This evening, August 17th, we are having an event from 4-7 to benefit the Tucson, Arizona organization, Youth On Their Own. Cakes are being baked and you can win one of them! When you take your cake home, or next time you bake one, wouldn’t it be nice to serve it off of a lovely antique or vintage stand.

 
If you don’t already have one of these items from days gone by, look around the mall. We usually have a few for sale.  

You can also use them to display flowers or small collectibles. Or you can start a collection of cake stands and display them together.  

 
Brides love cake stands. They use them at their receptions to display the wedding cake, cupcakes, flowers, etc. And, when the wedding is over she might even gift them to members of the bridal party.   

So come on in to The Midtown Mercantile Antique Mall at 4443 E. Speedway. You might find a beautiful old cake stand. And if you come in today, August 17, 2017 from 4-7 you just might win a cake!

Carol Fenn 8-2017

Right now, in the Midtown Mercantile Merchants Mall at 4443 E. Speedway there is one of the cutest egg plates I’ve ever seen! This got me to thinking about these specifically useful items.    For example, did you know that there are two things that Southern women traditionally got for wedding presents: a hand-crank ice cream maker and a deviled egg plate?

Today, with men and women both cooking and entertaining, I believe that all women and all men, northerners and southerners, should probably be given a deviled egg plate at birth. LOL … After all, deviled eggs are the first thing to go at a party, so you better have an attractive empty plate.

There are plenty of egg plates (or platters) to choose from. You can find them in glass, fine china, Italian pottery, Fiestaware, etc. Some are figural with Easter bunnies, chickens, hearts, geese, pigs, you name it. 

The egg plate’s popularity peaked in the 1950s, but there has been a significant resurgence in their use. The recipes for the eggs range from simple to fancy schmancy gourmet. Here’s a simple old time recipe from our mid century maven, Betty Crocker, to get you started:

 6 hard cooked eggs

3 tablespoons mayonnaise 
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper 

Peel eggs and cut in half lengthwise. Slip out yolks and mash with fork.

Stir in mayonnaise, mustard, salt and pepper. Fill whites with egg yolk mixture, heaping it lightly. Cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours.
Sprinkle with a little paprika for that “deviled” look.  
Enjoy! And don’t forget to share!

Carol Fenn 4-2017

Right now, we’re going Boho! Hippie chic! Bohemian! Yes, it’s boho bliss!

Think Rudolph Valentino.  Gypsy wagons.  Flowing rich fabrics of purple and orange.  Middle eastern hanging lamps, animal prints, candles. Comfy cushy chairs and sofas filled with comfy cushy pillows. And throw some of those pillows over there in the corner!

Rules? There aren’t any. Bohemian is for those of us who disdain rules. Do whatever fills your heart with fun.

Come on in to The Mercantile. Our current mashup, BEACH BLANKET BOHEMIAN BOARDS THE ORIENT EXPRESS, is filled with wonderful boho items that will assist you on your journey to bohemian bliss!

Carol Fenn 6-2018

When I was in elementary school in the mid twentieth century the Valentine’s Day tradition was to give virtually every kid in your class ( and your teacher) one of those cute little flat cards of the era. For our mothers and other special relatives we usually made hand made cards. It was lots of fun and I’m so thankful that so many people saved their cards so we can still enjoy them and collect them today.

 

But how did this all start? What is the origin of Valentine’s Day?

 

It started with the Romans. From Feb. 13 to 15, the Romans celebrated the feast of Lupercalia. The men sacrificed a goat then “whipped” women with the hides of the animals they had just slain.

 
Young women would actually line up for the (usually drunk) men to hit them. They believed this would make them fertile.

The ancient Romans may also be responsible for the name of this modern day of love. Emperor Claudius II executed two men — both named Valentine — on Feb. 14 of different years in the 3rd century A.D. Their martyrdom was honored by the Catholic Church with the celebration of St. Valentine’s Day.

As the years went on, the holiday grew sweeter. Filled with stories of love. No more whippings with animal hides. Chaucer and Shakespeare romanticized the day in their work, and it gained popularity throughout Europe. Handmade paper cards became popular in the Middle Ages.

Eventually, the tradition made its way to America. With the industrial revolution of the 1800’s came factory made, but usually intricate time-intensive cards. 

 And then, in 1913, Hallmark Cards of Kansas City, Mo., began mass producing Valentine’s Day cards. So this February 14th you can enjoy your chocolates, your flowers, your cards, but also a little Valentine’s Day history. Ah … love (and knowledge) is in the air …

Carol Fenn 2-2017

Valentine’s Day cards were exchanged long before the Victorian era. But sending them was expensive and was reserved for the very wealthy. In 1840 with the birth of the Penny Post in Great Britain, now almost everyone could afford to send valentines through the mail. This brought forth the explosion of Victorian valentines! Unfortunately, due to their delicate nature, only a small percentage have survived. If you’re lucky enough to find one (or a few) cherish it as it has a wonderful history.  

Here’s an interesting fun fact: When valentines could suddenly be sent for a penny, they were mailed in such great numbers that postmen were given a special allowance for fountain drinks to keep them refreshed in the days leading up to Valentine’s Day!

Early on, the majority of valentines were handmade by the giver, but advances in printing methods and the booming market soon led to the popularization of commercial valentines. There were hand-tinted lithographs, perforated laces, and embossed foils. A cottage industry of hand-crafted, much loved today, fold-out valentines also emerged. Whether they were store-bought or homemade, both the Victorians and the Edwardians proudly displayed the Valentines they received on their parlor tables for all to see.

Collecting valentines is a lot of fun. Many dealers will find and curate them all year long then bring them out for their customers in late January in preparation for the holiday. Here in the Mercantile you will find many vintage and Victorian valentines throughout the store. Come on in and start your collection!

Carol Fenn 1-2018 

If you are of a certain age and grew up in the 1950s and 1960s I’m sure you have fond memories of these mid century Valentines! And if you’re not of that certain age I know you’ll love them anyway!

Back in the day, we went to the five and dime and bought a packet of these sometimes sweet, sometimes funny, always fun, little cards. Then we took them home, spread them out on the kitchen table, and decided which one should go to which kid in our elementary school class. Then on Valentine’s Day, or the day before Valentine’s Day if it was on the weekend, the teacher would set aside some time and we would exchange our Valentines. It was great fun to then go home with your pile of cards and enjoy each and every one.

Thank goodness, many of these vintage Valentines still survive. And we have a LOT of them for sale here at the Mercantile. Come on in. You’ll really enjoying seeing them and they are so much fun to collect! 

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Carol Fenn 2-2018

Not surprisingly, it was a Frenchman who committed the earliest surviving Valentine’s greeting to paper. While imprisoned in the Tower of London following the 1415 battle of Agincourt, the Duke of Orleans wrote to his wife:”Je suis desja d’amour tanné

Ma tres doulce Valentinée”

This translates roughly as, “I am already sick of love, my very gentle Valentine.” This remarkable letter survives in the manuscript collections of the British Library.
Now let’s move forward a few hundred years to circa 1960 and we enter the world of the funny, corny, inexpensive mid twentieth century Valentine. Now if you are, ahem, of a certain age, you remember these. Bought by your mother in a huge pack at the five and dime you gave one to every kid in your class.  

Enjoy this walk down memory lane if you remember these. If you’re too young to remember, I’m sure you’ll enjoy them too! And they’re also tons of fun to collect!  

Carol Fenn 2-2019

I’ve been in the antique business for over 35 years but it wasn’t until a couple years ago that I learned about the elusive and mysterious “lover’s eye.” With Valentine’s Day around the corner it seems like this is a good time to look into them. Pun intended LOL

The lovers eye is a miniature painting of your significant others eye usually encased in a small piece of jewelry. A hat pin, a brooch, a pendant, a ring, a tie pin, etc. Sometimes a small lover’s eye bracelet would be braided out of your loved one’s hair. They have also been discovered in tiny boxes that could be carried in one’s pocket.  

The jury is still out as to their origin. Was it in the 1700’s in France or, as most historians seem to believe, did they originate with a scandalous affair of the soon to be crowned King George IV of England?

That’s right, the then Prince of Wales, later crowned King George IV, and a widowed Catholic commoner named Maria Fitzherbert were in love. But, she was Catholic, older, and had been married before so she would not be acceptable at that time in history. My stars! Despite disapproval from the court, it is said that they wed in secret, and in 1785 commissioned tiny portraits of their eyes as discreet and intimate tokens of affection. 

Once their story leaked to the public, lover’s eyes became popular among the privileged classes. These expensive little gems were commissioned by lovers as well as family members … mother to daughter, father to son, etc.   

The fad mostly died out in the 1830’s. However, it is known that, for example, Queen Victoria commissioned several of them during her reign. Experts in the field believe that fewer than 1,000 of these original “miniature eyes” are still in existence today. There are contemporary artists making them so if you are lucky enough to find one be sure to check for signs of age.  

Carol Fenn 2-2017

   

A sailor’s valentine is a (usually) sentimental gift made using large numbers of small seashells. They were generally made between 1830 and 1890 and were designed to be brought home from a sailor’s long voyage at sea and given to his loved one.  

They can take the form of a hinged box, a picture frame, a pincushion, etc. Some will incorporate a photo, a section of a greeting card, or a small original painting.



For many years it was believed that the sailors themselves made all of these objects. But, in recent times there has been speculation that a large number of them came from the island of Barbados, which was an important seaport. Historians believe that sailors desires may have created a cottage industry for the locals on this island.  
More research has shown that while many of these romantic objects were indeed made by sailors during long idle hours on the sea, a large percentage were indeed made by the citizens of Barbados.
 

Today antique sailor’s valentines are highly collectible and they can sell quite well at auction and at fine antique shows. They are valued for their beauty, craftwork, and sentimentality.   

And, not surprisingly, when put together into a grouping they make a wonderful display.   

There are contemporary artists making these today. So if you are collecting only vintage and antique sailor’s valentines be sure you look for signs of age before purchasing.

Happy collecting!

Carol Fenn 1-2017

Valentine’s Day is approaching fast. What better time to delve into the story of “sweetheart jewelry?” 

Sweetheart jewelry first became popular during World War I. Wives, mothers, sisters and sweethearts waited back home while the men were fighting overseas. This sentimental jewelry was one of many things that soldiers either made or purchased, along with pillowcase covers, handkerchiefs, compacts, etc.  

While the practice began during World War I it really took off during World War II.

War time rationing of material resulted in plain clothing with little embellishment. Pinning a brooch on a lapel or wearing a necklace with a heart or heart-shaped locket gave the wearer a bit of decoration as well as showing off her patriotism. In the case of a wife or “intended” it showed that she was “taken.” But most importantly, it served as a remembrance of what her sweetheart, brother, father or son was sacrificing while he was away.

 

A lot of these pieces were made in the shape of patriotic symbols; the flag and the American eagle were very popular. Several of the costume jewelry manufacturers of the time, including Trifari and Coro, made them.

 

The making of this jewelry pretty much ended after World War II. Collecting it is a very popular pastime and the value of some of the vintage pieces can be quite high. If you’re ever lucky enough to hold a piece of sweetheart jewelry in your hand perhaps you will feel the sentiment behind it. It’s more than just jewelry. It’s a sweet little piece of history.  

Carol Fenn 1-2017