Discover the charm of vintage 1950s mermaid and fish collectibles—history, makers, and tips for starting your own whimsical underwater collection. From sultry sirens lounging on seashells to playful ceramic fish with sparkling eyes, these mid-century treasures capture a world of fantasy and nostalgia. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just dipping your toes into the hobby, this guide will take you on a colorful journey through their history, the artists who brought them to life, and how you can build your own enchanting “under the sea” display.
I have always loved mermaids, and the 1950s were a time of great fascination with the mythical creatures. This blog post will discuss how to collect vintage mermaids from this era to decorate your home. My favorite mermaids are from the early 50s made by Norcrest, Napco, and Lefton. I love how whimsical they look on my bathroom walls. I’ll also share more of my favorite finds with you all in this post.
Where bluebirds gossip, flowers blush, and vegetables smile back.
There’s something magical that happens when you open the glass doors of a true kitsch queen’s cabinet. It’s not just a display—it’s a stage where bluebirds flirt, flower-faced cuties pose, and wide-eyed corn cuties are ready for their close-up.
Lately, “shelfies” (yes, selfies for your shelves) have become the must-see snapshots across vintage Instagram, and for good reason. These curated displays of mid-century Japan ceramics—especially the anthropomorphic kind—are joyful, whimsical, and pure serotonin in ceramic form.
Vintage Japan Bluebirds
🩵 🐦Lefton Bluebirds lead the charge, their sweet sky-colored wings and bashful smiles turning spice racks into scenes from a 1950s kitchen fairytale. Norcrest and Topline Imports also manufactured bluebirds in Japan in the 1950s along with Lefton. Whether perched on planters or peeking from sugar bowls, they bring the chirpiest charm.
🌸 Flower-faced cuties—like daffodil darlings, pansy pixies, and rosy-cheeked blooms—are in full bloom inside collectors’ cabinets. These pastel-hued petals with personality add the perfect pop of charm to spring and summer shelfies. Made by PY Miyao in 1950s Japan, these whimsical wall plaques and pockets are prime examples of anthropomorphic ceramics—where even flowers have faces (and fabulous attitudes).
Vintage PY Anthropomorphic Flower Planters and Wall PLaques Japan 1950sPY Corn Anthropomorphic
🌽 And let’s not forget the anthropomorphic produce: corn with eyelashes, cabbage with sass, and all have those big eyes and long eyelashes. These pieces, mostly by PY and Napco, are little works of adorably wonderful ceramics from the 1950s that turn kitchens into retro dreamlands.
Py Miyao Cabbage Cuties
Peek inside vintage kitsch cabinets featuring Lefton bluebirds, flower-face cuties, and PY anthropomorphic ceramics in the ultimate “shelfie” showcase. These aren’t just shelves—they’re retro wonderlands where bluebirds gossip, blushing blossoms pose, and vegetables grin like they’re starring in a mid-century sitcom. If you’re into whimsical nostalgia, cabinet displays are where the magic lives (and winks right back at you). You can see more pictures and read about these amazing collectionsright hereon the blog—and if you’re now itching to get your hands on some of these kitsch cuties, you can visit my Etsy shop for fabulous finds!
Most of the photos featured are from my personal collection, with a few sourced from Pinterest to show the full charm of these collectible cuties.
Ready to become an antiques aficionado? Look no further than the experts’ books available on antiques, vintage Christmas, kitschy mid-century modern artifacts and collectibles! So start exploring this fascinating world filled with nostalgia and tradition today! Here are a few titles worth checking out:
Space age tin toys and robots captured the imagination of a mid-century generation enthralled by space exploration. These highly collectible toys are now prized by vintage toy collectors and Mid-Century Modern enthusiasts alike. If you’re interested in collecting space age tin toys and just starting out, here are some really good books to get you started that full of photos and information.
Yasmina Greco with her Vintage Christmas NOEL Collection
Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year!! I have a great post for you all today; Vintage Christmas Noel Sets: The Ultimate 5 Tips for Collectors for collecting Noel figurines and candle holders from Santa Claus, Elves, Poodles, Snowmen, Angels, Candy Canes, Holt-Howard.
That feeling of festivity and joy that comes with this time of year can be attributed to many things, but one of them surely has to be all the vintage kitschy decorations.
Vintage 1950s NOEL Angel Girl Bells – Japan
For me, one of my favorite things to do is pull out the vintage Chirstmas NOEL sets that I have been collecting for years and display these treasures as I get my home ready for Christmas.
If you love a touch of nostalgia with some Mid-Century flair then you’ll want to curl up with your cocoa and read our new blog post on Collecting Vintage Christmas: Noel Sets for tips on buying, selling, and searching for these treasures.
Today’s blog post features some of my vintage Noel collection that dates from the 1950s-1960s and features Noel candle holders, Noel bells, and Noel figurines.
When it comes to vintage Noel collectibles there are so many varieties and themes from Santa Claus, Elves, Poodles, Snowmen, Angels, Candy Canes, and even Clowns, that there really is something for everyone and you can easily have a theme each year for your holiday decorating too!!
Holt Howard Noel Angel Candleholders
Holt-Howard’s vintage Noel angel girl candleholders are cherished mid-century collectibles known for their whimsical charm and festive flair. These ceramic figurines, dressed in white robes adorned with gold star accents, hold red letters that spell out “NOEL” across the set with green tops to insert candles. Their expressive faces and intricate details embody the nostalgic appeal of 1950s and 1960s holiday décor.
Highly sought after by collectors, these pieces can command prices ranging from $800 to $1,500+, depending on condition. When acquiring them, it’s important to inspect for any damage, particularly to delicate areas like necks, letters, halos, candleholders, and ensure the detailing remains intact and not chipped, cracked, or repaired.
This beautiful pristine set of Holt Howard Noel Candleholders is available now on at my shop Crazy4MeStyle
WARNING!! Blog has a lot of photos.
One sure way to any collector’s heart is items that come with their original boxes. For me, the box can also be used as part of your vintage holiday decor as they usually have timeless graphics that add so much charm to your displays.
Since these vintage items are usually 70 yrs old, if you do find an original box it will probably have some wear and tear or even water damage from being stored in basements and attics and that is completely okay and in my opinion, adds that much more to the story and history of the item.
Here are five of my very favorite Noel sets from my personal collection and I think they are just dynamite. Each set is so unique and has loads and loads of vintage Christmas charm. I actually have them up year-round in my cabinet and they always make me smile when I stop and admire them.
1950s Grimco Japan NOEL Bells Vintage Christmas1950s Grimco Japan NOEL Bells Vintage Christmas
Collector Alert: For Sale on Etsy – Vintage Christmas Extremely Rare NOEL Bell Set – World Creations by Grimco 1950s Japan MCM This 4 Piece Noel bells set of boys and girls made by World Creations by Grimco Japan 1950s.
This set is hard to find and very delicate, made from very fine ceramic so there may be light hairline cracks if you do come across a set. The facial expressions on these kids are so darling. In today’s market expect to pay $275-$325.
2. Christmas Cowboy Santa Noel Candle Holders set by Menschik Goldman in the 1950s. Santa is wearing his western hat with green and red holiday flair, his red suit complete with holster and pistol and his body spells out NOEL.
This set is very rare, I have only come across it one time and in today’s market expect to pay $299-$350.
As we approach the 4th of July, let’s take a nostalgic trip down memory lane and explore how you can infuse the vintage 50’s era into your wardrobe and home. Celebrate Independence Day with mid-century outfits and collectibles featuring patriotic, nautical-themed Pinup and Rockabilly styles, and charming mid-century kitsch.
Nautical Outfits: Classic American Fashion with a 50’s Twist
Patriotic and nautical fashion has been an iconic part of American style for decades. These themes blend beautifully during 4th of July celebrations, offering a chance to showcase your creativity and love for vintage fashion.
The Vintage Nautical Look
Creating a vintage 50’s nautical outfit begins with understanding the basic elements: think sailor pants, wide collars, and navy-and-white or red-and-white stripes. The 1950s was also an era of full skirts and A-line dresses, so feel free to add a full, pleated, midi-length skirt in a navy blue or red to your outfit.
The 4th of July is the perfect occasion to experiment with patriotic colors. Channeling the colors of the American flag – red, white, and blue – into your nautical ensemble will exude vintage charm and national pride all at once.
Complement your outfit with accessories like red scarves, blue sailor caps, or white retro sunglasses to add more authenticity and individuality.
Mid-Century 50’s Kitsch 4th of July Collectibles
The 1950s weren’t just a golden age for fashion, but for home décor too. This era saw the rise of kitsch, a style marked by the use of everyday, mass-produced objects as decoration. This quirky, whimsical style is a great way to add a touch of the 50’s to your 4th of July celebrations.
Patriotic Collectibles
Incorporate the stars and stripes into your décor through items like vintage ceramics by makers such as Napco, Lefton, Norcrest, Josef Originals, and Holt Howard. You can also incorporate 50’s era flags, or even mid-century style tablecloths featuring patriotic motifs. These small touches will contribute significantly to your 4th of July atmosphere.
As we celebrate this 4th of July, let’s honor the past as well as the present. By donning vintage 50’s era patriotic nautical outfits and decorating with mid-century kitsch collectibles, you’ll not only look the part but also feel it. Here’s to a stylish, nostalgic Independence Day!
Today 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
Take 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.
