Home » Home & Style » Antiques & Collectibles » Now You're Cookin'! Vintage Kitchenware

Now You're Cookin'! Vintage Kitchenware

© Barbara Bell

Early in March I attended a large antiques show held at the New York State Fairgrounds. Knowing I wouldn't be a buyer this year, I brought along my digital camera, a notebook and my Suite101 business cards. By recording the things that interested me, with photos and notes, I would have a rich resource for future articles. By handing out my cards, I could spread the word about Suite101 and perhaps leave a stronger impression in the memories of the dealers I spoke with.

This article, then, is a result of that effort. After downloading the pictures to my computer, I realized that a sizable portion of them were of vintage kitchenware, from the 1920's to the 1950's. These are the wonderful things we remember from our grandparents and parents' homes, and I'm sure the photos (see Photo Page) will evoke fond times for you.

The first photo is of a nice set made up of a 1950's-era breadbox and matching paper napkin holder. The dealer had them priced separately: breadbox, $45 and napkin holder, $25. I'm sure some negotiating could have brought the price down somewhat especially when purchased together. Similar breadboxes on the Web are going for exactly the same price, so this dealer's prices are not out of line. Wouldn't they make a delightful addition to your kitchen renovation? They are colorful, and very functional!

The next two photos are of Depression glass refrigerator ware. Many companies made these and often they were available from the refrigerator manufacturers. One set pictured is in the popular green glass, and the other is in the less common pink glass. These were photographed in different booths, but the prices are similar. The green set (priced individually) range from $35 to $55 a piece. The pink set ranges from $28 to $55. Size and function seem to determine the price.

In the article PATTERNS IMPORTANT TO THE HISTORY OF DEPRESSION GLASS by Joyce E. Krupey, which appeared in the National Depression Glass Association's February 2001 online newsletter, the author states:

"...in the context of all glass making of the era, Depression Glass was but one part of the larger fabric of the glass industry. It was a logical extension of mechanization and a valuable contribution to a troubled economic era in that it kept people working. The end of the era also was logical in the context of economic stagnation and the changing consumer market. By the end of the 1930s, the techniques and machinery used for making Depression Glass were being abandoned for even more automated moulding methods."

The copyright of the article Now You're Cookin'! Vintage Kitchenware in Antiques & Collectibles is owned by . Permission to republish Now You're Cookin'! Vintage Kitchenware in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.