Vintage Find of the Day: Engineering Plans

We are absolutely swooning over one of our most recent vintage finds: engineering plans from a Pennsylvania-based firm, Reading Company, dating to the the early 1900s. Although these plans may show seemingly boring things like switchboards, lighting fixture installations, & cable & control rod ducts, we think there is something truly beautiful in their precision. We've all heard it before: "they just don't make things like they used to," & this is one instance where that is absolutely the case. From the durability of the old wax vellum to the meticulousness of each hand-drawn line, we're so glad these plans have stood the test of time. We took the liberty of framing two of them so you can get an idea of how to display them, but there are many more unframed ones to choose from. So be sure to come by the store soon so you can take a truly wonderful piece of history home with you! 

Vintage Find of the Day: Hardbound Books

We've loved vintage books for as long as we can remember. Admittedly, we haven't read every word in the majority of the old books on our shelves. However, we do tend to continually obsess over the old illustrations and vintage typography that adorn the covers and spines of each book. Being the history lovers we are, it should come as no surprise that old books are right up our alley. Every book is evocative of its own era and our vintage collection sparks the imagination with another time and place altogether. Sometimes we get so caught up with the cover of vintage book that we forget to look at what's inside. As beautiful as a cover of a book may be, discovering the mysteries that lie inside is like finding buried treasure. Lately, as we've been thumbing our way through our collection of vintage books we've been finding scraps of history that we didn't even know existed! What excites us even more than the historical clippings is seeing the personalized touch of the book's previous owner. Which, for us, is what makes vintage finds much more exciting than anything new.  

Vintage Find of the Day: Brass Tile Letters

There are times when you're searching for one thing that you invariably happen upon something else unexpected that immediately demands your attention. It may not be the most shiny, extravagant or rare item, but something about it captivates you immensely. Our infatuation over typography has grown throughout the years. From the age-old tradition of sign painting, to the discovery of modern typefaces, we've slowly developed a deep rooted obsession with letter forms. Whether it be letter pressed, computer generated or hand drawn calligraphy, the endless nuances of typefaces have continued to fascinate and inspire us throughout the years. Fewer things brings us as much joy as finding vintage goods with vintage typography and our most recent discovery is the perfect marriage of both. Each brass tile has been carefully etched with a beautiful vintage letter and needless to say, we want them all! Whether you're spelling out your name or picking out your first initial, these brass tiles are the perfect way to adorn your house with beautiful vintage typography!

Available at the Paris Market.

Vintage Find of the Day : Monogrammed Card Case

Today's vintage find is truly a unique treasure. Excavated from the depths of history, we've recently discovered a beautiful case of playing cards from America's famous first luxury leather goods brand, Mark Cross. Established in 1845, Mark Cross Company specialized in saddles and harnesses before introducing their numerous other leather goods. Providing top-notch quality leather products for over 150 years, Mark Cross sadly closed in 1997, until recently in 2010, the company was reborn. Though Mark Cross has been established anew, our card case is unmistakably vintage. One look at the set and it becomes clear Mark Cross' precision in making their products is astonishing. Each item included in the case is in remarkable condition, including all six decks of cards and the four beautiful brass pencils. For the card players out there, this set is a unique piece of history and a must-have for any vintage lover and card collector! Perfect for parties, family gatherings, or any social event, this beautiful set of vintage cards will surely bring hours and hours of fun gaming!

Available at The Paris Market.

Vintage find of the Day : Croquet Mallets

Croquet is a game that has always appealed to us. Maybe it's the relaxed pace at which players typically play, or maybe it's the nostalgia we feel imagining Victorian dandies quietly competing in the English countryside. Whatever it may be, croquet has always intrigued us with its old-world romantic spirit. As winter is upon us with a forecast that is predicting snow, attempting to go outside to play a match or two is most definitely out of the question. However, as we've recently acquired a vintage set of mallets, we can't deny our excitement over the game has yet again been rekindled. Although we aren't certain on the exact origin and date of these mallets, they are undoubtedly one of our favorite new vintage finds. Just take a look at how beautiful they are! With each mallet possessing its own unique patina and sun faded colors, our longing for warmer weather and afternoons spent outdoors has only been intensified. If spring is still months away from now, then at least our croquet mallets will help keep us warm with all of their well-loved memories.

Vintage Find of the Day : Courtroom Anatomy Charts

It's always exciting when you think you know an item's history and then you find out its intent is something completely different. Discovering the actual context reveals a fresh perspective that only makes the object all the more desirable. Such is the case with our vintage medical prints, which we originally thought were just charts for Doctors and medical specialists. Beautiful as they are as simple anatomical diagrams, learning they we're actually used in courtroom proceedings instantly made all of our heads turn with curiosity. Dating back to right around the 1960's, each chart is printed with simplistic, legible type and bold black and white diagrams of human anatomy. It's no surprise that removing the charts from their original context allows them to become works of art, worthy of hanging on a wall. However, placing them in context adds a level of intrigue that makes each print a beautiful and interesting piece of history.

Vintage Find of the Day: Shoeshine Stand from India

One of the greatest perks of working at The Paris Market is getting to see our vintage finds as soon as they enter the door. Unpacking new curiosities and rare items from mysterious foreign lands is easily the most exciting part of our day. In almost every instance it seems like the more mystery that surrounds an item, the more our interest peaks. And today we're especially excited by one of our most recent vintage finds, a beautifully and ornately adorned shoeshine kit and stand. Originally from India and made of brass, wood and glass, our intrigue in the history of this delightful rarity is through the roof! One reason why vintage items and antiques appeal to us more than new items is because we love seeing firsthand, the history of an object. For example, areas on the stand where the brass has become tarnished from years of use, or surfaces of the wood that have worn away from the numerous shoes that rested while they were shined are the nuances in an object that really excite us. These details can only come from surviving years of use and abuse. And it's these details on an item that show its unique history that make us love them all the more.