Buying vintage gifts

When Christmas rolls around I love the challenge of finding really great presents. It doesn’t have to be daunting and neither does it have to be expensive. I’m a huge believer that the recipient hugely appreciates the effort that’s been put in rather than the price tag.

I’m obviously a little biased, but giving vintage finds for Christmas is such a personal but also unique way of giving a great gift, and part of the buzz is the hunt, let alone the sustainable benefits. To get inspiration, I tend to start with the recipient’s hobbies and interests and go from there. If, for example, they are a foodie it’s too obvious to think of the latest new cookbook or plastic gadget, and instead think of fun practical gifts – but then go vintage.

I’m a massive online shopper so I trawl eBay and Etsy and also just see what Mr Google can propose. For a foodie, I would simply search ‘vintage kitchenware’. If that throws up too much choice narrow it down with a timeline such as ‘1950s’ or a material such as ‘ceramic’, ‘enamel’ or ‘stainless steel’. At Merchant & Found we have some lovely kitchen whisks from the 1950s that I would give as decorative items for brimming out of a kitchen jar or could even be used as a wall display.

Vintage gifts have an extra layer of appeal because they come with a history and character of their own. By default, a vintage gift shows you have gone out your way to buy something special and, of course, the sustainable benefit is the cherry on top.

My last bit of advice would be to make sure the condition is as good as can be. Marks and chips are part of the territory but only if they add character and are not detracting for the receiver. Find out any quirky history and share it on a gift card.

Vintage posters are a great gift also. We have a huge range starting from under £100.