Vintage Fun Down On The Farm

I am not a farm girl, which is a good thing, because I'm allergic to hay, just like Lisa Douglas on Green Acres. But there's lots of farm land here in Michigan, so occasionally I have found myself visiting a farm for one reason or another.  And farm related collectibles is a fun category to explore, which I'd like to do in this post. 

Allow me to set the stage for "Vintage Fun Down on the Farm."  A historic Michigan farmhouse was a great location for an antique show last year, thanks to their gorgeous grounds with several small structures and barns.  This was the scene as I walked around the house.  So beautiful:

 

There's a plethora of collecting categories under the umbrella of "farm collectibles".  Farm related products and advertising would be one category, under which this fun box of Dr. LeGear's Hog Prescription would fall.  The package says it's "A Tonic for All Swine."  Why do I find this box so appealing?  I think it's the humorless Dr. LeGear and the cute porker on the front.  More piggy graphics appear on the back and sides.

    

 

Many customers at the antique malls are looking for specific pig, cow, or chicken/rooster figurines to add to their collections, like these adorable pink pigs in a purse: 

 

"German Pink Pigs" are old souvenirs that were sold at fairs, train stations and souvenir shops around the turn of the 20th century.  There are many charming and comical depictions of the porcelain pigs, and I've sold quite a few examples in my antique mall booth, including the two below:

 

Is there anything cuter than this Three Pigs planter?

 

The back is even cuter than the front:

 

This bucket is a cool farm related collectible, with the great graphics for Ohio Grain Calf Food on the front:

I had the opportunity to visit a customer's farmhouse to buy some of her antiques last winter.  I rarely have the chance to see livestock up close.  I'm not sure who was more curious that day, me or the sheep.

 

These little German made sheep make a lovely collection, and they won't make a mess.  Over 100 years old, Putz sheep usually sell for around $50 to $75 each:

 

Back at the farm, the barn cat woke up when I arrived, and stretched a bit. My eyes are beginning to water because of that hay.....

 

If you didn't have a barn cat years ago, perhaps one of these vintage critter traps would have come in handy:

 

These cool old varmint traps are part of a collection for sale at the Antiques Market of Williamston. Don't get your finger caught in one of these:
 
 

Next we have a pamphlet called "Poultry Troubles", with a picture of cute little chicks on the cover.  Raising chicks has become quite popular, I think in part to Martha Stewart.  Getting back to the pamphlet, what type of trouble could befall these little chicks?  Chick diarrhea, for one. I guess that qualifies as Poultry Trouble, all right.

 

This box of chicken and rooster figurines was a box lot I won at an auction.  They had no digestive problems, which was a relief, but they look ornery as heck:

 

I love this Poultry Service Station flange sign:

 

If you like corn, perhaps this Corn Products Cook Book will help satisfy your corn cravings.  Lots of products made from farm grown produce published cookbooks, which are fun to collect.  The colors are beautiful on this book, don't you think?

 

Karo syrup was made from corn, and the Karo company advertised heavily in the early to mid 1900's.

This picture makes me hungry for pancakes, although I prefer real maple syrup:

 

A creative crafter has taken farm finds and turned them into canvases for her paintings:

 

The list of farm collectibles could go on and on. I've just scratched the surface here.  Do you collect anything farm related?  I'd love to find out what readers are collecting, so please leave a comment if you like.  I always enjoy hearing from you!  And if you live on a farm and would like to have me over, I'll pop a Nasonex and be there lickity split!

Mitzi

Comments

[Autumn Luciano]

Cute stuff! I really like the old roosters. My mom likes those a lot so I always try to pick one up for her when I see them cheap.

[Annette]

Love all that farm stuff. I don't collect any but do have the three little pigs planter in white. Some of the graphics you show on the "medicine" are super. I like the old traps, too.
Annette

[Anet]

Yes, Autumn is right, I do love a colorful rooster and she is so sweet to surprise me with one now & then.

The German pink pigs are so sweet and I just had to laugh at the back side of your pig planter, such cute tushies!

[Bev C]

Hello Mitzi, such a fun happy post. I can't believe the first ingredients in the swine medication. The rear end of the piggy planter made me smile.

Happy days.
Bev.xoxo

[mltoth57@gmail.com]

I'm not a farm girl, more of a citified S. Cal girl. But I love antiques and your pics are fun to look at! :-)

[Mitzi Curi]

Thanks for visiting my blog and taking the time to leave a comment. I hope you stop by again sometime!

Mitzi

[Fabulous Finds Studio]

I love the little German made sheep, they are sooo adorable!

[Cathe Holden]

I just LOVE this post, Mitzi! I'm not a farm girl either, but married a farm boy, so I'm doing what I can to adapt. You can't help but fall in love with the lifestyle even though ours is on a very small scale. Thank you for sharing all the sweet charmy-farmy delights!

[Mitzi Curi]

Hi Cathe,

Thanks so much for visiting my blog and taking the time to comment. I imagine you are extremely busy these days, so Im flattered that you stopped by! I know you have used farm related images in your graphic design which I have admired so much. Theres lots of inspiration down on the farm!

Mitzi

[barbara]

If I happen across a calf feeder or a poultry book, it will be coming home with me. Those are great! I usually manage to acquire a Putz sheep every year or so (usually in the bottom of a box) and just adore them.

[Mitzi Curi]

Barbara,

Id love to see your flock of Putz sheep sometime. Have you ever blogged about them?

Mitzi

[April]

OMG! I love the vintage Karo pictures!

[Cindy]

Wonderful farm finds! And seriously, is there just not anything cuter than a little piggy tushie? That curly tail just gets me everytime.

-c

[Mitzi Curi]

Cindy, I couldnt agree more! Pig tushies are the cutest.....

Mitzi

[bill]

hello, is the Poultry Service Station flange sign for sale? let me know. thanks

[Mitzi Curi]

Hi Bill,

Im sorry, that post was over three years old, and the sign was sold long ago. Thanks for your interest, though.

Mitzi