Page 23 - Journal of Antiques and Collectibles Januray 2020
P. 23
ANTIQUES PEEK by Jessica Kosinski
ANTIQUES PEEK
Vintage DIY – Decoupage Lunchbox Purses!
I t is often said that memory Decoupage as a popular hobby
in the U.S.
is a powerful thing.
Despite its popularity overseas,
Sometimes a sight, smell or
sound can take you back to a decoupage did not begin to really
whole other era. Such is the take hold as a hobby here in the
case when it comes to seeing a U.S. until well after World War II.
vintage metal lunchbox for Although still practiced by some
many people who recall the people in the U.S. today, it hit its
1960s and early 1970s. Early U.S. peak as a hobby in the 1960s
on, there was nothing and early 1970s. It is fair to say
particularly special about seeing decoupage was an absolute craze in
a metal lunchbox with a rounded those days.
lid. They were often sold by At the peak of the decoupage
Undecorated lunchbox aka “before” hardware stores back in the craze, you could find objects of all
pre-online shopping and pre-super store days. Workmen primarily sizes and descriptions that were
bought them for practical reasons. But all that changed when teens decoupaged. Among the largest
began re-purposing and decorating them. So began the decoupage were screens and chests. Smaller
Lunchbox given as a baby shower gift
lunchbox purse days. Let’s take a peek back into the past at them. objects commonly decoupaged
included trays, trash baskets and shades for lamps.
What is Decoupage?
Decoupage is a unique art The Emergence of the Decoupage Lunchbox Purse
practice. It usually involves Nobody seems to quite know who started the practice of making
cutting out newspaper or a decoupage lunchbox purse. However, we can make some reasonable
magazine clippings (or other guesses as to how they became popular. Boredom, the desire to
paper items) and gluing them repurpose household items, and the need for self-expression all come to
to various objects. It can mind. Whatever the reasons, personalized decoupage lunchbox purses
sometimes also involve the started popping up everywhere.
addition of gold leaf or other
elements. The resulting artistic What Made Decoupage Lunchbox Purses Fun Then, Makes
endeavor is then treated with Them More Fun Now
several layers of varnish to Unlike a lampshade or a chest, a decoupage lunchbox purse was an
keep it intact and protected item easily used outside the house. That afforded the creator a chance
for many years to come. For Lunchbox featuring Campbell's Soup to show some individuality and style. Among teenage girls, a sense
that reason, many decoupage of style was especially important. Girls who made such purses
lunchbox purses from the 1960s and 1970s are still intact today. often included images of flowers, their favorite celebrities at the time,
and even words they felt
A Brief History of Decoupage reflected the times or their
There is some debate over the origins of decoupage. Some believe it own personalities.
originated as tomb art in East Siberia. Whatever its early origins, Today, when you come
one thing is agreed upon – that it eventually became quite popular across a decoupage lunchbox
in China. There they were making decoupage works of art in the purse from the 1960s, you are
12th century. looking at a decades-old time
Although it took a while, the craze also began to catch on across capsule. The images lacquered
Europe. By the 18th century, decoupage was being adapted in multiple onto it tell a story of another
ways. For example, in Venice artisans created hand-colored engraved era. That makes decoupage
sheets. Those sheets were glued onto furniture and varnished. lunchbox purses fun to collect
Many famous indi- when you want to relive that
viduals practiced the art era, or even if you were too
of decoupage in some young to remember and just
form or another over The world on a lunchbox want to learn about it.
the years. Among
them were Lord Byron Collecting Decoupage Lunchbox Purses
and Marie Antoinette. One of the best things about collecting decoupage lunchboxes purses
today is many have survived, and they are often reasonably priced. In
Famous artists have
also used it in their fact, you can find dozens on websites like eBay, often for less than $30
each. They are also sometimes found at flea markets, antiques shops,
works. Such artists
have included Picasso and similar venues. However, you can expect to pay more for purses
and Matisse. in pristine condition. Those that are artist-signed or feature certain
Classic from the 1970s popular themes of the time can also be more costly.
Jessica Kosinski has been a freelance writer specializing in writing short articles for 15 years. She is also an avid collector of both antique books and Star Wars memorabilia. Although she is not in the
antiques industry professionally, she has learned a lot about antiques over the years by periodically helping out at her mom’s antiques shop in Greenville, NH. She currently balances maintaining the
antiques shop’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/MallofNE, and working on various freelance writing assignments. She can be reached at dementorskiss77@yahoo.com.
January 2020 21
ANTIQUES PEEK
Vintage DIY – Decoupage Lunchbox Purses!
I t is often said that memory Decoupage as a popular hobby
in the U.S.
is a powerful thing.
Despite its popularity overseas,
Sometimes a sight, smell or
sound can take you back to a decoupage did not begin to really
whole other era. Such is the take hold as a hobby here in the
case when it comes to seeing a U.S. until well after World War II.
vintage metal lunchbox for Although still practiced by some
many people who recall the people in the U.S. today, it hit its
1960s and early 1970s. Early U.S. peak as a hobby in the 1960s
on, there was nothing and early 1970s. It is fair to say
particularly special about seeing decoupage was an absolute craze in
a metal lunchbox with a rounded those days.
lid. They were often sold by At the peak of the decoupage
Undecorated lunchbox aka “before” hardware stores back in the craze, you could find objects of all
pre-online shopping and pre-super store days. Workmen primarily sizes and descriptions that were
bought them for practical reasons. But all that changed when teens decoupaged. Among the largest
began re-purposing and decorating them. So began the decoupage were screens and chests. Smaller
Lunchbox given as a baby shower gift
lunchbox purse days. Let’s take a peek back into the past at them. objects commonly decoupaged
included trays, trash baskets and shades for lamps.
What is Decoupage?
Decoupage is a unique art The Emergence of the Decoupage Lunchbox Purse
practice. It usually involves Nobody seems to quite know who started the practice of making
cutting out newspaper or a decoupage lunchbox purse. However, we can make some reasonable
magazine clippings (or other guesses as to how they became popular. Boredom, the desire to
paper items) and gluing them repurpose household items, and the need for self-expression all come to
to various objects. It can mind. Whatever the reasons, personalized decoupage lunchbox purses
sometimes also involve the started popping up everywhere.
addition of gold leaf or other
elements. The resulting artistic What Made Decoupage Lunchbox Purses Fun Then, Makes
endeavor is then treated with Them More Fun Now
several layers of varnish to Unlike a lampshade or a chest, a decoupage lunchbox purse was an
keep it intact and protected item easily used outside the house. That afforded the creator a chance
for many years to come. For Lunchbox featuring Campbell's Soup to show some individuality and style. Among teenage girls, a sense
that reason, many decoupage of style was especially important. Girls who made such purses
lunchbox purses from the 1960s and 1970s are still intact today. often included images of flowers, their favorite celebrities at the time,
and even words they felt
A Brief History of Decoupage reflected the times or their
There is some debate over the origins of decoupage. Some believe it own personalities.
originated as tomb art in East Siberia. Whatever its early origins, Today, when you come
one thing is agreed upon – that it eventually became quite popular across a decoupage lunchbox
in China. There they were making decoupage works of art in the purse from the 1960s, you are
12th century. looking at a decades-old time
Although it took a while, the craze also began to catch on across capsule. The images lacquered
Europe. By the 18th century, decoupage was being adapted in multiple onto it tell a story of another
ways. For example, in Venice artisans created hand-colored engraved era. That makes decoupage
sheets. Those sheets were glued onto furniture and varnished. lunchbox purses fun to collect
Many famous indi- when you want to relive that
viduals practiced the art era, or even if you were too
of decoupage in some young to remember and just
form or another over The world on a lunchbox want to learn about it.
the years. Among
them were Lord Byron Collecting Decoupage Lunchbox Purses
and Marie Antoinette. One of the best things about collecting decoupage lunchboxes purses
today is many have survived, and they are often reasonably priced. In
Famous artists have
also used it in their fact, you can find dozens on websites like eBay, often for less than $30
each. They are also sometimes found at flea markets, antiques shops,
works. Such artists
have included Picasso and similar venues. However, you can expect to pay more for purses
and Matisse. in pristine condition. Those that are artist-signed or feature certain
Classic from the 1970s popular themes of the time can also be more costly.
Jessica Kosinski has been a freelance writer specializing in writing short articles for 15 years. She is also an avid collector of both antique books and Star Wars memorabilia. Although she is not in the
antiques industry professionally, she has learned a lot about antiques over the years by periodically helping out at her mom’s antiques shop in Greenville, NH. She currently balances maintaining the
antiques shop’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/MallofNE, and working on various freelance writing assignments. She can be reached at dementorskiss77@yahoo.com.
January 2020 21
