Free Vintage Clip Art - Patriotic Cherub and Little Boy

A colorful and patriotic cherub for you!

Click on image to download

Click on image to download

Click on image to download

I am so happy to bring you these wonderful images from the past.

Enjoy!

Free Vintage Clip Art - Lovely Ladies in Hats

I just can't resist a beautiful lady in a hat.

Click on image to download

Click on image to download

 Both of these images are advertisements from the early 1900's.  I don't have any information on what product or company these ads were for, I just know I love them!  I hope you do too.

Enjoy!

Free Vintage Clip Art - The Legend of the Crow

Did you know that a group of crows is called a "murder"? Wow that's creepy!

Click on image to download

Click on image to download

Crows apparently evolved in Asia and the bird is steeped in legend and mythology.  European folklore and mythology depict the crow as the predictors of death and doom.  In mythology and folklore in general, the crow usually represents the spiritual aspect of death and the spirit's transition into the afterlife.

Crows are everywhere these days - in pop culture and they are a very popular theme in art.

 All I know is that they are very loud and I have lost count of the number of mornings they have woke me up way too early!

Enjoy!

Free Vintage Clip Art - Silhouettes

I adore this sweet little image!

Click on image to download

This image has so much detail and I love the little swirlies.  I can picture myself as a little girl riding inside of this adorable little carriage.  What fun that would have been!

Click on image to download

Now who or what do you suppose this little girl is shaking her finger at?

Etienne de Silhouette, a French finance minister in the mid 1700's, is credited with cutting little portraits out of black paper and his name became attached to the art form.

Silhouettes were widely popular in the United States from 1790 to 1840 until the advent of the camera, although silhouette artists worked state fairs well into the 20th century.


The use of silhouette portraits are experiencing a come back recently and I for one am very happy to see the renewed interest in an almost lost art form.


Enjoy!

Free Vintage Clip Art - Patriotic Little Girls & the Symbolic Use of the Laurel Wreath

These beautiful little girls show that the Victorians were patriots, who knew!

Click on image to download

Click on image to download

The Victorians missed very few opportunities to include botanicals in their images and these patriotic images are no exception.  Using the laurel wreath in the second image is interesting and not just because it's quite lovely. 

Laurel wreaths were depicted in Greek mythology where we see Apollo wearing one.  The circular laurel wreath was used by the Greeks and Romans as symbols of victory and strength.  And in ancient times the laurel wreath was depicted as a horeshoe shape.

I am seeing the horeshoe shaped laurel wreath motif everywhere these days:  home decor, apparel, fabrics and crafts.  It is often seen in government seals and flags - on the local and federal levels.  Colleges, universities and even auto makers use the motif as their logo or symbol.

Ever heard the term "resting on your laurels"?  This expression refers to relying on one's past successes and achievements.  Who knew!  I sure never knew where that expression came from.

I hope you find wonderful ways to use these beautiful images in your projects and please feel free to send me photos of what you create.

Enjoy!

Free Vintage Clip Art - Decorative Victorian Ornamentals

I love this decorative French wood panel.

Just gorgeous!

Click on image to download

Click on image to download

This second image is that of a closing ring for a door, so ornate and beautiful.  The beauty and workmanship of both of these pieces is just spectacular and I could just stare at both of them all day long.

I hope you enjoy these images as much as I do!

Free Vintage Clip Art - Tres Chic Women - Vintage or Contemporary? - You Decide

Chic and trendy - but vintage or contemporary?

I really love this image.  It's graphic and colorful yet, except for what she's wearing, it seems very comtemporary to me.

 Click on image to download

The graphic layout and design give this ad from the early 1900's a very modern look.

 Click on image to download

This second image is actually a famous poster.  In fact, in 2000, this classic poster sold for $9,200 at auction! 


Originally printed in 1899 in Paris, this poster was an advertisement for Golden Prague, a cutting edge weekly Czech publication.  With a copy of the Golden Prague tucked under her arm this Czech woman was just as stylish as any woman in Paris at the time.


But what I find remarkable about this poster is that it reminds me of the altered art being produced today!


I chose these two vintage ads because even though they are both about a hundred years old they also have a very contemporary look and feel to them that I just found interesting and remarkable.


I would love to hear your thoughts on this!


Enjoy!

Free Vintage Clip Art - Decorative Letters

Vintage Decorative Letters

Click on image to download

Click on image to download

Click on image to download

Click on image to download

I love these decorative letters.  Ornate and unusual, these letters will add glamor and uniqueness to your letters, letterhead, note cards or as a signature on your email.  Make them your monogram!

Give your correspondence, scrapbook or web pages or anything else you use these vintage letters on some flair that will get noticed and be remembered.

Enjoy!

Free Vintage Clip Art - Vintage Windows

Here are some vintage windows and shutters for you!

Click on image to download

Click on image to download

Click on image to download

Click on image to download

I would love to see what you do with these and how you incorporate them into your artwork!

Enjoy!

Free Vintage Clip Art - So What is a Victorian Trade Card?

Now highly collectible, Victorian trade cards were the earliest form of print advertising.  They originated in England in the 1700's as black and white advertising but began being mass produced in color in the 1870's.

From 1876 until the early 1900's color trade cards usually had a picture on one side and the ad for the product or company on the other.  They give us a glimpse of life, society and even the pop culture of their day.

Below is an example of a more generic trade card:  a scented calendar card from Hoyt's German Cologne, this is more an advertisement for the company rather than a specific product.

Click on image to download

The other side of the card would have had a calendar on it.

Some trade cards are worth thousands of dollars.  So keep your eyes open for them when you visit your local flea markets, antique shops and garage sales!

Enjoy!

Free Vintage Clip Art - 1st Day of Summer Bookmark

Happy First Day of Summer!

 In honor of all those great books you intend to read or give this summer here is a lovely bookmark for you!  This is a vintage perfume trade card.

Click on image to download

 Just print the image out on card stock or watercolor paper, spritz it with your favorite scent (the Victorians scented everything!) and you will have a totally unique and lovely vintage bookmark.  Enclose it in a book and give as a gift or include them with items that you sell as a thank you to your customers.

Enjoy!

Free Vintage Clip Art - Happy Father's Day - A Dapper Dad's Attire

A very dapper Dad indeed!

Click on image to download

This dad is surely dressed in his Sunday best ready to celebrate Father's Day! 

Click on image to download

Click on image to download

A Victorian collar and bow tie, the vintage version of the modern clip on tie.  Because the focus is usually on women's attire we forget about what the men wore.  I think the collar insert is wonderful.

I love these images and am so glad to be able to share them with you.

Enjoy!

Free Vintage Clip Art - Free Blog Button

An extra post today just to share a free button for your blog.  The original image was posted earlier and you can find it here. 

I was inspired to make a little email button from it.  It is free if you would like to grab it and used it on your own blog.

Just copy and paste the code into a new html gadget.

<center><a href="mailto:INSERT YOUR EMAIL HERE"><img border="0" src="http://i745.photobucket.com/albums/xx96/VintageFeedsacks/angel11.jpg" /></a></center>

Be sure and replace the pink text above with your own email address.

Enjoy!

Free Vintage Clip Art - Saturday Fun - Vintage Toys

Saturday has always been my favorite day of the week.  The entire weekend lies ahead and possibilities abound.   Will it be a day to relax or will it be a busy day filled with chores and errands?  

As a child Saturdays began with cartoons and then great old movies on our black and white TV set.  Boy does that date me or what?  And if the weather permitted it was outside to play with my dog Bingo, or to make mud pies, ride my bicycle or to play in the woods across the street.

Yes, before VCR's, video games and cable TV kids actually went outside to play!  Or we played with our toys and used our imaginations to create our own fun.  We got exercise naturally by riding our bicycles, running through the woods and just playing all day.

So in celebration of Saturdays from a time gone by here are some vintage toys for you.

Enjoy!

Click on image to download

Click on image to download

 
Click on image to download

  Happy Saturday!

Free Vintage Clip Art - Vintage Perfume Trade Cards

This is simply gorgeous!

Click on image to download

Both of these images could be printed out on cardstock or watercolor paper and framed.

This is such an amazing piece of artwork!  I adore the colors and the beautiful flowers.  This is a trade card or advertisement for Florida Water.

Florida Water is the American version of eau de cologne with an orange base that also includes lavender and cloves and was widely distributed in South America and the Caribbean.  First introduced in 1808 it is still sold today using the same formula.  

Florida Water was marketed as a unisex cologne and used as a body splash and skin toner because of it's refreshing and tonic qualities.  It was also used as toilet water, or eau de toilet, by adding it to bath or wash water.

Click on image to download

The "Richest of all Perfumes" campaign began in 1880, which makes this trade card about 120 years old.  Just beautiful!

I can image both of these cards made into hang tags, just punch a little hole in the top and slip a beautiful coordinating ribbon through it and what a unique tag you would have.  I also think they would make gorgeous post cards.

I hope you enjoy these wonderful perfume ads from the past!

Free Vintage Clip Art - Lovely Victorian Ladies

 Handsome and quite stylish in her day.  And I love her hat!

Click on image to download

Click on image to download

Another stylin' gal!  This post could easily be called Women in Hats. 

Click on image to download

I adore the swirls on her coat!  Just goes to show trends come and go and come back again!

I hope you enjoy these stylish ladies from the past.

Free Vintage Clip Art - Ribbons and Banners

Click on image to download

I simply adore this ribbon banner!   So simple yet so lovely.  You can insert a sentiment, a special date or names to create a card, scrapbook page or thank you note, as shown below.  I have provided you with a couple of examples of how you could personalize these ribbon banners.

Click on image to download

Click on image to download

This is a more modern, classic banner.  So many ways to use this one:  use as a button on your blog or website, personalize it and use it on a card or tag, create your own stationary and insert your name or create an award for your little one for helping with chores or feeding the dog every day.  They will love the recognition!

Click on image to download

Enjoy!

Free Vintage Clip Art - Vintage Birds and Nests

Swallows in flight

Click on image to download

Birds and their nests were a favorite theme in the Victorian era.  Birds represent freedom while their nests represent the home, hence the term "nesting", and eggs represent life and new beginnings.

Click on image to download

 

Click on image to download

I love these sweet and colorful nests with the little birdies in them and I hope you do too.

Enjoy!

Free Vintage Clip Art - Perfume Labels

Click on image to download

Today's offerings are exquisite vintage french labels.

From what I can gather this is a soap label and was apparently from an upscale department store in Paris, circa late 1800's.

Click on image to download

Another beautiful french perfume label.  So many fonts were used on this one.  If you notice up in the top left hand corner the circle reminds me of a cancellation on a postage stamp - reads:

Act of June 23, 1857

Notice the beautiful script signature below the stamp.  The words above the signature read - 

All my products are covered with my signature

What a beautiful, ornate label.

Enjoy!

 

Free Vintage Clip Art - Victorian Ornament

 I absolutely adore this image!  It's so unusual and beautiful at the same time.

Click on image to download

Maybe it's my love of birds, ducks and geese that draws me so much to this image.  Set inside a wreath the goose necks look as though they are part of a musical instrument.  So intriguing!

Enjoy!

Free Vintage Clip Art - Ornate Hands and Circle

And now for something completely different!  I love these hands, so much detail.

Click on image to download

I'm not sure what the origin of this image is but it sure is interesting.  It definitely has an art deco look.  If anyone has any ideas please let me know.

Click on image to download

I can't quit looking at this gorgeous circle.  So much detail packed into it!  I just love it.

Hope you enjoy these beautiful and different images!