Let’s find your perfect Italian memento. Bring some dolce vita into your life — sustainably!
Let’s find your perfect Italian memento!
Sustainable stylist Desirée Marie Townley sources housewares and personal accessories from Rome’s bustling flea and street markets, teaches you how to shop the markets yourself, and shows you how to care for your treasures so they’ll last.
Bring some dolce vita into your life — sustainably!
Souvenirs with soul
Kitchenware, linens, signage, tarot, jewelry — all vintage, all Roman, all better at capturing memories of the city than a plastic Colosseum.
Shopping & Care guides
Find your own vintage treasures with market shopping guides, then take care of them for a lifetime. (And be a better shopper at home!)
Printables
Maps, botanical prints, and vintage ads, sourced from vintage books and converted into saturated PDFs for you to print at home.
Kitchenwares, signage, tarot, jewelry, and more — all vintage, all Roman.
Market guides for finding treasures, and care guides for helping them last.
Art from vintage books, converted into PDFs by a graphic artist for you to print at home.
NOW AVAILABLE:
The Insider’s Guide to Porta Portese!
Every guidebook recommends a trip to Porta Portese… but online reviews of Rome’s oldest and biggest flea market are brutal: “a waste of time,” “cheap, tacky, or overpriced,” “don’t bother.” “Nothing authentic.” Oof.
Porta Portese is a treasure trove — if you approach it the right way. This comprehensive guide makes the classically Roman chaos manageable with four curated routes for different shopping experiences, detailed maps, market etiquette tips, details on can’t-miss vendors, and info on where to find basics like ATMs, food and drink and, bathrooms — along with Desirée’s pro tips. Download to read and/or print at home and save the mobile version on your phone to keep all the info at your fingertips, and have a great day at the market!
Learn more and purchase!
About Desirée &
The Pewter Thimble
I grew up wearing hand-me-downs. As an adult and sustainable stylist, I still do — proudly. A well-constructed garment made of quality fabric and well cared for can live many lives! The same is true of most of the objects that surround us. Buying pre-loved items brings their unique beauty, character, and history into our homes. It also keeps them out of landfills, and puts your money in the hands of small and local businesses.
The markets of Rome — my home — are as full of history as the streets. Shopping there gives you a new look at the city and gives you the chance to bring home a truly memorable souvenir, one that’s filled with history, is uniquely Italian, and sustainable. I began The Pewter Thimble to share my love of vintage and bring some dolce vita to wherever home is for you, whether you want to head to the market yourself to haggle or opt for one of my finds.
Let’s go shopping!
Highlights from the shop…
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Vintage Bassetti Beans & Chianti Table Set, 100% Cotton
60,00€Crisp cotton tablecloth and napkin set in colorful novelty print featuring beans, sausages, and chianti.Vintage Bassetti Beans & Chianti Table Set, 100% Cotton
60,00€Crisp cotton tablecloth and napkin set in colorful novelty print featuring beans, sausages, and chianti.Vintage Bassetti Beans & Chianti Table Set, 100% Cotton
60,00€Successfully Added to your Shopping CartAdding to Cart… -
Vintage Stationary Set, handmade in Italy
35,00€Handmade paper and hand-cut turkey feather quill for writing and sending beautiful letters.Vintage Stationary Set, handmade in Italy
35,00€Handmade paper and hand-cut turkey feather quill for writing and sending beautiful letters.Vintage Stationary Set, handmade in Italy
35,00€Successfully Added to your Shopping CartAdding to Cart… -
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Handmade Tarot Deck by Osvaldo Menegazzi
135,00€Completely hand-drawn tarot deck, published in Italy in 1978 by world-renowned tarot artist Osvaldo Menegazzi.Handmade Tarot Deck by Osvaldo Menegazzi
135,00€Completely hand-drawn tarot deck, published in Italy in 1978 by world-renowned tarot artist Osvaldo Menegazzi.Handmade Tarot Deck by Osvaldo Menegazzi
135,00€Successfully Added to your Shopping CartAdding to Cart… -
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Handmade Mouth of Truth Replica
55,00€Handmade replica of the famous Bocca della Verità, made in Italy.Handmade Mouth of Truth Replica
55,00€Handmade replica of the famous Bocca della Verità, made in Italy.Handmade Mouth of Truth Replica
55,00€Successfully Added to your Shopping CartAdding to Cart… -
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Vintage Silver-plated Grape Scissors
60,00€Beautifully worn silver scissors, created for cutting grapes stems in polite company.Vintage Silver-plated Grape Scissors
60,00€Beautifully worn silver scissors, created for cutting grapes stems in polite company.Vintage Silver-plated Grape Scissors
60,00€Successfully Added to your Shopping CartAdding to Cart… -
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Vintage Map of Italy by region, 1951, COLORFUL, A1 poster size PDF
10,00€PDF of a vintage map of Italy, originally drawn in 1951.Maximum quantity exceededMinimum purchase amount of 0 is requiredVintage Map of Italy by region, 1951, COLORFUL, A1 poster size PDF
10,00€PDF of a vintage map of Italy, originally drawn in 1951.Vintage Map of Italy by region, 1951, COLORFUL, A1 poster size PDF
10,00€Successfully Added to your Shopping CartAdding to Cart…
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The latest from the blog…
I heart Porta Portese
Rome is a city of wonder:the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, and still, one of my favorite landmarks is the iconic outdoor treasure trove of Porta Portese. But the…
My Top 5 Thrifting Tips
KEEP A DETAILED SHOPPING LIST on you at all times. A list in your phone is often easiest, the more detailed the better (e.g., black pants/ high waisted /wide leg/…
Repairing in Rome
Hi Y’all, I’m Desiree, the human behind The Pewter Thimble. When I’m not sourcing vintage in the Eternal City, I’m home tinkering with a new skill to clean or fix…
The latest on the blog…
I heart Porta Portese
Rome is a city of wonder:the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, and still, one of my favorite landmarks is the iconic outdoor treasure trove of Porta Portese. But the reputation of Rome’s biggest street market has suffered, particularly since 2020. Online reviews are brutal:…
My Top 5 Thrifting Tips
KEEP A DETAILED SHOPPING LIST on you at all times. A list in your phone is often easiest, the more detailed the better (e.g., black pants/ high waisted /wide leg/ natural fiber/ +measurements). This list is your safety net and will keep you from buying…
Repairing in Rome
Hi Y’all, I’m Desiree, the human behind The Pewter Thimble. When I’m not sourcing vintage in the Eternal City, I’m home tinkering with a new skill to clean or fix objects and textiles. In my many years of working in costumes and wardrobe styling I learned…