Hi Dad! It's almost Fathers' Day

Fathers' Day is swiftly approaching and we have some great stuff for Dad! We have desk and den items from magnifiers and telescopes to old books and games. In our jewelry selection for men we have some nifty key chain knives and money clips, plus cufflinks and tie pins.

Desk accessories for Dad

Key chain knives and money clips -- great gifts! ($22.50 to $75.00)

We have a nice variety of desk and wine accessories for Dad.

We love gadgets and we have some cool gadgets for Dad. A vintage drafting set, a pair of wooden dumb bells, several old cigarette silks from Ivy League universities, a wonderful 19th century humidor, bottle tags and decanters for the bar, vintage cameras and more.

Wooden dumb bells and Indian clubs, plus other toys.

The toy accordian is wonderful. So is the student's microscope.

A variety of gadgets ... always fun!

Beautiful crystal decanter with a silver bottle tag on a silver tray.

Antiquarian books make a super gift.

Vintage Kodak Brownie cameras ($95 & $45 respectively)

1940s 8mm movie cameras ($75 each) and c1910 Seneca bellows camera ($295)

Hand crafted gaming wheel made in the USA ($295 - one only)

These folk art banks are made from reclaimed construction and electrical pieces. The computer clocks are also handmade.

These folk art banks are each one-of-a-kind ($115 each)

Computer art clocks made from discarded electronic parts ($39.95 to $66.95)

Nautical Brass Compasses and Telescopes

Madison Bay Company was founded in 1976 by John Leib as a part-time business while he was teaching high school. He had been collecting historical photographs and his archive grew quickly from five civil war photos to over 15,000 historical images. In 1990 his son Troy joined him in the business, which has expanded to include historical reproductions of Colonial, Civil War, Indian, Western and Nautical items.

Compasses ($14.95 to $34.95) and Boxed Sets ($32.95 to $75.95)

This 14" Telescope ($85.95) fits perfectly into the Brass & Wood Box ($25.95)

At Vintages we have an excellent selection of Madison Bay Company's brass compasses and telescopes. These are perfect gifts for the nautical enthusiast, geographer, cartographer or world traveler. Any desk or bookshelf would look terrific with one of these displayed. But they are more than just for display, as the optics on the telescopes are excellent and the compasses are accurate. Check our selection online or in the shop.

Collection: Vintage Playing Cards

Das Kupferestichspiel des I.M.F. von 1617 (Reproduced 1979) • Courtesy Rod Starling

Playing cards are a popular collectible. The cards, decks and boxes can be pretty fantastic on their own, but these little works of art are one of the ultimate cross-collectibles. Beyond the basic playing card decks, boxes and cards are used for advertising, travel scenes, historical images, world's fair souvenirs, children's games, and more. 

Johann Hieronymus Loschenkohl's 1806 Musical Playing Cards (Reproduced 1981) • Courtesy Rod Starling

Playing cards originated in ancient China and were introduced to Europe as part of the trade with the Orient in the 14th century. The early cards were hand decorated, something that is still done today on special decks. We especially like the decks that have different images on the front of each card. Southern Pacific Railroad issued a number of these showing the sights along the routes it traveled.

While most collectors collect complete decks, there are collectors that zero-in on only jokers, the ace of spades or special backs. Boxes are definitely part of the deal! Look for great graphics, unusual advertising, special games or specialties like fortune telling cards, airplane spotter cards or travel souvenirs.

Here are some of the decks we have at Vintages, including some that are in our online shop.

American President Lines Double/Canasta Deck ($24.95)

Southern Pacific Railroad Souvenir Playing Cards ($69.95)

Chicago 1934 World's Fair Souvenir Deck (Sold)

Mark Hopkins Hotel Double/Canasta Advertising Deck ($24.95)

Advertising Playing Cards ($9.95 to $14.95 each)

Double/Canasta Decks: Seattle Space Needle & Faberge Eggs ($14.95 each)

Komedy Kennedy Kards ($24.95)

Cheer-Up Comedy Cards (Sold)

Looney Tunes ($14.95) • Old Maid ($24.95) • Fortune Telling Cards ($39.95)

Novelty Round Souvenir Card Deck from Lake Tahoe ($14.95)

Coca Cola Aircraft Spotter Cards • We have a different deck available ($69.95)

Collector's Weekly has a very good section on collecting vintage playing cards, including links to articles and collector sites.

Class Announcement: Collecting Vintage Jewelry

We have again partnered with Los Gatos Recreation to offer a class about antiques. This Fall 2012 class will focus on Collecting Vintage Jewelry. It will be held on Tuesday nights, October 9th through November 6th. More information below ... Set aside the dates and plan to join us.

Jewelry from the past continues to be both a hot collectible and a brilliant fashion statement. Modern costume jewelry just does not have the special beauty of pieces from the mid-20th century. Vintage jewels are like miniature works of art, some classic, some flashy and all of it enduring.

The class will cover the history, designs and fashions of jewelry from as early as the Egyptians and up to modern trends. In each class session we will discuss a different time frame, looking into what was behind the designs, who the leading jewelers were and what makes the best “the best.” Classes will also cover topics to help give you an understanding of fashions and materials, as well as a basis to be able to decipher the age and maker of jewelry. We will bring some samples of collectible vintage jewelry into class (you are encouraged to bring in your own examples as well) and we will also view examples of the works of the important designers and artists who have created the masterworks. Each class will end with a chance for all attendees to share their own jewelry collections

Registration for this class will open on August 3rd, so watch for updates on our blog and newsletter, or send us your email and we will send you a notice when registration opens.

Vintage Bridal Jewelry and Accessories

Something old, something new

Something borrowed, something blue

A silver sixpence in her shoe

This old Victorian good luck rhyme has been applied to weddings, specifically to the bride, for over a century. Something old connects the bride to her family's past. Something new displays the bride's future happiness. Something borrowed from a happily married family member or dear friend conveys the hope of such happiness being transferred to the newly married couple. Something blue represents purity. And in the last verse, usually forgotten, the sixpence represents financial security and future wealth. 

June has been the traditional month for weddings. In fact, the month of June is named after the Roman Goddess of marriage, Juno. The tradition has remained for a couple of millenia. In fact, summer is the most favored time for weddings, so June does usher in the "wedding season." So for all the Summer Brides out there Vintages offers some wonderful jewelry and accessories ... some old, some new and even some that are blue.

We have one of the largest selections of vintage Bride & Groom Wedding Cake Toppers

Diamond and precious gem engagement rings, wedding rings and wedding bands

We have this Victorian wax flower bridal wreath in the shop ($75, one of a kind)

This turn of the last century bride is wearing a wax flower wreath as a tiara.

While we do have fine jewel necklaces, earrings and bracelets, sometimes the appropriate choice is a gorgeous vintage piece set with brilliant crystal rhinestones

Individually hand decorated hand bags are a perfect accessory (from $155 to $195 each)

Cages and Houses for the Birds

The latest Country Living (June 2012) had this feature on Cute Coops. As they put it: For the birds? Hardly. These decorative cages make perfect perches for plants, books, and more. We agree. Vintages has carried bird cages and bird houses for years. We love them ... maybe because we love birds. We look for nice decorative and usable cages and houses. Here's our current selection

Selection of birdhouses and garden goodies. Birdhouse on stand ($84.95 each)

Beachy-style birdhouses made from recycled wood slats ($39.95 each) • Wire birds ($15.95 each

Miniature bird in hanging birdcage ($9.95 each)

Vintage birdcage - one-of-a-kind ($165.00) • Metal shore birds ($64.95 & $84.95 - one each available)

Large wire bird cage on stand with removable bottom ($695.00 - one available)

Bird cage style cloche with pot & saucer ($36.95 each)

Colorful hand crafted birdhouses ($45.95 to $53.95 each) • Miniature birdhouses ($14.95 each)

True Dog Stories • Etchings by Diana Thorne

I found this beat up little book True Dog Stories, written by Albert Payson Terhune and illustrated with fantastic etchings by Diana Thorne. The book is aimed at children and is filled with short stories about real adventures of real dogs.  But the stars of the book, in my opinion, are the fifteen black-and-white etchings by Diana Thorne. These prints capture not just the details of several breeds of dogs, but seem to get into their emotions, revealing their character as well as their beauty.

Albert Payson Terhune's True Dog Stories with etchings by Diana Thorne, published in 1936

Diana Thorne was born Ann Woursell on October 7, 1895 in Odessa, Russia. She emigrated from Russia and Germany due to persecution in those countries, and eventually arrived in New York in 1920. She is well-known for her canine etchings, but did illustrate and publish books in a variety of genre, produced illustrations for magazine covers, as well as executing artwork in a number of mediums.