June 2026

MEMORY LANE MUSINGS

Giving a hoot about vintage owls

by Sara Jordan-Heintz

Owls have come to symbolize wisdom and intuition, and occasionally hidden knowledge. In the 1970s especially, owl imagery swooped into popular culture largely thanks to the back-to-nature movement. Who can forget the Woodsy Owl, officially introduced in September 1971 by the U.S. Forest Service with the catchy motto “Give a hoot — don’t pollute”? Readers may also be acquainted with the Tootsie Pop owl commercials (how many licks does it take to get to the center)? Plus, don’t forget Archimedes from Disney’s “The Sword in the Stone.” Millennials recall Hedwig, the snowy owl from “Harry Potter.” My favorite animated owl is simply known as owl, a character from the children’s series “Little Bear,” based on the books penned by Else Holmelund and illustrated by Maurice Sendak. Certainly, many of us first came in contact with owls as children (outside of nature) via cartoons, marketing techniques, and in décor and jewelry.

Sarah Wooding, who operates ScatterBrainVtg on Etsy out of Mankato, MN, said artist Margaret Keane’s “big eyes” paintings may have also ushered in the owl craze.

“I think that helps with the need and want for owl art, because they played into the big eyes art scene,” Wooding notes. “There’s probably an owl picture or drawing in every house.”

These creatures also endure in the form of macramé wall hangings, molded foam wall art, figurines, pottery, planters, throw pillows, and more. They can come off as cute and whimsical, childlike even, or serious and dominating depending on the design. Owls have been integrated into Halloween decorations due to their nocturnal nature, spooky calls and some cultures that link them to witchcraft and the supernatural.

HOMCO (Home Interiors & Gifts) figurines were made from 1957 to the late 1990s and early 2000s, with owl varieties being popular. Arjon made a googly-eyed owl thermometer fridge magnet.

 

A 1970s-era string art three-piece set, in popular earth tones. Image courtesy Sarah Wooding, ScatterBrainVtg)

A lucite owl with soft feet for sitting on the counter, and a hook in back for wall display. (Image courtesy of Sarah Wooding, ScatterBrainVtg)

 

“Owls’ wings are actually fractal, and I think subconsciously, humans are kind of drawn to that, even though they don’t know this,” Wooding says. “They’re completely silent. They are fascinating.”

Granny-Core (also called granny chic) seems to rebel against our fast-paced, tech-heavy world. It places an emphasis on the homemade, such as needlepoint, knitting, crocheting, baking, gardening, raising chickens, and more. Those in the Gen Z and Millennial age groups are finding vintage owls, mushrooms, and other groovy kitschy items at thrift stores, garage sales and online auction sites. The aesthetic plays into Maximalism and even has a “cluttered” look — sort of that lived-in, homey vibe we associate with our grandparents (How some of their houses, even in the present-day, still look straight out of the Nixon or Ford administrations).

In fashion, think of Boho, a style that grew in popularity in the 1960s and ‘70s that was categorized by layering, flowing silhouettes, earth tones, and a personal favorite, medallions. I’ve lost count as to the number of owl necklaces and pendants from those eras that are available to purchase online. Typically worn on a long chain, these birds of prey have a commanding presence. They may have gemstones or enamel for eyes, wings made of dangling pieces of metal (articulated), tassel accents, and either perched on a tree branch or caught mid-flight. They can be found made with oxidized silver, brass, turquoise, agates, shells, and beads. I’ve seen an owl brooch that has daises for eyes. Sarah Coventry made a mesh buckle bracelet in the ‘70s featuring a carved owl with purple rhinestone eyes.

Wooding says owl-themed pieces never stay in her shop for very long.
“Any vintage seller that walks into a thrift store or a vintage market and sees an owl, it’s a no-brainer. ‘Yep, I’m gonna buy that.’ That’ll sell instantly,” she notes. “I don’t even look at the price and just buy it.”

According to the National Audubon Society, a group of owls is called a parliament. This term comes from C.S. Lewis’ depiction of a meeting of owls in “The Chronicles of Narnia.” Owls have a rich history of being used as characters in books, movies and television, their silhouettes stitched on home furnishings and likeness worn as a fashion statement. It seems the public will owl-ways be fascinated with these birds.

 

Sara Jordan-Heintz is a journalist, author, and editor based in Iowa. An “old soul” she is an avid collector of vintage jewelry, Russian stacking dolls, and autographs. In her free time she’s a voracious reader and lover of classic movies — “All About Eve” being her top pick. Her favorite fictional sleuths are Columbo and Jessica Fletcher. She holds a degree in American Studies from the University of Iowa. Connect with her at: sara.jordan909@gmail.com.