes

Before the era of MapQuest,Google Maps, and GPS systems, we used to have to get the old-fashioned paper things and wrestle with them to find out where we were going and calculate how long it would take. There was a whole language of symbols in the "Legend" on the side of the map, and lots of unpredictable accordion folds to contend with. In fact, I wonder if the whole thing doesn't seem rather legendary even now to some modern children.

When I look at old maps, I find myself trying to imagine the time when the whole world had not been mapped. Explorers still found new places, and the imagination was the only limit for what might be found over that shifting horizon. There was a pioneering spirit, and a sense of excitement and discovery that this modern generation is missing. We try to recapture it by looking back at old maps and dreaming, but I fear some of the magic has gone out of it.

Vintage Has a History

Every piece has a history.  That's what always fascinated my Granddad about old things.  He was a brick and stone mason for a living, and he loved to collect old bricks from buildings that he helped demolish.

The interesting thing, which you may not know, is that old bricks were always stamped on the back with their place of origin, and sometimes a date.  My granddad had bricks from all over the southern U.S., many marked "Oklahoma Territory"  "New Mexico Territory," etc. In case you don't know what that means, it dates those bricks to pre-statehood days, when the populations of these states were still so low that they hadn't even earned full statehood and voting power under U.S. laws.  Oklahoma, for instance, earned statehood in 1907.

I wish I could show you one of these bricks, but I haven't been able to find the Oklahoma Territory one that he gave my mother.  I'm sure it's somewhere in my parents' garage.  Whenever I do, I might revisit it.

My latest vintage history adventure has been researching two pieces of fine porcelain I am planning to list soon.  I found them both at a thrift shop, and instantly realized they were something very special.

 The plate is marked on the back, "Jyoto.  Made in Occupied Japan."  I know that dates it to the postwar years, between 1945 and 1952, when Japan's industry was being rebuilt and large amounts of pottery and porcelain products were produced for a U.S. audience.  I am having a great deal of trouble uncovering more information about this plate.  One source seems to identify it as "pattern 58," by Jyoto, but I am feeling very uncertain.  I'm still waiting for better confirmation of my information.

Here is the mark on the back.  I know it doesn't seem to read "Jyoto," but I realized that is the correct company name after an entire exhausting evening of research.  If you have any information you could add, to help me along in my research and identification, I would really appreciate it.

The other plate is more of a platter.  It, too, bears the hallmarks of fine work.  It is very heavy, with a supporting ridge down the middle of the underside of the platter, to prevent cracking under heavy use.  It is so large, I think a gigantic turkey might look a little lonely without some dressing or rice pilaf around it.  I love this plate!

Collecting: Vintage Illustrated Books

I am a big reader.  In fact, I used to read about twenty books a month when I was younger (and I mean things like Dickens and Austen, along with young adult books of all kinds).  As a result, I have "collected" a lot of books over the years, mostly paperbacks.  I don't have very many hardcover books, and most of them are not well-known by any means.

I do have a few nice ones, though, and I thought I'd share some pictures today. This is my copy of Peter Pan and Wendy, by James M. Barrie, published in 1925.  I love the story, and the pictures in this book are dazzling!  I will never sell it!  Besides, there are several loose pages from some rough treatment by the previous owner.  This proves that you can find some great stuff if you're willing to visit a few garage sales!

Trend Watch: Natural History

Lately, in women's and design magazines, blogs, interior design television shows, etc. we have been seeing a lot of "woodland" or "natural history" themed decorating.  This trend is like bringing a bit of the wild, especially what you would find in a field or the woods, into your home and putting it on display.

You see a lot of natural materials and textures, such as rock collections, preserved insects, animal skeletons, antlers and horns, wooden elements, and so forth.  Shadow boxes and things under glass domes are really popular.

Think scientific curiosities

and the great outdoors.

This is actually a vintage cheese dome, but I think it works fabulously as a display dome.  I put in a handful of rocks from my own rock collection--river rocks, rose rocks, and some quartz crystals. I added the pinecone for extra texture.

You could just as easily use a glass dome like this one to display animal bones or horns, sea shells, birds' nests, preserved beetles, vintage fishing tackle, etc.  I've also seen people grouping several domes together in one display.

There is also a bit of the turn of the century hunting lodge or fishing cabin in this trend.

I thought this blue-green vintage Avon bottle fit right in.  This was from a men's line of cologne and aftershave products.  Mine has most of the original stuff in it, which lends it a greenish tone in the photos.

This trend uses mossy greens and blues and fall foliage colors as accents.  The background colors are usually muted grays, tans, and browns, especially wood tones.  I tried to bring that out in the books and rocks I displayed here.

This particular vignette pulls a lot of colors from the vintage art piece I found at a local thrift store.  I think it's just gorgeous, and it has a lot of colors that could be drawn out as accent colors in this decorating trend.  I originally thought it was from the 70s, but last night I watched a 1950s-era Sinatra movie, and there was a piece of framed art in one of the scenes that looked like this.  So...who knows?


The late 19th century, into the early part of the 20th century, was a period of archeology and many advances in biological and ecological science.

This theme seems to draw from the fascination and adventure of that era.  It reminds me of an old scientist's study or library in the movies. 

By the way, almost everything in these photos will soon be available for sale in one or the other of my online stores, with the exception of the table, the small square glass box, the wooden pen, the doily, and the rocks.

Thanks for reading!  I've linked to some design trends articles online in one other post, here.   I plan to do more of these vignettes, showing other modern decorating trends and themes, in the days and weeks to come.  Please stay tuned!

Meanwhile, I currently have several things available already that fit this theme:

< Vintage Midcentury Modern Designer "Faux Bois Budvase 



Vintage Acrylic painting by "Tootie">

<  Monkey pod wood tray from the Philippines

Collecting: All Things in Miniature

When I was about four or five, I found a tiny drawer from a doll chest of drawers crammed under the bottom edge of the sheet rock in my garage.  It was about an inch wide and a fourth of an inch deep, with a tiny knob on the front of it.  I knew it had probably been left behind by the previous residents of my house, but I preferred to think that a fairy had lost it off the back of her moving truck.

The finished clock kit will have a working door on the front.

Kits and Books, Minus Accessories.  The two in the back sold.

I don't know where that drawer went--I must have lost it years ago, myself--but I think it created a curiosity in me for miniature things.  It's fascinating to see someone achieving so much detail in something a fraction of the size of a fingertip.  How do they do that?

When I found several, mostly-unopened doll house miniatures kits at a local thrift store, I was tempted to dabble in this hobby and try my hand at putting these beauties together.  However, I don't have much free time these days, and I don't own a doll house (I don't even have a place to store one, no less display it like it should be).  I think they would probably look a little out of place on a coffee table or a desk.

I also picked up two great doll house miniatures reference books.  Since I don't have the time, and I know there are a lot of people out there who do this for a hobby (sweet hobby!), I've so far decided to just sell it all.  Two kits sold just the other day.

L: Making Doll Dishes; R: Doll Clothing and Making Dolls

You know, this is a trend that dates me, really.  I was a kid in the 80s, and from all I have found, the last time doll house miniatures really got big (lame pun, I know, I know) was in the 70s and 80s.  Guess what--they're on a comeback!

Frankly, I can see why.  Aren't these just adorable?  My favorite thing about them is that they usually have teeny-tiny working parts.  They aren't just stable decorative pieces, like statues.  Doll house miniatures are interactive art!  Look at these dishes!  I bet that teapot has a removable lid, too.

Project: Canopy for a Bed

The picture to the left shows some of the instructions on how to make a canopy bed like the one on the kit I sold  (this is the green book).  It looks like a pretty involved project, but the results are amazing.  I noticed one strange thing--the fabric they used seems to match the stuff used in the model on the front of one of my kits. Maybe the book makers were inspired by the x-acto models?  Maybe this is the kit.  I never opened the kit, so I didn't see what that one contained.

Calculating Scale and Choosing a Time Period

Full-Color Pictures.  Where'd They Get That Rug?

I was especially fascinated by how the doll house minatures enthusiasts are careful about keeping all their pieces from the same time period or decorating style.  Essentially, it's not just a toy.  It really is a house in minature.

If I get the time, though, I think I'm going to browse through the books a little more closely.  So far, on just a casual perusal of the pages, I found an instructional part on how to make doll bedding to scale, how to put together a chandelier, aging curtains and wallpaper to give it a nostalgic look, and so on.  Who knows?  I might get into this more in a few years.

Wanting to give doll house minatures a try?  I don't know anything about these links, but I found a few sites that looked promising for those wanting to get started in this hobby:

Dollhouse Miniatures Enthusiasts and Trade Organizations

The Dollhouse Guild Web ring (a directory of sites) 

My Dream Dollhouse--Personal Blog of a Minaturist--great photos!

And many more!

If this is bringing out the child-like wonder in you, hope these links help you get started!  If you are already a miniaturist or own a doll house, I'd like to invite you to share photos on your blog and backlink them, or share stories in the comments section below.  Can't wait to hear from you!

Collecting: Souvenir Plates

I've heard, for several years now, that eclectic wall displays are really "in." I've seen vintage framed paint-by-numbers, nautical themed art groupings, embroidery hoops, etc. I've also been seeing a lot of plate walls on decorating shows.

I didn't try hanging these vintage souvenir plates on my wall--for one thing, I don't own any plate hangers. Instead, I just tried laying them out on a table to get an idea what it would look like. My conclusion? I would need a few more of these to make it work. ;)
I've heard that plate hangers cause damage to the plates.  Got any ingenious ideas for displaying them?

The best part of collecting these vintage souvenir plates is that they are both pretty and a nice walk down memory lane.  They bring back family vacation memories for me, anyway.  How about you?

So far, I've only gathered four vintage plates with this style of rim--a sort of gold filigree over a solid background.  I've decided to list them all for sale, as soon as I get some research done.  I have identified one (the Illinois state plate) as Taylor, Smith, and Taylor, but a few of these others look more like a Homer Laughlin product.  I've never seen one with a fluted edge like the New Mexico plate.

 They just don't make souvenirs like this any more!  I've never seen tourism souvenirs this nice, and I have done a lot of state-to-state travel.  Usually, these days, they are made out of plastic and are specific to individual sites inside the state.  They usually end up in a drawer or box somewhere. Wouldn't want to box these things, though!

I've got several family members living in New Mexico right now, but I have only seen Carlsbad Caverns, of the sites shown on this plate.  One of these days, I'll get to visit the other parks.

Okay, when I saw the Denver one, I seriously thought about keeping it. My sister told me she wanted it, too (she was visiting the thrift store with me).  But, you know, I think I will still be listing it in my store soon.

It's a striking color combination, with a dark forest green edge and a central design done in red.

I went to Denver, Colorado, when I was pretty small.  Honestly, I don't remember seeing most of the sites on this plate.  Either some of those attractions are closed now, or my parents decided my sister were too young to enjoy it.  Future vacation goal, maybe?

 Next up, this Washington, D.C. plate.  I honestly don't know why Mount Vernon is on the top part of this plate, since it's a few miles outside of D.C., but you know, it's still a great group of sites (if you haven't visited).

I've seen all of the things on the plate, but I didn't get to go inside the Jefferson and Washington memorials while I was there (lots of construction around them.  Finally gave up and took distance pictures).  I visited D.C. before the 9/11 attacks.  I'm sure these sites are more difficult to see now (security concerns), but I'm still hoping I can visit again one day.

I have never been to Illinois, so all I can comment about this one is that it looks really cool.  The blue edge caught my eye at the thrift store.

If you're from Illinois, let me know if there's anything on this plate that has closed down, or even share a childhood story.  I'd like to hear it!  I love travel.

Hey, while we're at it, I'd like to hear your comments about souvenirs like this that you've collected.  Do you have any memories of Grandma and Grandpa buying one of these at a gift shop at your favorite park?  Do you remember how your parents or grandparents displayed things like this in their homes?  Leave me a comment about your favorite travel souvenir memories, or better yet, post something on your own blog and create a backlink to this post so viewers and myself can see what you've shared.