When you think of Vintage Kitchenware, what comes to mind? Pieces like old-fashioned glassware? Pyrex, Fire King, Indiana Glass? Regardless of what does come to mind, I think we all can agree, there is nothing like vintage kitchen housewares that really brings back nostalgic memories.
I think one of my favorite things now about discovering vintage pieces is that there are companies out there that are recreating old pieces and making them modern.
Granted in the actual vintage wares, there are concerns about lead and things like that, but that's another one of the great things about discovering new vintage looking pieces.
They are made with new materials so you don't have to have the concerns you may have with older stuff.
Don't get me wrong though, you could still bake in your newer stuff then display in the older stuff when you are creating treats such as Old-Fashioned Cakes or any of these Vintage Bisquick Recipes.
Bakeware
I absolutely love some of the old pieces that you can find out there. I have a few "new" older pieces that I now bake with. They are stainless steel, so I'm not worried about the lead, and we were able to put them into the dishwasher to sanitize them.
You can easily find vintage bakeware at any thrift store or antique mall.
But if you are looking for new pieces that look like they would have been on tables in the days gone by, then check out the pieces by KOOV.
According to Allen Bixby of Notakeout.com. This is why he is such a fan.
I love seeing the return of ceramic cookware with the classic glazing. It reminds me of the cookware at my great aunt's lake cabin. Or the ubiquitous cream-fading-to-brown ceramic ware all over homes and restaurants in years past. I am not affiliated with the manufacturer. I just enjoy their classic designs and coloring. With casserole cooking popping its head up for a possible resurgence, it is fun to see cookware out there that will go from oven to serving with style.
Cookbooks
If you love vintage cookbooks, you are not alone. I have developed quite a personal collection of cookbooks over the years.
My favorite ones are the ones where the previous owner wrote notes. Such as, "excellent", "no", or "very good for parties". Or you will find the additions they tried instead.
When you think about when some of these cookbooks, like this one from Betty Crocker, were first published, this was a time when we didn't have cooking shows on tv. Most cookbooks didn't have photos or step by step process photos. In my opinion, the bakers and cooks that came before us are really fantastic. They were able to create complete meals just by using a written recipe or just a recipe that they could recall from memory and never written down.
If you want to build your own personal library, here are some tips from Jessica at Life as a Strawberry.
Thrift stores and antique stores are excellent places to find vintage cookbooks, but they can be really hit-or-miss. I love searching through local used bookstores, but when I can't make it to the store in person I've had great results online through ThriftBooks.com (their website lets you sort by edition and price), and Powells.com (the online home of Powell's City of Books, a massive independent bookstore in Portland, OR with an impressive collection of used titles). ThriftBooks and Powell's are great resources if you want to browse a bit through different genres, but if you're looking for a specific title or cookbook edition, you can also find rarer titles on sites like Etsy or eBay.
Glassware
If you haven't stopped by an antique store or looked online at some of the gorgeous pieces of vintage glassware that's out there, you really need to add that to your bucket list.
When you look at the time period when these pieces were produced, it's really mind blowing what they came up with and that they are still around.
I have several pieces that I inherited from my Mom. There are so many designs, colors, and shapes are really gorgeous. She had a few pieces from a couple of different sets that I am trying to piece the whole set together.
Have you ever looked at the vintage photographs of the food displays that people would set up for a holiday gathering? They are really beautiful.
I know, like with serveware, there are concerns about lead, wear and tear on the older vintage pieces, as well as just being able to clean them up after use without ruining their value.
AO Glass
That's why it's neat to find companies like AO Glass, who are creating new pieces, such as this Jenny Lind bowl.
They acquired an old glass press several years ago that was built around the 1880s. And the company they bought it from gave them a beautiful vintage mold and as they say, the rest was history.
Serveware
You can also find various types of serveware at vintage stores and secondhand stores. However, you can also find new stores that feature nostalgia inspired modern pieces.
So if you are looking for "modern" old pieces, then you got to check out these companies. They have some of the most beautiful modern vintage pieces I have ever seen.
Kitten D’Amour
This company is based out of Austraila, but if you are looking for housewares or even fashion pieces, they will definitely have what you are looking for.
Kitten D’Amour's pieces use ethically sourced fabrics to create their vintage-inspired designs. The feminine touches really bring everything full circle.
For example, check out this Tambourine Mountain 1932 Teacup & Tea Towel set. Isn't this exquisite? The teacup has a special piece of art hidden in the bottom of the teacup.
If you are a fan of aprons, then while you are on their site, make sure to check out their beautiful apron collection.
Top Tips
If you are using any old pieces, double check that they are dishwasher safe. Not everything made back in the way was made to put into a dishwasher. I actually ruined a gelatin mold I bought by not thinking and putting in there.
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