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.

Continue reading
Share

🎄Christmas 2020 Collection Crazy4Me Style🎄

We have been very busy over at Crazy4MeStyle and are so excited to share our NEW Holiday 2020 designs!! We’ve updated our customer favorite tee with a kitschy pink Christmas tree for our Rockin Around the Pink Christmas Tree tee and we have a brand new design, our Winter Wonderland holiday tee featuring the prettiest scene of trees, a lovely lady in a vintage holiday crimson red ensemble hugging her precious puppy dog, and there is a fancy sleigh filled with presents.

How adorable is our Retro Gingerbread Cuties tee with mid-century starbursts, gingerbread boy and girl full of joy as they decorate their tree and I love the mid-century details on the Christmas tree stand and the stool the gingerbread boy is on with hairpin legs. Sugar and spice really do make everything so nice!!

We are very happy to offer these holiday styles in sizes small-4X while they last. Shop Now!!

Share

The Best Unique Pyrex & Vintage Collectibles T-Shirt for Thrifting Enthusiasts

Embrace your passion for treasure hunting with our eye-catching Pyrex t-shirt, aptly named “Searching for Treasure”! Designed for avid flea market, estate sale, junking, thrifting, yard sales, picking, and antiquing enthusiasts, this tee boasts unique, exclusive artwork screen printed onto a cozy, ultra-soft fabric. Featuring vintage Pyrex starburst and snowflake patterns, Catherineholm Lotus, Lefton Bluebirds, and the cherished Holt Howard Pixieware jars, this t-shirt truly captures the thrill of unearthing hidden gems. Scoop up your t-shirt now at Crazy4MeStyle.com

Makes a great gift for the Pyrex and kitsch collector!!

Pyrex T-shirt

Continue reading

Share

Wisteria and Rainbows – Living Life in Full Bloom

Yasmina Greco Wisteria Rainbow Dress
Yasmina Greco Wisteria Rainbow Dress

I love this time of year when the sun is shining, flowers are blooming and the world is colorful and nature is buzzing. We found this fabulous spot blooming with wisteria and stopped for some photos. I am wearing my new favorite dress, a smashing pastel rainbow beauty dress that has the retro kitschy Pinup style I adore from Collectif London. The dress is so pretty and I love the sweetheart neckline, it has pockets, and fits my curves perfectly. I kept the styling simple, as I wanted the dress and the wisteria to be showstoppers. I added my Heart of Haute Sweet Sweater in pink and my vintage 1950s pink poodle purse.

Continue reading

Share

Highlights from America’s Largest Antique & Collectible Show July 2017 in Portland Oregon

America’s Largest Antiques and Collectibles Show July 2017

Here is a full report from my annual trip to America’s Largest Antiques and Collectibles Show that is held each July in Portland, Oregon with over 1,000 booths.  The past few years have been more bust than bang but, this year was great. There is usually a lot of chaos getting attendees parked and the lines had been terrible in the past. This year they had it better managed and we got parked within 15mins of the show starting. We try to arrive early as doors open at 9:00 am and you usually need to wait in the ticket line for your tickets then join another line to get inside. The show is held in-doors and outdoors at the Portland Expo Center. Bathrooms are clean and plentiful. Lots of food courts too with seating so never worry about being thirsty or hungry!!

My twin sister and I have been attending America’s Largest Antiques and Collectibles Show for the past few years so we have our strategy down pretty good. But, she was not able to join me this year due to illness so my niece was joining me. It wasn’t quite the same without my sister and we missed her terribly. The weather was gorgeous for Portland and super warm. July in Portland tends to be a scorcher!! Attendees were excited and in good spirits, folks were eager to get started with their treasure hunting. There were also lots and lots of outdoor booths!!
America’s Largest Antiques and Collectibles Show July 2017 - Pyrex

America’s Largest Antiques and Collectibles Show July 2017
Once inside, it was full steam ahead!! After going through a few booths it was apparent that Dealers this year were in very good spirits and super friendly. The past few shows Dealers were really grumpy but this year was different. It is so much more pleasant to shop in a booth with a cheerful Dealer who also engages and interacts with you. Learning about an item is so much fun and if the Dealer shares background information on a piece it makes it that much more special. Prices were super good too!! At past shows prices seemed really high and no one was interested in negotiating. This year prices were very reasonable and many Dealers even commented they would give up to 50% off!! Wow!!

America’s Largest Antiques and Collectibles Show July 2017
This show really has something for everyone; young and old. You can find vintage clothing, lots of vintage jewelry and accessories, vintage neon signs, lots of kitchen collectibles and Pyrex, Fireking, Jadeite and so much more, even lots and lots of ephemera, lightening, Mid-Century Modern, items from the 1920s-1980s. Vintage Disney, tin toys, Hawaiiana, vintage Christmas, salvage, furniture, cameras, and so many more items!! Over 1,000 dealer booths. You can literally spend all day treasure hunting.
America’s Largest Antiques and Collectibles Show July 2017 America’s Largest Antiques and Collectibles Show July 2017 Expo Center
I filled up two large tote bags with treasures!! I especially love kitschy cute items that are anthropomorphic, vintage kitchen goodies from the 50s-60s, vintage Mermaids by Norcrest, Napco, Joty, Lefton, and Holt Howard too. Vintage 50s Poodles, clothing and lucite purses, Bakelite jewelry and I also love fine porcelains from Herend, Majolica, and Meissen. Mid-Century Modern lamps, dinnerware, and furniture too. Also, vintage Gucci, Chanel, Hermes and Christian Dior…… sometimes you can find a treasure!

The next show is in October and it is the vintage Christmas show….. hmmmm, making plans for that one!!

Share

Vintage 1950s Kitschy Kitchen Collectibles

When talking about vintage ceramic kitchen collectibles from the 1950s-1960s, a popular theme is ‘Anthropomorphic’ and it refers to ‘uniquely human characteristics and expressions’ and these ceramic are usually very colorful and animated – kind of like cartoon characters with big eyes and smiles.  These vintage ceramics were mostly imports from Japan and made by the eras top manufacturers Holt Howard, PY, Miyao, Coronet, Napco, and Lefton.

You can find Anthropomorphic collectibles in the forms of: Condiment Jars, Salt and Pepper Shakers, Cruet Sets, Jam and Jelly Jars, Planters, Vases, Wall Pockets, Cake Stands, Dinner Ware Sets, Serving Bowls, Serving Trays, Butter Dishes, Teapots, Pitchers and more.


Today these kitschy anthropomorphic collectibles can be found online, on EBay, Etsy, Rubylane, and in antique and collectibles shops all over the country but in small quantities. Collectors tend to collect based on manufacturer or theme – say all red apple items or only the lemon heads. Be prepared however to pay top dollar on these items as they are very collectible today and can rage from $29.99  – $3,500 (for the rare Lefton Hot Dog Head condiment jar and Holt Howard Honey jar). I was at a flea market recently and spotted a pair of vintage 1950s anthropomorphic fruit head salt and pepper shakers in horrible condition with lots of crazing and paint wear and the seller was asking $40 for them and when I attempted to negotiate he just looked at me and said “Do you know what these are? They are from 50s and very collectible today” and he was not going to budge on price.

Collecting vintage anthropomorphic kitchen ceramics are a REALLY fun type of collectible as their bright colors and big smiles and expressive faces are so darn cute and charming so they appeal to lots of folks. Today, finding pieces to complete a set or add to a growing collection are getting more and more difficult and prices are climbing.  Do you collect vintage anthropomorphic kitchen ceramics? Send us a note and let us know about your collection.

Share