Collecting Vintage Maple Syrup Tins

A new thing to collect that I didn't even know existed, vintage maple syrup tins. Anyone who is keen on learning about or collecting maple syrup antiques should check out Virginia Vidler’s authoritative book on the subject: Sugar-Bush Antiques. Published in 1979, the book is way out of print, and contains some out-of-date pricing information. But any good independent bookseller (shout out to Bear Pond Books) ought to be able to pluck one out of the universe for you at a decent price. And, if your interest, like mine, is in acquiring, understanding and appreciating a collection – and, where safe, even using some of the pieces in it – and not in acquiring wealth, you absolutely can’t go wrong with this volume as your guide. And I mean that literally. The book is too big to fit into a pocket, but, now that I own a copy, it goes into the giant-mom-purse whenever I antique. The book is valuable for its depth, its breadth and the many handy pictures.

I particularly enjoyed the chapter on visual arts, especially the paintings, lithographs and prints, which ranged from Currier & Ives prints to Grandma Moses’s wonderful painting “Sugaring Off.” Another painting by the same name is considered to be one of the most important American paintings of the 19th Century. Vidler includes a few illustrations from periodicals, as well as a few high-quality and fun photographs showing style of dress and sugaring practices of the early 20th Century.

To begin your own collection, I have curated some clickable gems that I find aesthetically pleasing. In terms of their value from an antiquities stand point - I yield back to Virginia’s trusty guide book - because in my own words, I am just the art lover (with a side of pancakes).

Courtesy of Country Living Magazine