Vintage Rose for Dolls, fellowhip and More

 

The Bottom Line:  Partners Michelle and Diane opened this wonderful, true antique store in 2009.  This is the kind of antique store I grew up with, with real antiques, a good general line, vintage and antique china and pottery, lots of Art Deco, and wonderful jewelry.  I especially love the rhinestones.  There is also a good selection of dolls and toys from vintage to antique.   I have purchased Silvestri automatons, once displayed at the flagship Marshall Field’s Store in Chicago, small all bisque German dolls, German bisque dolls with glass eyes, dressed in furs, vintage and collectible Raggedy Anns, including to talking varieties, antique china heads, a near mint comp character baby, and more.  Michelle and Diane also carry miniatures like netsuke, bone china animals, children’s books, toys, and seasonal items.

One case holds antique toys including a Victorian wooden doll bed, several small German bisque dolls, vintage doll accessories, and other toys dating from Victorian days to the 1930s.  She carries several unusual types of German bisque nodders and figurines, many with elaborate detail.  She has also featured LLadro Japanese Doll Festival figures and musical marottes with German bisque heads.

Recently on display was a vintage mechanical Santa who pops out of a chimney, circa 1950s.  Vintage Rose is a great place to look for gift items and vintage and modern Victorian inspired lithographs.  She carries Victorian Papers cards, but also original graphics and paper ephemera. 

Pros:  The displays and merchandise are always changing.  Michelle and Diane are super friendly and customer service is excellent.  Staff, including Lois, Ellen, Eric, and Lexi [forgive me if I’ve forgotten anyone], are knowledgeable and upbeat. No one is every pressured to buy anything, layaway terms are generous. You can spend one minute or one hour browsing and receive the same wonderful service.

Displays change with the seasons; wonderful old aluminum trees and 50s/60s ornaments appear during Christmas.  Spooky, nostalgic vintage Halloween decorations pop up in the fall, along with pilgrims, and later in winter, snowmen.  During the Christmas season, Michele and Diane hand out real sugar plum candies.

Prices are fair and often negotiable.  Ask about the Gold Box program!  There are good books on genealogy and local history, too.  Michelle is active in DAR activities and also has an Etsy store, Effie Rose Antiques.   She has many antiques on consignment from around the country, and also displays in other malls.  She is active in the antique show circuit and is good at looking for special collectibles for her customer.

She carries books on antiques including my own book on metal dolls, “With Love from Tin Lizzie . . .” We had a terrific book signing there.

I especially appreciate the fact that anything you buy at Vintage Rose is carefully wrapped in clean tissue paper and carefully packed.  Michelle does not spare the bubble wrap, boxes, or large, handy shopping bags.  I always recycle these.  Nothing is ever lost, left behind, or broken when I get it home. I can’t say the same of all my antiquing experiences.

Cons:  Only that Vintage Rose isn’t open 24/7, though you could argue it is with the Etsy store.

See their Facebook Page for contact information. On the same street and within walking distance are several other antique stores including G.V’s Stuff [general line, pottery, national costume dolls, glass, Stengl, Lefton kewpies, half dolls, metal doll houses, plastic doll house furniture, some Star Wars and Hot Wheels], Fred and Ethel’s [Lucy memorabilia, vintage clothing, fifties and sixties nostalgia, Gas Station/Duchess Costume dolls, some 80s Barbies, Christmas, Halloween, Easter, displays 6’ Barbie manikins, vintage costume jewelry], Jackson’s Antiques [Great Seasonal Open Houses, Jackson Pottery, books, vintage clothing, “Ugly” sweaters at Christmas, small dolls, china heads, miniatures, compo dolls], Estate of Grace [seasonal, primitive, shabby chic, some dolls], Dar Jac Antiques [Dover paper doll books, antique jewelry, glass, miniatures, furniture, some dolls] Fabulous Finds [collectible porcelain, Franklin Mint type, Danbury Mint, 80s Effanbee, 80s Ginnys, some art dolls, Lefton figurines]. Don’t
forget Tim’s Corner for vintage comics magazines, action figures, and other doll related collectibles, and More than Memories-Estate of Grace for unusual décor and vintage items.