The holidays are a great time for visiting a gift shop, and what better way to show your family and friends that you thought of them than a vintage gift?
Here are the 10 of the best vintage gift ideas to consider this holiday season:
- Teacups
- Personalized ornaments
- Handmade vintage car
- Old-fashioned telephone
- Jukebox
- Mini arcade
- Brass Hourglass
- Sunglasses
- Bookends
- Pocket Watch
There are many great gifts, and we’ll help you narrow down which is best for you.
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Why Choose a Vintage Gift?
You always know you’re getting the best quality when choosing a vintage gift; in fact, many are handmade. As such, these craftsmanship works often reflect a personalization and level of thought unparalleled by the vast majority of cheap store-bought goods.
You can also find lots of unique treasures in an antique store that you won’t be able to find anywhere else. Rest assured that any purchases you make will support the local community as you shop.
The Best Holiday Vintage Gifts
Teacups
Teacups are an excellent option if you’re after the perfect vintage gift. Everyone loves a hot drink, and whenever your loved one takes a sip, they’ll think of you.
Better still, personalized tea cups with vintage designs are a great way to add flair to the recipient’s living room or kitchen, making it all the more memorable.
Personalized Ornaments
Ornaments make treasured gifts for friends and family that will see use every year. They’re simple, but you can personalize them any way your heart desires. Vintage ornaments make a lovely sight on a Christmas tree and will remind your loved ones of you throughout the holiday season.
An ornament is perfect if you want to celebrate the festivity season and get your loved one a minor “thinking of you” gift this year.
Handmade Vintage Model Car
A model car is every vintage car hobbyist’s dream. For anyone you know interested in vintage vehicles, finding the right model car for them will be a perfect choice they are sure to enjoy. Better still, many vintage model cars you’ll see are handmade, adding to the craftsmanship and quality of the design.
If anyone in your life loves to frequent car shows or maybe even has a project car of their own, a suitable model car from a vintage shop is the perfect holiday gift to have them beaming from ear to ear.
Old-Fashioned Telephone
Similarly, an old-fashioned telephone is an excellent gift for someone obsessed with the history of communication. Anyone enthusiastic about retro designs and old-fashioned machines will love to see these vintage relics in action.
Whether you go for a wall-mounted phone or a desk phone, nothing adds to the vintage vibe of a room like an old-fashioned telephone. Getting an authentic vintage phone is an excellent choice if you know anyone interested in vintage artifacts.
Jukebox
A blast from the past that’s sure to enthrall anyone who has a passion for music, a jukebox is an excellent vintage set piece. Know someone setting up a vintage room? Why not get them an authentic jukebox to complete the scene and add some life?
There are larger or smaller jukeboxes as space demands, and for anyone enthusiastic about the era of the jukebox, this is a beautiful investment that is also fun to use.
Mini Arcade
Arcades have been around since the early 1900s, with games such as “Skee-ball” and the early pinball type “Baffle Ball” becoming great hits. What a great way to relive the early days of gaming, from these original models to stand-up arcade machines made famous in the 70s. A mini arcade machine is an excellent pick for anyone looking to relive that nostalgia.
For someone passionate about video games, this might be the perfect gift to let them relive the glory days of the arcade and share this enthusiasm with the next generation.
Brass Hourglass
A great decorative piece, a brass hourglass adds class to a room and gives it a strong vintage vibe. For lovers of all things antique, the vintage design of a handmade hourglass will be encapsulating.
In particular, this gift is ideal for maritime collectors and works wonderfully in a living room to lend it an air of luxury. Such a classic timepiece is symbolic of how time is eternal.
Sunglasses
Many modern sunglasses have very similar designs, and it is sometimes hard to differentiate one from the next. Vintage sunglasses are a popular gift that people will notice. If you have a friend or family member spending a lot of time outside, sunglasses are a great gift to help them class up their look.
Bookends
Bookends are a simple but well-appreciated gift. Thanks to the tremendous variety of vintage bookends, this simple vintage tool is the optimum present for anyone who loves and collects books. Shop around at your local antique shop to find the perfect design for the book-lover in your life.
Pocket Watch
Pocket watches have fallen out of favor with the advent of phones and wristwatches, but they’re still a striking, classy symbol that shows your thought and affection for the recipient of this gift.
Many vintage pocket watches are handmade, which adds to their durability and craftsmanship. If you’ve got an old-fashioned friend or family member constantly squinting at their watch for the time, a pocket watch might be the perfect way to accessorize their outfit.
Plus, something is thrilling about pulling out a vintage pocket watch to check the time instead of just glancing down at your phone.
The Bottom Line
There are a lot of great gifts you can invest in this holiday season to make sure your friends and family know that they are loved and appreciated. Each of these gifts has a personal value that can demonstrate how well you know the intended recipient.
If you have the opportunity, check out your local vintage or antique shop for these incredible gifts and other interesting handmade artifacts you may discover. Each visit is a treasure hunt, revealing new and unique vintage items.
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