Feel good obsession: the Lenox Spice Village

Picture this: You're standing in your kitchen, cooking a boring dinner. You reach for the pepper shaker, but instead you grab... an adorable mini house? Welcome to the world of Lenox Spice Village! Dive into its history, its current status as a 90s cult item, and the good news that these houses are back in stock!

A piece of history

The Lenox Spice Village was first introduced in the 1980s, a time when porcelain and hand-painted items were all the rage. Lenox, a well-known American brand known for its luxury porcelain products, launched these hand-painted spice houses with a nostalgic look at a bygone era. They were available from 1989 to 1993.

The collection consisted of 24 houses, each designed with carefully painted details. The idea was to create a small, cute village on your kitchen counter – something that was a huge hit with lovers of vintage and country decor styles.

The original Lenox Spice Village commercial from 1990.

The Lenox Spice Village as a cult item

Although the houses have not been produced new for years, they have achieved a true cult status in recent years. This is probably mainly due to TikTok messages such as this one:

@paintedsage Reply to @lilyb292929 part 2 displaying the spice village jars! An unexpected pleasant find 😊 #lenoxspicevillage #lenox #thriftfinds #thriftflip #lenoxspicejar ♬ Choking on Flowers - Fox Academy

Fans of vintage decor and collectors are willing to pay a lot of money for a complete set of the Lenox Spice Village.

On platforms like Etsy they are offered for hundreds of euros, especially if the set is complete and in good condition. Then it can go up to $ 2,500, including the original shelf. It is fascinating to see how a kitchen item from 30 years ago has become such a coveted object. Check out Lenox Spice Village on Etsy, you won't believe your eyes 🤯.

From left to right: Vintage Lenox Spice Village poster from Vintage Printology and Tolstead Harbonara offers individual Lenox Spice houses .

Good news: Lenox Spice Village is back!

For those who have been dreaming of their own spice village for years (and who doesn’t?), we have some great news: Lenox brought back Spice Village this year! The set will be available from September 2024 in the same charming style as the original collection, but probably with some modern adjustments to meet current quality standards. This means you no longer have to search for a vintage piece – you can now bring a brand new Lenox Spice Village set into your home. Well, if you live in America. Luckily, Lenox is working hard to make international shipping possible soon. So we’ll just have to wait for that :)

This is Spice Village mega-fan Ashley who will gladly tell you all about the houses. She just didn't know then that they would be coming back in the Lenox assortment :)

Why everyone wants these houses

1. They are so cute! Seriously, have you ever seen anything cuter than a tiny house filled with rosemary? 🥺
2. Dopamine boost deluxe! Every time you cook, you will be happy with your own little herb village.
3. Conversation starter supreme! Trust me, everyone who enters your kitchen will be talking about it. "Hey, are those... houses for your herbs?!" 🤯
4. Perfect mix of function and fun! Your herbs stay fresh and your kitchen looks fantastic. Win-win!

Have you fallen in love with these cute herb houses? Join the club! Check the Lenox website for the new release . And for the real die-hards: keep searching at flea markets and online platforms. Who knows, you might find a vintage gem!