Be creative and unique in gift-giving with a vintage Mother’s Day gift. Here's a collection of eclectic gift ideas for moms on their special day.
Looking for an uncommon gift for mom? This sampling of collectibles from my Etsy shop, tcgVINTAGEetc, will make moms smile. Vintage gifts bring charm and history to giving – an appreciation of the past – and are a great way to cut down on consumerism and mass production.
Vintage Accessories | Byblos Handbag
For the fashionista moms, this fun and funky bag from Byblos features tinted fur and citron patent woven in a unique style. Perfect or evening or anytime wear, this bag is small but zips closed to hold all the essentials. From the 1990s, this is a great, one-of-a kind collectible.
Vintage Books | Poetry, Photography + Diary
This trio of vintage books are great for collecting or gathering creative ideas. These titles are special gifts for designers and photographers.
Stunning first issue and first US edition from the Japanese stock house Urbane, this rare 1990 Photonica No.1 book makes a very special gift for photographers or designers. Creative Director Tsuyoshi Kindaichi uses beautiful Japanese papers as accents and modern, minimal layouts to display hundreds of gorgeous stock photographs. Printed in Japan, the book is a wealth of inspiration.
Exquisite Japanese-bound book of calligraphic script and verse, Nothingness: Talk to a Stone is itself a work of art. A beautifully crafted object using translucent paper, printing, design and tone to express its timeless poetry. A stunning choice for moms who like the book as an art form, or for visual and verbal poetry fans.
Delicately illustrated, this near-mint book documents the famous du Pont family of Delaware as seen through the eyes of their young daughter, Sophie. She recounts 10 years of early 19th century life through letters and sketches. For mothers who enjoy books about young women artists and American history, this is a wonderful choice.
Vintage Beauty | IS Cosmetics Pop-up Case
Rare, makeup set featuring a pop-up makeup case housing five slots for eye pencils and lipstick – slots can be refilled with mom’s favorite makeup for super compact storage. From the mid-1980s, the case is an example of great design and elegant beauty packaging from Japan. A perfect gift for vintage beauty collectors or for traveling moms – an all-in-one organizer.
Vintage Top | Retro Graphic Top from Anthropologie
This unique, vintage graphic top with three women appliqués in 1920s style – cloche hats and patterned coats with buttons – is perfect with a casual skirt or jeans. With retro soft blue color and strong feminine styling, this is a great choice for moms who love to make a fashion statement with a casual style.
Vintage Vinyl | Soul Classics and Living Language
Full of character and retro charm in its vintage graphics and packaging, this Living Language French Course makes a great gift for Francophile moms. A 20-lesson course on two LPs will have learners speaking advanced French quickly. Boxed, a conversation manual and dictionary complete the set.
Classic R&B sounds from the 1970s, this set of iconic dance tunes from the mid-70s include Rufus / Chaka Khan, Tower of Power and Earth, Wind & Fire and are housed in their original vintage sleeves. Dance to the classics or decorate the rec room – an entertaining gift for moms who love classic sounds.
Rare, limited-edition release of 14 vinyl LPs of the Philly sound from 1971 to 1986, covering 15 extraordinary years of R&B and soul classics on Philadelphia International Records. A beautiful boxed set that's great to keep moms who love classic soul and R&B lovers dancing.
Vintage Tins | Decorative Collectibles
Vintage tins are a favorite for gift-giving. They’re perfect for storage or even better – filled with sweets or other goodies as holiday gifts. Vintage tins have character and evoke a by-gone era.
Small and elegant with wonderful design and graphics – this Farrah’s decorative tin from England is full of character and history – and perfect for storing keepsakes, photos or jewelry.
Charming and rare, this large, collectible valise tin from the DiCamillo Bakery – famous for its yummy biscotti and other Italian dolci – is a beautifully illustrated, memorable gift. Add sweets for mom, or she can use as storage for home-baked goods. Easy carry with a ball-chain handle.
Beautiful, decorative tin from England displays illustrations of the original John Farrah's sweet shop along with period typography – full of character and history. Petite in size, great for storage (notions or memories) or display, this is a thoughtful gift for mom.
Vintage Architecture and Design | Metropolis Magazines
Bold layouts with strong photography and inventive typography, these vintage issues of Metropolis are iconic. These are the original oversize formats and were coveted by designers and architects in the mid-1980s. They are great collectibles as-is, or pages can be framed for mom’s office.
Vintage Pottery | Sculpture/Pitcher
Hand-built and hand-painted, this sweet, pink and violet one-of-a-kind sculpture can be used as a creamer or small vase, or for display in home décor. This is a lovely gift, made by senior hands, for moms who appreciate eclectic imperfections or rustic decor.
Happy Mother's Day! Visit my Etsy shop for more unique vintage gift ideas.
Illustration and photos: © 2019 ~ 2022 Janet Giampietro
