Pfaltzgraff Housewares - A Beginners Collecting Guide
Collectors Guide Amy Mortensen Collectors Guide Amy Mortensen

Pfaltzgraff Housewares - A Beginners Collecting Guide

The Pfaltzgraff tradition of pottery got its start in the early 1810’s when George Pfaltzgraff began making stoneware and redware pottery in the York area of Pennsylvania. Collectors appreciate Phaltzgraff dinnerware collections for their utility and their appearance. Some collectors focus on collecting one specific pattern while other collectors are more interested in Pfaltzgraff as an American folk art.

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A Sweet Look Back at the Candy of the 1900s Through 1950s
Vintage History Amy Mortensen Vintage History Amy Mortensen

A Sweet Look Back at the Candy of the 1900s Through 1950s

The candy we eat as a child can evoke intense feelings nostalgia and vivid memories as an adult. Do you remember saving your pennies and nickels to get candy at the drug store? Many of these vintage and retro candy brands are still cherished today, and candy is something that never goes out of style. Let’s walk down memory lane and reminisce about some of the nostalgic treats that are still loved by kids and adults today.

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Beginner's Guide To Collecting Cookie Jars
Collectors Guide Amy Mortensen Collectors Guide Amy Mortensen

Beginner's Guide To Collecting Cookie Jars

Decorative cookie jars began to appear as a form of kitchenware in the United States in the early 1930s. Today there are many sites online where you can find new and vintage collectibles including cookie jars. Auction sites, such as eBay and Ubid, are terrific venues for shopping and researching the many cookie jars that are available.

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Josef Originals - A Beginner’s Guide to Collecting
Amy Mortensen Amy Mortensen

Josef Originals - A Beginner’s Guide to Collecting

Authentic Josef Originals figures can be easily identified by their distinctive marks. The majority of collectors prefer the figurines with black eyes, made in both California and Japan. The figurines made after 1970 were made in either Taiwan, Korea or Mexico. Don’t forget there are still those cheap reproductions produced in Japan at the beginning in the 1950s.

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Avon Bottles - A Beginners Guide To Collecting
Collectors Guide Amy Mortensen Collectors Guide Amy Mortensen

Avon Bottles - A Beginners Guide To Collecting

Avon figural bottle popularity was between 1965-1980, although other figural containers have been produced since then. These bottles were created in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, including animals, people, vehicles, and household objects. Some popular designs were shaped like cars, trains, animals, and famous people, such as Elvis Presley and George Washington.

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Overview of Vintage Salt And Pepper Shaker Manufacturers
Collectors Guide Amy Mortensen Collectors Guide Amy Mortensen

Overview of Vintage Salt And Pepper Shaker Manufacturers

I've learned a lot in the last few years about vintage salt and pepper shakers. In researching the owl shakers from my grandmother's collection I have come across some excellent manufacturers including Holt Howard, Napco, Lego, and Enesco. Most of these seem to be imported from Japan. Here is some background and lovely examples of these great companies.

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Fire King By Anchor Hocking - A Beginners Guide To Collecting
Collectors Guide Amy Mortensen Collectors Guide Amy Mortensen

Fire King By Anchor Hocking - A Beginners Guide To Collecting

Anchor Hocking Glass Corporation began as the Hocking Glass Company of Lancaster, Ohio. Founded in 1905 near the Hocking River for which it’s named; the pressed-glass company prospered on its own until 1937 when it merged with the Anchor Cap and Closure Corporation of Long Island City, New York. The company is best known for its Fire-King glass which was manufactured from about 1940 until 1976.

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Lunch Boxes of Yesteryear: A Beginner's Guide to Vintage Lunch Box Collecting
Collectors Guide Amy Mortensen Collectors Guide Amy Mortensen

Lunch Boxes of Yesteryear: A Beginner's Guide to Vintage Lunch Box Collecting

The history of the modern lunch box began in 1935 when Geuder, Paeschke, & Frey licensed the image of, then new, character Mickey Mouse to use on its oval-shaped “Lunch Kit.” Inside was a tray, but no bottle or Thermos, those would come much later. Mickey Mouse Lunch Kits originally sold for 15-20 cents but today can fetch anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars based on condition.

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Wise and Timeless: Tracing the Recent History of Owl Décor Trends
Trend History Amy Mortensen Trend History Amy Mortensen

Wise and Timeless: Tracing the Recent History of Owl Décor Trends

Between 2009 and 2012 anyone walking into a home décor store would most likely see, perched on shelves and on tabletops, flocks of owls, or, to be more precise, parliaments of owls. From owls printed on throw pillows to drinking glasses, lamps, and figurines—owls were everywhere. The origin of trends can be hard to define but looking back the owl trend origin begins way back in the 1970s.

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