 Greetings Retro Redheads!
Looking Back (A Retro Review?): The Depression Era & Vintage Kitchenware
The Great Depression began in the United States on October 29th, 1929 - eighty years ago today. This day became known as Black Tuesday.
Oddly, the most cheerful and colorful home goods were produced during this era. Now, why do you think that was the case? It is easy to guess. When the news is all bad, when hards times are upon us we do two things really well - we are better at helping our fellow man that we ever were during prosperity and....we do our best to make our homes a cheerful & happy respite.
Designers and manufacturers began making everyday kitchen items out of beautiful colored glass in every shade under the rainbow. Baking dishes and casseroles came with sleek lines, bright glazes and artful deco decals. Some serving dishes even came with elegant chrome exterior holders with bakelite handles. Next, the bold and beautiful, Fiestaware was born in 1936.
Then a new trend began, food manufacturers began selling spices and spreads in cheerfully decorated glass shakers, drinking glasses and containers. Many of these give aways were made in Fiesta's colors (what we now term "Fiesta Go-Alongs"). Alternatively consumers could save labels and "mail away" for things like butter dishes and range sets.
Ironically, much of what we so avid collect today was at once point given away for free. Are we looking for a little taste of cheer in our kitchens? Something that will warm in a way that brushed stainless steel and corian can never seem to do?
| Vintage Fired-On Pink Sugar or Salt Bowl with Chrome Lid  Fabulous vintage fired-on pink sugar bowl - it was probably used as a salt bowl in it's day, but this is something incomprehensible to us today! It is glass with a bright pink color fired-on to the glass with a chrome lid and a small opening for a small spoon. If you have a pink theme going in your kitchen, then this is a perfect complement and is of good practical use as well as looking swell on table or shelf.
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| Art Deco Fired On Jadite Hazel Atlas Tea Canister  Here is a wonderful find! Vintage art deco fired on color glass tea jar or cannister made by the Hazel Atlas Co. back in the 1930's. It is in excellent condition with no damage to the color or the graphics! Size: approx. 6" tall and 4" wide with ribbed sides and black art deco graphics on the front.
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| Hazel Atlas Cobalt Blue Embossed Butter Dish  The top of this very rare butter dish is embossed with the words ""Butter Cover"" and the bottom part of the dish is embossed with the word ""bottom"". To find one of these entire and in such wonderful condition is very unlikely.
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| Vintage Tipp City Spice Shakers  Tipp City, a town in Ohio was the home of Tipp City Glass, manufacturers of one of the most desireable spice shaker sets currently collected. Tipp City made several patterns with Scotty dogs and Cherries being the most popular.
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| Delightful Swanky Swigs with Violets  Originally a Kraft Foods giveaway. We have three of these sought-after vintage violets swanky swigs in wonderful condition. The colors are bright and graphics undamaged. Vintage Violets Swanky Swigs
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| Hazel Atlas Vintage Dutch Children 7 piece Beverage Set  This set was made to match the famous Dutch spice shakers which were a Dove Spice giveaway. This is the only set *we've* ever seen. It's a true vintage 1940's Dutch theme 2 quart pitcher with six matching glasses, all in excellent condition! The figures are silhouettes in blue with a border on the bottom of red tulips. Just darling!
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Barb & I hope you enjoyed this snapshot of history seen through the context of everyday kitchenwares.
If you're looking to brighten up your day with some delightful vintage glassware visit us at Retro Redheads. We might just have what you're looking for!
Thank you for being a loyal Retro Redhead fan. We will continue to provide you with the best in vintage and vintage style for your home!
Sincerely,
--Bonnie & Barb, The Retro Redheads
Vintage and Retro Housewares for the Modern Gal & Dapper Guy!
Since 1997, at Least
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