Thrift finds - January : Fourth Week

I am settling into a routine of sorts with my store: I stop at thrift stores often, I also try to go to one estate sale a week, then, after I clean my finds I photograph a batch of them. Editing those images and listing are the two things that consume most of my time, but I believe this is time well invested in the long run. I list whenever I have time to edit the images and research the items. It is frustrating at times to spend an hour on a listing! Frustrating but necessary.

I am still reconsidering my pictures, but if I decide to change, I will have to change a big batch of images, as to give consistency to the store. So for now, I will keep it as it is. I want to be sure about the new setting before committing to it.

Talking about changes and ideas. I am going to start a regular post on this blog that will feature thrifters and collectors. I am interested in finding out more about others like me, and I am dying to see their homes and collections. I will start with my pals from ThriftBreak, but if you will like to be featured, let me know! Thanks.

This weeks thrift finds make me smile, some I got because I knew what they were, others because I liked the way they looked. Let's see them.

This one I recognized immediately. An original Piero Fornasetti bowl in the moon pattern. I LOVE fornasetti! When we lived in Italy, I always imagined that I would find one of his works at the flea market. It finally appeared 6,000 miles away!

***Update*** I just got an e-mail from Barnaba Fornasetti's assistant (Piero Fornasetti's son, the custodian of his father's legacy) and she confirmed that this was made in the 1950s by his father, this is in fact an ORIGINAL! and she gave me an estimated price that made me really happy!

This cool atomic lamp was something that I have spied in the preview images of an estate sale. This lamp caught my eye because of its unique design. I still have to find a reference or attribution to it. So, if you know anything about it, leave me a note.

This beauty was the other reason I went to the sale. An Arthur Percy bottle designed for Gullaskruf. This one has no label so it is difficult to attribute, but telltale dimple on base, color, and height point toward an original Percy design.

Interestingly enough, I came late to the sale, so I was number 90. I knew that all the people with low numbers were resellers too, so I was surprised to find the two items I wanted still there. The resellers were all in the garage fighting over tools. I am fine with this arrangement.

At the same sale I found this mid century orb wood bowl in the style of Sowe Konst of Sweden. Isn't it great?

I got some other small things at the sale, including a Native American beaded belt, signed in the back with initials and 1905 as the date. I am still researching to see if I can find any reference as far as the maker. I will write a post about it when I have more information.

This very retro casserole in the speckled pink glaze with a warmer stand was love at first sight. I bought it from a sweet old lady who told me all about the great meals she served in it. A sweet find with a story to tell.

Well, these are the highlights of my week, what did you find? Come and share at Her Library Adventures and Apron Thrift Girl

Thrift finds - January Third Week

Every time I go out to the thrifts, I try and think of the objects I have yet to find in the wild to maybe force them into being at the store, just by my wanting them to be. It doesn't work often, mind you, but once in a blue moon I get lucky. Las Monday was the day to find one of my favorites.

Jens Quistgaard Rare Woods ice bucket for Dansk of Denmark. Yes, a Quistgaard ice bucket! I have always had one on my thrift wish list (the tall one) and this beauty just happened to wait for me at the store. Isn't it a stunner? I think so. The rare woods line was crafted from exotic, tropical hardwoods. The line employed dramatic, sculptural forms enhanced by decorative wood grain. Because of its original high cost, the line was produced briefly from 1962-64, making any surviving examples highly prized by Quistgaard collectors. I am considering selling it on Ebay instead of my Etsy shop, we will see.

It is hard to follow in the steps of such a great find with other smaller treasures, but what if I tell you that I found more Quistgaard? I am not kidding, more is always better.

A very nice teak chip and dip designed by Quistgaard for Dansk in the 1960s. It still has the glass insert at the center, in great vintage condition. Lovely.

A bright yellow kobenstyle pot, a large one. beautifully tapered shape, balanced by an equally nice wood handle. Another Quistgaard design.

Three small candle holders, also designed by Quistgaard for Dansk. I have seen some people using them to push bulbs on them. Either way, a great design. Isn't it amazing how varied his work was? Different materials, different uses, all united by a great sensibility for shape and material.

And to finish it all, my little wood viking from last week, he is no Quistgaard, but he is cute! 

This post is also a shout-out to Luola, have you seen her store? Isn't it amazing? I am always inspired by her finds and her photography. Recently, while she was giving some feedback on images for a fellow thriftbraker's store, she said that she liked depicting depth, and to place an object in an actual place. So today I gave it a try, my finds are not floating in empty space, but grounded to a table. I like the result but  I would like to find my own signature look. I will keep on sharing here and maybe you can give me some advice, right?

For more great finds visit  Her Library Adventures and Apron Thrift Girl

Treasury LOVE

Mid Mod Love by MidModMomStore

Mod Mad in love with all of these!

Herman Miller Alexander Gira... hermanmillermo... $149.00	Wood Bowl No.0007 thedoghousewor... $85.00	DAY BAG - triangle bookhouathome $60.00	Arabia Finland Finel Kaj Fra... blueflowervint... $110.00
Claire White - 8x10 Modern A... bergenhouse $18.00	Danish Modern Trivet by Laur... thankhugh $25.00	Vintage Friedel Mod Plastic ... luola $12.00	Charles Murphy record album ... NewDocuments $10.00
Rattan-wrapped iron candle h... PardonMyVintag... $30.00	Krenit Orange and Black Enam... bitofbutter $75.00	Mid Century Modern Perpetual... ILiveModern $125.00	Pair of Cast Iron Spider Can... DipperVintage $25.00
Vintage Murano geode bowl sputnikhousewa... $49.00	Russel Wright Iroquois Casua... PrairieArtsCer... $72.00	danish modern cast iron cand... thecreekhouse $19.00	Corning Ware Casserole Dishe... ItchforKitsch $65.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Thrift finds - January : Second Week

The second week of the year has been a good week again. It looks like the thrifts are stocked again and there is even the option of leaving things behind! What? Yes, leaving things for others to find... shocking, I know. I guess my inventory is good and I am finding that some things sell faster than others, or that I do not want to have too much of the same. Cups and saucers, they have become my item to leave behind. I still like them and see the value in them, but our drive-thru, venti drinking culture has no use for beautiful cups and saucers... so I say and I just sold a set with matching teapot today! I am happy to be wrong about this, I am.

So, what made it home with me? I found a beautiful Copco pan and matching dutch oven, I also found 4 Stockholm glasses designed by the great Eva Zeisel, and a postmodern looking Emsa - Rio coffee thermos.

Then on Friday I went to an estate sale that was announced as an "Oriental antiques" collectors dream. I went late in the off-chance that there could be something of interest to me. I am glad I went because there were a lot of little things that are going to bring some color and fun to the store: Two medium sized Dala horses, five wooden figurines from Sweden in traditional attire, a Corningware Country Festival lidded sauce pan and glass container with cork, a Tonala ceramic dove and five Figgjo Lotte bowls.

I also found a Nambe bowl and a wooden viking figurine that I forgot to include in the picture. Not bad, right?

What did you find this week? Come and share at Her Library Adventures and Apron Thrift Girl

To be or not to be... Bojesen

If you are anything like me, you might find yourself looking at a find on a thrift store and thinking: Is this the real deal or is it not? It happens to me more than I would like to admit. My knowledge is limited to my previous experiences, and even though I read and look and try to learn, there is always that moment of doubt. Thankfully the very knowledgeable people of #thriftbreak are usually helpful.

This past week I found this little figure at an antique mall, it looked like a Bojesen figure, but it was a promotional figure for a drink, which made me think twice about it. I inmediatly tweeted this picture to the group

Jonathan, Bit of Butter, and Sputnikmoss gave me input. They all concurred that it looked like a derivative piece, made to promote the distillery. Kevin from Bit of Butter, pointed out that the painted lines were not like those in the original pieces. I agreed and left it behind.

Later that night I decided to compare my image with others of original pieces, and the proportions of the piece as well as the expression on the face were right to me. The price was right and I figured I could keep it for myself if I was wrong. In addition there was this little note on the base of the figure that made it a little more special, like a piece of SoCal history.

It reads: From Hotel Laguna, Purchased at remodeling sale, March 16, 1985. I am guessing it was part of the bar decor.

So I went back and got the soldier and brought it home. It sat on a shelf until today when I decided to clean the grime and cut the wire around his neck, I was carefully cleaning the inside of one leg, when I noticed a mark! Yes, a mark!

Can you believe it? I am so happy! Was this an original blank soldier body painted by someone that wanted it to look more like the real thing? It is true that the painting job is nothing like the paint from the other soldiers I have seen. If anyone has an explanation or more information, will you please let me know?

Here he is! All cleaned out and proud of his origins and travels. I think I am going to keep it as a reminder that great design still shines through layers of dirt and bad paint.

I think he agrees!

Thrift finds - January

I am very excited about 2012 and all the great treasures that still await me! If this week is any indication, I am going to be a very happy thrifter this year. So, without further ado, here are my beautiful finds for the first week of the year.

A gorgeous teak lamp base, I just need to find the perfect shade and add some teak oil to restore its shine and we will have a great new lamp for our dining room!

Not one, nor two, but THREE beasties! These elusive Robert Maxwell's figures had been on my wish list for a long time. I live in Orange County, close enough to Venice, California, where he had his studio; so I was surprised not to have found them before. These are great! To find more about Maxwell and his work visit this site.

A set of eleven twelve wall plaques designed by Bjorn Wiinblad and produced by Nymolle Pottery of Denmark. Shy one plaque from a full set. Designed to follow a couple through the months of their courtship. I am missing November "Optimisme" which depicts the couple expecting a baby.

Another Wiinblad find! His beautiful crystal angels for Rosenthal Studio Line. I might keep these.

Three Dansk teardrop candle holders designed by Jens Quistgaard. I just need to clean them up and find some of those beautiful candles that go with them. Great design never gets old.

This bowl had me confused for a while, but some research and help from Alyson and Kevin seems to confirm that this is in fact a covered bowl from the Flora line designed by Oiva Toikka for iittala. I had never seen it in this color, much less with a lid! I have seen it now as a set of three stacking bowls with a lid. I keep on looking for the other two bowls...

Last but not least a couple of kokeshi dolls. These are in fantastic shape, and they have great patterned bodies. Beautiful brush work and detail.

What a bounty! Right? I now need to get busy listing all these and all the other December finds. I will find the time for another thrift trip during the week, I hope it goes as well as this week.

What did you find? Please share with us:  Her Library Adventures and Apron Thrift Girl

A New Year of finding beauty behind the dust

I am back! I took some time off from the blog and I tried to stay away from the thrift shops with little success. I have found a lot of things since my last post, most of them little, but all of them great!

Today is the first Sunday of the month, and what that means is the Antiques Market is up and running! I am a believer of tradition, so I decided to sleep in, have a wonderful home made breakfast with the family and then head out to the market... see, whatever I do on the first day of the year will pave the way for the rest of the year! I had no big expectations as I knew that half the vendors were not going to be there, yet I was able to find some treasures.

My favorite find of the day has to be this Arabia of Finland annual plate. I love the design and the colors. The vendor at the market had it amongst a heap of odds and ends, he even lowered the price to half of the asking price!

I enjoyed looking as much as finding, markets are such a feast for the senses, I took a couple images of the beauty found in the temporary arrangement of things. These are my other finds, the colors and shapes that shine under the southern Californian sun.

To make my day even better, I found a set of melmac cups and saucers for my friend, she wanted some and the vendor at the market had plenty of colors. A set of six, with sugar and creamer made a wonderful gift! Sorry, no picture of these.

A small Dutch butter warmer, and a retro set of stainless salad servers also came home with me.

My last find is one that makes me smile. It is a figural candle holder by Stoneware Design West of California made in Japan. I think it will look great at night. Is it cute? Is it creepy? I am not sure. I only know that it makes me happy, and that is good enough for me.

All in all a great beginning to a brand new year. "The best is yet to come".

For more great finds visit Her Library Adventures and Apron Thrift Girl