ELLE UK Interior Trends, but Make it Vintage: Trinket Dish Edition

Has interior magazines like ELLE and Vogue got you wanting to buy cute interior pieces that you really don't need? But you still kinda want them, but feel bad because they're expensive, and not very sustainable when you don't need it?

Fear not, we have got you covered! Instead of buying something expensive that's one of so many, how about getting something super unique and special, that usually also only costs a fraction?

Read along if this has peaked your interest.

I'll be candidly honest with you; if there is one category of interior pieces which the world does simply NOT NEED more of - it is trinket dishes. Trinket dishes, key catches, candy bowls, ash trays, catch-alls, jewellery trays. This is literally one of the singularly most prolific groups of goods out there. I personally have too many, just because there so many delightful ones to be found second hand, I simply struggle to stop myself buying them.

So, here's a list to help you get exactly what you want, that is half the price, or much more special, or both.

Some can be found right here on Rolighed Scandinavian Antiques, all links provided.

All credits found in article.

Title photo brass dish: Stelton Brass Trinket Dish

For reference, ELLE's "Best New Trinket Trays" article.

(Ps - if this does nothing but make you just want to buy off that list of new items, let me know. Leave a comment. I'd love to know what keeps you pulling that way, so I can learn from it, and potentially try and persuade you otherwise ;) )

Number 1: Get that striking Olive Green colour through vintage alabaster or marble: https://variusvintage.co.uk/products/vintage-1950s-onyx-marble-ring-dish, which offers you both the colour and shape you were after.

• PS. if an item is sold out, that's okay. Google is your friend, so put in those key words, or even use google image search and similar ones will come up.

Number 2: Cutesy Printed candy dish / Trinket tray:

Why not try a Raymond Peynet Rosenthal piece. Easily found and super cute and delightful. And they're not £80, which is maybe the best part.

Credit: Planet Utopia

Credit: EbyVintage @ Etsy

Number 3: Fornasetti:

This is perhaps one of the only ones that make sense, because it is actually an old, iconic brand. But then again - that just means there are old ones already out there. And at £200 a piece we can do better. Would it not be MUCH cooler to show off this vintage Fornasetti Newspaper Trinket Dish eBay that you found second hand? I know I would think so.

Number 4: Mixed marble tray:

Marbles / various stone types seem to be very popular. And our friends of the vintage eras thought so too. So there are loads to look for. Seek out alabaster, onyx, or marble, and a sea of options will come up, like this Black, Grey, White Trinket Jar . That is of course a jar, so looking for something specifically in the tray-style, this Pen Tray from a vintage desk set will be a cool option, and the same goes for this stunning Art Deco Marble Inkwell / Pen Tray. So unique and striking.

Number 5: 1960s Pop Art:

I mean, they're almost making it too easy "Created in the 1960s". Of course, the original ones may be fewer and far between, but it means they are out there, and there will always be similar things too. The modernist designers of the 1960s, in especially Southern Europe loved these whacky pieces, so you can find them. And again, the Elle one is £360, so there is quite a bit of room to find something that is a better option.

Did you just like that it was a hand? These Stunning Hands are your new best find at only £28.

Or was it the striking modernist colour scheme this Modernist Ahtray is really a quite cool option - costly, but still less than the Elle option.

Number 6: Crumbled Chrome Trinket dish:

We've got you plenty covered: Ole Kortzau, Natura. Chrome, or porcelain if you so desire. https://www.rolighed-scandinavian-antiques.com/product-page/white-glazed-natura-porcelain-bowl-by-ole-kortzau-for-royal-copenhagen

Or, Panton by Georg Jensen, which are easily found second hand, as well as Alessi's Sarria bowl.

Lots available on ebay for less than £80 / $100. Some even much less.

Number 7: Multi-Stone-Dish:

With this one, I see the attraction. It's so cheap. But before you make the purchase - give me 2 minutes to give you a million options. Vintage alabaster, marble, granite, onyx ashtrays, soap dishes, trinket dishes. They are so plentiful, and cheap, so don't fall for the price of the new ones. And please don't be discouraged by the description 'ashtray'. It's literally just a vessel, and the one on Elle's list would easily have been described as an ashtray had it been made in the 1970s.

Some you could choose instead are: Lidded Trinket / Jewellery Box, Trinket Box, Ashtray, Ashtray, Box and Tray Set, Tray / Ashtray / Jewellery Dish

Number 8: Round Tray:

Okay, I mean, really. This is almost too easy. Come on Elle. And at a whopping £635, we've got quite a bit of room to play.

Round trays for you here in 3-2-1:

One good option is one we have right here, with a stunning Art Deco style alá Gio Ponti / Josef Frank RSA Art Deco Round Cocktail Tray, or the iconic Arne Jacobsen Stelton Cylinda Line Tray. Both durable and stunning in its steel design. More options include Round Copper Tray, Round Copper Tray w. Wood Grain Design, Round Pewter and Wood-look Tray, or Wooden Round Tray

Number 9: Alessi:

Alessi is timeless, it's always, and though they do occasionally come out with good new designs, the vintage ones are the best ones. These Ellipse trays are pretty fun, but not unique. Especially if you're after the pastel yellow and blue, because those are integral vintage shades. So let's take a look at some alternatives: Orange Metal Letter Organizer, Yellow Plastic Desk Organizer, Really Cool 'Yaffa' 1980s Yellow Letter Rack, Which also happens to come in a Pastel Blue,

Number 10: Geometric Colourblocking

For the final one, they've picked a cool one - which honestly mostly reminds me of the early 2000s magnetic paper clip holders everyone had. Geometric, cool colour block, it's just good. But it's nothing we can't match.

If it's the shape you love - have a look at this stunner. Or, this one - attachment easily removed, and because it's good quality stone, you're left with a lovely piece.

This pair by Fontana Arte are a bit more of an investment, but dang are they stunning. And the same goes for this Flavio Poli stunner.

Or was it the shape, and the blue you loved? This £16 bargain or this £14 Art Deco Beauty have got you covered.

I know some of this takes a bit more time, and some will be sold out when you get there - whereas the Elle links will have many for a longer while. But that's the whole point, we've become so used to things being available, that it's just a bit too easy to make decisions we maybe should think a little more about. It's too easy to buy things we don't need. So, make the effort, and you'll love the pieces so much more, because you sought it out especially.

So, this is just a good reminder - before you click to buy, check if they really offer you anything new. Maybe the past did it better.