Annnnnddddd…. 6 hours later….. New things were taken to the Just Vintage booth and let me just tell you, it’s harrrrddddd to find a place they will fit and still look nice! As a reminder, the booth is in Angel’s Antique Mall in Opelika, Alabama, just off I85. The mall is HUGE and my booth is definitely not the best one there. Not even close. You’ll be in for a treat when you visit.
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What Defines Vintage and Antique?
Just what defines “vintage” and “antique?” What qualifies for antique and what qualifies for vintage? What do these terms actually mean? How do I know my item is one or the other? Or neither?
My young friend, Shannon, is famous for having said, “I can’t tell if it’s antique or just old and ugly!”
I see so much confusion and – I don’t like to use this word, and please understand there is no judgment or snobbish intent here but – ignorance, about what defines vintage and antique. I thought I’d try to shed some light on the subject as I understand it, having been out there in the trenches with it and being vintage myself. There is a good bit of room for interpretation, from the purists to the “get it in the ballpark” people.
Let me give you an example of someone not understanding the meaning of antique. Quite a few years ago, a friend of mine truly and honestly thought antiques were that new, big, dark wood, gaudy, cheaply made furniture that dealers went to a wholesale market to buy. Her friend was an “antique dealer” and that’s what she carried and sold as “antiques!” I was flabbergasted! She was flabbergasted when she learned how wrong she was!
Today’s biggest misinterpretation is vintage. A whole lot of people seem to think vintage is the new stuff made to look like old stuff. We see it everywhere! Hobby Lobby, Target, Walmart, higher-end furniture stores, lower end furniture stores, online venues…. Some people don’t even know the old stuff exists!
Martha Stewart was one of the first famous people in this more recent movement when she started having reproduction Jadeite made. (You know. That solid green kitchen glassware.) But the practice has been around a long time. Long enough for some reproductions to become antique. But we’re going to talk about today’s made in China repros. *** That’s “repros”, NOT “repos”. Two different meanings, but that’s a whole ‘nuther post.*** Aside from not understanding or caring, it can be hard for Suzy Shopper to know if it is new or old. These days, the farmhouse look is everywhere with a whole lot of new things made to look like old things. And be careful on Etsy or eBay. Those China dealers are hanging out by droves. If you see something available in multiples, run away. Unless you’re okay with reproductions. And that’s fine, too. Absolutely nothing wrong with that.
I have to tell you this little story. I was at an auction some years ago where the auctioneer held up an “antique Shirley Temple glass” and talked about how hard they were to find, how valuable they were, blah, blah, blah. The usual auctioneer talk that wise people don’t pay a lot of attention to. Once that was sold, he reached behind him and said “I’ve got ten more! Anybody want one?” Ha! Rare antique indeed.
So, here’s the skinny.
Antiques have always been defined as something 100 years or older. So yes, you can have antique furniture and an antique jar of beans. Now, most people would accept the jar being antique, but the beans?? Yeah. No. Technically, sure. But there are things, such as… I dunno…people?… that we simply don’t call antique. Ya know?
I don’t know much about classic cars, but I do see them called antique cars. I don’t know how the car collecting community feels about that.
Antiques get “younger” every year. If you know for sure your item is older than 100 years, by all means, call it antique. But it’s fine if you’re off by a few years. However, don’t make the mistake I saw in a classified ad once selling an “antique color TV!”
The dictionary defines vintage as having been made in a certain year or era. Like, something could actually be “vintage 2020.” Oh horrors! Let’s don’t go there! But since the word vintage originally referred to wine, we’ll let that definition mostly stay with wine. When referring to items, be it clothes, jewelry, nick-nacks, kitchen implements, furniture…. vintage is generally accepted as being 20 years old or older. It still hackles me to call something from the 1990s vintage though. I think of that more as retro. Oh, who am I kidding? I think of the 1990s as a couple of years ago! But we’re talking what’s generally accepted in the community, so we’ll keep the
So why bother with vintage or antique at all? It’s strictly a personal preference. Like I said earlier, some people are purists and some are not. Personally, I very much prefer vintage household furniture and accessories, but even though I prefer it, I don’t have to have antique furniture and, although I looove vintage clothes, I’m not into wearing them very often.
But what is it about vintage and antique that makes people want that over something new? It’s hard to explain, but it’s the feeling. It’s like it has absorbed the lives it’s been around. It often has a patina, a time-worn finish that cannot be imitated. Many times there are imperfections caused by the people or their children that it has lived with through the past. I have an antique, primitive, pine table with deep scratches all over the top. It’s one of my favorite pieces because of the life it has lived. What caused those scratches? Was it a kitchen table? Had it lost favor and been relagated to the garage work table? Often times – but not all the time – the older item is better made. I daily use a toaster from the 1940s! And guess what? Vintage or antique is usually cheaper than the new, mass-produced stuff! And finally, vintage is the ultimate “green.” Keeping things out of the landfill and keeping down the pollution of producing the new items.
So how do you know the difference with all the reproductions out there these days? Research – books, internet, Etsy, eBay, etc. – feel, lots of shopping… After a while, you can pretty much tell. But don’t feel bad if you’re not sure. I’m certainly tricked or unsure often enough! Remember too, that just because something is at an estate sale where the person was 95 when she passed away, doesn’t mean her items are old. She could have bought it all in the past 5 years. (Don’t know the difference between an estate sale and a garage sale? Click here to learn more about that.)
I hope this helped clear things up a bit. For those of you interested in reselling vintage on Etsy, just remember that an item has to be 20 years old or older to qualify to be listed as vintage there. And if you’re selling on eBay or anywhere else, please don’t call it vintage if it is not 20 years old or older.
July 2019 Vintage Sales Report
Woot, woot! July sales were pret-ty good. We made it about halfway to our sales goal, which I’ll admit is a bit lofty for us. But doable. Now, my real (secret) goal is much, much higher.
In looking at the low prices some of these things sold for, however, I’m kinda slapping myself. But here’s the thing. I find myself trying to compete with the booth across from me. I’ve mentioned before that her booth is over the top fabulous, one of my favorites, and she practically gives things away. I’ve got to stop comparing myself and competing and just be me. But another thing is the mood I’ve been in. I’ve been in the sell-it-no-matter-how-little-it-has-to-go mood.
Also, I apologize in advance for the multitude of crummy pictures! My phone and the lighting didn’t agree with each other the day so many of these were taken.
The first thing that sold in July was the marble butter keeper. You might remember, if you saw this post, that I paid $4.00 for it having read that butter keepers were hot online sellers, only to realize it must be the pottery ones that sell so well. The marble ones…. not so much. So I put it in the booth for $6.00. I guess any profit is better than no profit.
Butter keeper
$6.00
I might have let this fence piece go for too little. It only lasted a week or two. It really classed up the place, too! Once it and the table from last month sold, the booth was looking pretty ho-hum again.
White iron fence piece
Paid $20.00
Sold for $60.00 minus the 10% discount so actually sold for $54.00
This green pitcher with no lid lived at our house for years and years. I kept it because, well, it made a good vase! For all those fresh flowers I never brought in. So, with a decluttering determination going on, I took it to the booth. Didn’t last long.
Old green pitcher
Cost? Not a clue, but surely a dollar or less
Sold: $6.00 (Were you expecting more? Sorry to disappoint.)
This arrow shaped basket only lasted a couple of months, too. I don’t remember how much I paid for it. Must have been one of those days I was ready to just get rid of everything without trying to keep up with costs and stuff. It’s also something I wouldn’t normally buy. I was probably thinking Boho. (By the way, it’s the one in the back, not the one hanging in the front.)
Arrow shaped basket
$9.00
Bird on stump figure
$5.00
This distressed yellow frame was from the Dollar Tree a couple of years ago. I never used it and again, decluttering, stuck some scrapbook paper in it, put two bucks on it (scared to put more since DT might still have them and a buyer might feel ripped off) and waited a couple of weeks. It sold. Maybe I could have shot for $3.00? LOL
Another from my personal collection. It weighs so much I didn’t want to put it online and it took a few months to sell in the booth.
Green La Solana casserole
$10.00
This repurposed hanger thing took a little while to sell. And I figured, when I bought it, that it would go quick. Ya just never know. I could have displayed it better, too.
Repurposed junk hanger
$15.00
I brought this Japan made pottery vase from home. I used it for several years but I really don’t have much blue. But still I waffled back and forth whether to sell or not. I really liked it a lot but it didn’t melt my heart. So I decided to let it go.
Blue drip, made in Japan pottery vase
$8.00
Okay. I realize this next picture is the worst representative picture ev-uh but it’s the only one I could find. You can kinda, sorta get an idea of what it looked like.
Ocean scene print in oval, metal frame
8.00
Embroidered wreath tea towel
$4.00
A couple more tea towels sold this month for similar prices.
Glass mushroom/paperweight/thingy
7.00
I bought this at Hobby Lobby several years ago for my kitchen. I rarely never use a cookbook any more so decided to let it go.
Iron book stand
10.00
I found myself in dire need of another flat surface after something had sold and at the same time, a vendor just happened to be closing his booth and had 50% off everything. I snapped up this cute little table for $15.00. I had planned to take it home later and repaint it, but it sold before I could, necessitating another flat surface to clutter up.
Another item I used in my home for years:
Oval, reverse painted cottage picture
28.00
Three things in this next picture sold. The two baskets and the book, Ride Like An Indian.
Basket on left
17.00
Basket on right
15.00
Book
4.00
This was a gift from a precious friend. I liked it very much and I feel bad about selling it but, well, you know how it is. It just didn’t cut the mustard in the new house. I didn’t have a good place for it.
Photo album with old photos
8.00
I can’t believe this is the only picture of the display mannequin. I bought her at a yard sale a few years ago. She is not old. She has a Made In China sticker on the bottom. I don’t remember how much I paid for her, but it was either $30 or $40. I used her in the shop but have been storing her ever since. Limited space caused me to make the decision to let her go. Sigh.
Display mannequin
$65.00 (Actually $58.50. They took the 10% discount.)
Mosaic tile
$7.00
So, I bought this churn for $10.00. I know nothing about pottery churns. Nothing. Zilch. Nada. But I figured I could get more than $10 even with the ser-i-ous chips. I didn’t shoot for the moon. Maybe I should have? I just priced it at $30.00. It didn’t last long and they took the 10% discount.
Chipped churn
27.00
Rusty plant stand
15.00
This planter got rusty like this in my back yard. I don’t think I ever used it.
Rusty wire planter
20.00
Table and benches built and painted by my husband. The buyers asked if we’d take less than priced and we did.
Table and 2 benches
$450.00
Sacred Harp hymnal in poor condition
Sacred Harp hymnal
$10.00
The rest have no pictures.
- A basket with a strap — $8.00
- Vintage Empire State Building brochure — 3.00
- Pair of figurines. (I still can’t figure out what they were! Inventory numbers are important! Do Not Neglect To Do That!) — 6.00
- Large scalloped frame — $12.00
- Mid century atomic design drinking glass — $5.00
- Thursday tea towel — $10.00
- Camera tripod (One we used years ago) — $20.00
- Something with box. (Not a clue on this one either!) — $3.00
- White wicker waste basket — $17.00
- A partially finished table with a sanded top, covered up so no one would see, used as a surface only. Someone peeked and wanted it. $100.00
- 9 cans of paint — $220.92
- 5 books — $17.00
Four items sold on Etsy. Remember, I haven’t put anything new on there in some time and actually haven’t even renewed in a month or two, so any sale there is nothing short of miraculous.
Enamel turtle necklace
$14.00
Church cookbook
$5.00
Yet another Tupperware doily. I think I have one left.
$3.50
This needlepoint piece is the kind that only has the design worked. You have to fill in the background.
Needlepoint
$9.00
Whew! I believe I got it all but could have missed something. My check from the booth, which is after $480 rent and credit card charges, was $756.40. I haven’t figured up profit on all that but I can assure you, unless I grumbled about not making much on something, the profit was…. well…. nice. (Of course, if you figure in miscellaneous expenses, it gets smaller and smaller.) Many things were free or cost a quarter. I don’t know how much Ricky makes off his tables. That’s something he’s doing because he loves doing it. My guess – we don’t really talk about it – is not a whole lot. But in the end, we did not go in the hole this month. Much. I forget about these expenses — We do have the woodworking shop rent and a couple of storage units full of projects awaiting their turn….. Arghhhhh!!! That takes me back to needing to make my secret sales goal. Don’t let anybody kid you. This is a hard way to make a living but so rewarding.
We’re always interested in what everyone else is doing? Was July good for you or a bust? Do you enjoy reselling as much as I do?
As always, pinning to Pinterest is so very much appreciated.
Hall Table Before and After – Or Is It A Sofa Table?
A few weeks ago, I found this table at a yard sale for $5.00.
It was missing a top and needed some serious glue in a few places. My husband, who really does not like working with old furniture, he prefers to build from scratch, made a top, glued all the places, sanded and spray painted it for me, God bless him!
He brought it to me and I spent nearly a day waxing. Here’s our finished result:
The picture isn’t that great. I should have taken one before we took it to the booth.
Before I show a close up of the color, distressing and waxing, I want to tell you – again – what an idiot I am.
I couldn’t wait to get it to the booth and rearrange. It looked fabulous! Really classed up the booth. People were stopping by looking at it while I was working. Then I made a seriously goob move. I priced it at $129.00. Whyyyyyy?????!!! I was competing with the booth across from me. She prices her things quite low. But honestly, I think, no I know, she would have priced something like this higher.
When I got home, I thought better of it – the too low price – and planned to go back first chance I got the next day. I also wanted to get a better picture and change the handle. I went back not 24 hours later and it was gone. Not only had it sold, it sold with a 10% discount! So someone got this beauty for $116.00. Sure, that’s not too bad for the $25 or so we eventually had in it, but it could easily, easily, have been more. And I’m not exactly doing this for my health, ya know? Oh, well. I’m proud we actually got it out without it sitting around here for months or even years. But guess what? It’s still in the mall. For double the price. (I think it’s one of the mall owners’ booths.) I think I’ll try to keep tabs on it and see how long they keep it.
I learned a couple of things with this experience. 1.) Don’t be afraid to price higher and 2.) I kinda liked the distressing process! Who knew?
Here’s what we did to achieve the results:
It was first painted with General Finishes Milk Paint. One part Lamp Black to 10 parts Snow White. I hit it with sandpaper in logical places, corners, edges, sticky-out parts and the like, then put a black wax on reallllly thick. I wanted the wax to chunk up in the details. You can click on the picture for a larger view.
About the wax. I used a homemade mixture. A clear paste wax with black pigment mixed in. My husband made that a few years ago. I really don’t know what he used but I do recall wax splatters in my kitchen. I’m pretty sure you can Google how to tint paste wax. Or just buy some Briwax on Amazon already tinted. (affiliate link)
