I was up at Miller Supply Co. in Pittsfield recently, picking up a framing project, and while I was there I got to talking with Steve Miller, the owner. Miller’s has been in Pittsfield for decades. I asked him whether something in an old store display was still available (it wasn’t), and then I thought to ask: What do you have left that is really really old? One of the items he pointed me to: Vintage Ceiling Glitter — in silver and gold. He has just a half dozen or so containers left and, “When it’s gone, it’s gone,” he said. Ceiling glitter: Yes, that was sure another “thing”.
But I have some pressing questions:
- Golly, how do you install it? I see from the plastic container cover that guns were used — that, I get. I can go online today and see guns for blowing ceiling glitter. But “throw by hand”? You must be kidding me. What a bloody mess? How in the world? You must not only need to wear goggles but also a zoot suit. And the stuff is expensive — wouldn’t you want to collect the excess and put it back in the gun? But then, that means your entire room would need to be 100% dust free, or else you would be also collecting dust, putting into a glitter gun and spraying it on the ceiling. Maybe there is no excess? Maybe it ALWAYS sticks, as long as the surface is tacky enough (see question below).
- Does it go on flat ceilings? Or popcorn ceilings?
- How do you ensure that the surface is all tacky? Do you spray paint fast with a spray gun canister thingie then quick quick quick get the glitter gun up and get the glitter on? Or, do you paint the ceiling with oil paint — which takes longer to dry and therefore is tacky longer — and then put up the glitter?
- What happens if you screw up?
This is a very intriguing product. I would love to figure out the answers to all these questions and maybe even try it — for the record — on a ceiling.
As you can see, this ceiling glitter was made, most recently at least, by Zinsser. That’s the same company that today is famous for all kinds of wall preparation solutions. I believe they are owned by Rust-Oleum. Sure enough, when I googled a bit trying to look for ceiling glitter sold today, I only found examples from Zinsser, and all the listings that I found were sold out.
Like I said, if you are in the market, you can buy the last remaining stock from Miller Art & Frame, Pittsfield, Mass. link is here >> http://www.millerartandframe.com/There is not much left, though.
UPDATE: Reader Mark quickly identified another source of ceiling glitter and glitter guns available today. He wrote:
Check this out: Glitter gun here (glitter also available on the site)
Everything you need, both professional (pneumatic) & DIY (hand-crank) guns available, as well as glitter…
Thank you, Mark!
When were glitter ceilings introduced?
Some readers questioned whether this effect was truly “mid-century” — but we are pretty sure we have provenance back to the mid-1950s, at least. Mark says that his true storybook ranch, built in ’56-57, had glitter on the ceilings (befitting a “Cinderella!”) and Ranger Smith says the foyer of his ’61 ranch had glitter on the ceilings, too. I would guess-timate that glitter ceilings were fairly popular throughout the 1960s and even into the Liberace 1970s, but then interest faded. Even so, they seem to have been continually available.
I NEEEEEEEEED a glitter ceiling!
The glitter chunks in my relatively-old Zinsser are pretty big – notably bigger than my crafty glitter. The label says that this ceiling glitter is all-aluminum.
I may use my two containers for artsy fartsy crafty projects. More likely, I will keep them in my my museum-of-Pittsfield-hoard. My precious……
Before they moved from North Street to their new (very googie) location on West Street, Miller’s carried a lot of wallpaper. After they moved, which is after I truly discovered them, I raided their basement for many rolls of their new old stock vintage wallpaper. I have installed several patterns in the house. I adore Miller Supply Co.
Joe Felice says
I definitely remember ceilings with sparkles in them back in the ’50s, but never saw them again after the mid-’60s. However, they must have existed somewhere into the ’70s, because readers here have told us so. I always assumed that the glitter was just mixed in with the texture (whatever it was) when the ceilings were sprayed. Going along with a separate sprayer seems like too-much trouble to me. The whole purpose of sprayed ceilings was to eliminate time and effort of making the ceiling smooth and hiding the tape lines, so adding this effort seems to defeat the purpose. But, what do I know? Well, for one, I do Know that I don’t like it, either in ceilings or counter tops, that’s for sure.
Bunny says
I have used a latex glitter paint on my popcorn ceilings in my bathroom 1962 Florida house, a few years ago. I believe I purchased it in Lowe’s or Home depot. It is a milky color which dries clear with sutle gold sparkles. I just used a roller, like I was painting any ceiling. Very easy to apply with beautiful results. I even gave my wooden inset medicine cabinet a top coat of sparkle after I painted it. Stunning!
Wink says
I recently attended an estate sale at a local house, built in 1960, with a beautiful, pale aqua, glittered ceiling in the (sunken!) Florida room. It was the highlight of the house, frankly!
Ann Braun says
Benjamin Moore makes a latex glitter paint. Saw it while shopping at a small hardware store on North Ave, Chicago.
Mary F. says
The Carrollton Plaza movie theater in Carrollton, Texas used to have glitter ceilings when I went there in the early 70s. It opened in 1949 but they may have sprayed it on later. The ceiling texture was thicker than the usual popcorn though (plaster?), and I’m pretty sure the glitter was clear. Looked like glittering snow drifts on the ceilings. It was still glittery up until a few years ago when they renovated the place. Bummer 🙁
The Galaxy Drive-In in Ennis, TX also has multi-colored glitter on a black background in it’s main snack bar. It was built fairly recently so maybe they just used regular glitter. Hmmm
Enid says
About 10 years ago I found the glitter at Home Depot and used it in the bathroom I was renovating. I painted the ceiling retro pink and used silver glitter. I painted a section at a time so that I didn’t have to move the ladder and/or the paint didn’t dry before getting to it.. I used a plastic bottle like a ketchup bottle, keeping not too close or too far from the ceiling. It worked. I love my pink ceiling with silver glitter!
N8tive Virginian says
We live in a 1929 home in Alexandria, Va. Our pantry exterior is stucco, and according to my dad, originally sparkled due to tiny bits of ground glass embedded in the stucco. I have seen the glitter streets and sidewalks in various places, and I think they sparkle due to the use of recycled ground glass as well. We are preparing to do some renovations, and I am trying to find someone who knows about the glass stucco so I can redo with authenticity!
Lynne says
I have never seen a glittered ceiling. But, when I was a kid there were several people (and one particular grocery store) I recall that put glitter in the sidewalk and porch and patio concrete. I thought it was magical the way it just slightly sparkled in the moonlight!
Wendy in St. Louis says
There are still many “glitter sidewalks” in St. Louis. I love them too! My sister used to try to pick up the sparkles when she was little. 🙂
DAvid says
The glittering sidewalks are traction crystals that are sprinkled on the surface. It you look at thkem in the bag, they are like black large sugar crystals. So they serve a purpose, to keep the concrete from getting slippery when it’s wet.
Wendy in St. Louis says
My college roommate’s parent’s house had glitter ceilings! I had never seen anything like it, and thought it was… well, I didn’t like it. Their home was very elegantly decorated, and the glitter just didn’t fit. I think it would look fabulous in a retro home!
Valspar and Disney make glitter paint products – Valspar crystals are added to the paint, and for “our” purposes, I think you’d need to add more than recommended. The Disney stuff is a glaze with the sparkles already in it.
Post about Valspar:
http://www.bellapop.com/camper-renovation-glitter-painted-ceiling/
Disney:
http://disney.glidden.com/painting-ideas/glitter-paint
Shane says
I went to an old auto parts store a number of years ago and picked up their last spool of clear spark plug wiring. Got the whole roll and it looks cool just sitting there! Popular in the ’50s and ’60s, you can see the spark flowing from the distributor to each cylinder.