Edition #26: Souvenir Pillowcases
The best-looking tourist novelty out there
Some of the most beautiful examples of folk art come from the military. I know, it sounds crazy, but during wartime connecting with loved ones from oversees was always an ordeal. Collectibles that showed and fortified that connection were a-plenty (sweetheart bracelets are a great example) with letters, photographs, and souvenirs. Dating back to the Civil War, silk pillowcases were routinely sent back to mothers, wives, and families with Mother and Sweetheart poems painted into the silk and following a pretty typical template. This style of souvenir expanded into broader subjects, depicting popular tourist destinations that people would travel to starting when Alaska and Hawaii became states in 1959. These pillowcases became like postcards or passport stamps, showing off all the person’s travels.
Vintage Los Angeles Souvenir Pillow Cover on eBay: I don’t know much about LA, having spent my entire life in the tri-state area, but this pillowcase really forces you to remember that they have nature too, god dammit.
Vintage Souvenir Pillow Cover Washington DC on eBay: Okay, I don’t think I ever expected representing our nation’s capital in hot pink and metallic gold but I’m absolutely here for it. This pillow listens to Chappell Roan.
Vintage NEW YORK Souvenir Satin Pillow Cover Fringe Sham on eBay: I cannot get neough of the colors in this. Lady Liberty has never looked better.
Vintage Souvenir Of New Orleans Satin Pillow Cover / Case on eBay: Most pillowcases I found were soft whites and beiges, so I had to include a yellow one. New Orleans should be represented in bright colors.
Kitschy Vintage 1940s/50s 'Chicago Center of Progress' Collectible Pink Souvenir Pillow Cover with Fringe on Etsy: The pinks in this cover are just so nice, plus that pop of blue/purple really hits on the presence of Lake Michigan.
Vintage Atlantic City NJ 1940s Satin Pillow Cover with Fringe, Sweetheart, Beach Swimsuits Souvenir on Etsy: Beckoning your sweetheart to Atlantic City is just such a funny idea to me, though the ‘40s were obviously a very different time.
Vintage 1940s Carlsbad Caverns NP New Mexico Souvenir Silk Pillowcase Cave NM on eBay: I truly love the colors of this one. Watercolor is such an under-appreciated medium when decorating fabric.
Vintage Coney Island Cincinnati Ohio Amusement Park Souvenir Cushion Cover with Fringe Trim, Original Label on Etsy: Instead of stretching into the Atlantic, this Coney Island is on the banks of the Ohio River. I’m sure the experience is the same.
Opryland Velvet Painted Souvenir Throw Pillow Vintage Made In Japan on eBay: While not as old as the others, this Opryland pillowcase really showcases the novelty of a pillowcase as a souvenir. Log Flume Ride!
Vintage Seattle Souvenir Pillow Cover on eBay: The navy fringe is really beautiful on this, especially in contrast to the faded colors.
Honorable Mentions:
What terms were searched:
Souvenir pillowcase
Silk novelty pillow
Souvenir pillow cover
Welcome to Finder’s Keepers
This is the newsletter dedicated to leaving no vintage stone unturned. Each edition will cater to a rabbit hole that I fell down one night and include an assortment of vintage finds that make you question “Why did anyone own this?” followed quickly by “Should I own this?”
My method is simple: I attach a keyword or phrase to the item and go digging, spending hours each week combing through hundreds of pages of Etsy and Ebay bric-a-brac. It’s chaotic but satisfactory, like looking through every rack and bin at a thrift store for those that partake in the more visceral act of going in person. I like to sit on my couch.