How should I care for vintage glassware and china?
Do not wash vintage glassware in the dishwasher. Yes, there are people on the internet who do it without problems. They got lucky. Vintage glassware pieces, porcelains, and ceramics should be gently washed with a non-citrus dish soap and a washcloth. Scotch pads or steel wool may scratch the glass and should not be used. Stains may be treated with oxygen bleach (i.e. oxy clean), isopropyl alcohol, or peroxide. Always spot-test before using these products on the entire piece. Use caution with vinegar as it may damage silver, aluminum, and some finishes.
Do you test your finds for lead?
No. At home lead test kits are for testing paint. They are notorious for false negatives on porcelain, ceramics, and glass. As a lover and user of vintage and antique items, I assume anything produced before 1978 contains a level of lead I am uncomfortable with for daily use. Children, in particular, should not drink hot beverages out of vintage or antique china. The same applies to juice, which is acidic, and leaded glassware. This is about protecting the child, not the antique.
As far as Fiestaware, Pyrex, and even the beloved Russell Wright Iroquois dinnerware I inherited from Mema, I use modern pieces produced within the last 20 years. The really neat old pieces are for display only.
How does your local pickup work?
After receiving your order, I’ll email or text you using the contact information you provided. We’ll schedule a meetup at a public place, likely the Perry branch of the Houston County Public Library system or Lowe’s on Highway 96. Fragile items will be boxed for transport.
Explain your condition ratings — excellent, good, fair, and poor — for glass and china.
Excellent: No chips, cracks, or scratches.
Good: No cracks. May have a few flea bite chips and/or scratches.
Fair: Has large chips, scratches, and/or cracks. These pieces are display only and often look like they’re in excellent condition until you pick them up.
Poor: Exactly what it sounds like. These pieces are badly damaged but interesting enough to be upcycled. Think mosaics, teacup planters, old spoons as napkin rings or drawer pulls, etc. I rarely list these on Etsy. If you’re nearby and looking for these sorts of things, message me. I’m happy to negotiate a price, send you a private Etsy listing, and arrange a local pickup.
How do you pack fragile items like teacups?
Most breakables–think Depression Glass, uranium glass, cup and saucer sets, vases, etc–ship double boxed. For example, a cup and saucer set ships in a 6x6x6 or 7x7x7 box inside a 9x9x9 box.
Do you offer gift wrapping?
In this world, there are people who can transform a cardboard box into an artistic delight with wrapping paper, ribbon, and tape. I’m not one of them. Gift bags were invented for people like me. I’m happy to add a personalized note or even write “don’t open until your birthday” on neon green painter’s tape and stick it on the interior box.