Buying vintage gifts on a budget
If you're looking for secondhand gift ideas this holiday season, we've got some intel on great, giftable vintage goodies that won’t break the bank
When holiday shopping last year, the average Canadian family planned to spend $1,347 on gifts. Yet, a mere two per cent managed to stay on budget.
Whether you hope to save money this year or buy something heartfelt and genuinely unique, antique and vintage shopping will get you there.
Here are some of our best bets for gifting secondhand on a budget.
1. Brooches
In Victorian times, a sprig of holly was pinned on coat lapels to celebrate the upcoming Christmas season.
By the 1940s, the real holly was out, and costume jewellery Christmas brooches were mass-produced and gifted to mothers and grandmothers by eagerly proud children.
This tradition continued well into the 1980s, with the Christmas tree the most popular motif.
Many vintage Christmas tree brooches you’ll find in the marketplace are gold-toned with budget-friendly rhinestones sparkling in red, green, blue, yellow and clear white. These are priced between $25 and $50.
Of course, more expensive examples are available, often made with radiating natural crystals and multicoloured enamel. Beyond trees, you’ll also find poinsettias, holly, snowflakes, snowmen, reindeer, and winter birds. And if seasonal sparklers aren’t your jam, a brooch by any other design is just as sweet.
2. Ornaments
Vintage glass Christmas tree ornaments make for timeless gift-giving. Some of the more ornate ones were crafted in Germany.
Look for blown glass Santa Clauses. Angels abound, often in white with gold decor. You’ll also find numerous iridescent glass songbirds made between 1900 and 1950 that have clips at the feet.
North American vintage glass Christmas tree bulbs are often sold in sets of six. While all the same in shape, each might be a different colour. Popular shapes include teardrops, Christmas trees, bells and balls.
For something more playful, search for collections of French horns. You’ll find sets of 36 classic red, gold and silver balls. Sets are often priced for less than half of the individual European Christmas tree bulbs.
3. Vases
Winter floral bouquets are often given to the hosts of a holiday celebration. One can never have too many vases!
That’s why vintage pressed glass vases are perfect gifts for the holiday season. Look for glass in holiday colours such as green, red, yellow or even wintery blues from pale to royal — or go for a season-less style from your giftee’s most aesthetically aligned era.
Historically, pressed glass, also known as pattern glass, found its way into North American homes in the mid-19th century. It’s made by forcing molten glass into moulds.
Some of the most striking vintage pressed glass vases have sleek designs from the Art Deco era of the 1920s and 1930s. You’ll find thousands of detailed patterns, including geometric shapes, floral designs, like daisies and roses, fruits, animals, birds, and scrollwork.
And if minimalist is more fitting, there are those, too. Pocketbook-friendly, you’ll easily find something priced well below $50.
4. Bar accessories
Bar accessories make excellent holiday gifts and even better conversation starters.
Look for brass or gold-plated bottle openers from the 1950s and 1960s. Motifs of women are a common theme, from a gloved hand topped with a heart-shaped opener to a leg with the opener and the shoe.
Also, try sea-inspired themes such as mermaids, sea creatures and fish. As for animal bottle openers, you’ll find lots of horse heads and wise old owls. There are plenty to choose from for less than $30.
One-of-a-kind bottle-stoppers made from cork and metal or cork and non-lead pewter pieces are priced at under $50. Many are jaunty designs, such as fashionable top hats or bowler hats.
Look for animals, too, including horses, pheasants, grouse, hedgehogs, and cattle. For something fantastical, you’ll find fictional characters from Dracula and the Scottish Loch Ness Monster.
5. Table linens
When it’s time to set the dinner table, every good host needs a collection of vintage holiday table linens.
You’ll find a wide variety to choose from, including gorgeous, hand-embroidered tablecloths, table runners, and napkins with Christmas motifs.
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For something different, search for hand-painted Scandinavian designs featuring children, sleds, goats, castles, hearts, and Christmas tree decorations in bright colours.
There are plenty of non-holiday vintage linens out there, too — look for lace or textured, woven ones for a nod to the ’60s or ’70s.
6. Dessert servers
Can you imagine a more stylish way to elevate holiday sweets than on a tiered English bone china dessert stand? Also referred to as a tiered cake stand, these come complete with two or three plates stacked with a central handle and a loop at the top to transport it.
The famed English manufacturer Royal Albert crafted the Poinsettia pattern from 1976 through 1997. The two-tiered dessert stand features red blooms against white, trimmed with silver. It’s priced online at $60.
The Forgotten Sister Yuletide pattern developed in the 1950s features holly sprigs and berries, on white, trimmed in gold. Other reputable manufacturers include Wedgwood, Spode, Aynsley, Royal Stafford, Royal Doulton and Shelley.
Also, search for vintage dessert serving sets with collections that may include dessert tongs, cake slicers and servers. You may even find a cake server with multiple dessert forks. Pieces may also be sold individually.
At the lower end of the market, you’ll discover silver-plated objects, with gold also being an option. At the higher end, you’ll find sterling silver.
A recent online search reveals a silver-plated dessert tong, circa 1920, a Louis XVI Pattern 1911 vintage silver plate cake server from the 1960s, and a French vintage gold vermeil and metal dessert serving knife. All are priced between $30 and $100.
Sets available online include a three-piece Italian-made dessert serving set in silver plate from the 1970s and a silver plate set of four large dessert serving forks from the 1950s. Choose either for under $60.
7. Blankets
When night falls, it’s time to warm up with a vintage blanket. These collector's items make fab fireside gifts.
Handmade crocheted blankets are a bargain. You’ll find Christmas themes such as large peppermint pinwheel designs in red and white, playful gingerbread houses, Christmas trees, and snowmen, but there are plenty of blankets that’ll work year-round, too. Most can be purchased for between $10-$50.
Vintage plaid tartan pure wool blankets, complete with fringe, are available in numerous patterns and colours and are often priced under $50 depending on size. These finds will keep the gift receiver toasty for years to come.
8. Records
Records are a must-buy gift for vinyl lovers, and vintage Christmas ones are a seasonal treat. Even the most beloved albums can be purchased for less than $50 each with some searching.
Think A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra (1957), Elvis' Christmas Album (1957), Nat King Cole’s The Magic of Christmas (1960), Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas (1960) and The Carpenters’ Christmas Portrait (1978).
Vince Guaraldi Trio’s A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) record is rarely found on the market. It’s a beloved keepsake for kids. A blend of Christmas music and original jazz scores, it’s based on the much-loved cartoon of the same name.
The album was reproduced as a CD in 1988, with the original 1965 stereo mix, a new stereo mix and other unreleased outtakes. Deluxe records were released in the mid-2000s, and you’ll find these in different vinyl colours, including Christmas green.
9. Books
Hardcover books are gifts to cherish. How about a vintage holiday one? While some will fetch hundreds, there are still finds to be had for $30 or less.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is a Victorian novella written in 1843. Beautifully illustrated deluxe editions were later produced in the 1920s. If your reader prefers modern literature, search for a copy of A Christmas Memory written by Truman Capote.
Readers will adore Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, written by Robert L. May in 1939. These hard-covered books, still in excellent condition, are available for under $50. Other less famous vintage holiday storybooks are beautifully illustrated and available for under $10.
When it comes to spending, bring back the memories of the holiday past for the present and future. A little goes a long way! With a wide selection of gift ideas for everyone on your list, shopping for antique and vintage items while sticking to a budget that keeps your wallet happy will reveal a thoughtful, one-of-a-kind selection.
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Karen Barr is a freelance writer in Ottawa, Ont.
A version of this article originally appeared in the digital edition of our 2024 Vintage Gift Guide.
