Celebrate Easter With Antique Postcards

   Long before emails and cell phones, people would send Easter greetings on postcards. This was a lovely way to connect with family, loved ones and friends.  Why not use antique postcards to make an interesting display when you are decorating your home for Easter. You can drift back in time when you read the notes and message written on the back.  Enjoy these antique Easter post cards today. Reuzeit Emporium has a large selection. 

Antique Metal Buttons, 1870-1918

  I think antique metal buttons are some of the most beautiful  

buttons in the world.  Many different types of metals were used including silver, gold, steel, brass, copper, aluminum and pewter or several metals were combined on one button. And there are many different types of metal button; stamped. steel cups, twinkle, cut steel,  jewels and many others.  Most military buttons were made out of metal in the eighteen hundreds. 

Stamped Metal Buttons 

  Metal buttons were often made with a cardboard center between the front of the button and the metal back containing the shank.  Giant steam driven presses were used to stamp out thin sheets of metal into varied button designs. The buttons were assembled with a steel back and shank. Sometimes steel cups were used to form the base and other materials were used to fill this cup.  A metal medallion in the shape of  a flower or flower bouquet is often found.

Steel Cup Metal Buttons

  The base of these buttons are cup shaped, to varying degrees. The edge continues to the front of the button to form a rim. The center of the button in the cup can be made of steel, other metals, or something entirely different. The rims are often beautifully formed, and the  centers can have exquisite detail.

 

Twinkle Metal Buttons

  Twinkle buttons are popular with button collectors. These buttons have several layers with a reflective layer of aluminum, silver, or gold on the bottom. The top layer of the button consists of a pierced or filigree metal that allows the 'twinkle' to shine through.  Ladies and gentlemen dining or dancing by candlelight enjoyed the sparkle of these buttons on their elaborate evening attire. 

Metal  and other Material Buttons

   Another type of metal button was the flat steel button.  These buttons were cast as flat disks and later etched and dyed or cast with designs that were later enhanced with gold or paint.  Metal buttons could be adorned with almost any other material.

Jeweled Metal Buttons



  Jewel buttons have a 'stone' in the center that is usually made out of glass.  The glass could be flat, domed, faceted, or cut into many pieces to form a mosaic design.

 

Cut Steel Metal Buttons

 

  Cut steel buttons were popular in the nineteenth century.  They consisted of small cut steel pieces with many facets that were riveted together and used to trim buttons made out of a wide variety of materials, shell, horn and bone.  Originally, steel cut buttons were made to simulate the expensive diamond or marcasite buttons worn by the wealthy but they soon became popular in their own right.  Men often wore large steel cut buttons that flashed in the sunlight as a fashion statement.

  Antique metal buttons can still be found today.  Next time you discover some antique buttons, take a moment to marvel at their workmanship, design, and beauty.

Read about Antique Glass Buttons

Saint Patrick's Day: Prayers and Parades

   In the 4th century, Patrick, a 16 year old British boy born to an aristocratic family, was kidnapped by Irish raiders.  He was sent across the sea to Ireland, enslaved and made to tend sheep. Several years later he was able to escape and returned to Britain where he became a priest. Eventually he returned to Ireland and spent the rest of his life spreading the teachings of Christianity to pagans. The story goes he used the shamrock to explain the Christian concept of Trinity to the Irish. For thirty years he baptized pagans and converted them to Christianity, he established churches, schools and monasteries. After a hard and arduous life, Patrick died on March 17, 461.  His life and good works were forgotten for centuries but slowly he was immortalized and became the patron saint of Ireland.

   On March 17th, people all over the world honor the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick with parades, wearing of the green, and imbibing in green beer. However, some people still attend church and celebrate St Patrick's Day as a religious observance. Reuzeit Emporium has great antique St. Patrick's Day postcards for sale, check them out.

Presidents' Day Postcards

Presidents' Day, Presidents Day, or President's Day?    

Or where to put the apostrophe?

Take a look at several different announcements for Presidents Day! Did you notice that the apostrophe comes, goes and changes locations? The bouncing apostrophe suggests a certain uncertainty. When it is written as "President’s Day" it suggests that only one holder of the nation’s supreme job is being commemorated,  presumably George Washington. While, "Presidents’ Day" written like this hints at more than one president, most likely Washington plus Lincoln, our two greatest presidents are being honored. And finally "Presidents Day", the apostrophe-less version,  strongly suggests a patriotic celebration of all forty-four presidents -- Thomas Jefferson, Franklin Pierce, F.D.R., James Buchanan, Harry Truman, Warren Harding and all the others. So what does it mean to you? Is George Washington being commemorated?  Perhaps just our two greatest presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln are being remembered? Or is this day a celebration of the accomplishments of all forty-four United States Presidents?  You decide.

President's Day: George Washington's Birthday

After George Washington died on December 14, 1799 his birthday, February 22 became a day of remembrance. George Washington was regarded as hero and an important figure in American history.  In 1879, President Rutherford B Hayes signed a law making Washington's birthday a federal holiday in Washington D. C.  By 1885, the whole country observed Washington's birthday as a national holiday.

Presidents' Day: Washington and Lincoln's Birthday
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act created a 3 day weekend for the nations working people by shifting  Washington's birthday and Lincoln's birthday remembrance to the third Monday of February.  This lead the many people to believe that this holiday was now intended to commemorate the birthdays of both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.  By 2000, most of the states changed the holiday's name to Presidents' Day.

Presidents Day: All US Presidents Honored

Today many states view Presidents Day a time to remember and celebrate the accomplishments of all forty-three United States presidents.   School children learn about all of the presidents but the emphasis is still concentrated on George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. However, on official calendars, the third Monday in February is still listed as Washington's Birthday.

Valentine Greetings from Reuzeit Emporium!

For more great Victorian Valentines go to Valentines Through the Ages.

For a touching valentine story go to My Funny Valentine.

Antique Black Glass Buttons

   As a child, I was fascinated with the round tins that held my grandmother's and then my mother's huge array of buttons. My thrifty grandmother and mother cut off and saved every button from the clothing they cut up to make quilts or rugs. Buttons have been around for hundreds of years and made out of many different types of materials, such as, horn, shell, wood, glass, and just about anything else that could be shaped into a fastener. But the buttons that I marveled at the most in those tins were the buttons made out of jet or black glass.

   Jet is made from decayed organic wood material that has been compressed under extreme pressure.  The term jet came from the French word jaiet.  There are two types of jet, one formed by the compression of carbon with salt water, hard jet, and soft jet formed by compression with fresh water. Anthracite or hard coal has been used to replace real jet and it is difficult to tell the difference between them.

   Queen Victoria made jet popular after her husband, Albert died.  After his death, she only wore black and her black jewelry was made of jet mined in Whitby, England. Jet jewelry became so sought after by the public that the supply was soon depleted and manufactures began to substitute black glass for jet.

   Between 1860 and 1918, Bohemia or today the Czech Republic created thousand of different patterns of black glass buttons in their small workshops.  Glass rods were heated and the molten glass was dropped into hand-cut iron molds. After the buttons cooled, they were hand finished, polished and often decorated with gold or silver. These buttons were shipped worldwide to adorn the latest fashions. Today these buttons are often referred to as antique jet glass buttons and they are collected for their unique designs and beauty.

Read about Antique Metal Buttons

Happy New Year!

 

 

Happy Holidays!

Thanksgiving 2013

Northwood Glass Works: Unique Colors and Designs

   The Northwood Glass Works began its glass manufacturing operations in January 1888. The factory had previously housed several other glass factories that had decided to move to other locations.  Some minor changes and redecorating was all the plant needed to begin production.  Harry Northwood was named General Manager. Harry learned his trade by working in some of the largest and best glass factories. In 1882, Harry worked in the etching department of Hobbs, Brockunier and Company and his work won three first ribbons at the State Fair.  By January 1884, Harry was working at the La Belle Glass Company but in 1884, La Belle Glass Company closed due to flooding, it was still not open in April of 1885.  Most likely Harry went to work at the Phoenix Glass Company where the company excelled to making colored pitchers, table sets, berry sets and a wide array of glassware. By January, 1886, Harry became General Manager for La Belle Glass. A fire on September 27, 1887 destroyed the La Belle Glass Company but Harry Northwood had mastered the glass manufacturing trade and he decided to open his own glass factory, the Northwood Glass Works.

Northwood Glass Factory

Vintage and Antique Jewelry Store Opening at Reuzeit Emporium

Victorian Locket

Whiting Davis Bracelet and Ring Set

Exciting new things have been happening!  Reuzeit Emporium has been hard at work opening our new shop. This shop carries a unique variety of antique and vintage jewelry, jewelry for all your special occasions. Check out the Whiting Davis bracelets and rings along with Taxco Mexican sterling silver cuff links and money clip. We also have tie tacks, cut crystal and Murano beaded necklaces, turquoise, and antique lockets to keep your loved on close to your heart. Or maybe you're looking for a piece of sweetheart jewelry, such as a cherub bracelet or heart locket, just a special something for her birthday, Christmas, or Valentine's Day. We also have watch fobs, belt buckles, watches and rings. Reuzeit Emporium has it all. While the jewelry shop is officially open,  Reuzeit will be adding to its inventory on a regular bases. This is just a sample of what will be listed so check back often.





Riverside Glass Works: Old Pattern Glass vs. New Pattern Glass

It's strange the memories that come to you and the odd places you are when they arrive. This memory came to me while walking through a department store with my mother. I noticed a display of pretty pressed pattern glass in vibrant colors and I was instantly brought back to my younger years when we used, displayed and loved Early American Pattern Glass.

New pattern glass made in China.

Early American Pattern Glass (EAPG) was a treasure in my family and it was a big part of my childhood. Many weekends were spent going to antique show, antique shops and flea markets to add to the collections. My mother, my grandmother and both of my aunts loved Early American Pattern Glass. It seemed to me my grandmother knew everything about these beautiful patterns. I would follow her around and ask her the name of each pattern as she picked it up and examined it for chips and cracks. I always enjoyed the holidays when these beautiful pieces of pattern glass would be set upon the table and used. One glass company produced some of my families favorite patterns, Riverside Glass Works.

Why Buy New …….When You Can Still Own America’s Finest Glass

Walk Till You Drop and Shop, Shop, Shop

Flea markets, love 'em or hate 'em. I have vast experience with flea markets because my mother loved them.  My mother was a driver for an antique dealer in the late forties and early fifties.  It was one of the few jobs that allowed her to bring a baby to work with her.  So I grew up playing in numerous farmyards around the county while the antique dealer searched the occupant’s house for treasures they were willing to sell. Often we made several stops on the way home for the dealer to sell certain items that she bought that day.