The Best Tips for Collecting Vintage 1950s Spaghetti Poodles

Yasmina Greco Spaghetti Poodle Collection 1950sToday I am thrilled to share one of my passions with you all – collecting vintage Spaghetti Poodles! These little guys are positively precious, and they add a wonderful sense of cuteness while perfectly fitting into my mid-century modern aesthetic.

My favorite pieces from the collection have got to be the 1950’s Norcrest poodle trio in glasses & bows on the tray plus Lipper & Mann’s ‘NOEL’ set for Christmas time. Also included in this beloved assortment is an array of delightful lipstick holders, planters, vases – it just can’t get any better than that!

UPDATE: You can ready about my collections on a recently published piece in the Antique Trader

Norcrest Napco Lefton Spaghetti Poodle Collection 1950sTake a step back in time and revel in the kitschy cuteness of 1950s poodles! Back then, these furry four-legged friends were everywhere – from classic Poodle skirts to intricate spaghetti art ware figurines. Ceramic artists crafted unique pieces using a special technique that mimicked the pup’s fur and sparked an excitement for all things “spaghetti” poodle!

Spaghetti art wear is made from clay, porcelain, and ceramic which is applied as “fur” to form various textures of a poodle’s hairdo. To accomplish the spaghetti look, ceramicists and designers would have different techniques like using tea strainers to push the material through to form strands that were then attached to the poodle giving it a pom-pom look or they would swirl it onto to the poodle for a curly look. The spaghetti is very fragile and tends to break or chip over the years.

Norcrest Napco Lefton Spaghetti Poodle Collection 1950s Yasmina Greco

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Atomic Era Franciscan Starburst Dinnerware for your Table

Franciscan Starburst Dinnerware pic from Charleston Gazette-Mail
Franciscan Starburst Dinnerware pic from Charleston Gazette-Mail

It all started at the Alameda Point Antiques Faire ( largest open-air antique faire in Northern California with 800+ dealer booths) when we stumbled upon a dealer selling sets of Franciscan Starburst dinnerware and knew the moment had come to add this explosively beautiful pattern to our collection. We had admired the Starburst design for some time as those starbursts just scream atomic era to us, but the moment wasn’t quite right to start our collection until today, and getting to hold the dishes and see the pattern in person was fantastic.

Franciscan Starburst Dinnerware pic from Charleston Gazette-Mail
Franciscan Starburst Dinnerware pic from Charleston Gazette-Mail

The Starburst pattern was introduced in 1954 and only produced through 1957 by Franciscan Ware. The Atomic Starburst design was futuristic for the time and complemented the chrome appliances and kitchens of the era. The Starburst pattern still oozes that mid-century modern atomic chic and is a standout on our dining table today and I can’t help but sing the famous Frank Sinatra song Fly Me to Moon as I set our table!!

Franciscan Ware Starburst Dinnerware
Franciscan Ware Starburst Dinnerware
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Collecting Vintage Christmas Year-Round: A Guide to Treasure Hunting Success

Yasmina Greco Crazy4Me Vintage Christmas
Yasmina Greco Vintage Christmas

In this blog post, we’ll explore the joys of collecting vintage Christmas year-round, a guide to treasure hunting success. In fact, searching for vintage Christmas can lead you to some incredible finds that might not be available during the traditional holiday season. Learn some tips on how to find the perfect pieces on popular social platforms, and collector groups and more! Continue reading to learn more.

Hello again my friends, I hope you all had a marvelous Christmas and that Santa was good to you all!! As I put the finishing touches on post number six, the final post of our Vintage Christmas Collecting series, it’s New Year’s Eve as I sit at my desk surrounded by my vintage treasures (vintage Santa’s, snowmen, shopper girls, bottle brush trees and my vintage candy cane holders) and want to thank you all for your lovely comments and questions along the way of the collecting series.

I have truly enjoyed putting the series together and hope you’ve benefited from some of my tips and enjoyed seeing pictures of my collections. I wish you all a Happy New Year and hope that 2021 is good to us all!!

Collecting Vintage Christmas Ornaments
Collecting Vintage Christmas Ornaments

I collect vintage Christmas all year round. As you know from my previous posts, I am obsessed with vintage Christmas items and the hunt is really part of the fun. As our digital worlds keep moving forward, it actually makes searching for vintage Christmas items a little easier and simpler as we have access to wonderful resources that are available 24/7 and 365 days a year and spans the entire globe!! 

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5 Expert Tips for Collecting Vintage Christmas Angels

Vintage Norcrest Christmas Angels
Vintage Norcrest Christmas Angels

Hello, angel enthusiasts! Welcome to our cozy corner of the internet, where we’ll embark on a heavenly journey with 5 expert tips for collecting vintage Christmas angels. These celestial beings have been a beloved part of holiday celebrations for centuries, symbolizing hope, joy, and the spirit of giving. With their timeless beauty and intricate details, vintage Christmas angels hold a special place in the hearts of collectors around the world.

Holt-Howard Ermine Angela Salt and Pepper Shakers
Holt-Howard Ermine Angels Salt and Pepper Shakers

Today’s blog post is for week four in our Vintage Christmas Collecting Series and today it is all about collecting vintage Christmas angels as Christmas and angels really go hand-in-hand. The majority of vintage angels in my collection date to the 1950s and were made in Japan by Napco, Norcrest, Ucago, Holt-Howard and Lefton when mid-century modern and kitsch were all the rage. Some angels have no markings and some are marked Japan or have a paper label that says Japan.

Vintage Christmas angels have a lot of the similar spaghetti trim detailing with sponged gold accents like the Christmas decorations made during the era. Some angels are in the form of bells, Noel sets, salt and pepper shakers, and others are figurines. So far, in all my years of collecting, I have only ever come across only a couple of brunette angels and all the others have been blondes so, the brunette haired ones are the rarer ones. 

Lefton Angel Babies
Lefton Angel Babies

Here is a super darling trio of baby angel boys made by Lefton and they each hold a holiday element like a present, candy cane and stocking and a wreath. 

Vintage Napco Brunette Angel Figurine
Vintage Napco Brunette Angel Figurine

This brunette beauty is made by Napco and she has her eyes lowered, holds a lovely Christmas greetings wreath and presents. This angel is quite fancy with so much spaghetti trim on her robe that has the lovely gold sponged details and her wings are one of the most ornate pair I have seen on an angel as they are highly detailed and so very intricate.

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The Best 10 Tips for Christmas Head Vase Collecting Magic

Vintage Christmas Head Vases and Planters
Vintage Christmas Head Vases and Planters

Welcome, festive friends to our “The Best 10 Tips for Christmas Head Vase Collecting Magic.” guide. This treasure trove of expert advice will guide you through the enchanting world of vintage Christmas head vases, manufactures to look for like Relpo, Napco, Lefton, Inarco, secrets when shopping to help you build a stunning collection that exudes holiday charm and nostalgic delight.

Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just starting out, these tips will equip you with the knowledge and inspiration you need to make your collection sparkle with festive cheer. So, put on your Santa hat, and let’s dive into the magical realm of Christmas head vase collecting!

Vintage Christmas Rubens Skater Girl Planter
Vintage Christmas Rubens Skater Girl Planter

As a long-time follower of my blog, you’re aware of my passion for vintage mid-century kitsch, particularly vintage Christmas items! My collection of vintage Christmas head vases and planters began with a charming 1950s Rubens skater girl (pictured above) wearing a vibrant red outfit, gold antlers, and a sleigh full of gifts on candy cane runners. Likely crafted in Japan, where most ceramics were produced, this captivating planter sparked my ever-growing collection.

Vintage Christmas Inarco Head Vase Glamour Girl
Vintage Christmas Inarco Head Vase Glamour Girl
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