My little greenhouse/she shed has given me hours of enjoyment. I love everything about it, including
the decorating. Finally, I had a space
for my two milk cans, the perfect plant stands for some herbs, and I loved the
way they complimented my galvanized watering cans and trays. Consequently, when I saw a vintage aluminum
dish at a thrift shop, I knew it would look perfect in the greenhouse. And
thus began my obsession.
A little nostalgia anyone? These were often called poor-man’s
silver and were the serving pieces my “child of the depression” mother had at
home. Hammered aluminum was very popular
in the 1930’s, 1940’s and 1950’s, and were usually given as wedding gifts. The pieces are cheaper and lighter than
silver but never needed polishing. The
downside is they scratch and dent easily so they need to be treated with care. They can be found in consignment or thrift
shops for a few dollars, and there are a multitude of shapes, sizes and designs
to suit anyone’s fancy. The authentic collector
would look for the company’s name and/or hallmark, and many times the product
number and the term hand wrought or hand hammered is indented into the piece. I'd like to tell you that I'm a serious collector, but I'd be lying. I just like what I like, and let's be real, it's going into the shed.
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Vintage aluminum pieces in the greenhouse
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I have tried several methods of cleaning these pieces
including baking soda and vinegar, cream of tartar and lemon juice, you name it. Do NOT put them in the dishwasher, or use silver polish or silver pastes, for it will ruin the finish. All that’s really needed is mild soap and
water, but if that doesn’t do the trick, I found that Bar Keepers Friend
worked fine for me. In my search for methods to clean these vintage pieces, I’ve
also come across a paste aluminum cleaner named “Mothers”, found in the auto
supply stores. The problem with this
cleaner is that it leaves a film which can be unsafe if the piece is to be used
with food. Please note when purchasing these aluminum pieces, any pitted or deteriorated finishes will not give you the results you hope for, but they’re in the greenhouse so
who cares.
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This large bowl is excellent for mixing potting soil,
the crumb catcher is ideal for scooping spilled soil,
small garden tools in the oval tray are readily accessible,
and the pea pod handled dish holds the season's plant tags.
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Don't you love the pea pod handle?
Everlast Forged Aluminum Covered Bowl #1038 |
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This flat tray was the perfect solution for this
little table with a broken glass top.
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I was fixated on collecting the vintage aluminum trays for
my seedlings, appreciating the attractive designs that rivaled any of the trays
you buy at the garden centers. They look
so charming on the shelves. Added bonus - they cost a fraction of store bought trays.
Some of my treasures never made it to the shed. This ice bucket is used to collect the kitchen scraps for the compost pile.
And this little tray is perfect for holding my kosher salt cellar, pepper mill, and the toothpicks for baking.
During my treasure hunts, I found unique serving pieces that I thought would be perfect for my garden brunches. I had originally bought this pie taker as a base for a miniature garden, which it still may become. But as you can see, the casserole dish did make it into a miniature garden as has several other pieces.
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| Vintage aluminum in the she shed |
Yes, it's gotten out of control, but I love the hunt. Searching for these distinctive pieces adds charm and character to my she shed, with a little bit of nostalgia.
