It was such a joy shopping for Christmas when the girls were little, largely because knowing what was at the top of their “must have” list was simple. They would take their scrambled eggs and toast and settle in front of the television on Saturday mornings, delighted by their favorite cartoons and mesmerized by the commercials. They watched the parade of new toys, and I watched them with pen in hand. Voila!! A list of gifts that were sure to please.
Fast forward 20 years and my children are grown with homes of their own. Shopping for Millennials can be tricky. The key to the perfect gift this Christmas? One word . . . RETRO. Here are five ideas to get you started.
Art Glass — Whether it be Blenko, Wheaton or one of the wonderful stretch glass pieces for the early years of Viking, this glassware is as much fun to shop for as it is to receive. Selection abounds at the antique malls as well as the resale shops. The rich jewel tones of ruby, sapphire, amethyst and emerald are predicted to be the #1 accent color for 2017 making 1960-1970 art glass a sure winner under the tree. Tall bottles with ground glass stoppers, footed and flat base vases and abstract forms are all available in the $15-$75 range.
Vintage Christmas Decorations — Vintage blow-mold lawn figures from nativities to Santa and snowmen, Santa ornaments, bubble lights, and tree skirts in 1950s felt all make for a gift that will be enjoyed for many years to come. A great source for these is eBay, which allows you to shop from the convenience of your home while selecting from hundreds of wonderful items.
MCM (Mid-Century Modern) Hostess Items — The glamor and grace of Mid-Century entertaining has returned. Bar ware, martini shakers, cocktail napkins, playing cards and coasters are all trending this holiday season. Thrift and resale shops offer budget pricing if you have the time to search. If time is scarce, our area antique malls have a wide variety of one-of-a -kind gift ideas in the $10-$50 range. Also be on the lookout for the little glass plate and cup duos known as “hostess sets.” They can still be found in set of four (often in the original box) for $5 at the thrift stores.
Globes — Trending, with no end in sight, globes are the #1 home decor piece my customers request. From the large floor model globes that open to reveal a dry bar, to the table top globes from the school rooms of the 1960s, globes sell as fast as I can find them. There are two basic categories that I watch for: actual globes from a given time period and reproduction “Old World” globes that were mass-produced during the last quarter of the 20th Century. At the specialty shops and antique malls a vintage desk top globe will run you in the $45-$65 range. However, if you are willing to do a little scavenging I have found them for as little as $5 at local flea markets.
Clocks — eBay currently has a nice selection of clocks from 1930-1969. Sunburst wall clocks range from $60-$150. Kitchen clocks from top names like Telechron and Sessions are selling in the $30-$50. Alarm clocks (stay with those “made in Germany” whenever possible) are a bargain usually running from $5-$30. If your budget permits, there are also classics like the 1960s Kit Cat Clocks in red and yellow priced in the $225-$275 range. A word of caution if you are laying down $200 plus for a 70 year old electric clock: always buy those whose motors have been rebuilt and are able to be returned should there be a problem. Until next time…Linda
Linda Kennett is a profession liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for seniors and the liquidation of estates and may be reached at 317-258-7835 or join her on Facebook at Irvington Retro/Vintage/Antique
