Vintage Vanity Items for the Ladies Boudoir
Hi there! I’m still in Charleston (SC) where this past weekend I was attending a blogging conference (Haven). I tacked on a few days to have some alone time to work on a project. What project you ask? Well, my eBook. I wanted to be able to really focus on it in a quiet setting, and I’m happy to say that I have come very close to finishing it (woo woo). However, I haven’t had much time to think about blogging.
Did you notice that I didn’t post yesterday (Monday)? I forgot. I’ve almost completely lost track of time and realized late last night that I had neglected my blogging “duty.” [I never think of blogging as a duty. It’s one of life’s greatest pleasures.] So here I am, a day late, with some vintage finds for a lady’s dresser for you. Not too long ago, I wrote about collecting vintage dresser jars; this post fits in nicely with that one.
This beautiful vanity jar is not technically a “find.” My sweet sister sorted through some of the things she has in stored at my house and offered it to me. It was my grandmother’s and is therefore precious to me.
Can you see the delicate, woven design on the cover? Known as “guilloché,” it involves etching a detailed pattern into underlying metal, which the artisan would then cover with enamel paint. Accentuated with intricate brass details, the piece contains a central cartouche decorated with hand painted flowers. I would date it to about the 1930’s and would value it at $40-50.
This ornate, pot metal jewelry box, lined with red velvet, dates to the 1950-60’s (cost: 50¢, value: $10-12).
The detailed scroll work decorating the box is nicely crafted.
This rather common type vanity jar came home with me because of its low price and because I simply cannot pass up a well-priced vanity jar. It has a damask fabric cover with copper-colored trim, making it “on-trend” right now (cost: 50¢, value: $8-10).
This newer, pewter trinket box bears some nice handiwork and so I felt it deserved rescuing (cost: 50¢, value: $6-8).
I’m not familiar with this company (Heritage), but I think in another 80 years, it might have increased in value, LOL.
This sweet little gold-trimmed trinket box with violets wears a “Japan” sticker on the bottom (dating it to the 1950-60’s) and is just the perfect size for a few rings (cost: 50¢, value: $6-8).
I just love this little Houbigant French perfume–Quelques Fleurs–complete with a floral-decorated label and its original tags tied round the neck (cost: $1, value: $40-50).
What’s a ladies dresser with a pretty linen or two, like this colorful embroidered piece with filet lace trim (cost: 50¢, value: $6-8).
And this beauty, embroidered on linen with tatted lace trim, (cost: 50¢, value: $8-10).
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Other Collecting Posts of Mine You Might Be Interested In:
What is the subject of your ebook? I’m hoping antiques?
Sweet post today. I have only picked a few of these types of items, I’m more of a pottery/ wood/metal type of collector or buyer, but I do like this genre. It’s so good to learn more about any type of vintage item, it increases my knowledge for when I do find treasures like these. However, the linens are my thing, from years of sewing, crafting and admiring needlearts!
I love all the items you showed in your post today. What can be more personal than something an ancestor may have touched everyday. Vanity items are just that–personal windows to the past.
I open my grandmother’s compact and the waft scent of her powder brings back so many memories. Yet our vanities today are cluttered with drawers full of plastic disposable products.
Makes me think I should just go have an old powder container filled with some ‘Charles of the Ritz’ perfumed powder….just to carry on the long lost tradition, Sandi
I love your grandmother’s vanity jar! What a gorgeous antique!
Your grandmother’s vanity jar is stunning, as are all the pretties you show here. I just love vanity items and I inherited quite a few pieces of my Grandmother’s. She antiqued her way through Europe so they are just gorgeous and very precious to me. I have memories of her ornate four poster bed and mirrored vanity so I am sure that is where my love of all things vintage and antique comes from.
Lovely! Yes, of course, I have a stash of those too. 😉
I love the vintage vanity items, which are good sellers for me.
Diana, what a beautiful trinket box your sister gave you and how special that it belonged to your Grandmother. I love these little boxes. I have a few myself but nothing as grand as the one you just acquired.
Well, yesterday I was quite excited to receive my salve from you! I have no idea what I am going to use it on yet, but I will definitely find something. Question: I’m wondering if it would be appropriate to use it on an old child’s rocking chair that needs some cleaning and renewing. I’m assuming that I would need to clean the chair first and then apply the salve and let it soak in. Does that sound right? Also, I loved the way you packaged the jar with the frilly strips of paper. You’ve got style, girl, no doubt about it!
Glad to hear you got away to Charleston for a bit. I’ve heard it’s a beautiful city. Take care.
Beauty plus function equals a win!
Such pretty and romantic reminders of the past. Family heirlooms are priceless…..I remember those silver boxes with the red velvet, think I had one as a child (or one of my sisters did). Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm! xo Kathleen|Our Hopeful Home