Growing up in the '70s, during the time of flower power and psychedelic color schemes, even as a child, I was nostalgic for more classic styles and I was especially intrigued by anything old fashioned or just plain old. My parents enjoyed the modern life, one with tupperware, avacado green appliances, and bell bottom jeans. I however, obsessed over vintage and antiques. I could, and still do, wonder for hours in an antique mall, combing over vintage treasures of days gone by. Because of that, I have a special affinity for the all to familiar items that seem to be a secret requirement to display at every vintage shop. You might even say there is a formula for perfect assortment, as they are so familiar they are often overlooked.
Anyway, those experiences often inspire my art and if you also have an obsession for what one may say is trash, another may say is treasure, then you will enjoy this trip down memory lane.
Here are some of the must-have items that every shop, that considers itself kitsch friendly, should have as if some underground secret vintage collectible society may require:
- kitten and cat figurines
- blue and white porcelain dutch shoes
- porcelain hands with floral designs
- colorful crochet pot holders
- empty vintage soda bottles
- figurines of old fashioned ladies with hats
- figurines of old fashioned ladies with hats just from the chest up
- brass candlesticks that look like upside down trumpets
- dolls under glass domes
- pink stuff: pink glass, pink pottery, pink porcelain, a lot of pink
- blue and green art glass vases
- cut glass serving dishes in every size and shape
- miss-matched sets of floral china and teacups with saucers
- oil lamp reproductions
- so many Betty Crocker cookbooks
- framed mirrors for every decade fashion theme
- white (or used to be white) women's gloves
- mason jars filled with marbles or buttons
- swan shaped items, like planters, vases, s&p shakers, and figurines
- nonsensical novelty salt and pepper shakers
- novelty cookie jars
- so many rolling pins
- stoneware bowls with pink stripes (and blue too)
- pitchers and teapots, of every shape color and size, pink guaranteed
- overpriced brown stoneware jugs
- little handbags made from chain or metal mesh, mostly reproductions
- carnival glass candy dishes
- ash trays
- aluminum trays that are meant to look like silver
- silver plated trinket boxes
- home interior brand plastic bamboo butterflies
- Tupperware cookie cutters
- hand-made or carved wooden objects and animals
- fiesta ware plates, bowls, mugs (pitchers if you are lucky)
- cameo jewelry, costume jewelry
- silhouettes in picture frames
- printed and/or embroidered handkerchiefs
- Corelle wear casserole dishes and serving bowls
- coffee cup or mug tree
- bronze or ceramic lion or panther statue
- amateur paintings, landscapes, florals, and ocean scenes
- clowns (toys and/or figurines)
- milk glass and jadite (although less these days since Martha collects)
- hobnail glass (again, getting harder to find)
- dented tin gelatin molds (never hard to find)
- teddy bears with additional fashion items, especially hats and flowers
- random signs that might say, "PEAR"
- well worn vanity items like talcum powder containers, brushes, combs
- large bowl and pitcher sets
- spice jars, tins, salt cellars, bread boxes
- brass or gold tone animal figurines, especially ducks
- fabric notions, all sorts
- rusted tool box or fishing tackle box
- typewriters, (extremely rare to find in good shape)
- those character shaped vases especially puppies, kittens, and storks (used when giving flower arrangements to new Moms)
I can go on, obviously! Some of the items that used to be a given, are not always a reliable find anymore. Either they never sold well, so people stopped putting them in their booths or they have not made them in so long, there was nothing to replenish them with. Things will always change, there was a day when you could count on seeing a velvet painting and fake Picasso's at every vintage mall and now it is quite novel to see either of them. All the more reason to keep going back to look for new treasures of old.