Egg Cups, Church Keys, Pyrex Bowls and S&Ps . . . .

. . . that's where I spent my Wednesday,
amidst egg cups, church keys, Pyrex bowls,
and some of the oddest salt & pepper shaker
sets that ever gave you nightmares.

I spent the day working at Somerville Center Antiques, in historic Somerville, New Jersey,
where I maintain a little booth.  Now, SCA is in an old Woolworth's Store building
and on the main floor -- where my booth is -- are the more sober-sided antique and vintage wares.

But downstairs, it's funky time.

You don't believe me?

I wouldn't argue with this lady, and she says it's the truth. 

So I'm going to take you on a little tour of "Downtown" at Somerville.
(No pictures of my own booth -- it's looking too bare right now!)

The downstairs dealers specialize in 20th century vintage, with loads of kitchen wares,

clothing, paper ephemera, old books, records (remember them?), lots of barware and glassware,

and of course, salt and pepper shaker sets.

 I wasn't too sure what these were supposed to be, so I turned one around.

Yes, they are salt & pepper shakers. Yes, they are tomatoes. Yes, they appear to be wearing babushkas.

Was everyone starting cocktail hour at noon in the 50s and 60s?

 Poodles were a big deal back then.

 This charming poodle couple . . . 

 . . . seems to have had a love child.

 There are all sorts of things here.

Old games.

Bizarrely funky old porcelain flights of fancy, as seen below.

Seriously, who at that corporate meeting said, "Sure! Let's manufacture this!"

 Isn't it amazing?  It's huge, too.  Wouldn't you just love to wrap this up as a wedding present?
Hmmm . . . I've got a nephew getting married in March. . . .

Love this glassware with the thick gold banding.

What a gorgeous tablescape it would make!

The furniture upstairs runs more to the mahogany and cherry;

downstairs it's Deco, or 50s vinyl and chrome, or . . . painted vintage.

The vintage kitchen ware stretches for miles.

Well, not miles. . . but there's a lot.

Even a pink electric range.  How sweet!

 Vintage kitchen tools, tableware, even appliances.

Scotty dog glasses!

A very pretty single-width kitchen cupboard.

 With a beautiful original-equipment design on the glass.

Here's where a whole lot of old egg cups and

church keys (bottle openers) come to find new forever families:

Rolling pins, cast iron skillets, colanders, serving and stirring spoons, bottles . . . 

 . . . loads of dishes!

Trays, cookie jars . . . 

. . . and more cookie jars!

And remember that nightmare salt & pepper shaker set I mentioned in the beginning?

Here it is.

Twin devils, for your dining enjoyment.

You know, I would buy these for our next family Christmas grab bag,
but I'm a little afraid of them.  Maybe more than a little.

And that was my Wednesday!  How was yours?  -- Cass


At Sue's It's A Very Cherry World! blog,
it is Rednesday ... so click here, people!

P.S.  Tomorrow I start searching for more furniture for my booth, upstairs at SCA.  It's looking bare again!

Categories: pyrex , salt and pepper shakers , somerville center antiques , vintage kitchen