Buying back my youth

Nope, not a post about a new anti-aging creme, not about botox or cosmetic surgery...but I did buy a bit of my youth back this weekend.  

I was taking pictures at the Lyon's Head Antique Mall to add to our facebook pages when one of the dealers brought in this marvelous, 1935, mechanical toy of the Lincoln Tunnel by the Unique Art Manufacturing Company, Newark, NJ.   As a child, I spent many a weekend in the family station wagon with my sisters and mom and dad.  We would travel from our home in Lincoln Park, New Jersey and  head into Manhattan which took us through the Lincoln Tunnel.  As we entered the tunnel, dad would tell us girls to lift our feet up and not let them touch the floor of the station wagon until we left the tunnel and entered the city...we would then do the same on the way out of the NY tunnel entrance back into NJ.  So many memories of this trip, we took often as a family, came flooding back and I had to come home with this vintage toy and I purchased back a piece of my youth.

The weekend found other treasure that will find its way into my spaces.

Nifty 1970s bird cage as an Aladdin look about it.   I love to fill these with groups of pillar candles or small, white lights and hang in outdoor living spaces.

Found this lovely, antique trumpet shaped brass vase.  Most likely an altar piece.  It is a tall vase with original patina from the early 1900s.

Pretty little antique, brown transferware creamer.  

Simply charming, vintage personal teapot is hand decorated with painted oranges and blossoms.  this is a pretty little thing.

Don't you just love children's shoes?  This is a sweet pair of black, leather  shoes from the early 1900s.

Darling miniature oil lamp is a depression era lamp.  I may be keeping this one myself.

My local Goodwill had a bag of Christmas and these pre-skew ornaments from Italy were in the bag along with other items.

Four, mid century, plastic Santas.

Four plastic reindeer...these will be added to my personal collection.

 A group of those impish elves.

It was a lovely weekend with Florida spring temps making it perfect to spend time in the pool.  Nothing better than a book and a dog but sweet girl fell asleep on my book in the sun and I didn't have the heart to move her.  So I did as she did and took a snooze on a raft floating the afternoon away.  Life is good and with that let me wish blessings to you and those you love.  Sea Witch.

2019 - middle of January

Hello everyone and a happy but very belated New Year.  I have been remiss in blogging these last few months for so many reasons.  My day job, my health, my spaces...but a dear antiquing gal pal reminded me how much she enjoyed my posts and I have missed writing them so I am going to get back to blogging again.   

Had a great December with my spaces at the Lyon's Head Antique Mall, one of my best sales months in several years and that invigorated me to look through the last of my 9 boxes from my move two years ago.  It was like Christmas all over again discovering items I had forgotten I had so I'm busy pricing them and bringing them into my spaces.  The best thing about this, though, was filling up my vehicle with items to donate to Goodwill and the extra space in the garage.  

Did a little cyber shopping at my favorite antique shop in Snellville, Georgia - Vintage Village.  Love when my #happymail arrives and these are the treasures that arrived:

Absolutely stunning vintage bird cage.  Strong, big and original paint makes this a winner all around.  Now to figure out where to hang it.

Set of three wooden shoe lasts. I love these decorative elements.

Another favorite of mine are the stiff Edwardian collars.  I use them in a glass cloche along with other antique elements.

And finally, this marvelous, antique clock face.  This bad boy is big and along with its Roman numerals time it has the numerical calendar along the outside.  I am fascinated with time pieces large and small and have antique clocks around the house.  Some work, some don't but they still call to me, none the less.

Most of us get into this business to upgrade or add to their personal collecting.  That is what brought me into this marvelous business.  I wanted to add to my vintage clothing and my needlework tools like spinning wheels and bone crochet hooks and of course, I went a little wild with all the marvelous things that are out there.   So here are some of my last two weeks finds that have found their way or will into my spaces.

Large bee hive cloche.  

Nifty little find, a pair of 1970s, Indiana carnival glass pedestal compote candlesticks.  I had never seen these before and they are fun pieces.

Lovely silverplated fish that is a menu holder. Italian from the 1950s.  This would be perfect for a seafood restaurant to display the day's specials.

A gorgeous Victorian art glass compote.  Silverplated base with an opalescent glass base with ruby trim.

 Lovely Wedgwood Jasperware bowl.  The base it is resting on is mine, a purchase from a gal pal dealer from Vintage Village several years ago.  

 Pretty little porcelain lady pin cushion.  These were wildly popular in the 1920-30s.

 This was a great find, a pair of Goofus Glass large, low bowls in marvelous condition. Usually these have the cold paint from the bottom missing.  

Nice vintage Sacred Heart of Jesus print in original tin frame from the 1930s.

Delightful pair of the Victorian favorite...Cupid Asleep and Cupid Awake in charming, oak heart shaped frames.

 Beautiful Victorian, molded nickel over copper humidor.  I'm head over teakettle with the shape so my struggle is to keep or sell.  I may live with it for a few weeks before I make the decision.

A personal acquisition, a commercial silk thread spinner.  This spins so sweetly and easily when the metal points are held between two fingers.  

 Set of three, antique, turn of the century booklets of love.  The covers and illustrations inside are pure joy.

My last find was this stack of cabinet cards.  I adore these and I'm going to use the small ones in garland that I will be making.

I am hopeful for 2019, for my spaces at the Lyon's Head Antique Mall, for a positive direction in my "day" job, for continued health as I age (don't we all) and I wish you all the same and I always wishing you blessings to you and those you love.  SeaWitch

December Treasure

Can you believe it?  It's December already.  Had a lovely Thanksgiving visit with my son and his family in Denver and even got a little treasure hunting in as well.  I hope the holiday was a great one for you as well. Now I'm playing catch up again on adding more inventory, pricing items, sprucing up the booths and preparing for more Christmas sales.  Found some nifty finds this weekend, unusual pieces for this time of the year as well.

 

Found this buried in one of my boxes of Christmas items.  I had thought I sold it all these years. Very 1960s with plastic garland on a birch branch with bells.  The definitive door hanger to announce when guests arrive.

 How lovely is this big, vintage wooden and wire birdcage?  Original brass feeders are still intact and has two doors.  I filled it with vintage Christmas balls and topped it with a pretty ribbon.

Pretty vintage, wrought iron tabletop or mantle candelabra is big and heavy. Holds 7 standard dinner tapers and has lots of layers of old paint.  Really like this piece so if it doesn't sell, I won't mind. 

 

 

 One of my best finds this weekend.  A marvelous, original Currier & Ives hand colored print of "Little Charlie" and is dated 1874.  Original bubble glass and frame with wooden backing.  The colors are brilliant and true.

 

Vintage milkglass footed compote is filled with gold plated silverware.  Everyone needs a happy gator with a Christmas ball in his mouth...especially if you are a "Gator's fan."

Pretty little jasperware creamer and sugarbowl.  Soft sage green color with lovely details.

Vintage Holy Family velvet tapestry. 

Beautiful pair of late Victorian, pot metal, heavy candlesticks have been sprayed antique gold.  

 

Exquisite silverplated tray by Wallace Silver.  Large piece with highly polished surface, it is as brilliant as a mirror and looks like it was never used.

 

Another super find this weekend,  a gorgeous and hard to find Roseville, Clematis container.  Their larger offering, this pattern was produced in 1944.  These actually look like poinsettias.  It does have crazing and a small repair and a crack line, but it is a hard to find pattern in the matt pine green and the large container form. 

 

Brought in more Santa's as they seem to fly out the door. 

 This jolly old elf is a nifty vintge piece that is a nice size.  He lasted 24 hours before someone took him home.

 

I love these wicker tiered servers.  They have so many uses.  Nice vintage piece in terrific condition.

 A second beautiful hand colored print in bubbled glass frame.  I love these mid Victorian pieces and this pretty peasant woman is filling her table pitcher with cool water from a wooden flume.

 Pendelton blanket, Harley D stocking and pinup calendars came and went as fast as the vintage Santa.

 Vintage trees, wicker pieces and mica houses.

 Photo of my general line booth.  Sold lots of items while I was visiting my Denver raviolis and had to fill in the empty spaces.

 

My Victorian booth continues to be my favorite.  It is always fun to add period pieces to this booth.

 Sold several large pictures so had to bring in new ones.  Moved items around to give the booth a fresh look.

Will catch up on my blog reading this week, I have missed reading your posts and am looking forward to your lovely photos and what you are up to.  Blessings to you and those you love and have a great week.  Sea Witch