World 080421

Vintage is a word we’re seeing everywhere
these days. Vintage fashions, housewares,
fabrics and more are all over the marketplace.
Garage sales, estate sales and thrift stores are
capitalizing on the trend. But what is vintage?
Let’s learn some terms.
WHAT IS VINTAGE?
According to the dictionary, vintage means a collection
of contemporaneous and similar people or things, or also a
period of origin or manufacture, such as furniture of 1920s
vintage. It also means old, recognized and enduring interest,
importance or quality. In other words, it’s a classic.
In practical terms, what vintage means is that, most importantly,
the item is old. But it’s not so old as to be antique. It
should speak to the era in which it was produced, like bellbottoms
in the 1960s or shoulder pads in the 1980s. It should
also mean that the item labeled as vintage exhibits the best
qualities associated with that era. It should be an accurate
representation of that era. Vintage pieces are often collectible
and are generally more than 20 years old.
VINTAGE VS. ANTIQUE VS. RETRO
We’ve talked about vintage being old but not antique.
Antiques are generally more than 100 years old and also may
have a certain historical value. The difference between vintage
and retro is less defined, but can generally be summed
up in when the item was made and how it’s used. Vintage
items were created in the period, used in the period and
represent the period.
Retro pieces can be new or made later, but mimic the traits
of items from a certain period. They may combine one or
more trends to come up with a certain look. They were not
made or used in the period they proclaim to portray.
Shopping at a Flea Market
Flea markets or swap meets are places where many different
sellers gather to sell items, especially used or handmade
items. They tend to be all-weekend affairs, and some may
raise money for charity. Flea markets can be either outdoor
or indoor, and bartering is usually acceptable. Here are some
tips for scoring great deals at the flea market.
MIND HOW YOU DRESS
You want to dress comfortably, especially if the flea market
is outside, but definitely dress down. Leave the brand names
and the jewelry at home. You want to look as frugal as possible.
Haggling is common practice at the flea market, and
many items may not even be priced so that vendors can name
a price on the spot based almost solely on your appearance.
To get the best deals, you’ll need to look the part.
CARRY CASH
This isn’t the place to whip out your card. Cash is king,
and to pull off your no-disposable-income ruse, carry small
bills unless you’re looking to make a big purchase like home
furnishings. Keep your cash separated so you don’t flash a
big wad to the vendor, even if it is all $1 bills and $5 bills.
THE EARLY BIRD GETS THE DEALS
Hit the flea market when the doors open to make sure you
get what you’re looking for, at the best price. If you arrive
late, you may get a good deal as vendors look to liquidate
Defining Vintage
ADVERTISING
If you’ve got real antique items that are more than 100
years old, then antique is the word to use. Be prepared,
however, when pricing and negotiating, that you may attract
buyers who really know their stuff. Know yours as well. For
true antiques, it may be well worth your while to engage an
appraiser and the services of a sale house.
By advertising vintage items, you’re letting people know
that you are selling things that were made and used in that
time period. Buyers won’t expect things in perfect condition,
but they will expect you to be honest and price accordingly.
If you’re missing pieces or accessories, be upfront about that
and price accordingly. You should know something about
how and when you acquired the pieces, but it’s OK if you
really don’t know. Be specific, if you can, about the time
periods of items you have.
If you don’t know for sure that you have vintage or antique
items, go with the word retro for your ad. These items may
be worth a little less, but they may also be in better shape or
with more safety features than vintage items.
• • •
before packing up, but you also risk some of the best vendors
selling out or their goods being picked over. For the best
selection, get there early.
DECIDE ON THE SPOT
When you can, make a decision quickly and stand by it.
Walking away could mean missing out on a deal or it could
mean the price going up. If the item is large, the seller should
be willing to hold it for you so that you can enjoy the rest
of the market. And if the answer is no, stick with it. If the
vendor won’t meet your targeted price, move on. There are
other fish in the sea.
BRING A SHOPPING BUDDY
Have a friend come with you to bounce ideas off of and
to provide a second pair of hands and eyes. A friend can also
help you stake out items and get larger buys home safely.
Friends can also help you haggle for better prices. Work out
your strategy before you go.
BRING A PAPER AND PEN
It’s a good idea to bring something to take notes with, such
as the location of certain items, the names and numbers of
vendors who may have something worth looking at offsite,
where you parked, and a list of what you’re looking to buy
today. Make your lists, check them twice, and get the best
deals you can.
Finds of a Lifetime
Garage sales are full of all kinds of unique
items for sale. You can find clothes that are
no longer for sale in stores, toys and games
from your childhood and other items.
And, every once in a while, you can find
genuinely valuable items for a song.
15TH CENTURY CHINESE BOWL
A shopper at a 2020 Connecticut garage sale found a
blue-and-white Chinese floral bowl decorated with lotus,
peony, chrysanthemum and pomegranate blossoms. They
snagged it for $35. It later sold for more than $721,000,
because it wasn’t any ordinary bowl. It was a 15th century
antique commissioned by the Chinese imperial court during
the Ming dynasty.
It’s a lotus bowl, named not for the paintings but for its
shape’s resemblance to a lotus bud. It was made between
1403 and 1424 during the Yongle Emperor, a period noted
for its distinctive and celebrated porcelain techniques.
The small bowl was just more than 6 inches across. It’s
unknown how it came to be at the sale, but only six other
similar bowls are known to have survived, auction house
Sotheby’s says. Those bowls are housed by places such
as the National Palace Museum in Taipei, the British Museum
and the Victoria & Albert Museum.
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
An old painting snapped up at a 1989 Pennsylvania flea
market for $4 was hiding one of 500 official copies from
the first printing of the Declaration of Independence. Only
23 similar copies remain, and most of those are privately
owned. It fetched more than $2 million at a 1991 Sotheby’s
auction.
“This was a record for any printed Americana. It was far
and away the highest price for historical Americana ever,”
said auctioneer and Sotheby’s Senior Vice President David
Redden.
The document later sold again in 2000 for more than $8
million, going on the road as part of Norman Lear’s Declaration
of Independence Road Trip.
$5 WARHOL?
A British businessman bought some Gertrude Stein
drawings at a 2012 Las Vegas garage sale. He says he was
getting the purported Stein drawings frame when he found
another picture signed Andy Warhola.
The seller of the drawings said she used to babysit
Warhol, and the businessman says the drawing is one of
the pop artist’s earliest works.
There’s some controversy, however, as the artist’s family
disputes his story and the Warhol Authentication Board
never verified the drawing.
You may not get as lucky as these buyers, but you can
find your own treasures at your local garage sale.
Sponsored by
Auxiliary
15 Cottage St., Barre • 479-4309
LOTS OF CLOTHING FOR
THE WHOLE FAMILY AT
UNBEATABLE PRICES!
PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW HOURS
WED., THURS., FRI. 10-2; SAT. 9-NOON
~ This message sponsored by ~
Vermont
Liquor
Stores
Located off Exit 7 of I-89 - Berlin, VT
Other locations throughout Central Vermont
page 16 The WORLD August 4, 2021
Salvation Army
Thrift Store
545 No. Main St., Barre
Mon.-Sat. 9AM to 5PM
Clothes for the Whole Family
Household Items
Furniture • Toys • TVs
These are not leases - you own the vehicle
~All Clothing Accepted~
CLOTHING ~ This message & HOUSEHOLD sponsored by ITEMS ~
midstatedodge.com
Barre-Montpelier Rd.
1-866-410-3571
802-479-0586
or Toll Free
800-340-0101
Your ad
could be here
for just
$35
Half way between
Barre & Montpelier
on US Route 302
Tax, Title & Registration extra. Pictures are for illustration only. Please present ad to receive special pricing. Finance sale price with no money down for 84 months at .99% for well qualified buyers.
Sale ends 6 days from publication date.
403 U.S. RT. 302 - BERLIN • BARRE, VT 05641-2274
479-2582 • 1-800-639-9753 • FAX 479-7916
Women & &
Children First First
BE UNIQUE!
Shop with us
to get your
fashion on!!
Your Community Clothing Store and More
114 No. Main • Ste. 2 • Barre • 476-4413
Mon.-Fri. 10:00am-5:00pm; Saturday 10:00am−2:00pm