It's no secret that I love French vintage items, and that I especially love heading off to the Sunday markets in search for more treasures to share. But I also love the process involved in getting the lovelies photographed and listed in the shop.
I won't list anything until I have done my research and learned all I can about an item. As I was doing just that recently, and sighing to myself in pleasure, I tweeted that I just couldn't explain what it was exactly about French vintage that makes me so happy. As I continued to research and list a few items I realised that a big part of it for me is the story. This shouldn't be surprising, as the story is also my main motivation for my other passion, scrapbooking.
I just love learning things about all the items I find, and imagining the ways that they may once have been used. Plus during my research I come across so many interesting triva tidbits. For instance, did you know that the Etch-a-Sketch is actually a French invention? Neither did I! It was first called the Télécran, then renamed for the US market in the early 1960s.
Vintage Télécran at Callaloo Soup Vintage
Also there is an interesting history behind all those colourful medication boxes, having to do with the law changing and allowing the pharmacies to advertise (look for a more detailed blog post on this soon).
Vintage Blue Metal Pharmacy Box
While researching this box, I also learned that there is a French word for the hobby of collecting metal boxes: boxoferrophilie!
History and movie trivia too!
Desk blotters apparently have played an important part of the plot of Sherlock Holmes books and films like The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter!
So tell me, what is it that you love about vintage?
