13 Vintage Finds Just in Time for Easter + Free Price Guide
Hi there! How was your weekend? Mine was full, but not too full, if you know what I mean. We spent time with friends, which is always a blessings, and I had the chance to restock my new, larger booth at the Grist Mill Antique Center on Friday. I’ll share some photos, soon.
Saturday, before dinner with friends, we took a ride out in the country. Do you follow me on Instagram? I posted a photo from our drive–pop on over and we can be Instagram friends 🙂
Today I have some Easter vintage finds to share with you. Let’s take a look.
Vintage Bunnies & a Lamb
Nothing says “Easter” louder than bunnies, right? I’ve already seen several hopping around my yard, even though it’s still completely covered with snow(!). These darling bunny salt and pepper shakers likely date to just the 1990’s, but I think their cuteness warranted a rescue from the thrift store shelf (cost: 50¢, value: $5-6.00).
This handsome fellow, made of resin, must have been holding something in his paws. An Easter basket perhaps? (cost: 25¢, value: $2-3.00) I’ll give him something to hold before decorating with him.
Made to appear like a foil-wrapped bunny, this little resin guy is lovely in pastel purple (cost: 25¢, value: $2-4.00).
A bit on the gaudy side, but nonetheless exhibiting some vintage charm, this bunny was languishing at a nearby thrift store (cost: $1.00, value: $10-12.00).
I just found this lamb-shaped cake pan at a thrift store last week at 50% off (cost: $1.99, value: $15-20.00). It dates to the 1950’s and has the original paperwork inside.
A sweet friend from church used a similar pan to make a cake for my son’s baby shower. It was spectacularly covered with flowers–such a talented lady.
Vintage Children’s Books
I purchased a stack of Little Golden Books (LGB’s) at a sale this fall and pulled out all of the bunny-related ones (and one about a duckling, too) for this Easter post. I love the bunny covers and think they are perfect for Easter decorating.
LGB’s illustrated by famous artists, like Richard Scarry, as The Bunny Book is, are sought after. However, it’s a later, 5th printing of a 1975 edition, making it less desirable (cost: 25¢, value: $2-3.00).
Get access to my brand new Little Golden Books Price Guide
when you subscribe to my blog below.
Scarry both wrote and illustrated this LGB, Rabbit and His Friends, in 1953; however, this is the 2nd printing of a 1973 edition (cost: 25¢, value: $3-5).
The beloved author, Margaret Wise Brown (Goodnight Moon) wrote The Golden Egg Book, putting it into the desirable category, but again, this is a 7th printing of a later edition (1974) (cost: 25¢, value: $3-5).
The Fuzzy Duckling, on the other hand, is a 1949, 1st edition, albeit in not very good condition (cost: 25¢, value $1.00). If in excellent condition, it would be worth $15-20.00.
Learn the secret to determining LGB editions here.
There’s not really a market for these Elf books, but the pink patterned Bunny Tales title clinched the deal for me (cost: 25¢, value: $1.00).
Vintage Pink Floral China
Pastels and Easter go hand in hand, so I thought I’d share a few recent pink floral finds, like this pretty butter pat (cost: $1.00, value: $3-5.00).
It’s “Schwarzburg” mark indicates that it was made in central Germany, where the Schwarzburg Dynasty had its seat of power until the creation of the German state in 1918. The L. Straus & Sons of NYC imported it into this country in the 1920’s.
St. Clement pottery, in operation since the mid-1700’s, manufactured this c.1920’s French faience dinner plate in the “chanticleer” or rooster pattern (cost: $1.50, value: $15-25.00). [Many thanks to Nadia, Patty, & Lisa for leaving comments to help with this identification :)]
The mark on the back reads something like, “S’element France.”
UPDATE: As several of my sweet readers pointed out in the comments below, and as Rita had told me many months ago, this mark actually reads, “St. Clement”.
You guys are going to think I’m crazy, but I wrote about a matching plate a few months ago. Yes, if you’re wondering, I have lost my mind, LOL. I must have bought two and somehow they were stored in separate locations. Until I read my comments, below however, I had not remembered that I had already written about it.
It’s made of earthenware by the St. Clement pottery, which has been in operation since the mid-1700’s, though this plate likely dates to the 1920’s. Lisa, who commented below, left the link to a site with some great info about St. Clement pottery.
Final Fabulous Find: This small-ish red transferware vase is one of my favorite recent discoveries (cost: $2.00, value: $20-25.00). It’s perfect for holding some snowdrops on a side table or bathroom counter.
F. Winkle & Co. were in business in Stoke-on-Trent (the pottery center of England in Staffordshire County) from about 1890 to 1931.
That’s it for today. With Easter coming upon us early this year, I thought the timing good for taking a look at some bunnies and pretty china. Thanks for taking a gander! Tell me, how are your holiday plans coming along?
Thanks so much for stopping by–
If you enjoyed your visit, I hope you’ll subscribe and never miss a post.
You’ll also receive access to the brand new
Adirondack Girl Member Library
When You Click Here To
With your subscription, you’ll receive the PASSWORD to give you access
to the Member Library where you’ll find my brand new Little Golden Books Price Guide:
For you dear old friends who have been subscribing to the blog for a while now,
I’ll be giving you the password to the Member Library in this Wednesday’s newsletter.
If you can’t wait that long, email me, contact me via social media, or use the contact form
on my side bar, and I’ll send you the password, ASAP.
Bye for now,
See what I’m selling on
See what I’m selling from
Pin Me 🙂
I think the signature on the dessert plate is St. Clement (French). Hope
you’re keeping well, Diana.
It’s just SO lovely to hear from you 🙂 I hope you are well. Thank you, thank you for pointing that out. As soon as I read St. Clement, I remembered that my blogging friend, Rita, had told me the same thing. I’m going to go and make a correction to the post right now–
Margaret Wise Brown illustrations are always a spirit lifter whether 1st addition or 5th! I am full on decorated for Easter in my shop-not so much at home but nothing a store purchased pot of tulips can’t take of! My best to you!
I agree, Hillary, her books are wonderful 🙂 You’ve impressed me with your shop decorating! I planned very poorly and will not be back to my shop until just a week before Easter–not very long to sell holiday merch. Hope you have a great week!
Love your Easter picks. The lamb cake pan brings back memories. My mothers friend made my 1st birthday cake with one like this. 1956. So because it was so cute I had her make my daughter one for her 1st birthday. Mama failed to tell me that her cake wasn’t good. What a disaster! It was as cute as can be but totally inedible! Lol! We all have a story don’t we?
Yes, we all have a story, Jeri, and your’s made me smile today–thanks for sharing it with us 🙂
I too found a vintage lamb cake pan a few years ago and was so excited. It brought back memories of pretty lamb cakes my Mom made for Easter. My cake turned out beautiful…. I made green grass with dyed coconut. Perfect. Before anyone could see it the head fell off and crumbled. I tried to add some icing to the body to make it look like a giant Easter egg but it was a disaster. Of course we ate the cake,but everyone chuckled and never let me forget my masterpiece. Somehow they remember it as a lopsided football with coconut.
LInda! What a shame–your poor little lamb, ruined before your eyes. It reminds me of the time a close friend told a mutual friend that we would make her wedding cake. It was quite an involved process, as you can imagine. We arrived at the reception location early with the cakes and our frosting.
The cake was to have four double tiers with the top tier having its center cut out and a flower arrangement tucked inside. As I was placing that top tier, I dropped it! Amazingly, it remained remarkably intact, however plenty of cake chunks had broken off. We used every spare bit of frosting to “glue” it together and cover up the mistake. First and last wedding cake I’ll ever make! The pressure was just too great…
Oh Diana! I bet your heart dropped when the cake tier dropped.
Oh yeah! It definitely dropped…
Sweet finds. I got my bunnies out the other day! I have a collection of bunny decor that Avon sold years ago. All of mine has been found at thrift stores.
I’m not familiar with those Avon bunnies, Linda–I’ll have to keep an eye out for them. Happy Easter!
Diana, I found these two items which might give you very little info on S’Element. One is a plate with the same marking on the back and the other link is for a group of dinnerware, with a few pieces in the bottom right had corner with similar markings to yours, yet no good information about the brand. The Quimper I’ve had was marked, but maybe not all of it is. It definitely has a certain look to it.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/542560279/art-nouveau-porcelain-plate-s-element?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_b-art_and_collectibles-fine_art_ceramics&utm_custom1=a94dbb93-0c5d-4047-b511-fb597388592a&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7b2lqZDn2QIVlLjACh3O7waNEAYYASABEgL63PD_BwE
https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/wessex-auction-rooms/catalogue-id-srwess10070/lot-f6fb0eee-c203-42b7-bddc-a49f0113481c
It’s fun to have a mystery to work on, isn’t it? Thanks so much for your sleuthing, Patty!
I totally love the little Golden books. Originally they were made by Western Printing in Racine, Wisconsin, my home town growing up. Schools, church groups, and youth groups all benefited from the generosity of WP and passed out free books liberally for picnics, Christmas parties and social events/fundraisers. I wish I had kept every one I ever had. Fond memories of a book filled childhood.
So nice to hear that about Western Publishing and what good community members they were. Thanks for letting us know, Sandi!
What a lovely Spring post, enjoyed all of your finds, especially the Little Golden Books…what memories these awaken and the small floral butter pat…just beautiful.
So glad you enjoyed it Mickie–happy spring!!
Well, let me just say that I am in love with the bunny in the second photo! If you were selling him I would snatch him up in a second. It sounds like you may be keeping him, though. Waah! I also would buy that foil-wrapped bunny, but that lady bunny in the third photo looks like she’s pregnant, so I don’t want anything to do with her! I don’t want a herd? passle? brood? of rabbits hopping all over my house! What DO they call a bunch of newborn bunnies?
I’ve always loved the Little Golden Books. I had them as a child, my daughters had them when they were little and my grandsons like them now–even at seven. i have probably fifty or more that I’ve saved or picked up at thrift stores I really need to get them out and look at them. Some are pretty old and in bad shape but some are pretty intact. I especially love the ones illustrated by Margaret Wise Brown and Eloise Wilkin.
You collected a good mix of things, Diana. The transferware vase is lovely.
Sounds like your weekend was fun. Hope your week is off to a good start and will look forward to the next post!
So glad you enjoyed the post, Naomi! I’ve sent you an email regarding the two bunnies you’re interested in.
So sweet that you’ve been able to share your love of Little Golden Books through the generations. I have several saved for the future 🙂
I’ve worked for a French company for 20 years, and have gotten pretty good at reading handwriting. Your plate says: St. Clement. Here is a link to an informative page about this Faience pottery style.
http://www.infofaience.com/en/stclement-hist
Glad to give you some info after all you have taught me!
What a fantastic article, Lisa–thank you SO muchi for letting me know. Also, great to hear that I’ve been able to pass on some of what I’ve learned to others 🙂
On ebay there is a St Clement, France Luneville Faience plate, more elaborate than yours but the central design is very uch the same, c 1800, listed for over $200!
I loved the bunnies, then the dishes, then oohed out loud when I saw the little transferware vase at the end! The Easter/duck books could parade across a mantel (if I had one!). As good as a bunch of vintage postcards! I’m not much of a S&P shaker collector, but I fell for those bunnies! Now I’ll learn about St. Clement! WIN-WIN!
Your red transfer ware vase is the reason I am addicted to haunting thrifts! Always on the lookout for something like that, not that I need it, but I have a strong fixation for beautiful pieces from the past. How funny that you had bought the same plate before, which just proves that you really like it. Don’t chastise yourself too much, we all have memory failings and my reply is we have so much information bombarding us, how could we possible not forget something? Perfection is impossible and boring.
Oh, and one of the things that I collect? Rabbits, eggs and egg cups, with a chick thrown in for good measure. If you mention something, My “problem” is that I like so many things, I believe I have the pack rat gene.
I was the baby of the family and my siblings were 9-17 years older than I. I grew up with many of probably the original LGBs, but they ‘d been read to death, like the last pages missing or scribbled on ( though that was probably me!!). Anyway, I remember wondering how the stories ended and lived in mystery until I had my own kids. I remember buying the golden anniversary edition of the Poky Little Puppy with such thrill! This past fall I participated in Nebraska’s “Junk Jaunt” and what sold the best was vintage kids’ books. They weren’t all Little Golden, and probably more from the 60’s – 80’s, but people were tickled to find them. As a mom, grandma, AND a sped teacher, I am always glad to see people enthused about books, because reading to kids is one of the best gifts we can give.