In the last 10-15 years I’ve heard the word vintage bandied around so many times and not always in an appropriate fashion. I thought I would make an attempt at demystifying it for you. Really it is very simple. It takes 100 years for something to become an antique. Like the Velveteen Rabbit who wants to have all his fur rubbed off so he can become Real. An antique very often has most of its paint, finish, or shine rubbed off to that perfect “antique patina”. Oh that means I’m 2/3rds of the way to becoming an antique!!! Why is the difference important? Well it isn’t, unless you love to forage and search for that extra something. Certainly you don’t want to pay for an antique when in reality it is only vintage.

For something to be vintage it is only required to be 25 years old. With so many reproductions out there the distinction now becomes quite important. I have dishes, shoes, clothes and towels that are older than that! Does that make them vintage? It would seem that we as a society find the need to put a label on everything. Including ourselves. Why can’t a towel be a towel? Is something made in 1995 really vintage?

If it were up to me the distinction would be far greater, 50 years. When I think of vintage I think of something from 1930-1965. To me that time frame has had enough “love” rubbed on it to be considered vintage. Anything newer then that is just mass produced and stuff! Don’t get me wrong I still love most of my mass produced “vintage” stuff but do I consider it vintage? No, it’s just mine.

I remember my dad coming home from the road (he was a salesman) with 3 antique iron pull toys. My mom was thrilled and had more fun working them into her vignettes. Of course they were worn and paint had chipped off here and there. The discussion was, does she “freshen” them up? This was the late 60’s when you still wanted everything to look fresh and new. Wisely she decided no, they were antique and she would live with them and enjoy them just as they were.

Then a few years later some company was reproducing those exact same toys. It certainly took the fun out of owning the antiques. There was talk about these toys being real or fake. I’m reasonably sure they were real, but soon after my dad sold them. Of course the introduction of the repro’s to the market helped to devalue the antique.

In the 1970’s there was a real push to reproduce so much of what was old and antique. In 1976 the “Bicentennial” helped to gain the popularity of all things old and “Country Style” was born. To reinforce the look manufacturers started to take inspiration from all the antiques out there and everything from 4 poster beds, to pie safes, braided rugs, and home spun curtains with ball fringe became all the rage.

In the 80’s the focus to fine tune the Country look, to make it more authentic became important with the attention to the finish and scale. Painted finishes became all the rage and that hand rubbed “patina” became the finish of choice for those Country enthusiasts who were trying to achieve that 18th Century look. Fine craftsmen and cabinetmakers found a niche’ in this market and began to really focus on bench made one of a kind pieces. Of course the big manufacturers got on the bandwagon and the market was flooded with both “Made in China” and made in America.

Some of these hand made reproductions whether home decor or furniture are so well done that it takes an expert to know the difference. Of course there are ruthless people out there who will knowingly sell you a fake. Become an expert in whatever it is that you want to collect. How do you do this?

1. Pick your thing. Your eye will be constantly directed to the things that are most appealing to you.
2. Shop frequently. Antique Shows if you have them. Antique Malls are filled with both vintage and antique finds. Estate and garage sales and of course thrift shops. The smaller thrift shops that support community services are where you will find the best things. People who donate quality items want to do it to a thrift shop that will support their community. We have regular donators.
3. Handle your finds. Feel their weight, the texture, study the nuances of the item. What are the similarities to the other, you have at home. Look for a signature or touch mark. All of these are clues. But a lot of times there is no identifier.
4. Research. If there is no mark google an exact description of the item. Japanese Blue/Gold tea set with Mount Fuji. That one took me 4 hours to find. It became a mission!!! I just kept changing the search and finally figured out that it was Mount Fuji in the background. As soon as I identified that the exact tea set came up. Tea set is available in our ALOmaha online shop.

Becoming an expert in your “thing” is like peeling back an onion. Layer by layer with each purchase you will become more knowledgable. Will you make mistakes? Probably but, you will learn from that too. Before you know it you will be in front of a sea of stuff and you will make a bee line for your “thing”. It will reach out and pull you in. Oh I recognize you. Are you real? Hmm you’re going home with me!!!

So you see the distinction is important. Manufacturers are doing such a good job of making something look antique how do you know the difference. It depends on what you’re shopping for. Which would you rather have an antique piece of ironstone, or a vintage piece made in 1950? Would you rather have an antique French confit pot or one made by Pottery Barn. Ok, I can’t afford a real French Confit Pot which I would love to have but, for me Pottery Barn will have to do. Dough Bowls are another thing that are highly reproduced along with bread boards. You don’t want to pay $$$ for a dough bowl that was manufactured down the street 3 days ago. Now I am all about hand made and keeping craftsman in business this is very important to me but, know what you’re buying.

This wonderful Ales and Spirits sign I brought from my parents estate. Is it an antique or is it vintage?Many years ago she was offered several hundred dollars for it. It has a great antique look, but no it was made in the 80’s. That’s 1980 BTW!

This photo I took many years ago. Although the candlesticks, crystal, and sterling are all newer all the dish patterns are antique, not vintage. Transferware is something that is still being made today so it is important to know the difference. My collection for the most part has been fine tuned down to the 1815-1830 range with a few exceptions. In the 1890’s there was a resurgence in popularity of transferware, while still antique if you are a transferware purist you are going to want pieces from that earlier time frame. Most people can’t make the distinction so it is easier to think you are getting something really old when in reality you’re buying that second period. No, there is nothing wrong with that but you should be aware.

This chair has a rush seat buried under the books. It has a wonderful old patina and a chewed up leg. I bought it that way and paid 5.00 for it at an estate sale. Is it antique well maybe, I think it probably is a 1920’s interpretation of an 18th Century Queen Ann country piece. I don’t care, it was 5.00 and I love it chewed leg and all.

My trunk is probably the oldest piece in my collection. I picked it up in Fremont NE in 2003 and it is one of my favorite things. Clearly it is not vintage. I believe this piece to be Pennsylvania Dutch and probably early 1800’s. Ah the stories it could tell!

The strap hinges on the inside are a work of art. As you can see this is where a lot of Christmas gets stashed.

So you see the distinction between Antique and Vintage is important after all. Yes I prefer antiques above all else but, I am not that much of a purist to turn my nose up at something if I love it.

For me it’s the entire look and feel that I am going for. If a new piece is going to give me the look I am trying to achieve at a price I can afford then yes I will happily bring it into my home.

I hope this helped to clear up the difference between the two. Go out there and find you thing. I would love to hear about it in comments.

Thanks for stopping

Shelley