The things we can find in garages!

So Rose’s dad was a Model T nut, expert restorer, avid collector. When he passed away a couple of years ago, she got the joy of rediscovering all his treasures. We have both learned more about antique car parts than we ever expected. Our gentlemen friends are impressed so that is plus. 

Would you believe this is a headlight lens?  It is lovely! The starburst pattern is etched and it is a slightly concave lens. Now I hate to be greedy and I am already confiscating a radiator that was not in usable condition for a fountain, but this is just too pretty.  I am thinking sun catcher wrapped in a brass frame? Or maybe something with candles?  I just can’t picture this on the front of a car traveling down dusty roads at the break neck speed of up to 30 MPH.

Five down only three garages full of 'stuff' left to go through - who knows what we will find next!!

 

Thrift Store Amberina Find - SCORE!

Okay glass is one of our guilty pleasures.  I am an Army Brat and proud of my Dad. It afforded me lots of opportunity to see the world and experience life in many of our regional areas as well.  A drawback of the Army gypsy style life is breakables break. Sad but true.  So what is my end result – I collect breakables.  It was not planned, it just seemed to happen - I go to find a book and find breakables. I will endure the torture though. I am partial to Vaseline glass and Amberina. Now for sharing a thrift store find….a daisy pattern fairy light in Amberina.  Finding a treasure like this at thrift stores is not an everyday occurrence. First, you need luck not once but twice lucky. The store did not realize the two pieces were part of a whole so they were marked separately and several feet apart.  Second, you need to know what a fairy light is and that these two pieces are partners.  Third, you have to recognize Amberina at thirty paces. Finally, purchase said items and add it to your collection. 

Fairy lights are small covered candle holders. The flickering light tinted by the glass covering giving a delicate glow to its immediate surroundings. I appreciate the added warmth of the color Amberina affords the glow during the holidays.  They make wonderful centerpieces or accent lighting from a corner.  Check out The Fairy Lamp Club at  http://www.fairy-lamp.com for more info. They have history, information and an incredible array of examples. 

Amberina glass began in the late 1800’s when patented by New England Glass Works employees.  Amberina is created by reheating the top layer of glass which contains colloidal gold.  The reheated portion becomes red merging with the golden un-reheated glass.  Red top/gold bottom is Amberina while gold top/red bottom is reverse Amberina. Later examples of Amberina replaced the gold for selenium and cadmium sulphide.  The selenium glass made the ‘pressed’ glass of the early to mid 1900’s easier to mold.  The line in the sand for some collectors are those who decline to accept the selenium based glass as Amberina. Other collectors refuse the glass with the thinly coated with a layer of red glass ‘flashing’ as Amberina (guiltily raising my hand at this point). In truth the term “amberina” is now accepted as describing red/orange/gold glass combinations.  Some Amberina will also be florescent under blacklight due to the minerals added to the glass (usually uranium oxide). 

So now proudly sitting atop my shelf is a lovely Amberina fairy lamp, saved from a devastating separation of their other half and destined to flicker merrily for years to come (thanks to the stickum protecting its position from the feline shelf marauders.)

Our latest listing on RetroVintiques Etsy

We have added this fabulous light blue stone brooch.  The silver swirls around the center are so delicate and highlight the stones brilliamtly.  It is unsigned; once again proving that not possessing a signature stamp does not make a jewelry piece less a work of art. It is one of those 'atomic' starburst patterns that have very unique features around the middle circle of stone.  Jewelry of this type share a unique character within their design and are a beauty to behold.  Next time you see a circular brooch check out the detailing and the design. I confess that I am fan of this style of jewelry.  Modern pieces to me lack the small details reflecting the 'atomic' age touches. I confess to having more favorite pieces of Vintage jewelry that are unsigned than signed. 

Our 1st WHAT IS THIS....

We don't know what these are but we want to know.  Help us ID these beauties.  Regardless of the answer they are going to look great on the patio!!!!!!  LOVE THESE but sure are curious as to their purpose.  Description:  a single bulb so both arrows and dots on reverse side light up at once.  One side is red one side is green.  What the are they????

New Venture for Vintage Us

Well who know we would end up blogging?  Never saw this on our horizons but here we are.  We will most likely be posting to an audience of one for now but with any luck other Vintage Collectors will come on board and we will have tons of info and ideas to share.  We seem to find so many fun (read odd in many cases) things that we don't know anything about.  Yes, we collect jewelry, kitchen wares, to save time most things vintage but to be honest the kitchy stuff really draws our attention and it creates a need to know more.

We have a shop on Etsy, http://www.etsy.com/shop/retrovintiques?ref=si_shop . We welcome window shoppers.  If you know something of the history of any of our pieces feel free to let us know.  It is part of the joy of collecting. Being Mid Century Modern ourselves, we appreciate the longevity of vintage items and that they still have purpose and beauty, if a bit worn around the edges.  Being cousins we have the family dynamic of seeing things from often different angles.  So please join us on our vinatge vagabond adventures.  We will be not be focused on any one tyoe of item but will drift where ever the curiousity takes us or as the odd finds occur.