In a world where new is often considered better, there is something truly special about the vintage items that have stood the test of time. The 'make do and mend' mentality of generations past seems to have been replaced with a 'disposed of before it's paid for' mindset in today's society. But when riffling through some of these old vintage treasures, it's difficult not to be blown away at the craftsmanship and care that went into these items.
Take, for example, a ceramic figurine I came across recenly or a beautifully decorated lustre, handpainted vase, pretty and very eye catching, but wouldn't have cost much to buy new in the 1940s and 1950s, general 'every home has one' style.
But, when these pieces break, instead of simply tossing them aside and replacing them with something new, someone took the time to repair them with such precision that the damage becomes nearly invisible (excluding the 1930s china plate with a plaster holding it together!). It's a testament to the love and appreciation people had for their possessions throughout the decades, where someone would rather place a piece of plaster over this crack and 'make do' and try to make use of the plate!
Glassware, of which I am a huge fan, that has survived over 100 years without a single scratch, I can't help but compare it to the modern glasses I have from a well known department store. Within just a month, I managed to break two and chip another – a stark contrast to the durability and resilience of vintage pieces and not even close in the beauty department!
The art of repairing and preserving items seems to have been lost in today's throwaway culture. We live in a society where convenience often trumps quality, leading us to discard things at the first sign of wear or damage. But there is something truly special about owning something with history – something that has been lovingly cared for and repaired over time. Like the 'special china and glasses' that have been safely placed in a pretty cabinet for tens of years waiting for the special occaison that never came. Someone cherished them so much that they never even got to use them. This is very sad.
Vintage items not only carry stories within their cracks and imperfections but also serve as reminders of a time when people valued what they owned. They are tangible connections to our past, offering glimpses into the lives of the people who owned them.
Embrace the beauty of imperfection and celebrate the craftsmanship of earlier eras. The items I keep are the broken ones (2 horses with glued on heads but a leg missing, a Murano bull with a short leg and one horn, and a mid century pig moneybox that has been smashed open and stuck back together again. (I draw the line at the plate with the plaster!)