WHAT TO COLLECT NOW: Vintage Accessories

Both sentiment and visual appeal are at play when collectors seek out personal objects from the 1920s through 1950s, according to Bethesda, Maryland-based dealers Andrew and Lisa Mainz (accessoriesofold.com), who sell everything from 1920s buttons, sequins, and trims to 1950s brooches and barrettes. In a recent chat, Andrew Mainz told us about three highly desirable categories of vintage accessories right now:

Hair Accessories—Dating from the 1920s to 1960s, vintage barrettes on original display cards are particularly collectible. “The cards are like artwork,” says Andrew, who says some collectors buy the hair accessories strictly for the cards. “They are more artsy than practical.” But vintage hair accessories also are prized for their function: “People definitely buy them to use them, and there’s also a fair number of movie production companies that are looking for vintage hair accessories for cast members,” he adds. Made by American companies such as Goody or Tip-Top, or by English or French manufacturers, the vintage barrettes include faux-tortoiseshell, ceramic, or plastic, in basic, bow-tie, or novelty shapes; prices range from $10 to $20 each.

Enamel Hand-Painted Brooches—Dating from the 1930s to 1950s, enamel hand-painted brooches made in Austria and Czechoslovakia are highly desirable, according to Andrew Mainz. The Czech brooches include delicate floral and wreath shaped versions with pastel coloring. The Austrian brooches include rhinestones with many of their floral designs. Prices range from $18 to $60 for vintage hand-painted enamel brooches. “Collectors absolutely wear the brooches,” says Andrew. “You could wear one to work or to a board meeting and look fabulous.”

Buttons—Always in demand, vintage buttons date from the 1920s to 1950s and include glass, mother-of-pearl, and casein (a type of plastic) versions. Sold individually or by the card, vintage buttons range from $18 for a card of 24 buttons to $1-$2 per button. “Collectors find many uses for buttons,” says Andrew. “They may use them to change the look of a shirt or sweater, or sew them on to a small pillow for display, or frame a few cards. Buttons will always be popular.”

Many of the vintage items that Andrew and Lisa Mainz sell were originally purchased by Lisa’s grandfather and father (Solly and Gerald Danziger) for the family shop in Johannesburg, South Africa. Lisa is the third generation to sell these items. After five years as a Web-based business, Lisa and Andrew (who moved to Bethesda from South Africa in 2001) recently opened a storefront location: 4822 St. Elmo Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland 20814; 301/760-7228.

Photos courtesy of accessoriesofold.com