bigger than a breadbox?

This breadbox, manufactured by Ransburg, has a shabby chic quality. The tole-painted metalware box, with its stylized flowers and green/orange colors, seems to be from the early 70s, if I had to pin a date on it.

Found it in a kitchen display of furniture at an antiques store off Route 309, north of Quakertown, PA. I think it was there for display only, not for sale because there was no tag on. However, the sales clerk and I came to agreement on ten dollars when I asked. In my house, I use it to hold various boxes of tea and packets of hot chocolate, but not for bread.

Growing up, I remember my mom had a metal breadbox. In it, I seem to recall that she often stored a loaf of soft Wonderbread and, occasionally, a bag of rolls from the grocery.

Generally, I think that the popularity of breadboxes is a thing of the past. Does anybody ask anymore if something "is bigger than a breadbox?" I know that if I kept bread in a breadbox, I'd forget about it until a week or two later. My bread is in the freezer, where I sometimes forget about it, but at least it's not moldy!

retro owl

I have a penchant for retro owl kitchen accessories. However, until now, it wasn't common knowledge as I wanted to avoid getting random owl accessories on my birthday from family! Actually, I’m pretty particular about the owl-items I select.

This molded resin napkin holder “spoke” to me at a yard sale for a dollar. I would date it from the 1970s. The iridescent orange color glows brightly when the sunlight hits it in my kitchen.

coffee time collection

I guess you could say coffee is an important part of my life or, at least, that’s what my family would say as they think I consume too much.

Along with my affinity for drinking coffee, I enjoy collectible coffee items. Two of the old coffee containers pictured come from the Brimfield flea market in Massachusetts. The Folgers can with the ship graphic (which is my favorite of the three) was a bargain for 25 cents at a local garage sale. The little yellow coffee bank was a splurge for $10.00 (what was I thinking!!), at a place called Powerhouse antiques in the Collegeville, PA area.

Also pictured is a vintage 1950s Fireking mug. It shows Davy Crockett, "king of the wild frontier." This was a find for 75 cents in a box of otherwise junky stuff at a local yard sale.

sifter shopping

My vintage flour sifters--brand name "Androck"--date to the 1950s, early 50s, I believe.

I found the one with the diamond and stylized star design at a barn sale in Blue Bell, Pa. I paid a dollar for a box of mildly rusty kitchen items--this sifter was my favorite item in the box and it had minimal rust! Still works (has 3 screens) but I just display it as the inner screens are hard to clean thoroughly.
The companion sifter with the daisies is by the same manufacturer. It has similar construction except the handle is paint over wood instead of metal. I bought this one in a rather interesting way, at an auction house called Stephenson's in Southampton, PA. I had lost a bid on a box lot that had a number of interesting boxes of household items (such as this sifter) to a man who was determinedly bidding on the same lot. Later, when he claimed his boxes and was packing up, I approached him and asked about buying the sifter. We settled on $3--he didn't seem very interested in it compared to other items in his lot!

melmac en masse

My melmac bowls en masse! These are great for serving, especially if you’re fond of 1950s pastels (with the exception of the maroon dish). All are the Boontonware brand.

Most are from garage sales, and I believe the maroon one was the most expensive, costing about $4 from a thrift store, name forgotten, several years ago.
Some are divided in the center, and there are a couple with lids. The side handle and lid handle design reminds me of the “fins” on cars from that time period…sort of an art deco look going on.