Scouting Blog for Cool Vintage Finds

A Vintage Alphabet, Part 2

12/18/2020

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More visual treats to whet your shopping appetite. All available in our Cool Vintage Finds Store on eBay.

G is for Gold.

Gold attracts the eye and implies luxury. Here it has been applied as a wash to a silver and enamel filigree brooch.

H is for House of Hatten.

Picture of House of Hatten Santa ornament

From 1977 to 2009, House of Hatten created wonderful collectible holiday ornaments and decor, most notably by artist Denise Calla.

I is for Italian Lace.

Italian lace, like this Point de Venice and whitework embroidery tablecloth, is highly collectible.

J is for Japanese doll.

This antique Japanese gofun doll is dressed in traditional silk clothing.

K is for Kitsch

This Kreier placemat is the retro kitsch cool.

L is for Linens

Arghabani embroidery is just one example of an exquisite collectible linen.

Stay tuned to find out what's featured in our Vintage Alphabet, Part III. There's always a full alphabet of vintage collectibles in our eBay store.

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SOLD on eBay ... treasures that have come and gone

4/7/2017

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If there's one thing you can say about our eBay business, it's that no two days are ever the same. Our Cool Vintage Finds Store on eBay offers an eclectic variety of merchandise. The store attracts serious collectors, window shoppers, costumers, staging professionals, crafters and even resellers looking for that special something. We're getting better at rescuing gold when we're out and about. Here's a short list of items that customers have been eager to buy.

This vintage Italian straw hat was bought, listed and sold the same day.

Someone wanted this hat.

My partner in crime recognized the value of the well-constructed straw hat shown above, and sure enough, it sold to a buyer in Korea within hours of being listed on our eBay site. What makes this hat special? Quality (the straw was super sturdy); origin (made in Italy); age (over 50 years old); condition (flawless) and style (self-evident).

This vase sold quickly at auction.

Chinese pottery is very popular.

I'm drawn to stunning works of art with Asian origins. Fortunately, many of our customers also appreciate our finds in this area. The buyer of this Chinese Satsuma vase asked us to be on the lookout for other pieces featuring this beautiful "1000 flowers" or millefleurs pattern.

Mid Century has a big fan base.

Retro towels, table cloths, bed linens and interior decor are hot right now. Mod floral and atomic patterns are often scooped up as fast as we can list them. Judging by sales, buyers also appreciate no-iron percale sheets (popular in the 60s and 70s) more than ever. Made in the USA and union made—two labels that are harder to come by in newer merchandise—tend to increase desirability.

Toile patterns depict bucolic pastoral scenes.

Classic patterns continue to please.

Toile patterns are consistently good performers, so we like to score it for our store. Pillows, throw blankets, comforters and table linens often feature this pattern in blue on white or off white. More rarely we've found it in yellow on white and also red on white. Variations on this theme complement French Country (sometimes dubbed "romantic" or "shabby cottage") as well as American Colonial decor.