My Vintage Collection
“Every passion borders on the chaotic, but the collector's passion borders on the chaos of memories.”
Walter Benjamin
I’ve been a collector since I can remember, and before I understood what a collector was. I’m always drawn to the past, and without a time-machine to travel within, I find collecting vintage and antique objects to be a fulfilling compromise. I have recently been pondering as to why these objects speak to me more than contemporary modern ‘things.’ I’m thinking it’s probably their decorative features, and the very fact that they existed long before I did - the mystique of an object that was once held, used or looked upon by a person no longer of this world. As a former archaeologist, my passion for the past is just part of who I am. I recoil at garish graphics; computer-font shop signs, and big-name company logos which have all lost their original charm. It’s probably why I love old architecture also - decorative features, skilled craftsmanship, and plenty of personality.
Apart from a car-boot sale, flea market or vintage/antique shop, I buy most of my items from Etsy, Instagram and Ebay. I love to spend a Sunday morning just scrolling through these sites ‘window-shopping’ in the vintage sections, or actively searching for something I know I want. The thread cards above were finds from Etsy, as was the gorgeously decorative little tin box which held the most basic of tools at the time - typewriter ribbon! I can count 5 different type faces on this box alone - but they all work so wonderfully together. The paint brush, pencil and ruler belonged to my grandad who was a DIY enthusiast - like most men of the time, he could build and fix just about anything! The lightbulb was found in my Dad’s tool box - I love the brass and proportions of this dinky bulb.
The letters, postcards and cigarette cards are also Etsy finds. I love old cursive handwriting, in all shapes and forms - it’s such a personal link with someone from the past. From the later part of the nineteenth century up until WWII, cigarette brands would add collectable and tradable cards within their packets - usually images from popular culture at the time, such as famous cricket players, royal portraits, and beautiful botanical artworks, such as the above ‘Wills’ examples that I have collected. I have a collection of 20 and they date from the 1930s. Even the back of the card is incredibly decorative, with a framed description of the flower. The ‘greetings’ Christmas card was printed in Ireland by ‘Bothan’ - I can’t find any reference to this company online - if you know of them, please let me know. It says ‘printed in Éire’ on the reverse which would date it to around the late 1920s-1930s. I found it on the dusty top floor of my grandad’s old family home in Dublin city. I was about 13 years old and on a family tour of the old Georgian house before it was sold. I remember stepping into the top floor room and feeling dizzy with the height of the building! It’s amazing how a little card like this can bring me back to that day as if it was yesterday. That’s why I love old things - they hold a piece of time - and indeed memories - within them.
The ephemera above are more personal items as they are from my own family archives. My grandad was in the Local Defence Force during WWII, or the ‘Emergency’ as it was known in neutral Ireland. His certificate in first aid is beautifully embellished. The Celtic decorative border of the Lourdes pamphlet is also one to admire. My grandad worked in Guinness (as did his own father), and we have a wonderful array of Guinness related paperwork embossed with intricately designed stamps. The caravan club sign is a cherished object as it has both my grandparents names etched on the surface. They were one of the first, if not the first Catholic family to be allowed join the largely Protestant organisation during the 1960s.
Can you believe, the three illustrated cards above are the reverse of photographs, or ‘cabinet cards’ as they are commonly called. The lettering, flourishes, and illustrations are the main reasons why I bought these particular cards. The bottom right card contains a snippet of silk material with an embroidered ‘moss rose.’ It was once again collected from cigarette packets during the 1930s. In this case, the brand is Kensitas. To think such a beautifully decorative item was available in an everyday packet of cigarettes is quite extraordinary.
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Coins are a real fascination for me. The below photos show just some of my coin collection. My favourite Irish coin was the 50p. I remember as a child, my great aunt would give me a 50p coin when I’d visit her. It was such a thrill to receive a large coin with an unusual shape - with my childhood wonder, it was almost magical (especially because I could buy sweets with it!). The pre-decimalisation coins from my parents generation and further back are even more intriguing. The Irish script and imagery is charming. It’s not surprising W.B Yeats was head of the committee, who in 1926 determined the coin designs for the new Irish State. The committee recommended that the imagery should highlight the importance of Ireland’s agricultural economy, and so, native animals were chosen to be represented on the coins. The first coins were released in 1928, designed by Percy Metcalfe. The Farthing and Penny are probably my favourite - look at the little chicks at the chickens feet!
I hope you liked reading about my vintage collection. I may do another blog post featuring more items - I have so many vintage cosmetics and stamps also. If you’d like to see more, please leave a comment below. If you’re a collector also, I’d love to hear what you collect! Take care, Rachel x