“Antiquing is all about the journey, the hunt, the thrill of finding the objects of your desire.”
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Curious about us? We’re Anne and Diane, two retired schoolteachers, each with houses packed full of STUFF we’ve accumulated over five decades, but always on the quest for MORE!
Old stuff, weird stuff, sentimental stuff, historically significant stuff, charmingly peculiar stuff–we love it all.
Our kids have told us, “Please, stop already! WE DON’T WANT YOUR STUFF WHEN . . . well, you know.” But we just can’t help ourselves.
So here we are at Nostalgia, joining forces as DiAntiques, sharing our neat stuff with you, partially out of duty to our kids, but mostly as an ingenious excuse to continue our quest for more neat stuff.
And, our quest for neat stuff takes us many places. In fact, our friendship is rooted in travel accompanied by our significant others, John and Steve. Together we’ve explored the Alcazaba in Malaga, climbed the Calcada du Duque in Lisbon, geocached along the San Francisco piers, hiked a muggy rain forest in Costa Rica, dodged a thousand cyclists in the streets of Copenhagen and two thousand trinket vendors in Cartagena, ridden camels in Morocco (well, Diane did), survived a rollicking storm off the coast of the Canary Islands, and basked in the sun in St. Thomas and St. Maarten.
Thank you for taking a peek in our booth. Scroll down for a growing list of stories about our stuff.
Vintage American Art Pottery Has No Contemporary Comparison
American art pottery refers to the handmade earthenware and stoneware ceramics crafted in distinctive designs that were a popular staple in American department stores and by mail order from 1870 to the 1950s. Nearly 200 pottery companies gained prominence in the United States especially in Ohio, the home of Roseville, McCoy, Hull, Weller, and Rookwood. This pottery is marked by unique art nouveau or art deco florals and nature-inspired motifs.
“Sadly, as the years pass,” Anne laments, “these pottery pieces our grandmothers and great-grandmothers once cherished in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s are disappearing —beautiful remnants of their era. When I see one in an antique store, I like to imagine the history to which it was privy from its perch on a hutch cabinet or a kitchen window ledge—Glenn Miller’s big band, live from New York City? Roosevelt’s Fireside chats? VE Day? Harry Truman’s victory?”
Anne received her first piece of Roseville pottery from her grandmother shortly before her death in 2005, and its story piqued her interest in this lovely household art from a bygone time. Her grandmother won the small, pinecone-pattern jardiniere as a prize at a canasta party in the mid 1930s. And every piece Anne’s encountered since–the tonal colors, the nature themes, the graceful structure that communicates a simpler time–well, she claims they just don’t compare to the pottery produced today.
And although pieces of pottery like Anne’s little pinecone bowl cost the consumer only a few dollars at the time they were mass produced, many pieces today bring several hundred dollars. A small jardiniere similar to Anne’s recently sold for $140 and a larger vase in the pinecone pattern sold for $695.
As Anne acquires new pieces, she’s reluctantly letting go of some of her older ones. You will find them in Diannetiques booth on the third floor of Sedalia’s Nostalgia’s Vintage Apparel and Marketplace.
Longaberger Baskets: Yes, they’re still a “thing!”
Ignore all of the vintage virtuosos who claim Longaberger baskets are a thing of the past. They have been one of DiAnnetiques best-selling items. And, of course, they are a “thing of the past” as the last hand-made basket was made in 2018, making them a discontinued American Art. It’s the primary reason they are quickly becoming one of many vintage collectors’ favorites.
Diane has been an avid Longaberger collector for over three decades, but admits it’s time to let go of many of her pieces. She is drawn to the unique craftsmanship of each basket. Not only are they beautiful, but as someone who has woven wheat art featured at a number of craft shows, she understands and appreciates the skill involved in creating something by hand that is as purposeful as it is beautiful. In fact, Diane has even woven a basket in the Longaberger factory herself. Although she doesn’t plan to part with that particular basket, one of her prized Longaberger possessions–a large Founder’s Basket signed “To Dad with Love” by two of J. W.’s daughters IS for sale at DiAnnetiques. This large market basket with a lid contains a sturdy plastic insert to protect its interior and has an estimated value of up to $250 and is currently selling for $95.
A bit of history—Grandfather J.W. Longaberger opened the family’s factory in 1936 in Dresden, Ohio, offering gainful employment at the height of the Great Depression to those willing to grasp the intricate art of basketweaving. And for nearly eight decades, Longaberger baskets were a symbol of American craftsmanship, each meticulously crafted by a skilled artisan. By 2000, over a million American Moms and Grannies likely had at least one Longaberger basket in their kitchens or dining rooms. And, as that generation has passed on, these heirloom quality baskets are gradually making their way into the finer antique and vintage marts. All the best reason for you to choose a basket that’s been well cared for from DiAnnetiques.
Pouring History: The Allure of British Pub Jugs
Pub jugs (also known as whisky pitchers) served a practical purpose in nearly every tavern across the United Kingdom for several centuries. These small pitchers typically sat on pub counters with water or lemonade for patrons to dilute their whisky. However, in the mid-nineteenth century, whisky distilleries recognized their potential as a way to promote their brand and today these pitchers are charming advertising collectibles that capture the spirit of historic pubs. From Cutty Sark to White Horse to DeWar’s Scotch and dozens more brands, their mix of utility, artistry, and cultural nostalgia have made them unique collectors’ pieces. The dozen or more you’ll find in DiAnnetiques date as early as the WW2 era and although they command higher prices at many antique shops across the country and on Ebay, Anne has listed hers between $8 and $20.
“I am most certainly NOT a barfly,” Anne adamantly asserts, “but I have fond memories of the time I spent in London as a college student in 1979 and the many evenings I visited pubs with friends. I learned far more about the cultural history of the UK from the fascinating people we encountered in the pubs than any textbook could teach me. In particular, I was drawn to the many elderly people willing to share their life stories. In fact, I knew nothing of the London Blitz until one chilly evening when a particularly beautiful older lady volunteered her experience of London’s dark days under siege in 1940 and 1941. And I remember how the circle around us grew larger as other patrons joined us, one by one, and shared their memories, too.”
“Although I DO remember seeing these pitchers on the counters of various pubs I visited then and since,” Anne recalls, “the first time I encountered one in the U.S. was at a vintage mall in Galveston—for Beefeater Gin! At first sight, it rekindled those fond memories from half a century ago and I’ve been a collector since. But, it’s time to pare down my collection.”
The Art of Clarity: The Beauty of Vintage Clear Glass Servingware
Cut and clear glass serving pieces are appealing to collectors today not only for its unique patterns and dazzling craftsmanship, but its historical and cultural significance. Although this artform dates back to ancient Egypt and Rome, its peak in America marked a highpoint in our country’s manufacturing innovation. In the 19th century and earlier, these pieces were only afforded by the wealthy. However, with the advent of the twentieth century, new companies including Pyrex, Anchor Hocking, and Jeannette Glass introduced new processes like machine pressing to make servingware affordable to the majority of American homes in the form of candy dishes, decanters, candelabra, stemware, vases, and many other common household pieces.
And today, from a twenty-first century perspective, the interest in vintage clear glass servingware only continues to grow because it’s as useful as it is beautiful. From crystal-clear goblets to elegant cake stands to intricately patterned platters, the sparkling transparency of these pieces complements any decor and any occasion, highlighting the colors and textures of main entrees, desserts, and beverages, as well as a bouquet of freshly cut flowers.
Diane’s vast collection of clear glass is a mixture of antique and vintage from the older Fenton, Jeannette, and Indiana Glass companies to mid and later twentieth-century Mikasa platters and other dishes. And, many of her pieces are put to good use for events she hosts throughout the year. As the matriarch of her family, her annual holiday meals are tradition often with as many as fifty people in attendance.
Diane can’t pinpoint exactly why she’s drawn to these particular pieces of Americana, but she’s fairly certain their appeal dates back to her childhood. She recalls how her father often marked a special occasion with a gift of a sparkling new platter or bowl to her mother and she’s carried that memory into her adulthood. To her these dishes resonate with the traditional values upon which she was raised including meals around the table with family and friends.
As Diane downsizes her collection, many of her pieces are available for $3 to $20.