The thrill is in the hunt
a sampling of recent finds
A peek at some of the smaller decorative pieces I’ve recently sourced and could end up in your space!
ENAMELWARE took off in the early 20th century because it was lighter than average kitchenware, easy to clean and durable. Many pieces were lost during WWII scrap metal drives, making it hard to find today. Since it wasn’t precious when it was made, much enamelware is unstamped.
SMOKY BARWARE, along with smoked glass furniture and wall hangings smoldered in the '70s and has recently reappeared in homes. It's just kind of sexy.
Waiting for just the right beach house...
NAUTICAL never goes out of style. And while it works especially well in waterfront dwellings, seafaring art brings mood and serenity to any home.
Ship modeling is as old as shipbuilding. People first made SHIP MODELS as a sort of homage to the significant role ships played in civilization. They make excellent objects of interest on a mantel, bookcase or desk. This Mayflower replica currently docks on my dining room sideboard.
This hand-painted wooden souvenir plate from Norway features the Telemark style of traditional ROSEMALING (rose-painting). Scandinavian decorative folk painting flourished from the 1700s to the mid-1800s, particularly in Norway. Initially used to decorate church walls and ceilings, rosemaling spread to wooden items commonly used in daily life, such as ale bowls, stools, chairs, cupboards, boxes, and trunks. Stylized ornamentation made up of fantasy flowers, scrollwork, fine line work, flowing patterns and sometimes geometric elements give rosemaling its distinctive look.
Recently found in Tucson, I love the stark depiction of this weird attraction!
ENAMELWARE was the first mass-produced kitchenware made in America, from the 1870s through the 1930s. Pots, kettles, colanders, baking tins and ladles were stamped from thin sheets of iron, steel or aluminum, then coated with enamel fused to the metal in a very hot oven.
Farmers all over the world use these WINNOWING BASKETS to literally sort wheat from the chaff by tossing the grain in the air to let the wind blow away the chaff. They look lovely hanging on the wall or used as a coffee table accent tray.
Such a pretty signed watercolor of Carnage Bay in Grenada.
Perfect for a mountain cabin among the firs...
Remember these homey key and mail caddies from the 1970s? They harken back to simpler times and make for a cute entryway accessory.
The thick gilt edge of this Yellowstone Park plate is somewhat uncommon.
Monochromatic architectural plaques and elements bring texture and neutrality to a gallery wall.
SOUVENIR PLATES are one of my favorite things to collect and use as decor. They naturally evoke a particular place and time and conjure family car trips and roadside attractions.
These wide woven GATHERING BASKETS look terrific on dining and living room walls.
Colored glass bottles and vases bring much needed verticality to tabletop arrangements.
The texture and contrast of this Italian plate make it pop.
The print is nice but the wide curved wooden frame is the real beauty here.
I wouldn't mess with these owls.
I love a good Moroccan motif.
Invented in the early 1800s in England, IRONSTONE is earthenware fired at higher temperatures than porcelain, designed to be extra durable. It became popular in rural America in the 1940s and started being produced domestically. Also called stoneware, graniteware, feldspar and pearl china. Super sturdy!
This bowl is wheel-thrown WREN POTTERY STONEWARE made by Minnesotan artist Julie Berg-Linville. Each piece is hand-crafted from start to finish: shaping, firing, painting and glazing. She began creating in southeast Alaska and has since moved back to Duluth, ever inspired by the wild beauty of nature. I was lucky to find this one-off bowl!
EBONY SERVING UTENSILS are hand carved in Africa, and no two sets are alike.
This hand-painted village scene would work well in an entryway or small kitchen nook.
Vintage book jackets are so expressive and add instant character and intrigue to a coffee table or bookshelf.
I grew up in N.H. and I've never heard of Mount Chocura. This is part of the charm of souvenir dishes: Who decided which random places to put on them?!
Super cool sculptural ceramic vase with incredible detail and texture. Greek? Italian? I'm not sure but I am certain that no one else will have one in their vacation rental!
Legendary Swedish tennis player Björn Borg played with racquets from two companies during his career—mostly Bancroft while playing in the United States and Donnay in Europe. I didn't even notice the "B" on the strings of this Bancroft Bjorn Borg Wimbledon model until I photographed it! He last played with a Bancroft in the 1980 Volvo Masters Tournament held on carpet courts at Madison Square Garden. Borg defeated John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl to take the final.
Rustic hand-thrown thistle plate serves up a pretty color palette for a desert or country house.
Built in 1652 as a private home and later named for the Irish poet, Tom Moore’s Tavern is the oldest eating house in Bermuda. Operated as a restaurant/tavern for more than 200 years, it has hosted over 3 million visitors, including Prince Charles, who lunched there on Oct. 21, 1970. Stamped and engraved, this sweet plate is made by legendary English china maker WEDGWOOD.
HANDHELD BELLS feel antiquated and special in an era where we text one another from different rooms in the same house. There is something irresistible and satisfying about ringing a bell for attention at any age. And they look great as part of a bookshelf or tabletop display.
AMATEUR PAINTINGS, often landscapes, have inherent charm and look great as part of a gallery wall.
EARTHY VASES bring height and dimension to shelf displays and can look sweet with a few dried flowers.
The vivid blues of this large intricate plate from Istanbul make it a great match for waterfront homes.
This is an older model branded Crow Flight that I can't find much information about but it is in top condition!
Grouping three circular items like mirrors, baskets, decorative plates and plaques together on a wall creates a balanced, eye-catching display. I would imagine if you went all the way to the monolithic Rock of Gibraltar jutting 1,400 feet out of the Mediterranean Sea, you'd want to bring something back to show for it.
Just a cute floral WALL PLAQUE from the '70s, when handcrafted woodworks were especially popular. Note the vintage keyhole hanger.
It's hard to say where this hand-carved WOODEN PLATE hails from (Poland? South America?) but the detail is exquisite. Cutaway plaques look great on solid colored walls, letting the background color peek through.
Wooden KEEPSAKE BOXES were once popular roadtrip souvenirs but you rarely come across them these days. This sweet jewelry box hails from Munising MI, home to the stunning sandstone Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Wooden TENNIS RACQUETS remind me of classic vinyl album covers: useful objects that were also works of art. The logos, typography and overall aesthetic of vintage racquets are very appealing. Hanging them in foyer, hallway or den instantly evokes a wholesome leisurely vibe.
Small pretty bowls like this Japanese design are great to have on hand in bedrooms for guests' jewelry and in the kitchen for nuts and olives.
OREGON MYRTLEWOOD is a type of bay laurel that only grows in Southern Oregon and Northern California. Its golden color, unique burl and fine grain makes it one of the most desirable and expensive woods in the U.S., used for bowls, guitars, furniture and paneling. Fun fact! During the Great Depression when cash was short, Bend decided to mint its own currency out of myrtlewood discs using the newspaper printing press, minting everything from quarters to $10 denominations. Technically, you can still use myrtlewood dollars as legal tender in North Bend today (if you can find any!).
This L.E. SMITH HANDKERCHIEF BOWL is a prime example of AMBERINA glass: amber glass with some gold in the batch. The patented process gives glass a distinctive two-toned effect: ruby on top, yellow on the footed pedestal. Rare, beautiful and heavy, this stunner would look incredible on open shelving, a sideboard or coffee table.
WOVEN HAND FANS are common functional objects found throughout Africa and South America. They are typically made with elephant grass and vegetable dyes. A beautiful graphic addition to a gallery wall.
I picked up this 1960s FAWNS AND LILY PADS lacquer tray while thrifting in N.H. and it gives real summer cabin vibes. The gimp-wrapped handles are a telltale sign of these trays' Japanese origin.
In 1974, Spokane became the smallest city ever to host a World’s Fair, drawing 5 million visitors from May to November. These tiny souvenirs commemorate the Inland Empire's big achievement. The theme was “the environment” so the city cleaned up the land alongside the mighty falls and river, transforming the area into Riverfront Park. Today, the vibrant park anchors downtown Spokane, easily identified by the original Expo Pavilion, Clocktower and Boeing Amphitheater.
There is just something so appealing about the grain and curve of a fine wooden bowl. This one is made of ash and dated 1974. So many ways to use it.
“Nobody sits us down and tells us to collect objects when we’re young,” writes Rolf Potts, the author of Souvenir. “it’s just something we do, as a way of familiarizing ourselves with the world, its possibilities, and our place in it.” Vintage souvenirs of place, like this MONTREAL TRAY remind us of trips taken and not taken, the optimism of travel and the adventures we are yet to have.
Don't forget to add BOOKS to your vacation rental! Discovering worn paperbacks with punchy cover art and over-the-top blurbs always endears me to a rental home.
Nothings says roadtrip like a tree-edge souvenir from Custer, South Dakota! Likely from the '80s, like so many good things.
ROYAL COPLEY FIGURINES were made by the Spaulding China Company of Sebring, Ohio, from 1939 to 1960. Their motto was "Gift shop merchandise at chain store prices!" and fine PHEASANTS like these were sold at Woolworths. They are gorgeous.
ROYAL COPLEY FIGURINES were made by the Spaulding China Company of Sebring, Ohio, from 1939 to 1960. Their motto was "Gift shop merchandise at chain store prices!" and fine PHEASANTS like these were sold at Woolworths. They are gorgeous.
ROYAL COPLEY FIGURINES were made by the Spaulding China Company of Sebring, Ohio, from 1939 to 1960. Their motto was "Gift shop merchandise at chain store prices!" and fine PHEASANTS like these were sold at Woolworths. They are gorgeous.
MOLECULAR MODELS were commonly used in chemistry classes. They bring unexpected dimension to a bookcase or mantle.
Such a kitschy CALIFORNIA COCKTAIL TRAY. Odd and wonderful.
A jaunty Chilean COPPER PLAQUE with inlaid enamel for some color pop. Would look delightful in a kitchen or bath.
Quality TROPHIES--this one is solid brass and marble--bring distinctive, unexpected flair to a bookcase or side table. Have fun making your own winning messages.
"THE BOOK OF OLD SHIPS" wherein will be found drawings and descriptions of many varieties of vessels, both long and round, showing their development from most remote times, the portraiture of their progress, their garnishment, etc., etc., etc., reads the title page inscription of this 1924 tome. And incredible book to display at a beach house.
COPPERCRAFT stands out for its brilliant sheen and exacting etching. Use it to bring a little vintage sheen to a wall near you.
If anyone can keep tiny odds and ends organized it's a YEOMAN WARDER from the Tower of London.
Likely from the 1970s, this painted hanging basket from Mozambique is soft, organic addition to a wall arrangement.
My very wise aunt said every room should always have a little black in it. Black with gold is all the better, such as this ornate box. Try sprucing up a bathroom with unusual boxes and trinket trays to hold band-aids, cotton pads, etc. So much more interesting than standard bathroom accessories.
Every short-term rental benefits from a thoughtful cache of board games. Stock yours with nostalgic and enduring classics like MASTER MIND. My sisters and I played this a ton as kids and now my daughter and I take turns setting the code. Love it for the box art alone.
Known as TOLEWARE or tole painting (from a French phrase for “painted sheet metal”), these pretty trays are made of tin that has been lacquered and adorned with a design–often floral on a black background. A Welshman invented the process in the 1600s, applying paint and lacquer to household objects to prevent rust. English settlers continued the practice in New England in the 1700s, giving rise to American toleware.
A lovely framed SEPTEMBER MORN print of the 1912 original by French Beaux-Arts painter Paul Emile Chabas. The work became a "succès de scandale" in the U.S. in 1913, when the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice protested against the painting as supposedly immoral. Reproductions of the painting sold well for years afterwards.
Put a flameless candle inside this ceramic luminaria for evening patio ambience.
I have gathered a surprising number of vintage items with a PHEASANT MOTIF over the years: a silk tie, painted decorative plate, landscape oil painting and figurines like this. Why are pheasants so popular? Easy. Their sleek form, colorful feathers and dramatic tails make them beautiful to behold; and they have been an abundant game bird for centuries. This gold-plated porcelain number is a beauty.
Parisian-born Andreas Feininger studied cabinetmaking at the Bauhaus and pursued a career in architecture before taking up photography. In this 1955 coffee table gem, his astute, concise observations caption striking black-and-white photos that capture a country on its way from pastoral to industrial. 'CHANGING AMERICA" chronicles Southwestern landscapes that give way to oil derricks, granaries and neon road signs, and then a paradox of high-rise housing projects and graceful small towns. The images are as relevant today as they were 70 years ago.
Just a lovely ceramic box. Always handy for storing small supplies like batteries or to hold guests' jewelry.
Trivia time: What was the best-selling book of 1981? This baby. Just 64 pages long, it sold almost 7 million copies that year during the height of the Rubik's cube craze. 7 million! That's on par with "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins. Pair it with the cube itself on your game shelf.
I pick things up that I like without much concern about provenance, bring them home and do the research. A piece's origin sometimes turns out to be fascinating, as is the case with this signed GOLD FOIL ETCHED PRINT by Lionel Barrymore. That's the Oscar-winning actor and great-uncle of Drew Barrymore, well-known for playing grumpy Mr. Potter in "It's a Wonderful Life." He was also an avid artist who produced many nautical works like "Little Boatyard", depicting a waterfront scene in Venice, CA.
The use of macramé-style knots as decoration first appeared in carvings of the Babylonians and Assyrians. Rope craft has cycled in and out of favor and practicality ever since. Today, MACRAME lends soft texture to walls, working particularly well in bedrooms, living rooms and dens.
Warm-hued containers made of natural materials add warmth and are handy for holding utensils, pens and such.
A gold-tone metal THATCH BOWL is a surefire coffee table stunner. Looks great empty or holding a few magazines or lemons.
Souvenir collecting exploded in the mid-20th century during a domestic travel boom brought on by post-war disposable income and increasing ubiquity of the automobile. PORCELAIN BELLS were a favored canvas for state emblems thanks to their wide surface and easy-to-transport size. Their pleasing shape makes bells a fun addition to styled vignettes.
This substantial rough-hewn POTTERY VASE would be hard to break, making it a stress-free addition to a STR property.
An absolutely gorgeous banger of a coffee table book peppered with detailed illustrations and seafaring arcana. THE GREAT AGE OF SAIL, 1967, is a stunning addition to your beach rental.
Stock a variety of vintage and contemporary LOCAL GUIDES at your vacation rental to help guests explore and make new discoveries.
This 1960s VINTAGE TIP TRAY hails from Bookbinder's restaurant, a Philly icon dating to 1893. I remember having lunch there during a family trip as a kid and a found souvenir like this takes me right back.
Keep it teal with a textural, soft-yarn MACRAME wall hanging. It brings a great color pop and cozy vibes.
VINTAGE GUIDEBOOKS and photo pamphlets are like mini time capsules. Guests appreciate the novelty and nostalgia of leafing through them.