We’ve all experienced it. We visit a flea market, meandering through the rows of countless little booths, perusing the wares of a smiling vendor and making small talk. We look at the many items before us, and then…we find ourselves face to face with a piece of history that excites us like no other thing we’ve looked at today. Didn’t grandma have this very piece in her dining room? Or was it Great-aunt Margaret? At any rate, we’re gazing at something vintage that means something to us because someone we knew had that same item in their home. It’s like a nudge from our childhood says, “Remember me, when you were little?” After some negotiating on a price, we load our treasure into the car and head home, eager to show the family.
Even if you happen upon something interesting that you’ve never seen before in your life, let its history and design speak to you.
Every vintage piece of furniture, household items, jewelry, clothing, etc. holds something very valuable that nothing in today’s world can compare to. Each piece has its own story and journey. When you look at it, it almost seems like you can “read” the story behind it. Perhaps it is scratched and worn, or it might be in pristine condition. Either way, it came from a time long ago, maybe before you were born, or even before your parents were born. This vintage piece was brand new at one time, newly handmade or manufactured, depending on the item. Someone bought it or made it. They loved it and cherished it, or maybe just used it as a functional item. Regardless, it had a purpose.
When I look at vintage furniture, I am immediately taken back to a simpler time. I imagine the care and love the craftsman put into the design and functionality of what I’m looking at. I check the dovetailing on the drawers of a dresser, marveling at how precisely they fit into each other. I touch the smoothness of the wood, and I can envision someone planning and sanding, staining and rubbing, until the wood gleamed. I imagine who the piece was made for. Did they cherish it? Was it a wedding gift for a happy couple, or a birthday gift from a husband to his wife? I could let my imagination go on and on.
If the piece is in good condition, chances are it had few owners, and was cared for. When you look at vintage jewelry, you can tell how well it was cared for. Someone loved each piece. Perhaps, when families moved apart and older relatives passed away, no one was there to claim those treasures, and they ended up in auctions, or sold to pay off a debt. Making their way through time, they now are in front of you, on a table, begging to tell you their story.
You can go to any big name store and buy something brand new. We all do, every day. It’s easy to run to the mall and pick out a new necklace or bracelet to wear to an event. And chances are you might see several people wearing the same type of necklace at that event. But if you go to someone who sells vintage jewelry, chances are you’ll be the only one wearing your piece, and…you’re wearing a little piece of history, and carrying a little part of the previous owner with you.
Could you research your vintage item and find out the original owner? Perhaps, though it would take a lot of investigation. But you could research the type of item, and find out where it was primarily made, how it was used, and approximately how old it is. Start with the person who is selling it to you. Ask them where they acquired it, and about how old it is. Many vendors have limited information on their pieces, and most can tell you the name and date of the piece.
Think about how you’d like to incorporate the item into your home. Is it a unique piece? Will this become something you might want to pass down to your children and grandchildren? If so, you could write a little note telling of when and where you bought it, and what you know about it. Keep the note with the piece, or in a safe place where it will be found. Then, your part of the history of the piece will be forever documented.
Imagine someone, years from now, standing in a market place, looking at your vintage piece, marveling at its beauty. The vendor, seeing their interest, walks over and says, “I even have documented history on one of the owners!” How exciting would that be for the buyer? Think about it.
Next time you’re out looking for something special for your home, or personal use, remember your elders who left a lifetime of history in things all around us. Buy some history. Buy vintage. Your great-great grandma will be happy you did!
Tami Loves…keeping the past alive and well in the present.
