Auction Treasure

 I attended my first auction in Georgia since moving here in July 2000.  That means I've gone auctionless for 13 years.  I used to hit auctions every weekend when I lived in the MidWest and out West and they were terrific for finding great antiques and chippy items.  Especially, the farm auctions, they will always be my favorite.  You don't find farm auctions in the Atlanta area and I've never been a fan of auction houses as they offer a hodge podge of stuff and most of it not the age I look for.  This auction is located in my town and in keeping with my devotion to local businesses, I thought would give it a try. 

Well I had a great time and even though it was run a little different from the way I am used to, I managed to snag some great pieces.The offerings were from an Alabama estate that its original owners collected hundreds of exquisite antique/vintage lamps and oil lamps.  I have never seen so many miniature oil lamps in one location.  They had plat after plat full of them and lots of miscellaneous shades and crystals.

 My first winning bid, which was for $5.00,  were for four antique etched shades. All have a lovely opalescent sheen to them similar to Steuben glass.  I am always looking for shades like this as I come across period floor lamps without the shades.  As I watched items come up I was hoping that this was an indication of good things to come.

 Second winning bid was for this marvelous, early 20th century black marble pen set with pen holder.  Nice, big fluffy Victorian ostrich feather is a great pen shaft.  This auction had a mixed bag of items but mostly gorgeous period furniture and lighting.  If I had a much larger space I would have bid of some of the larger pieces of furniture. 

 Won this marvelous Arts and Crafts movement, hand carved Ash wood armchair.  The Arts and Crafts design movement flourished between 1860 and 1910. This lovely armchair was beautifully refinished by a previous owner and is upholstered in velveteen red.  Circa 1900s

 

 Also won this beautiful early 20th century walnut drum side table.  Duncan Phyfe metal claw legs. Circa 1920-30s 

 

A delightful pair of faux Florentine stacking tables.  

These beauties are from the 1970s and are plastic.  Until you pick them up you don't realize that they are plastic and the beauty is that you can take them outside with you on your patio, porch or deck.  No need to worry about this aging in the weather like its wooden cousins.

A spectacular converted to electric oil lamp with the palest blue, handpainted shade.  Beautiful hanging crystal prisms and original brass, the electric was placed so it can be easily converted back to an oil lamp.  Beautiful Victorian piece. Circa 1890s.

  

I was delighted to see a tone on tone piano shawl with the sought after 14 inch silk fringe.  Lucky me, I was the winning bidder of this beautiful antique silk embroidered wedding/piano shawl dates from the 1920s.  Ivory silk with ivory silk hand embroidery and the long, long silk fringe.  Very Great Gatsby/Roaring Twenties. I wonder how much bathtub gin this beauty has seen.

A pair of big, heavy cast bronze Victorian picture frames.  I have a fondness for these and was delighted to win this bid.

Following the auction, I made a quick run to my local Goodwill to drop off some items and then see what was brought in by others.

Nice silverplated punch bowl ladle.  Always a popular seller and this one is in beautiful condition.

 A gorgeous vintage wedding gown with a capital train.  The gown's fabric is heavy satin embroidered cutwork with beaded pearls and sequins.  A size 16, this beauty can easily be tailored to fit most women today or the yards of fabric can be used in so many decorative elements.

 Sweet little vintage, ironstone cream pitcher.

 Great gangster era hat.  Circa 1960s

 A bag full of beautifully turned honey dippers.  The wood is beautiful and make such pretty decorative elements.

 And last but not least...that item that I was jonesing for from "The Vintage Styled Life" store in Duluth.

I don't usually indulge myself in items like this, but I have never come across a Victorian "castle-top" calling card case.  As my business name says...I Need This, Antiques.  I went back to Davina's lovely shop and purchased it.

Silver "castle-top" card cases, showing architectural views, were popular in England in the first half of the 19th century. This one is American by the Philadelphia company Leonard & Wilson, c. 1840s-50s. The goddess Hebe serving ambrosia to Zeus in the shape of am eagle is in heavy repousse on the front with the Trinity Church on the other side. Pattern was first made c. 1846, when the church's new building was consecrated. For many years it was the tallest building in the New York city.

It was a great weekend, really enjoyed the auction and will go again when they offer up an estate auction like this one.  I hope every one has a terrific week.  Blessings to you and those you love.  Sea Witch