and this little glass horse may be the first vintage objects I owned. I had them as a child, and they've moved with me everywhere I've lived. They were favors from birthday parties for my mom and my uncle, whose June birthdays were eight days apart. They're from the mid 1940s, and my mom thinks they were from the year she and her family were moving from Pittsburgh to a farm in western Pennsylvania - hence the farm animal theme.
(As an aside, I think my mother's childhood is the stuff of children's books: She lived in Pittsburgh with her brother, their parents and grandparents and a pony in the back yard. As soon as World War II ended, they left the city for the farm. My mom went from city living to a farm without electricity, from trolley cars to a one-room school. She thought it was a great adventure.)
Anyway, with this much history invested in these two little glass animals, you can imagine how happy I was, at a sale on Saturday, to find companions for them.
And a bird with a nest. It was labeled as a "salt," and it sure looks like one, although if the other glass animals were party favors, maybe the bird was, too. (The nest would look pretty sweet with little candies in it.)
For now they're living on the dining room windowsill, and when the sun catches them, they remind me of my mom, her magical childhood, and a time when even birthday party favors could last through a few generations.
p.s. The magical random number generator chose Poppy K. as the winner of the feedsack! Thanks to all for the feedsack love.
How neat! I've never seen those and even if I had, I'd never have known that they were originally party favors. The story you have to go with them makes them even more charming!
Posted by: Heidi German | June 25, 2012 at 09:43 AM
Those are absolutely charming! They remind me of the old candy containers. It's great you found more to add to you mother's pair after all these years!
Posted by: Mitzi Curi | June 25, 2012 at 09:58 AM
These are just delightful and I love that they bring you sparkly memories when you walk by!
Posted by: Kathy | June 25, 2012 at 02:49 PM
Meant for you....a perfect addition to that childhood memory collection! YAHOOO...don't you love a find like that!
Posted by: Laurie - Magpie Ethel | June 25, 2012 at 03:49 PM
What a wonderful story, a wonderful find and it reminded me of my childhood as well, even though I am a full decade younger!
Posted by: Ruthann | June 25, 2012 at 04:58 PM
What are their dimensions? When you said the bird and nest was labeled as a salt, I'm guessing these are the size of the Rose Tea porcelains? They are wonderful!
Posted by: Patty | June 25, 2012 at 05:01 PM
Now these are party treasures. Much better than the dime store crud they hand out today. I imagine the moulds these were poured in were just as wonderful. Nice to see your family is growing. My mail could not have been more beautiful. It was like getting a seed catalog. Thank you so much...smiles...Renee
Posted by: Renee | June 25, 2012 at 07:59 PM
Wow just wonderful B....
Posted by: Jewels | June 25, 2012 at 10:05 PM
Yet another one of your collections for me to love.... in a word, delightful ! It's so nice that part of the collection comes from your mom.
Posted by: Lisa W. | June 25, 2012 at 11:03 PM
These are beautiful and the way they make you think of your mom and her life is even more so.
This is exactly why people hang on to objects. For the memories they create.
Posted by: Ruth | June 26, 2012 at 02:42 AM
I have seen those before, but never thought they'd be a party favor for a child! Glad your barnyard is full.
Posted by: Tina | June 26, 2012 at 08:57 AM
I've never seen these before, and they're wonderful. Now it's more than two sweet mementos from your mom and uncle -- it's a darling collection that you can give to your little girl.
Posted by: Martha | June 27, 2012 at 12:15 PM
These look like tiny little ice sculptures - so pretty!
Posted by: Poppy K | June 27, 2012 at 02:57 PM
They are very very sweet! And congrats to Poppy...I know she is thrilled!
Posted by: Lavender Dreams | June 27, 2012 at 08:04 PM
These animals are darling! How lucky to find more! You have a legit farm now! :)
Posted by: Vintage by Crystal | June 28, 2012 at 07:52 PM