Tag Archives: Napco

Collecting Vintage Lady Head Vases: 5 Tips You Need to Know

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Head vases were made in a variety of designs in the 1950s -1960s. But it was the elegant, fashion-model look AKA – ‘Glamour Girl’ that quickly became among the most popular. These head vases have hand-painted features, 3-dimensional thick black eyelashes, ruby red lips, fancy hats, pearl necklaces and matching earrings, painted fingernails, or gloved hands, and hands that would frame one side of the face. Sizes can range from approx. 3 ¾” inches to 8” inches tall.

Glamorous movie stars and fashion models inspired many of the designs of the era; Jackie O, Lucile Ball, and Marilyn Monroe all had head vases modeled after their likeness. There are also Christmas themed vases that feature pretty ladies and girls in holiday splendor with lots of red and green colors and decorated with poinsettias and holly berries.

Prices: Currently head vases can be purchased for $50-$300+ and they can be found on Ebay, Etsy, Rubylane, at antique shops and markets.

5 Tips for Collecting Head Vases

  • Maker Marks: Napco, Lefton, Reubens, Inarco, Enesco, Betty Lou Nichols, Relpo, Norleans, Parma, Japan. Tags and stamps intact.
  • Quality: Well modeled and painted features.
  • Flourished intact: Eyelashes, fingers not broken or repaired.
  • Jewelry intact, no missing necklace or earrings
  • Holiday vases with red and green colors, poinsettias, holly, ornaments, Christmas trees, Snowmen, and Ice-skaters.

You can see all out vintage head vases and items here: Cray4Me Ebay Store, Crazy4Me Etsy Store, Rubylane Store

Vintage Easter Bunny Collectibles from the 1950s-1960s

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I wanted to share some vintage Easter collectibles from the 1950s-1960s. No, these items you see pictured here are not part of my collection…yet, but they are so cute and charming that I am seriously considering starting a collection of these vintage cuties. Many of the items pictured are made by the ceramic manufacturers of the time like Holt Howard, Napco, Lefton, Relpo, Relco, Inarco, Norcrest, Reubens and more. Vintage collectibles like these can be found today online on eBay, Etsy, and Rubylane as well as antique and collectible shops for $25+ and the Holt Howard, Napco and Lefton items will be priced between $35-$125+.  Do you have a vintage Easter collection? I would love to hear about your collection and see your pics too. Hope you all have a happy and safe Easter!!

Vintage Christmas Candy Cane Figurine Collectibles 1950s

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I am really into vintage Christmas candy cane collectibles this year. Decorations by Holt Howard, Lefton, Napco, Tilso, Ucagco, Inarco, Norcrest and more! These vintage Christmas cuties have so much vintage charm…..you just don’t find that in today’s mass produced items. Many of these items can be found at our Ebay and Etsy stores

Mid-Century Modern Christmas at Midway Antique Mall

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This past weekend we took a drive to Sacramento to one of our favorite antique malls ‘Midway Antique Mall’.  This is the mall that has such amazing mid-century modern rooms….yes, actually rooms that have been styled just like they were in the 50s/60s. You have a few kitchens, living rooms, lounges, waiting rooms from the 50s/60s and more. It is so cool! Nice to see a lot of the rooms had been ‘sold’ and new ones were being setup.

I was hoping to find some great vintage Christmas but there wasn’t much on this trip so, either it already all sold, or, there just wasn’t much put out. There was one booth that was full of vintage yard ornaments blow molds and some decorative ornaments too.

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My favorite find was this cart! It was my husband that pointed it out. I have been hunting for a blue vintage 50s/60s cart for a long time. Also found some vintage Christmas towels, a lovely Napco umbrella girl, a light-up vintage Christmas tree topper, an adorable vintage Christmas reindeer ashtray,  and a teal clock. The cart is by far my favorite find and it is already getting much use housing our printers!!

 

Shopping the Petaluma Fall Antique Faire 2013

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Today we went to the Petaluma Fall Antique Faire. The show is all outdoors and there are over 180+ dealer booths all setup in the historic downtown. We first went to this show in the Spring /Summer time and it was so hot outside but today it was breezy, warm and by the time we were leaving it almost looked like rain. Perfect weather for the time we were there! Lots of dealers from all over the country selling all sorts of things from furniture, jewelry, Bakelite, linens, kitchenware, collectibles, toys, books and magazines, art work, paintings, repurposed and up-cycled items to chandeliers, clothing, rugs, bikes, tools, etc…. something for everyone.

We got to the show about 2hours after it opened and there was a good amount of shoppers. Dealers were not yet quite ready to bargain or negotiate very much, if at all. They pretty much all said the same thing ‘come back in a couple hours and if it isn’t sold maybe we can come down on the price’. I totally understand, but, me too, being a buyer to re-sell, I have to at least give bargaining a try and I think I am pretty reasonable and certainly not trying to insult the dealer.

We did find some cute items like this really rare 1950s Lefton blue spaghetti poodle dog set of mom and pups chained. This blue poodle set is rare because you usually do not find it with the hats/roses and rhinestones. I also found the 1950s pink spaghetti poodle dog with her tam on her head and all these adorable Napco angels for March – St. Patrick’s Day, February – Valentines Day, and November – Thanksgiving. I couldn’t believe it when I found this darling little Lefton Christmas candy cane boy figurine and the pretty vintage blue stenciled ornament, a pair of vintage 1950s plastic turquoise salt and pepper shakers and this tiny yellow vintage Ceramicraft fish wall plaque.

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I did find a pair of vintage kissing angel figurines with one hiding a comic book behind his back and the other hiding a puppy dog but, it turned out that even I didn’t follow one of my rules and that is – no matter what, each item needs to be fully inspected and I even brought my magnifying glass but thought since the show was outdoors, there was plenty of light to ‘see’ any damage so I didn’t take it out of my bag. When I unpacked the angels, part of the halo was broken in the wrapping paper….when I looked at the other angel’s halo I saw two spots where it was re-glued….bummer!! But, it was my fault. I came prepared and didn’t follow my own rules.  I am really happy though with the items I did find today!!

You can find all these items and more in our Ebay, Etsy and Rubylane stores.

Vintage 1950s Kitschy Kitchen Collectibles

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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.