Creative Collector: Vintage Vessels

Vintage items (those dating from 20 years ago; antiques, by contrast, are at least 100 years old) are essential in adding personality and history to spaces and lend a custom, storied look to any home.

What’s a vessel, exactly? Though a vessel is, in its truest sense, a bottle, bowl, cask, cup or kettle (thanks, Merriam-Webster), let’s consider the term loosely, because who really needs limits when it comes to creative collecting? So, consider beakers, jars, pails, pitchers, vases and urns as well — you name it; they’re all vessels.

Where can you find older vessels? You can find vintage vessels in obvious places such as flea markets, estate sales, antiques shops and auctions, where you’ll likely pay top dollar. But less likely spots include church rummage sales, thrift stores, Goodwill and your local recycling center’s or dump’s thrift shop (yes, I said dump!), where things are typically priced by a flat fee per object, such as glasses for 10 cents or dishes for $2. Head to those places and dig up piles of attractive containers and home goods from the ’50s and ’60s, and often earlier.

How can I tell if what I find is ... interesting? Well, for starters, it won’t be something you’ll see in spades at your local department store. Though one-of-a-kind status is difficult to verify, especially if the object doesn’t have obvious markings or authenticity papers, there are a few telltale signs that an object is unique. If the vessel is handmade, it may be signed by the artist or artisan and devoid of factory-made mold marks, as with thrown pottery and handblown glass. Perhaps you can see delicate paint brushstrokes on the surface, or the item was made in a country that has since been disbanded or renamed, such as Catalonia, Ceylon, Tibet, the U.S.S.R., West Germany or Yugoslavia.

Is it made of an unusual material? Is it an interesting color? Does it have a strange, old label? Maybe it’s monogrammed with your initials? All that aside, I’m a firm believer in this adage: “If you love it and can afford it, buy it and display it proudly.” And here’s what makes it truly interesting: the story behind how you came upon it.