Going Retro
5 Fun Ideas for Kitschy Collections
Kitsch is a playful, poppy and specialty category of retro fun. It offers an approachable, lighthearted view into the trends and fashions of decades past. Sure, kitsch isn’t necessarily high art, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t cultural significance, aesthetic appeal, or value. If you have a love for the charm of unique objects, check out some of our favorite collectibles of vintage kitsch. This might be the perfect inspiration for your next off the wall collection.
1. Pulp Sci-Fi
The 1950s and ‘60s were an era marked with an almost obsessive focus on the future and outer space. A lot of retro kitsch focuses on themes relating to this obsession, but pulp sci-fi novels, magazines, and comic books are particularly interesting subjects for collection because they can actually be quite valuable in addition to being fun to collect. Whether you focus on high-value entries into the pulp sci-fi canon or not, the cover designs and stories inside reveal a somewhat quaint vision of the future that’s both entertaining and highly revealing from a historical perspective.
EBTH Columbus - Hilliard
Landscape Oil Painting of Countryside Estate, Late 20th Century
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Veronica Beard Single-Button Blazer
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Men's Filson Quilted Jacket, L.L. Bean Fishing Vest, Orvis Rain Jacket, and More
EBTH Columbus - Hilliard
Marc Chagall Color Lithograph Front Cover From "Verve," 1956
2. Salt and Pepper Shakers
The balance of utility and kitsch reach new heights with vintage salt and pepper shakers. Add a little charm and color to your kitchen or dining room with a handful of these classic collectors items or fill your hutch with a large selection. From cartoonish figures to replicas of famous landmarks in materials ranging from ceramic to plastic and glass, collectible salt and pepper shakers offer a wealth of opportunity, are often affordable, and don’t take up much space.
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Offset Lithograph After Guy Coheleach "Snowy Egret"
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Irma Pfannmoeller Portrait Oil Painting of Happy Chandler
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Kathleen Quinn Oil Painting After Carol Rowan of a Still Life with Tulips, 2003
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Sterling Diamond Inside-Out Oval Hoop Earrings
3. Cigarette Lighters
These days we know that smoking isn’t the harmless, glamorous activity it was portrayed as in the past, but smoking culture is inextricably linked with kitsch and vintage sensibility. Vintage cigarette lighters were often particularly inventive; they were made into decorative objects that could be kept on display on coffee tables and desks. These range from the artistic to the silly and are easy to collect and show off on shelves and tabletops. Smoking was so commonplace that lighters were also used as a means of advertisement; businesses placed their logos on lighters and matchbooks making them a souvenir for those who traveled.
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Illustrated "Every Boy's Book of Hobbies" by Cecil H. Bullivant, Early 20th C.
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Sparky Anderson and George Foster Signed Rawlings Official MLB Baseballs
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Leif Janek Abstract Acrylic Painting, 21st Century
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Offset Lithograph After John Butler "Ring True I"
4. Lunch Boxes
Whether you grew up in the 1950s or the 1990s, your lunch box was likely a way you showed off your personality in grade school. From Lone Ranger to Star Wars to The Ninja Turtles, the history of kids’ pop culture can be encapsulated with a collection that spans decades. This is a particularly fun collection for anyone who loves TV, movies or toys from the mid to late 20th century. Many lunch boxes took a beating throughout their lifetime so finding ones in good condition makes them even more collectible and valuable; finding a lunch box accompanied by the original thermos adds value as well. With their bright colors and fun designs these metal boxes fully encompass childhood nostalgia.
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Still Life Oil Painting of Glass Marbles, Figurines, and Cookies
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Offset Lithograph of Abstract Composition After David Belova
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Faux Pearl and Rhinestone Ring
EBTH Columbus - Hilliard
1870s Mappin & Webb Nautilus Shaped Silverplate Spoon Warmer, English
5. Printed Glassware
Vintage printed glassware is often one of the best ways to enjoy different motifs, emblems, and design elements from the past. Atomic Age design, retro tourism, abstract patterns, historical events, popular culture, and bright colors can also get their due exposure in this category of collectibles. Pyrex glass cookware has become widely collected and appreciated by people due to the many different printed designs the company produced over the years. Pyrex has recently reintroduced vintage patterns that you can buy new today, however collectors covet original vintage pieces. Another great way to inject printed glass into your home is through barware. With so many beautiful designs, shapes, and styles out there it’s a fun way to add some color to your space without breaking the bank. One important thing to keep in mind if you plan to serve drinks in retro glassware is that most of the printing on these glasses isn’t dishwasher safe. Even if it’s labeled as such, you still might want to wash by hand. Dishwashers and detergents are a lot more powerful now than they were even in the ’80s and ’90s.
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Chanel Precious Jewel Single Flap Medium Bag in Quilted Lambskin Leather
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
G Loomis Walleye GLX Fishing Rod with Stradic C1 4+ Reel
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Tiffany & Co. Sterling Earring Grouping with Elsa Peretti Bean and Open Heart
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash