Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Sunday, May 18, 2025
Remember When Ice Was Delivered to Your Door?
🧊 Before the Fridge: The Humble Beauty of Antique Ice Scrapers
Long before the hum of a refrigerator was part of daily life, households across America relied on large blocks of ice to keep their food cold. Delivered by the ice man and stored in an insulated cabinet known as an icebox, these ice blocks were essential to everyday life—and so were the tools used to manage them.
One of the most overlooked but charming tools of this era? The antique ice scraper.
https://thebestthingtrends.etsy.com/listing/1584731860
🪓 What Was an Ice Scraper Used For?
These weren’t windshield tools. These were hardworking hand tools used to shave, chip, or scrape away excess ice build-up inside the home icebox. Over time, ice would frost up, melt unevenly, or fuse to the interior—making a good scraper a must.
Many were also used in ice delivery wagons, to help shape or trim the blocks for easier handling. Think of them as a cousin to the ice pick, but made for finesse over brute force.
🧤 Life with Ice Delivery
https://thebestthingtrends.etsy.com/listing/1584731860
Imagine: It’s the 1920s. The ice man arrives by horse-drawn wagon with tongs slung over his shoulder, hoisting a 25- or 50-pound block from a bed of sawdust. He brings it into your kitchen and lowers it into the metal-lined icebox. As the days pass, the block slowly melts, and condensation turns to frost and buildup. That’s when your trusty ice scraper comes in.
It’s a reminder of the rhythm of everyday life—when keeping food cold meant paying attention, not just pressing a button.
🛠️ Styles and Materials https://thebestthingtrends.etsy.com/listing/1584731860
Antique ice scrapers came in a variety of forms, depending on the task:
- Flat steel blades with wooden handles, perfect for scraping frost from the box walls
- Curved or serrated edges for shaping or shaving blocks
- Some had cast iron heads, often with manufacturer marks or patents
- Wooden handles worn smooth from years of use, now aged to perfection
Some were multi-tools: scraper on one side, chisel on the other.
🧡 Why Collect Antique Ice Scrapers?
https://thebestthingtrends.etsy.com/listing/1584731860
These tools are more than metal and wood—they’re physical reminders of how people used to live. They connect us to a time when daily chores required skill, care, and attention. Today, they make wonderful rustic displays, especially in farmhouse kitchens, vintage laundry rooms, or alongside other early home tools.
Look for:
- Maker’s marks (like Enterprise, Griswold, or Gem)
- Unusual handle shapes
- Signs of age, but not too much rust
- Pieces with stories—some families passed them down through generations
🏡 Display Ideas
- Hang one alongside vintage ice tongs, milk bottles, or an old thermometer for a nostalgic kitchen wall display
- Include one in a winter-themed vignette with enamelware, wool gloves, or antique packaging
- Mount on a wooden plaque with a small tag telling its story
https://thebestthingtrends.etsy.com/listing/1584731860
📜 A Forgotten Chapter in Home History
Antique ice scrapers may not be glamorous, but they are real. They tell the story of daily life in an era when effort was part of everything, and even simple tools had soul.
If you ever find one at a flea market or estate sale, pick it up. Hold it in your hand. Imagine someone in 1915 using it to scrape frost off an icebox, maybe before breakfast, maybe after dinner—and take a moment to appreciate the beautiful simplicity of it all.
Do you remember stories of the ice man or old iceboxes? Ever spotted one of these tools in a barn or antique shop? Let me know in the comments or tag me
click here for one I have in my Etsy shophttps://thebestthingtrends.etsy.com/listing/1584731860
🥶 Until next time, keep it cool—vintage style.
– Anne
Thursday, May 15, 2025
Vintage McCoy Spice O Life Type Pattern Trivet
Vintage McCoy Spice O Life Type Pattern Trivet
eBay : https://ebay.us/m/SE8t9R Discover unique vintage trivets 🌿🍽️ #KitchenDecor #VintageFinds #McCoy #Trivet
80s 90s Vintage Cute Cats On Chaiir Table Accent RETRO Lamp 9.5” Resin No Shade
eBay : https://www.ebay.com/itm/388356539731?mtype=aiv&mkcid=16&mkevt=1&ssspo=M9cZDFjFTum&ssuid=M9cZDFjFTum&media=YT&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&widget_ver=freya&sssrc=4256139&jobId=a29efaf2-c688-450e-991b-849901d3fbb0 Unique vintage lamps for cat lovers 🐱✨ #RetroDecor #VintageFinds #AccentLamp #Cats #CatLady
🏡 10 Vintage Home Decor Pieces That Instantly Make Your Home Feel Cozy & Curated
There’s something magical about vintage decor — the stories, the textures, the charm. Whether you’re just dipping your toe into thrifting or you’re a seasoned collector, a few well-placed vintage pieces can instantly give your space that cozy, curated feel we all crave.
Today I’m sharing 10 timeless vintage home decor finds that will warm up your space and give it personality — and the best part? You can still find them at affordable prices, and I’ve got some available in my shop right now!
Let’s dive in…
1. ✿ Milk Glass Vases
Elegant and simple, vintage milk glass adds a crisp, clean touch to any room. Whether you fill them with flowers or let them stand alone on a shelf, they never go out of style.
💡 Style Tip: Line three on a windowsill for a classic look.
🛒 Shop milk glass vases in my store »
2. 🕰️ Retro Wall Clocks
A retro kitchen clock or an art deco wall piece is more than functional — it’s a conversation starter. Bonus: they often still work perfectly!
💡 Style Tip: Pair one with vintage tin signs for a diner-style kitchen wall.
3. 🕊️ Mid-Century Figurines
From sleek animal shapes to whimsical characters, mid-century figurines add personality in small doses. These are perfect for bookcases, coffee tables, or tiny wall shelves.
🛒 See what’s new in figurines »
4. 📚 Stacked Vintage Books
Decorating with old books adds instant depth and texture. Look for ones with worn spines, gold lettering, or botanical covers.
💡 Style Tip: Stack a few to elevate a candle or vase.
5. 🍽️ Transferware Dishes
These beautifully detailed plates and serving pieces add elegance to your table or your wall. Blue, red, or brown — each color palette tells its own story.
🛒 Explore transferware in my collection »
6. ✨ Cut Glass Candy Dishes
Small but stunning, these sparkle like jewels when the light hits just right. Place one on your entryway table or bathroom vanity.
💡 Style Tip: Fill it with lavender buds or wrapped candies.
7. 💡 Vintage Table Lamps
Whether it’s ceramic, brass, or painted porcelain, a vintage lamp sets the mood and brings that unique patina only time can provide.
8. 🐘 Brass Animal Figurines
From elephants to swans, these little sculptures add a golden pop to any corner. They’re often heavy, well-made, and full of charm.
💡 Style Tip: Cluster two or three on a coffee table tray.
9. 🧵 Crochet Doilies
These aren’t your grandma’s doilies — wait, actually, they are. And that’s what makes them beautiful. Layer them on shelves or frame a few for instant vintage art.
🛒 Doilies and linens available here »
10. 🌸 Framed Floral Prints
Botanical art is timeless. Vintage floral prints, especially in oval or gold frames, add a soft, romantic touch to any space.
💡 Style Tip: Mix a few with mirrors and small clocks for a vintage gallery wall.
🧡 Ready to Cozy Up Your Home?
You don’t have to go full-on antique to bring vintage charm into your home. Just one or two of these treasures can make your space feel warmer, more personal, and uniquely you.
👉 Browse all vintage finds in my shop here: VintageFindsByAnne.com
👉 Follow me on Instagram for daily vintage inspiration: @vintagefindsbyanne
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Vintage Libby 16oz Green Coca Cola Flared Glass Heavy Weight
Vintage Libbey 16oz Green Coca Cola Flared Glass Heavy Weight
vintagefindsbyanne.com
4 Vintage Saint Gobain Duralax Crystal Bowl 5.75" Thumbprint Daisy Design
4 Vintage Saint Gobain Duralax Crystal Bowl 5.75" Thumbprint Daisy Design
Baroque Style Large Tureen With Lid And Ladel
Baroque Style Large Tureen With Lid and Ladle
vintagefindsbyanne.com