Vintage Pyrex

Bring a vintage look to your kitchen with Pyrex

Butterfly Gold Nesting Mixing Bowls

Pyrex comes in so many patterns and colors that there is sure to be one to match your vintage kitchen style. In addition, it’s useful as well as decorative which is important in any kitchen where space is often at a premium.

Whether your style is bold or country cottage there is a pattern to complement your taste in a variety of pieces including loaf pans, casserole dishes in a selection of shapes and sizes, mixing bowls, pie pans, refrigerator dishes and more!

Primary Color Casserole Dish

Pyrex got its start in 1908 when Corning Glass Works was manufacturing Nonex, a borosilicate low-expansion glass for lamp globes and battery jars. The story goes that Jesse Littleton of Corning discovered the cooking potential of borosilicate glass by giving his wife a casserole dish made from a cut-down Nonex battery jar. Corning then reformulated the glass removing the lead content and started a line of kitchenware. Hopefully Mrs. Littleton received one of the new lead free pieces and got rid of the cut down battery jar!

Early American Refrigerator Dish

Gooseberry Refrigerator Dishes

 


Another Pyrex story is that the name was created using one of the first products produced, a pie plate, combining that with the EX from the end of Nonex and sticking an R in the middle to make it easy to pronounce. Good thing because I think PIEX would have been quite the tongue twister.

At first all Pyrex was clear glass and then in 1947 Corning Glass Works began producing Pyrex in the colors and patterns we all know and love. New designs were continually introduced to the modern homemaker to keep up with latest trends and a love affair began! 



From mid century designs in turquoise to the harvest gold and avocado green designs so popular in the seventies there is a Pyrex pattern to match your taste and to make tasty meals with too!

Butterprint Refrigerator Dishes

Alas all good things must come to an end and Corning discontinued its production of Pyrex products in 1998 but still licensed the Pyrex brand to other companies. You should be aware that new Pyrex is made with a different glass formula, soda-lime glass, which has been linked to some complaints to the Consumer Product Safety Commission by users reporting that their Pyrex glassware had shattered at high temperatures.



 Another good reason to buy vintage Pyrex!

Primary Color Loaf Pan

To learn more about Pyrex including how to clean and care for your vintage pieces and other useful and

interesting information please visit PyrexLove.com

About the Author

 Karen Mantone-Pillar is one of the founders and admin of Got Vintage Shops. She currently owns and operates two online shops; Charmings Collectibles on Etsy, and a stand alone web store CharmingsCollectibles.com.

Willow Transferware

Willow Pattern Dinnerware

The Willow pattern is a design that has literally been around for centuries! 

Willow is a transferware pattern that is most commonly seen in blue, but it has been made in a variety of other colors including red (often referred to as 'pink'), green, brown, black, mulberry, polychrome and more.

Willow was first introduced as a dinnerware pattern by Thomas Turner in Caughley, England, circa 1780. The popularity of the pattern grew, and it was subsequently made by several different Staffordshire potters.

It remains a popular pattern to this day, and it has been copied and produced by many companies from many countries. Some of the most productive manufacturers were in England, the United States, and Japan.

Each manufacturer made their own subtle changes to the design, but it will always have certain components. These include a palatial Chinese home, a bridge with 3 or more people crossing, an island, willow trees and 2 doves. The most commonly changed element is the design on the rim.

 

The pattern details the story of two young lovers who ran from the woman's wealthy father so they could have a life together.

Although betrothed to a wealthy man, the young woman wanted to marry her true love. 

To escape, they crossed the bridge and sailed to a small island where they lived and prospered, until their whereabouts were discovered. 

They died when their home was attacked, and the Gods turned them into immortal doves, to remain together in death as in life.

Due to the centuries of popularity of this pattern, there are many ways it can be collected, which adds to the fun!

Blue Willow Gravy or Sauce Boat

Subcategories can include collecting by color, age, or by manufacturer and/or country of origin.

The range of products available over the years is staggering. In addition to dinnerware, one can find glassware, cookware, flatware, fabric, wallpaper, etc. The variety of items in the dinnerware category alone is astounding, including cruets, cheese dishes, tidbit servers, tureens, napkin rings, egg coddlers, candleholders etc. The list is far too comprehensive for this forum!

I hope you've found this blog informative, and I invite you to see the selection of Willow dinnerware we're offering in our shop!

About the Author

Anita is an active member of Got Vintage Shops. Please visit her store Cousins Antiques on Ruby Lane where she "is pleased to help you find the treasure that speaks to you!"

Vintage Shoes

  How to Get a Good Fit When Vintage Shoe Shopping

What gal doesn't love shoes? 

When you discover the endless and unique designs in vintage footwear you might be surprised! 

But getting a good fit is very important. 

We all know that just because a shoe is labeled a certain size it still might not fit us when the package arrives on our doorstep. 

But what about vintage shoes that have no size marked at all? 

 

         

    Even trickier?    

                      Not at all! 

                               Just follow these easy measuring tips.

• Find a pair of shoes that you already own and that fit you well ...try and find a pair in a similar style to what you’re looking to purchase.

 

• Using a soft, flexible, cloth tape measure; measure the INSIDE of the shoe heel to toe, keeping the tape measure flat against the insole hugging the arch. This is your length. 
• Do the same at the widest point at the ball of the foot INSIDE the shoe and this is your width. 

When shopping online for vintage shoes most sellers know the basic shoe fit guidelines and will provide these basic measurements for the buyer. But be sure to ask if the measurements given were taken on the inside of the shoe, not the outside! Then just compare the measurements... 

Knowing your “vintage” size will insure you get a great fit every time! 

 About the Author

Jolene Bramer is a member of Got Vintage Shops. Please visit her shop Intrigue You Forever on Etsy and also check out her listings on Ebay under her seller name intrigueu4ever.

 

EAPG Butter Dishes

Early American Pattern Glass Butter Dishes

EAPG Butter Dish Virginia Banded Portland Maiden Blush

I think the reason I love old glassware so much is that it was designed to make everything “special”.  There seemed to be a pretty vessel for just about everything . Today we just reach for a plastic container.

Recently my husband and I ate some Chinese food straight from the Styrofoam take
out containers.  Sitting in front of the TV, we wolfed down our food in a matter of minutes. Wonder what would have happened if instead, I placed the food in serving dishes, set the table with pretty dishes, more than one utensil per person and turned off the TV.  I believe we would have enjoyed it more, talked more, slowed down and consumed less.  

Riverside Center Medallion (Jersey Lily) Etched Covered Butter

 I have a number of beautiful EAPG butter dishes in my shop.  They used to grace a family table along with nut dishes, condiment jars, finger bowls, etc.  Each and every one had a dedicated purpose.  Today when most people want to butter bread, they reach for the plastic tub in the fridge.  100 years ago real butter was kept in an ornate glass butter dish with a cover. Today if I want mustard on something, I just squeeze the yellow plastic container.  100 years ago, it was a beautiful glass condiment jar. 

EAPG Tree Of Life With Hand & Ball Butter Dish Hobbs c. 1879

 Lately  I’ve been using my old glassware more and more.  There is a small family owned dairy farm nearby.  I keep real butter in a real butter dish on the counter ready to use.  It tastes so much better than tub margarine.  I’ve started using serving dishes at least one day a week instead of just serving out of the pots on the stove.    And yes, it does make the food taste better. 

About the Author

Donnah Barnett Brnger is a member of Got Vintage Shops.  She owns and operates two shops - Mainely Glass on Ruby Lane,  and her webstore  Mainely Glass

Golden Books

A Little Bit About Golden Books

Most people, young and old alike know what a Golden Book is.  You know them as the little books with the golden spine that tell so many different stories.  They are everywhere, not only in bookstores but more likely to be found in the checkout isle in your food store or in what used to be called a Dime Store.

My love of them began not as a child, but when a coworker came in one day and gave me a huge bag full of children's books.  This was when my son was young, and my friend said keep what you want and toss what you don't.  Toss????  Heck no, and that bag started a whole new love in my life when I pulled out a 1940 edition of a Golden Book.  I was hooked. 

 

These are two of the books that were in that bag, that hooked me into collecting them for life.  It was then I began to do some research wanting to learn more about these wonderful little books.  I thought they always had a shiny binding, but these had a dull golden binding.   I wanted to know why.

It's a long story as to how the Little Golden Book came to be, but in short the first 12 titles were originally released in 1942. When Simon and Schuster Publishing Firm got together with Western Printing they decided that if they could print in large volume, they could create a low priced series of children's books. Something that was needed very much during those days.

The result was a book that was filled with colorful, bright pages that were small enough to be handled by most children, and affordable for most families.  At just 25 cents each, parents could afford to buy them when comparing the price to other children's books that cost around 50 cents each.  This all was happening during wartime, when there were shortages of everything, and the books became popular very quickly.  In just five months they sold one and a half million copies filling toy chests, and being played with.

This is just the beginning of that long story, and Little Golden Books grew in popularity and eventually new formats were created.  We now know them with the shiny bright golden binding, and they are still loved.

This shows my current collection.  The top shelf are all first editions, the second shelf other editions or printings, and the third shelf - well they were all my sons.  Yes, I loved them before he was born and he got lots.

 Many vintage and antique shops sell Golden books, and they are highly collectable.  Do you know how to tell a first edition?  In the older books it is actually quite easy.  Just go to the back of the book, and very gently pull the bottom of the last page away from the back cover.  You will see a letter there.  If you have an "A" you have a first edition.  But they have other letters, and that does not necessarily mean a second or third edition.  A "B" usually means a second printing.  A "C" means a third printing, and on and on.  As a seller, if you can list your book as a first edition, you will not only have a better item for sale, but it is also worth more money.  So when shopping for older Golden Books, use this tip and always list what you have for better results.  The newer books just have it in the front, usually written as first edition.

These are some of the older books.  Note how the binding is not as shiny and bright.

This set is called Tiny Golden Books.  They first appeared for sale in 1948 and were housed in their own little bookshelf.  These books are only 2 1/4" x 3 1/4" and have 24 pages.  I see a lot of them loose for sale, but finding them in the bookshelf isn't so easy.  I am lucky enough to have two full sets.

Today there are different versions that have been published throughout the years.  There are Big Golden Books, The Golden Book Encyclopedia, Funtime Books such as coloring or books with paper dolls.  There are Giant Golden Books, Giant Golden Punch-Out Books, and Giant Sturdy Books.  I could go on and on.

The subjects are very wide spread from Howdy Doody to Roy Rogers.  From The Pokey Little Puppy to The Saggy Baggy Elephant.  There are Disney stories and lots of them, including my favorite Pinocchio.  There are fairy tales and stories about all kinds of animals.  Many people collect them for their illustrators, and some of the best can be had.  Eloise Wilkin, Gustaf Tenggren, and Richard Scarry are just a couple.  There are so many more.

You can usually find a book or two for sale at my Etsy shop Paper of Yesterday. 

Reference:  Tomart's Price Guide to Golden Book Collectables by Rebecca Greason

About the Author:

Jane Dominick is a member and admin at Got Vintage Shops on Facebook.  She owns and operates Paper of Yesterday and

Yesterdays Pleasures on Etsy.

Vintage Swimwear

Vintage Beach Lovin' Summer Style

 I live in a quiet little beach hamlet on the Mornington Peninsula - well it's normally quiet! Yesterday - Boxing Day to be exact - the tourists arrived! My little town of Rye triples in size at this time and becomes a thriving metropolis!

People in our town are divided regarding the tourists - love or hate 'em - we have to have them every year, so that we can enjoy the amenities our little town has to offer! And anyway we can't be selfish we need to share this little piece of heaven don't you think?













So  in celebration of beach culture I have found some images of vintage bathing costumes that would have been seen on my little beach at some time or another....

I love my little beach town ...

About the Author:

Mary O'Reilly is a member of the Got Vintage Shops.  She owns and operates Crimson Crimplene Vintage on Etsy and Crimson Crimplene on eBay.

Celtic Jewelry

A Celtic Collection

The name Celt is rooted in the ancient Greeks, who called the barbarian peoples of central Europe Keltoi. The Celts were a tribe nation originating in the mountains of Austria and Germany. Over time they migrated through Europe and into the Islands we now know as the United Kingdom as well as northern parts of France. 3000 years of Celtic culture ranging across much of central and northwestern Europe has produced a wide range of styles and designs that have been reproduced and developed time and again throughout many eras of history.

The variety of styles, mediums and general passion for our ancestors has produced a plethora of collectibles for those that love all things Celtic, from Jewelry to Figurines, Clothing and Art, not to mention beautifully made serving pieces for the table, Teapots and trivets, table linens and fine hair adornments. We mustn't forget the boys either, they're sure to find kilt pins and cuff-links, money clips and rings. No matter what one is looking for it can usually be found with Celtic inspiration and vintage origins.

The affordability of Celtic collectibles has such a diverse range that it is an area anyone can collect in. Whether you can purchase the Victorian sterling silver and agate brooches or the more recent Miracle Jewelry that is highly collected but a lot more affordable, a highly carved antique oak table or a simple Celtic design tablecloth to cover the Ikea table in your dining room, anyone with a passion for the intricate knot work and traditional designs of the bygone age is sure to be able to find something to fit their budget.

My collection of all things Celtic isn't truly a collection, it's a lifestyle. Born and raised in England I have always loved the traditional music and dance and grew up in a family that was involved in both. We'd often visit Scotland to see my mothers side of the family and over the years, as I grew and developed my own tastes in clothing, jewelry and decor I found myself gravitating towards the designs of old. With over 300 years of ancestry in my family tree wending their way all over England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales I suppose it's no surprise that I love the patterns and objects of my ancestors. My particular passion for Celtic art however is Hair Adornments. I have the long, dark, curly hair of my Irish roots and I just love to find vintage silver Celtic design hair clips and combs to tame my wild curls.

The beauty of Celtic collectibles and antiques isn't just in the design and the history, it's in the variety, the affordability and availability. Go on, take a browse through Got Vintage Shops and see what Celtic inspired goodies you can find!

About the Author

Helen Gilbert is a member of Got Vintage Shops. She owns and operates Catisfaction's Glass Gallery on Ruby Lane.