Handmade vs. Vintage Pricing
I'v spoken of this on another venue but, I think it's time to bring it up here. It may be able to shed some light on the world of vintage that many are not familiar with. It's quite obvious re: the time, materials and labor put into handmade articles and can easily be seen on a clock. Vintage is another story.
I can list on one hand the number of vintage items that I have purchased that can go from a mailing box straight to a mannequin for photographing. What you see in the pictures can be a far cry from what we find in thrift stores or on the net. You have to develop an 'eye' for vintage and know the product from top to bottom. The dresses that you see listed often are not initially in the condition that you see in my pictures. I am forever spotting, laundering mending and trimming stray threads and sometimes even repairing lace. I'v taken gowns to dry cleaners 3 times to be satisfied with their outcomes and measuring in and of itself is can be a task in and of itself.
When purchasing items online, Yuo have a vast knowledge of the product knowing what is real or fake and also which have been altered from their original styles. That took years fo me to develop with a lot of mistakes that I learned from.
An eye for jewelry is a class within itself and takes an enormous amount of studying due to the fact that many high end companies didn't sign their pieces. You must pick them out through familiarity with their style in the cut of the rhinestones along with their compilation and even the clasps used. It's a lot of knowledge to integrate and to this Day I still can't figure out Juliana pieces.
The next time that you see a pair of vintage skates or fiesta ware,, know that the skates have been oiled and polished with touch up paint on the eyelets and the crockery has probably been soaked to remove the lime scale and cleaned thoroughly in the crevices to remove all traces of them being stored in a basement for over 40 years. Though not easily tangible, there is a cost to consider in those items that look so new and pristine.
Okay. Now I feel better! ;)
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Permalink Reply by Diane Svete-Noxon on -
Dear Carolina,
I also restore vintage furniture as a hobby and know exactly what You're speaking about. These venues that we sell on are referred to as 'handmade' due to the majority of the items. It isn't until you get into Ruby Lane (very expensive) that vintage is at the forefront. My Mother was a Teacher So I always like to educate and the 'Art' of vintage is something that I believe is real. You often find that You must 'recreate' an item from the condition that it is originally in. I'v replaced stones on jewelry and have had to alter Gunne Sax dresses that were all but ready for the trash heap. You need to know what your doing.
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