Finding Vintage Christmas Decorations at the Thrift Store
Thrift stores in October and November have a lot of old Christmas decorations, and plenty of the good ones get passed over as dusty boxes. Old pieces have something new decorations can’t quite copy: real wear, real weight, a slightly imperfect hand-painted face. What’s worth looking for Shiny Brite ornaments. American glass ornaments made from the 1940s to the 1960s, with silvered insides, painted designs and cardboard caps stamped “Shiny Brite.” Look for silvering without dark patches inside, original paint and caps that aren’t bent. A box of 12 in good shape for under $15 is a real find. Partial boxes are worth it too; mix them with plain new balls in matching colors, or new vintage-style ones (on Amazon). ...