Celebrate your home’s unique style by incorporating vintage décor. Enjoy the thrill of discovery as you search for one-of-a-kind treasures of the past and savor the satisfaction of displaying them around your home. Take a look at these awesome items from local antique shops and get the creative ideas flowing.
REPURPOSE & GET CREATIVE
Discover the charm of vintage advertising. These containers of bygone products instantly transport you to yesteryear, and their artwork makes them a great conversation piece. While these blasts from the past may no longer contain their original products, they can enjoy a second life as cool décor. Larger containers, like this Philadelphia-based Dutch Boy Pretzel Tin, offer plenty of hidden storage that’s much more unique than a plastic bin ($75, Antique Treasures). Tins of varying sizes can be used as planters, and smaller containers are perfect for corralling little items like crafting supplies.
Back in the day, stoneware crocks were hardworking, stylish storage solutions for food. Today, they’re an ideal way to imbue a home with a chic farmhouse vibe. Crafted by Ralph J. Grier in Chester County, this 1880s cake crock features dark red clay with cobalt blue decorations ($695, Hamburg Antiques Center, LLC). Crocks with a wide opening are ideal for creative storage options, such as creating a decorative display of frequently used items, like kitchen tools. Crocks in a range of sizes can be used for art supplies and makeup items or as planters or vases for colorful floral arrangements. Grouped together, they make stunning, colorful vignettes.
LIGHT UP A ROOM
Illuminate your world, turn-of-the-20th-century style. Slag glass is colorful, opaque glass made from recycled smelted iron. It’s also known as marble glass due to its swirling colors like those in this lamp shade ($525, Hamburg Antiques Center, LLC). With its floral motifs and decorative metalwork, this 1920s-1930s-era lamp would be perfect next to your book collection in a stately home library. The muted light from the cream-and-brown shade is also a good fit for a dresser or nightstand. This lamp could also be placed on a table near a special piece of framed art to provide light and create an artful display.
Add some mid-century flair to your dining table with a hand-hammered copper candlestick made by Hessel Studios in California. With clean lines and an emphasis on beautiful, functional style, mid-century décor continues to be popular. At 12 inches tall, the elongated design looks amazing with or without a candle. You could also display it on a bookcase or side table as an elegant decoration ($195, Greshville Antiques).
BERKS-BASED TREASURES
Decorate with items that salute local heritage. From 1965-2011, Lester Breininger and his team created redware pottery with motifs and designs from Pennsylvania German art. Made in 1989 in Robesonia, this 10-inch redware plate features vibrant colors and a butterfly surrounded by greenery. You can craft an eye-catching arrangement by hanging plates on your wall, installing a plate rail for a display around a room’s perimeter or showcasing cherished pieces in a hutch with other décor. Breininger Pottery is highly collectible and found in museums like the Philadelphia Museum of Art as well as in private collections ($95, Greshville Antiques).
“I feel like the most exciting part about collecting antiques is the hunt,” says Amy Trabosh of Hamburg Antiques Center, LLC. “We love displaying the antiques in our home and being able to share the history of each item with the people we have over.”
To further expand your PA German décor options, branch out into the artistic offerings of Dan Strawser. A Robesonia native, Strawser was one of Lester Breininger’s students at Conrad Weiser. Strawser shared Breininger’s enthusiasm for traditional art forms, and the two spent time carving wood together. Working with just a pocket knife, Strawser carved pieces, and his wife painted them. Made in 1987, these birds on a tree add a PA German-inspired look to any tabletop ($350, Hamburg Antiques Center, LLC). Place them on an entryway table with a basket for keys and enjoy colorful, nature-inspired art at home.
MUCH-LOVED LINENS
Decorating your home with vintage linens is a fabulous way to enjoy the sewing talents of people of the past. Each one tells its own story in the colorful arrangement of fabrics and patterns. With its vibrant juxtaposition of complementary colors, this orange-and-blue quilt showcases tiny hand stitching ($400, Antique Treasures). Vintage quilts have extraordinary longevity, and some have been lovingly cared for by generations of owners, like this floral quilt, dated to 1938. A closer look at this Berks County-made quilt reveals an intricate design of flowers and nested squares stitched into the white background ($248, Hamburg Antiques Center, LLC). Vintage quilts are perfect for decorating your own bed or guest bed. If you have multiple quilts you’d like to display, try draping them on a blanket rack or rolling them and putting them in a decorative basket. For delicate fabrics that need extra care, you can display them in a colorful stack in a glass-fronted cabinet. In addition, quilts can be hung up as wall art.
GRAND STORAGE OPTIONS
Make vintage décor the focal point of a room with vintage furniture. Enjoy the craftsmanship of decades past with room to store your treasures, both antique and modern. Made in the late 1800s, this oak sideboard would make an impressive addition to a dining room ($495, Delong’s Furniture and Antiques). The exquisite curved bottom cabinet and drawers provide ample hidden storage and are ideal for holding linens like placemats and napkins as well as sets of dishes. Richly textured carved scrolls adorn the sideboard’s top and add elegance. The top is a perfect place to display your favorite collectibles and highlight a couple of extra special items by placing them on the pedestals on either side of the mirror.
If you have a large collection to display or several smaller ones to group together, consider a glass cabinet. Even though this glamorous late-1800s oak cabinet was likely intended to store china, use your creativity and showcase a collection of teacups, dolls, small sculptures or family heirlooms. The stunning bowed glass lets you view your display from a variety of angles while keeping cherished pieces protected and dust-free. The dramatic carved lions and lions’ paws make this cabinet even more impressive ($595, Delong’s Furniture and Antiques).
Or give your home library a posh upgrade with a bookcase featuring glass doors. This oak bookcase hails from the 1980s and has leaded glass doors on each of its four shelves ($195, Delong’s Furniture and Antiques). A spectacular diamond design gives the top shelf added decoration. This case is great for displaying your collection of vintage and modern books. The deep shelves could also be used for other special items, like vintage glassware or toys, with each shelf curated to create a home museum exhibit.
When searching for antique furniture, the staff at Delong’s Furniture and Antiques notes, “We always recommend looking for a name or logo, checking for any damage, making sure the item is not a reproduction and doing your research if you are looking for a certain item.”
SILVER & CERAMIC
For a touch of the classics, consider sterling silver. Durable and beautiful, sterling silver adds shine and sophistication. Best of all, these pieces can be used as functional as well as decorative elements. Made by Kenilworth Watrous, this early 20th century pierced candy dish includes a stylish textured design ($125, Greshville Antiques). Use it to artfully arrange your favorite chocolates and other sweets. Or think outside the box and use it to display small collectibles or jewelry. Have fun adding to your collection by seeking out pieces with the same maker’s mark, or keep an eye out for unique pieces that catch your interest.
Or embrace the elegance and artistry of fine china. China teacups and saucers will make you feel like you stepped out of a historic British drama. You can search for a collection of matching cups or build a diverse array of designs and patterns. Royal Albert English bone china is known for its fine craftsmanship, and this flower-of-the-month cup features a Christmas rose and holly on the cup and saucer ($35, Antique Treasures). To showcase these striking designs, experiment by displaying them nested together on a decorative tray or stacked on a plate stand on a buffet or dresser, or highlight one of your favorite patterns by placing the cup and saucer on a floating shelf.
If your decorating personality favors whimsical items, look for vintage salt and pepper shakers. Cute, colorful shakers come in a variety of designs, and they’re perfect for gracing your table or decorating a shelf. Holiday-themed sets can be used for a festive meal or as part of your seasonal décor. Animal shakers are a popular category, and this adorable kangaroo family would look amazing displayed solo or as part of a collection. Made in Japan, the joey shakers fit conveniently inside their mother’s pouch so the salt and pepper will always travel together ($25, Antique Treasures).
“As far as collecting goes, pick something that you like and research it,” says Jill Zipp-Trate of Antique Treasures. “Check out collecting clubs for current info and prices. Don't forget that the prices you see online are what the seller is asking for, not necessarily what it will sell for. Check out sold prices. Look everywhere for your collecting — flea markets, yard sales, dealers, auctions and online. Have fun searching.”
SOURCES
Antique Treasures
55 Roadside Dr., Shartlesville
610.488.1545
DeLong’s Furniture and Antiques
338 Main St., Shoemakersville
610.562.0432 | delongsantiques.com
Greshville Antiques
1041 Reading Avenue, Boyertown
610.367.0076 | greshvilleantiques.com
Hamburg Antiques Center, LLC
20 S. 4th St., Hamburg
484.665.3636 | hamburg-antiques-center-llc.business.site
