One of the reasons I love vintage? Quality craftsmanship with subtle humor.

Not my most recent find or one of my more valuable, but one of my favorites. $1.99 at a local Goodwill. This letter holder was made by Florenza who produced costume jewelry, vanity accessories, trinket boxes, desktop items, small frames, etc., mainly for the ladies market. The company was located in New York and was started by Daniel Kasoff in 1948. The name Florenza, from his wife's name, Florence, began being used in 1950. Florenza pieces were produced until 1981.



Although Florenza items are worthy of a post on their own, this one is more about the design. When I first saw this sitting on a shelf at a local Goodwill, I automatically assumed it was the three speak/see/hear no evil monkeys. Picked it up, nice weight, good quality craftsmanship, turn it over and there is the Florenza imprint on the base. Now I give it a good luck - checking for damage or missing parts - and there I am, a short, wide, old broad holding some gold tone trinket geegaw in my hand, having a good loud laugh attack. As you've hopefully already noted in the photos - we do have see no evil monkey and speak no evil monkey but we do not have hear no evil monkey. No, we have sweetly posed monkey with a hand behind his/her ear, as in "tell me, I'm listening, avidly". On the surface, a charming what not for the lady of the house's desk. But what it really says is "I won't look for gossip and won't speak gossip - but please write me and tell me all the gossip you know".



Obviously I am easily amused, which I'm grateful for as a laugh can sure make you feel better. Which is one of the reasons I love vintage or antique smalls. A number of these little decorative arts type pieces, or chotskies (depending on your point of view), are made with subtle jokes slid into the design. You know the original owners had to be interesting people cause they had the ability to laugh at themselves, their life and their era. Besides, this type of humor doesn't seem to age. Human foibles remain the same and laughter is still the best medicine.