OLD FASHIONED CHARM.COM

Old Fashioned Charm Of The Tea Party Can Be Found On Your Table!

2011-05-14T23:24:00.000-07:00

Vintage Roses Ohata China Footed Teacup and Saucer Occupied Japan

Old Fashioned Charm appreciates tea parties...whether they be formal, or informal...a group tea party, or a tea party of one!
In today's bustling world, we often do not take the time for ourselves, or our 'sisters', whether they be friend, or family! It seems we are all going at such a fast pace, and we need to slow down! With computer email, social sites, and phone texting, it seems that we are frequently sharing our lives with a piece of technology, and not a person!
Years ago, I often met with my relatives, or friends, for a cup of coffee, or tea, and a chat! I finally made the time and visited a friend, not for an arranged outing as we often do, but to just sit and chat!
When you are on your own...make sure you take time for yourself, if just for a cup of tea and a biscuit!

Vintage Schumann Dresden Flowers Empress Demitasse Teacup and Saucer

Old Fashioned Charm.com has a Facebook Fan Page Where You Can List Your Vintage!

2011-04-23T18:29:00.000-07:00

OldFashionedCharm.com cordially invites you to post antique / vintage! 2 items daily from the Victorian and Edwardian Eras, to the 1960's! Come peruse the shops!
Old Fashioned Charm.com facebook fan page
I have just started a facebook page where everyone can list their antiques / vintage!

Old Fashioned Charm With The Vintage List Holiday Gift Guides Gifts For Cooks!

2010-12-05T17:32:00.000-08:00

The latest in www.thevintagelist.com 's Holiday Gift Guides, is Gifts For Cooks! I am happy to be a part of this! For vintage and antique gifts with 'old fashioned charm' for that special relative, friend, or coworker, visit www.oldfashionedcharm.com for these gift items!

Antique 1800s Victorian Pink Fish Salt and Pepper Shakers Cased Glass at OldFashionedCharm!

Vintage 1950s Chase and Sanborn Coffee Can 1lb Tin at OldFashionedCharm!

Thank you Mitzi for featuring these items in your Holiday Gift Guide! :O)
Please visit The Vintage List Holiday Gift Guide for Gifts For Cooks!

Gifts For Cooks - The Vintage List Holiday Gift Guide

Old Fashioned Charm Has Gifts For Her!

2010-12-05T17:00:00.000-08:00

I'm very happy to be a part of www.thevintagelist.com 's Holiday Gift Guides! The first one was Gifts For Her. There are many great ideas for gifts for that special friend, loved one, or gift exchange, with vintage or antiques, that have 'old fashioned charm'! Visit www.oldfashionedcharm.com for these gift items!

Antique Edwardian Reticule Beaded Drawstring Flapper Evening Purse at OldFashionedCharm!

Vintage Ladies 1950's Black Velvet Feather Beaded Profile Hat at OldFashionedCharm!

Thank you Mitzi for featuring these items in your Holiday Gift Guide! :O)
Please visit The Vintage List Holiday Gift Guide for Gifts For Her!

Gifts For Her - The Vintage List Holiday Gift Guide

Old Fashioned Charm For The Man In Your Life!

2010-11-28T12:44:00.000-08:00

I know many blogs, that sell and promote vintage, have an abundance of items for ladies...but let's not forget the men! For that special man in your life...your husband, brother, son, or friend, visit www.oldfashionedcharm.com for these gift items!

Vintage 1940s Mens Smoking Jacket Robe Mint at Old Fashioned Charm!

Vintage 1940s Mens Parisian Tourist Coat Scarf Mint at Old Fashioned Charm!

Thank you Mitzi for featuring these items in your Holiday Gift Guide! :O)
Please visit The Vintage List Holiday Gift Guide for Gifts For Him!

Gifts For Him - The Vintage List Holiday Gift Guide

Care And Storage Of Vintage Costume Jewelry

2010-10-18T00:36:00.000-07:00

I am a collector and seller of vintage costume jewelry. For the past few years I have purchased many collector books on the subject. I have asked many questions of local dealers, and dealers online, who I've met while purchasing jewelry, or through social networks.
There are quite a few differences of opinion in the cleaning of vintage costume jewelry, and storage also.
I have been told by some to use a damp soapy cloth to clean dust and dirt from the jewelry piece, then wipe again with a water dampened cloth, and then dry. Others have told me to use a Q-tip dampened with water, while some have said to use Windex!
One of the comments was that the alcohol in the Windex would dry off, while water sitting on the jewelry would cause harm. I really wondered about the Windex...
So, I asked an expert! I talked to the very friendly lady at our local gold and gem shop. She recommended using a Q-tip dampened with water, only if there was noticeable dust and dirt that had to be removed. Any Windex, or jewelry cleaners, would damage vintage costume jewelry! Soaking the piece with water would cause any rhinestones to loosen. A soft cotton T shirt fabric is the best thing to use to wipe any vintage costume jewelry piece.
I also asked her about an old 1940's necklace that had green residue on it. She told me that was oxidation of the metal, so the piece could not be cleaned.
I've also learned that wrapping rhinestone jewelry in bubble wrap, is not a good practice, as the plastic will 'deaden' the stones...they will turn dark! As I have received rhinestone jewelry from a few sellers who wrapped the jewelry directly in plastic, I am checking all of my stock. Wrapping the pieces in white tissue paper, or soft cotton fabric, first, is much better for your jewelry!
I certainly would not want to ruin any of my vintage costume jewelry, especially this beautiful Lisner bracelet and earrings set, which is one of my favorites!

Pretty In Pink...But Oh What A Mystery!

2010-08-16T12:18:00.000-07:00

These are vintage costume jewelry purchases that continue to have questions...
who was the maker? what is their age? are they more valuable?
Unmarked jewelry always raises the question of being from a famous designer, or house, before they started marking the back.
The first brooch below is of heavy weight, and has beautifully faceted pink rhinestones, reminding me of the Albert Weiss set I have.
The pink rhinestone brooch with earrings, which I have named the 'floral set', due to the earrings reminding me of a flower shape, is well made also, but not as heavy a weight as the oval brooch.
I am wondering about the difference in value....

Vintage Pink Weiss Costume Jewelry Set Unmarked...

2010-08-16T11:46:00.000-07:00

I purchased this lovely vintage pink rhinestone costume jewelry set on the original cardboard, that was marked Jewels by Albert Weiss, with a crown at the bottom. The seller told me the perforated area had come apart separating the card.
The brooch and earrings are a heavier weight, and excellent quality, with beautifully faceted rhinestones that are prong set. The jewelry is unmarked.

New Facebook Fan Page for Luv2LuvAntiques.com

2010-08-04T01:39:00.000-07:00

Please 'Like' my fan page for Luv2LuvAntiques.com : Luv2LuvAntiques Facebook Fan Page

Antique Edwardian Flapper Beaded Drawstring Reticule Purses I Found At An Estate Sale!

2010-07-23T00:56:00.000-07:00

I found these two lovely antique beaded drawstring purses at a local estate sale. I was told by the seller, that the gray one with the tassel was from around 1917 - 1920s. The other one with the 'Arts and Crafts' type pattern is supposed to be from around the 1900s to the 'teens'.
The patterned one has a cloth lining, with little pockets, probably for lipstick and comb. There are some beads missing on that one.
In what I call the 'Arts and Crafts' style purse, there is also a long piece of the inside lining that has a circular piece at the bottom, which I'm guessing used to hold a little round mirror!
The inside of the gray purse with the tassel is a black crochet. I have paper inside so you can see the pattern. There are (what look to be) celluloid rings for the drawstring to go through.

(Alexander Parkes invented the first plastic, a synthetic replacement for ivory, that he called Parkesine in 1855. It was unveiled at the 1862 Great International Exhibition in London, and later renamed Celluloid.)
(Leo Hendrik Baekeland invented the first viable method for making plastic based on a synthetic polymer, in 1909. He publicly announced his discovery in 1912, after perfecting his work, naming it bakelite. It was originally used for electrical and mechanical parts, finally coming into widespread use in consumer goods in the 1920s. Bakelite was the first true plastic, a purely synthetic material, and the first thermosetting plastic.)
(When the Bakelite patent expired in 1930, the Catalin Corporation acquired the patent and began manufacturing Catalin plastic using a different process that allowed a wider range of coloring.)(Per Wikipedia.)

The Victorian period was from June 1837 (Queen Victoria's coronation) to January 22, 1901 (Queen Victoria's death), and the Edwardian period from 1901 to 1910 (King Edward's reign).
British historians take the Edwardian Period as ending with WW1, and the period after, 1919-1939, is known as the Interwar Years or Interwar Period. (Per Yahoo Answers.)
The gray reticule could possibly be from the flapper era, if the rings pass the bakelite tests, or from the Edwardian period, if the rings are celluloid.

Answer from a antique purse collector:
The first drawstring reticule is Edwardian, in my opinion, 1910 to 1915 at latest. Brass loops used for the drawstring were commonly used during that time.
The second beaded bag is wonderful! again, the drawstring opening is indicative of the Edwardian period. I think the assessment from 1900 to about 1918 would be close.
Both purses look to be in good shape with minimal bead loss. If this is the case I would estimate the larger beaded bag to be around $200. The smaller would be approx. $150-175 depending on the market.

A 'Picker' Finds Antique Jewelry Treasure!

2010-04-14T01:46:00.000-07:00

Antique American Painted Porcelain Floral Wild Pink Roses Brooch Circa 1900 - 1917

You never know what you may find when you are hunting for vintage and antiques!
At a local family estate sale, a friend of the family was selling some of her costume jewelry...
This was the first time I had seen any of the American painted porcelain brooches, other than in photos online. I thought the brooch was antique by its appearance and hefty weight, and it was confirmed after checking my collectors jewelry books, and various websites online. Also some very experienced people shared their knowledge with me on a couple of the social networks I belong to.
This is to encourage all you amateur 'pickers' out there, as I'm learning all the time, and I was thrilled to find that rare antique piece of jewelry!
This beautiful Antique American Painted Porcelain Brooch is decorated with a delicate floral spray, and green foliage. The flowers look like wild pink roses! The background is soft shades of light blue, yellow, and brown. The oval shaped brooch has a burnished gold rim, with gold plated bezel, and C-clasp pin on the back. It measures 2" long x 1 1/2" wide. Circa 1900 - 1917...
Referencing Warman's Jewelry Field Guide Values and Identification by Leigh Leshner: During those times, hand painted jewelry was a heart felt gift of friendship...given with love!
This is one of my most cherished treasures that I am sharing with you! You can see it on my website:
www.oldfashionedcharm.com

Nostalgic treasures from days gone by!

2010-03-08T12:49:00.000-08:00

From the many movies, and documentaries, I have watched, and books I have read, about the Victorian and Edwardian periods, I have fallen in luv with the wide brimmed hats, bustles, parasols, and fans...as well as furniture, and household items of that time!
www.oldfashionedcharm.com will feature vintage items from the 1950s, and earlier, but I hope to showcase Victorian, and Edwardian, antiques!
The Victorian period was from June 1837 (Queen Victoria's coronation) to January 22, 1901 (Queen Victoria's death), and the Edwardian period from 1901 to 1910 (King Edward's reign).
The Arts and Crafts Movement developed in England in the 1860s, from artist and writer William Morris, and spread to Australia, Canada, and America. Its peak was from 1880 to 1910. In America, it was known as Mission style.
This movement challenged the Victorian way of thinking with a vision of social reform, from men such as Walter Crane, John Ruskin, and William Morris, who wanted better quality, massed produced furniture for the working classes.
The Art Nouveau style, which was very popular from 1890 - 1905, originated in Belgium and France, and was a style of art, architecture, and applied arts, especially visual arts. The use of nature's designs, especially curved shapes such as vines, and unusual shapes such as peacock feathers, and butterflies, were prevailant, and sometimes had a Japanese influence. I have seen many table runners and 'cloths with these designs. Also use of the female figure was prevailent, as seen in vanity powder jars from that period.
The Lalique name, known for glass and jewelry, and Louis Comfort Tiffany, with his stained glass, jewelry, mosiacs, metalwork, and lamps, are two of the widely known designers of this period.
Both these movements had a great effect upon Victorian ideals and design.
Very informative sites about these styles are:
www.arts-crafts.com/archive/
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Nouveau
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arts_and_Crafts_Movement
for René Jules Lalique:
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9_Lalique
and for Louis Tiffany: www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Comfort_Tiffany