Retro Bode – Vintage Finds & Visual Stories by Maya

Discover unique vintage treasures in my Etsy shop: etsy.com/shop/RetroBode

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Why I Chose Vintage

A long, long time ago, I began my creative journey making jewelry. It was through this craft that I discovered the fascinating world of vintage findings — tiny treasures full of history and unique charm.

Over time, my passion grew far beyond beads and clasps into a deep love for all things antique and vintage. Every piece tells its own story, and I love capturing that timeless atmosphere through my photography.

I started selling my vintage finds on Etsy, but I realized it’s not always easy to share the fascinating stories behind each item there — which is why I started this blog. Here, I can share not only vintage pieces but also the emotions, memories, and that special feeling that old things awaken.

With Retro Bode, I invite you to see the beauty of the past and bring it into your present.

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Every Latvian home had one… A wooden box. Handmade. Decorated with love.

In my memories, these boxes were in every Latvian home — quietly standing on shelves, tucked away in cupboards, kept in dressers. Each one was unique: burned, carved, painted, sometimes even adorned with little amber stones.

But they weren’t just boxes. They held family photos, old documents, forgotten rings, coins from another time. Secrets, stories, fragments of lives once lived.

This one — now in my Etsy shop — reminds me of them. It carries the warmth of generations. The scent of pine and time. The beauty of simple craftsmanship.

Do you remember boxes like this? What would you keep inside?

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When was the last time you received a postcard in the mail — not an ad, but a real one, with kind words from someone close to you? The time when postcards carried the warmth of a hand, the scent of ink, and the sincerity of emotion feels so distant… and yet, it still lives on — in antique postcards that preserve the spirit of their era.

What you see here are authentic antique postcards, each of which once traveled from hand to hand, from city to village, from heart to heart. They accompanied people through everyday life and special occasions, symbolizing care and emotional connection. A postcard could be sent for a reason — or for none at all, simply to say: “I’m thinking of you.”

Many were hand-decorated, enhanced with embossing, glitter, dried flowers, or even fabric details. They were much more than pieces of paper — they were tiny cultural artifacts.

Today, we may no longer write letters by hand, but we can still touch the past by preserving and reinterpreting these unique objects. To collect old postcards is to gather traces of human stories, feelings, and aesthetics of another time.

📚 Each one holds a silent story, waiting to be read between the lines and brushstrokes.

💭 Have you ever received a real postcard in the mail? Would you like to revive this beautiful tradition?

https://www.etsy.com/shop/RetroBode?ref=seller-platform-mcnav&search_query=postcards

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Not long ago, I found this tile in an old apartment in Riga. The kind of place that smells like time itself — worn-out furniture, faded books, creaking floors… And there it was — quietly hanging on the wall, surrounded by wallpaper from another era — a ceramic picture, green and dreamlike, as if a moment of rural life had been frozen in time. On the back: JIE Gantofta Sweden, model 928, design by Aimo.

The JIE Gantofta factory was founded in 1942 in southern Sweden. It originally produced wooden items, and later expanded into decorative ceramics. The name “JIE” comes from the initials of the founder, John Ewert Johnson, though over time the company became known simply as Gantofta, after the village where the production was located.

Starting in the 1950s, the factory became famous for its relief wall plaques, often hand-painted and depicting scenes from everyday life, folk traditions, and Swedish nature. Each piece is more than just home decor — it’s a fragment of cultural memory.

Aimo Nietosvuori joined the JIE team in 1967 and became one of their most beloved designers. His style is instantly recognizable:

rich, earthy colors,

scenes from rural life,

a simple, almost childlike charm.

Weddings, village life, family moments — he turned ordinary life into something warm and magical. His tiles always have this stillness inside movement, like time has gently stopped in a perfect moment.

I brought this tile home with care, and now I hope it finds someone who will love it as much as I do. It’s more than just an object — it’s a story, a feeling, a window into another time. See it in my Etsy shop

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Mini Melchior Trays – From Flea Market Curiosity to Vintage Treasure

I found these five little trays at a flea market near Riga. They were lying in a wooden box, almost forgotten — soft silver with a deep black patina, like something that once lived on a fancy table, then quietly slipped into memory.

At first, I wasn’t sure what they were for. Too small for serving... too elegant to ignore. But the more I looked, the more I saw possibilities: mint trays at a wedding, tiny platforms for rings or trinkets, holders for elegant shot glasses, or even a moody prop for photography.

Now they feel like little characters — each with its own surface story.

Styled, photographed, and rediscovered by me — Maya.

Add a touch of vintage charm to your table setting with this beautiful set of 5 mini trays made from melchior (nickel silver). Each tray mea