I am starting another new, occasional feature: What to Collect, spotlighting: Collections inspired by your photos, maybe a little bit of the collectible’s history, and maybe a look at the particularly rare or unusual pieces to look for. First up: Anodized aluminum housewares — especially the brightly colored pieces.
I was inspired to go learn more about vintage and antique anodized aluminum by the photo above: It’s from Chicken301, who uploaded this photo of “anodised aluminum planters with succulents” when readers shared 105 photos of their outdoor spaces. Sure, I’d seen colored aluminum tumblers and coasters before — but never planters like these. So pretty — and such an impact when you group them together — this is the secret of displaying collections: Mass them. Anodized aluminum: What else is out there? So I went searching on etsy.com to see what other odd and wonderful examples I could find… what to collect? –>
To start, I searched “anodized aluminum” on etsy… and received just four pages of items in return for my query. I went through the four pages and found a few nice examples of this collectible… but I was not satisfied … and thought there must be more. Sure there was: I searched “vintage aluminum”, and — yikes! — 193 pages came back to me to ogle. I made it through 90 pages and in the process found this:
Above: Smogmaster Ash Tray from VintageCoolETC on etsy.com. Image used with permission. And this:
Above: A terrific wall light with four different color aluminum shades, also from VintageCoolETC. Image used with permission. And this:
Above: And on page 90, I found this — NOS liquor bottle pourers, shining more brightly as an aluminum Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. At first I sent the listing to Cullen, thinking he would love this. But before he could even reply, I had to have these for my own vintage hoard. Score! Will I ever get the guts to actually use them? I think not…they are just too too sparkly….
The history of brightly colored vintage anodized aluminum housewares…
Here’s a photo from a reader (submitted when we asked for wallpaper photos). I tend to think the tumblers are not “uncommon”. But those dessert holders with fluted glass cups — I bet they are more rare and, therefore, collectible. Am I right?
I could not find much about the history of this collectible online. I welcome any readers with knowledge of this collectible to share — and I will add it here.
What are the most collectible examples of vintage and antique anodized aluminum housewares…
Again, I need help on this one. I tend to believe the tumblers and coasters are pretty common and, therefore, not worth a great deal of money. But going through all those etsy pages (and mind you — I only made it to page 90 of 193 before my eyes started to bug out), I was able to spot some pieces that looked “odd” or in particularly good condition that I guess would be worth more. Readers: Can you share your expertise?
Click on the photo to get to my etsy Treasury:
I’m keeping the tumblers in mind as a gift for my mom…she remembers using her grandmother’s set and wants some for herself. However, I was told that the current reproductions available peel almost immediately….another reason to go vintage! Thanks for showcasing some options.
I LOVE anodized aluminum! I have two sets of the tumblers, but not vintage. My mom bought them at Pier 1 back in the late 80s. I use them all the time, and so far, no peeling.
My great-grandmother had a whole set, that she got from her local dairy back in the day. They came filled with cottage cheese, I think. She also had a set of gorgeous frosted glass mugs with copper bands and wooden handles, also collected from the milk delivery. Those are next on my ‘to get’ list!
I have those same custard cups from the wallpaper photo. I don’t think I’ve seen them since.
Yes, I have the custard cups too, but don’t see them out and about.
They belonged to hubby’s mom, and he gave them to me when we were first dating. I knew he was a keeper!
Oh, and I am not a huge fan of drinking out of the tumblers, myself. They just give things a funny taste-at least to me. But I’m alllllll about the serving bowls.
I would like to point out to anyone not bright (like me) that you will be very sad if you happen to put your annodized aluminum in the dishwasher. They lose all that beautiful spun look with bright colors and instead are blotchy, foggy remnants of what once was. BE WARNED!
Too late! I bought a set of repro tumblers and found this out the hard way. The dishwasher took all the wonderful color off the tumblers and flushed it down the drain.
Nothing but the real deal for me from now on. I do love annodized aluminum anything. Great post!!
We just bought a bunch of old aluminum tumblers at a garage sale. What a steal
We plan on using them on the patio, by the fire pit…anywhere outside. They remind me of my youth – drinking koolaid from them.
I would love to be able to get the little knit terry-cloth ‘sweatbands’ that you could put on them to absorb the condensation. Another thing I’ll have to search for!
These do make such a colorful collection! I LOVE those planters with the succulents in them. Just beautiful!!! Love your Treasury, too, Pam!!
Pam, I just noticed an item in your Treasury List-the 3rd pic over from the left at the top: that is not a planter! It is a Wilton Cake Pan-there was an insert that sat on that “knob” in the inside bottom of the pan. It was originally for making “doll cakes” and I used it for making many other types of cakes, including an “R2D2″ for my son’s Star Wars birthday in 1978 (I believe). I still have that pan! Just thought you might like to know what it originally was used for!
Oh My Gosh! Those planters! They look like “goblets of the gods!”
I would use the smaller ones as punch bowls for retro parties. I can imagine filling the gold one with a Mai-Tai punch complete with an umbrella for a tiki party. The red one would be adorable at Christmas time filled with egg nog. Bet ya Santa would stop by my house for sure:)
I love love those Anodized aluminum planters…they are gorgeous! I also love love love the Anodized aluminum tumblers. My Beautiful Mom has a set of those phenomenal tumblers and they were always my favorite cups to drink really cold beverages. Love them!
My grandmother had these, too. I well remember the metalic taste they add to drinks.
I’ve heard bad things about aluminum for cooking–linked to Alzheimer’s. Does anyone know about how safe they are to use for food and drink?
IMissLiberty, I am not going to let readers make safety reco’s here. Consult with a properly licensed professional….
Back in the 50′s when the dairy came to you, the colorful aluminum cups contained cottage cheese. Unlike the glass milk bottles, we were not expected to return the cups. Of course no one thought to take good care of them back then. I guess that is why there are not many perfect ones now.
My great-grandmother had a set of the tumblers and sherbert bowls, and this was when I was a kid in the 70′s. Not sure how long she had them before that, but they always make me think of her. Thank you Pam
Growing up in the seventies, we spent a lot of time at Grandma’s. Of course she had a set of tumblers and bowls. She always served us orange koolaid and a local brand of potato chips using those dishes. I’ve been thinking about getting a set now myself.
Well that was an act of the Vintage Goddess. Have never seen anondised planters before. After reading your post I went onto ebay and did “mid century” search. Third item up for grabs red anondised aluminium planter in a white stand! It’s in Melbourne, Australia for anyone interested – going off this afternoon.
Here are some terry cloth covers that could be used on the tumblers http://www.mileskimball.com/MilesKimball/Shopping/ProductDetail.aspx?TID=_MilesKimball&ProductID=0000006895&ICMP=Search
Hi Pam, how about gold anodized aluminum architectural screens? I have several on the house which are back lit, and are free standing off the wall of the house. Can send photos if you like.
I do love the planters and will look into getting some!
I also love anodized aluminum, and the planters are so wonderful. Pam, did Chicken301 say whether there is a maker’s mark or brand on these?
Another great anodized aluminum collectible is Wearever Hallite cookware (not making comments on safety here). Their lids came in anodized aqua color, anodized copper color, and I believe an anodize black.
Do an eBay search for Hallite and you can see all the different pieces they made – the teapot and coffee pot are too cute!
A great deco looking Wearever Hallite coffee pot with aqua lid found me just today! Yay! (I’ve been looking for one for camping). Heavy duty, great stuff
That looks fun, I’ll keep my eye out for some when I’m at some estate or yard sales. I think some of my vintage Christmas ornaments are annodized aluminum.
Collections! I have several! Love the vintage aluminum – and have coveted a set of vintage glasses in good condition, but they’re not high on the ‘want’ list right now. The planters are so pretty! You can’t beat those colors and the ‘shiny’ the goes with.
Me, lucite grape clusters, vintage towels, and now vintage sheets (linens mostly NOS) and I have a raging desire the last several months for platters, and various stoneware plates. Too much fun going to the Goodwill because I always fine a few for 99 cents, then check Etsy/eBay and see they want $12/ea and upwards depending on maker and design!
I LOVE these pieces. I do collect them, however I know next to nothing about them. I too would have labeled them as aluminum. I collect them because they remind me of my Grandma. She had a few of the drinking tumblers and I loved them because they were colorful and kept the beverage cold.
~ Terrie
HearthandWhimsy.com
Pam- Not to rain on anyone’s parade & I know we are talking about collections but- I have read that aluminum maybe a contributor to Alzheimer’s & that these old products might not be safe to use. Just saying, maybe collect but not use?
This comment came in earlier — I would refer folks to officials on this… the U.S. Gov perhaps? Not sure.
My grandparents had a set of colorful anodized aluminum cups and I remember how they’d sweat when filled with a cold drink. It makes me wonder what happened to them…
They also had the ashtrays shown in the photo – the bottoms were bean bags, which weighted them down. I’d forgotten all about them. My grandmother didn’t smoke and my grandfather had quit his cigars by the time I came along in 1960 but they still had the ashtrays, which we’d play with when at their house.
My Mother gave me the tumblers and the sherbert bowls a few weeks ago. She always used them for the Holidays. They had belonged to both grandmothers, which both use to buy Gold Meadow Cottage Cheese. I have 24 tumblers, all but 4 are in really good condition and 9 sherbert bowls which are in excellent condition except missing 1 glass bowl. Does any one know where to find the sherbert glass bowls?
I recently inherited my grandma’s collection of Color Craft anodized aluminum. I of course got many of the tumblers, but I also received an Ice bucket, bowls, mugs, cream and sugar sets, salt and pepper shakers, juice cups, scoops, and several pitchers. Some have Bakelite handles. I was wondering if the brand “Color Craft” possibly make them more collectible. Are pieces like the ice bucket rare? I did a search and didn’t see anything like what I have. Anyone have any info?