What's Trending in Vintage & Antiques — Week of August 31

Some of the most interesting finds this week are things you'd expect to see on a bathroom shelf or a kitchen counter. The clues that matter — labels, glazes, hand-painted brushstrokes, and maker's marks — are hiding in plain sight.

Bottles — 4× vs. last week

Found this week: John R. Dickey's Old Reliable Eye Wash Bottle — Est. $21

Bottles moved sharply this week, and the John R. Dickey's Old Reliable Eye Wash — with its hexagonal glass body and intact paper label — is exactly the kind of piece driving that shift.

Photograph the six-sided profile to show the shape clearly, then get a close shot of the original label and rubber dropper — both tell the story.

Plates — up vs. last week

Found this week: Ben Seibel Pompon Plate for Iroquois China

Plates had a strong week, and mid-century ceramic designs like Ben Seibel's Pompon pattern for Iroquois China — with its spare, stylized flower motif — are part of why.

Flip it over and photograph the back mark, then shoot the top face to capture the pompon flower detail against the plate's open field.

Salt And Pepper Shakers — on the rise

Found this week: Vintage Hand-Painted Porcelain Salt and Pepper Shakers

Salt and pepper shakers climbed this week, with cobalt blue hand-painted porcelain sets like this floral pair among the ones worth pausing on.

Zoom in on the brushwork to show the hand-painted detail, and check the bases for any stamped or painted marks before you scan.

Decorative Objects — gaining ground

Found this week: X Style Decorative Object

Decorative objects were active this week, and the X Style piece — built from string in a way that shows deliberate construction — fits right in.

Start with a wide shot of the whole form, then move in to show how the string is wrapped or knotted — that's where the craft becomes visible.

Your move

Got something sitting on a shelf? Scan it — this week's finds started exactly that way.