Collecting Vintage...What's In Your Cupboard?

I have yet to find anything that I do not like about collecting and selling antiques, but some of my favorite days are spent working in The Shop. Yes, I'm surrounded by delightful things - each with its own special history - but best of all, I get to talk with the interesting people that collect and value their treasures as I do. Most of the folks I meet collect items for a specific reason - items that remind them of their childhood, parents, grandparents; items that are native to their home place; items that relate to their line of work - the list goes on and on, including the occasional collection of oddities - like old neti pots.

If you are thinking about starting a collection you might want to start with something easy to find such as vintage postcards from your favorite vacation spot or old hats you can wear to express your own sense of style. These collections will make great conversation starters and even give you opportunities to forge new friendships with fellow collectors!

Expect your collections to change throughout the years as your personal taste and life experiences evolve. My current collections lean toward vintage glass made by any WV glassmaker as well as a deep attraction to the Ohio art potteries. The pictured shelf above contains my childhood collections of my old Busy Boy clock, my Kanawha Glass mouse and Blenko owl, picture of Dad, doll made by Mom, Grandma's brooch, the handtooled leather belt of my bell-bottomed teen years, and most dear to my heart - Dad's diary - an obvious family theme that is steeped with my WV roots.

Russel Wright - Modernism In Dinnerware

American Modern Water Pitchers

The 'Martha Stewart' of his time, Russel Wright believed that art should be part of the everyday life of Americans - he is quoted as saying, " I believe with religious intensity that good design is for everyone" - and by believing in this creed, he gave us American Modern.

American Modern dinnerware was designed in the late 1930's with innovative shapes and most importantly, it was affordable to everyday folks. It brought beautiful form, function and new colors to the tables of Americans across the country from 1939 - 1959 as one of the largest selling dinnerware lines ever produced. The water pitcher, pictured above, is one of my favorite shapes.

For more information, check out Ann Kerr's book, "Collector's Encyclopedia of Russel Wright" - Kerr covers the American Modern line as well as many other creative Wright designs including glassware, pewter, furniture, pottery and aluminum.