Rebekah's Retro

Rebekah's Retro Vintage treasures that delight, charm, and sometimes elicit chuckles. Join me in saving the planet one vintage item at a time.

I am a long-time collector of vintage and antique decorative items, collectibles, and housewares and until now, I've kept all to myself the treasures I find. But with cupboards, closets, and the attic full to overflowing, I opened Rebekah's Retro as a way of sharing the goodies I find with others. In 2017, the profit on items sold at Rebekah's Retro will be donated to the SPICE child sponsor program of the Brethren in Christ Churches of India and Nepal.

Thrifted and styled: Everything in this photo.
11/23/2024

Thrifted and styled: Everything in this photo.

Christmas prep has begun at Rebekah’s Retro. This morning in my photo “studio,” it’s an 8-piece village straight out of ...
08/06/2024

Christmas prep has begun at Rebekah’s Retro. This morning in my photo “studio,” it’s an 8-piece village straight out of the 1940s and made in Japan by TriCo. The little buildings show their years, but that only adds to their vintage charm.

Here's another 1940s Wilendur tablecloth and napkin set that came to me via a family transfer, this one from my paternal...
06/12/2024

Here's another 1940s Wilendur tablecloth and napkin set that came to me via a family transfer, this one from my paternal grandmother Kreta Hibbard Burch. It's a beauty any time of year, but especially so in the spring and pairs beautifully with dishware of the era.

I've fallen a little in love with the souvenir spoons that were a traveler's favorite in days of yore. By "little" I mea...
05/27/2024

I've fallen a little in love with the souvenir spoons that were a traveler's favorite in days of yore. By "little" I mean not in huge batches as some collectors insist upon, but in small groupings like those pictured below. Of the 140 or so of these dainty reminders of cross-country road trips or trans-national travel that I picked up at auction recently, I've created several instant collections with a theme, including the three seen here: "National Parks of the American West," "America, Home of the Brave," and "Great American Cities."

About Souvenir Spoons

A souvenir spoon is a decorative spoon used as a memento of a place or to display as a 'trophy' of having been there. The spoons may be made from a number of different materials such as sterling silver, nickel, steel, and in some cases wood. They are often hung on a spoon rack and are typically ornamental, depicting sights, coat of arms, associated characters, etc. The year the spoon was made may be inscribed in the bowl, or on the back. The entire spoon, including the bowl, handle, and finial may be used to convey the theme.

At the height of their popularity, souvenir spoons were given as wedding and holiday gifts, displayed at art exhibitions, and even found their way into popular jokes. They were made to honor not only American cities and towns, but famous people and historical events. The World’s Columbian Exposition, held in 1893 in Chicago, gave the spoon collecting craze national exposure with a large number of commemorative spoons produced for the fair.

But like most fads, the spoon collecting craze has had its ups and downs. By the outbreak of World War I the appetite for souvenir spoons had waned and by the end of the war it had almost disappeared. However, today it is once again a niche hobby. Souvenir spoons at tourist attractions are a familiar sight, and hundreds of spoons change hands at auctions around the world. (Source: History Nebraska and Wikipedia websites)

Here's something I picked up at Haar's Auction this week -- five vintage children's poster in canisters (circa 1960s) fr...
05/15/2024

Here's something I picked up at Haar's Auction this week -- five vintage children's poster in canisters (circa 1960s) from Harett-Gilmar, Inc. Three of the five are missing a puzzle piece, but at 60+ years old, who/what isn't.

Sunbeams on vintage.
04/09/2024

Sunbeams on vintage.

Clearly bunnies.
03/31/2024

Clearly bunnies.

When a grandson asks for pineapple upside down cake, I deliver. A vintage recipe on a vintage cake stand.
02/18/2024

When a grandson asks for pineapple upside down cake, I deliver. A vintage recipe on a vintage cake stand.

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Dillsburg, PA

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