September 15, 2011

Vintage Item or Not?

After a grueling ninety minute dentist appointment, I had two teeth capped I decided to relax and go to  my favorite thrift store, St. Vincent DePaul's.  All furniture was 25% off but, it was after 10:30 a.m. and not much was left. I checked all my favorite isles, glassware, checked for Pyrex, the craft and sewing section, but this time I decided to stop in the holiday isle. Pumpkins, witches, bats, Santa Clause, snowmen, Christmas trees, ornaments all the usual decorations for the upcoming seasons. I walked up the isle and down the isle looking at items that ranged from down right ugly to oh so sweet. I was ready to turn down the next isle when I glimpsed a slim flat box behind Mrs. Clause.  

This is the label on the box.


I looked at the label on the box and the price tag of $2.99, but I wanted to see what this card holder looked like.  This box was taped down the middle, and on the ends it took me a few seconds but I got the box opened, and I smiled. Simple clean lines of Santa's sleigh and his reindeer's made of black metal with gold flecks of paint. I was in love.

The Christmas cards slip inside the circle.

The simple, classic lines of the reindeer are nice.

The flecks of gold paint give this piece a festive touch.

Dasher, Prancer, Donner and Vixen.

When I opened the box at the thrift store I had no idea how old this card holder was. When I got home I opened the box and took the pieces out, in the bottom of the box were several pages of old newspaper. If you follow my blog, you know that I love ephemera, old books, greeting cards, and newspaper. 

DesMoines Tribune from November 15, 1956

This article about The All-American Girl made me giggle.

The three pages from the newspaper had ads for toys, the funny page, and DesMoines area news. I will share some of the advertisements an the prices of the items in a later post.

So I like this piece a lot, and I am thinking it is from the late 1950's because of the newspaper that was inside the box.  What do you think can I assume that it dates from the 50's? 

7 comments:

  1. There is one exactly like this on Worthpoint and it says it's vintage (no date mentioned). Vintage or not I absolutely love it!

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  2. Super cute! Wouldn't this be a cool decoration using vintage Christmas cards?

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  3. I am a fortunate owner of that exact card holder! My husbands aunt was selling a lot of her household goodies to move to a retirement home, we happened by her house that day and I made out like a bandit! She also had the most charming celluloid trio of blond angels (about 4ft tall) with musical instruments. They sort of stand one on the other, like a door decoration. I also got two glass ice containers with dancing pink elephants. I'm sure there was more, but its been about twenty yrs. and she had used them since her children were children. The card display is huge! I use it on my stairway wall every year, and she would not let me pay!
    Jan

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  4. My parents had one of these holders and was used for every Christmas I can remember from the early 60s. Though, I believe they purchased it sometime in the 50s. Both my parents have passed away any the Christmas card holder was no where to be found among their possessions. I would so much li j email to find one of these some where...still searching.

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  5. I came across a bundle when going through my parent's things--a reindeer head was poking through the bag. I immediately had a blast from the past!! I remember my Mom hanging it on the wall at Christmas. I was born in 1960 so I'd say 50's to 60's is about right! I was tickled to death to re-discover it and can't wait for Christmas to display it!
    Enjoy!
    S

    ReplyDelete
  6. I came across a bundle when going through my parent's things--a reindeer head was poking through the bag. I immediately had a blast from the past!! I remember my Mom hanging it on the wall at Christmas. I was born in 1960 so I'd say 50's to 60's is about right! I was tickled to death to re-discover it and can't wait for Christmas to display it!
    Enjoy!
    S

    ReplyDelete