You Need to Be Thrifting Swan Stuff
An ode to the world's chicest bird
Has there ever been a more romantic animal than the swan? They mate for life, first of all, which is beautiful, but they are also so striking — the long necks, the stark white bodies with just a pop of black.
Swans are the ballet dancers of the animal world, gliding through lakes and ponds — beautiful and also a little mean, which I respect.
When I think about the items that are “never-leave-behinds” for me at the thrift store or on Facebook Marketplace, swan-shaped anything is squarely at the top of that list.
Bottom line: Swan decor is regal as hell and you need to start thrifting it.
There’s something so gloriously extra about a swan-shaped planter or a wooden swan magazine rack. It’s kitsch, butt elegant. If you’re trying to make your house look like the kind of place where you’d lounge in a silk robe while drinking champagne at 2 PM on a Tuesday (even if you’re actually in sweatpants eating Buldak ramen), swan decor is your ticket there.
Swans have been symbols of beauty and elegance for centuries, which means a vintage swan piece doesn’t date itself the way other animal motifs do. A swan is just as at home in a mid-century modern space as it is in a maximalist, jewel-toned sitting room.
vintage German Christmas ornament, antique swan swing, mother-of-pearl swan spoon, high-back metal chair with swan arms
Also, swan decor from the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s was made well. We’re talking chunky plaster planters with actual weight to them. Wooden swan-shaped furniture that some craftsperson clearly spent time on. These aren’t flimsy tchotchkes, but substantial pieces that feel special.
Tip: If it’s lightweight and plasticky, pass. But if it’s got heft, interesting details, or that unmistakable vintage vibe (i.e. patina), it needs to come home with you.
I once found a plaster swan table on Facebook Marketplace in Gainesville and drove four hours round trip for it on a Sunday (later selling it on Chairish and kind of regretting that, to be honest — it’s pictured in the top image, above).
Another swan table wound up being the heaviest thing I’ve ever purchased (another Facebook Marketplace find, listed under “glass table,” with no mentions of the swans, and later sold to the Alice & Olivia boutique in New York).
That one’s here:
What to Look For When You’re Out There
The best swan finds are the weird ones. I’m talking about:
Plaster planters shaped like swans. These are fairly easy to find at estate sales, usually for under $20. They’re perfect for succulents or trailing plants, and they add instant visual interest to a shelf or side table.
Wooden swan furniture. Magazine racks, side tables, decorative wall shelves, hand-carved mirrors — if it’s shaped like a swan and made of wood, grab it. Bonus points if it’s got that honey-toned vintage finish.
Swan-shaped anything, really. Ceramic soap dishes. Napkin holders. Serving dishes. If someone in 1974 thought “this should be a swan,” you should probably buy it.
carved swan table with marble top, brass swan table
ODDS & ENDS
Frank Gehry passed away late last week and it really got me. I have long been fascinated by Gehry’s work, having first seen one of his buildings in person more than 20 years ago (ugh), while spending my final semester of college in Northern Spain. It was The Guggenheim Bilbao (“El Goog,” as locals call it) and I just loved how the ribbons of steel contrasted with the natural landscape around it and reflected the blue of the sky. In my final project that semester, I told my classmates, “Mi objetivo es ver todos los mundos de Frank Gehry en mi vida,” or “It’s my goal to see all of the works of Frank Gehry in my lifetime.” I have not come close to hitting that goal but I now feel a bit more inspired to do so. The Los Angeles Times rounded up 11 of the most fascinating Gehry projects in LA. Worth a look.
Ruggable is hosting a huge sale right now (some of the clearance is 40% off), making it a good time to buy a rug. I love this green one.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
I Want My House to Look "Grown Sexy"
Do you have any really random pop culture moments stuck in your head from more than a decade ago? I do.
That bench! They are also wonderful energy supporters for long-term partnership. I have a vintage thrifter friend who has a whole swan collection. So collectible!
OMG, OMG, OMG ... you didn't hear me scream. I just thrifted swan this week--with you in my head saying, "Thrift the weird stuff." I'm in my crystal phase right now: hurricane candle holders, etched vintage martini glasses, etc. ... and I saw this heavy crystal swan "bowl," and it was signed on the bottom. And I thought, meh, I'm not a swan person, but, well, I'm going to thrift the weird thing AND I also had a feeling I would get a swan "sign" from the universe. Well, here it is.