Faboosh February

Happy Valentine's Day, my children.  

February has been a busy month for me so far.  I'm on a tear to clean out my two "indoor" inventory rooms.  I have taken at least a dozen, huge bags of donations to local charities and sold 10 boxes of treasure to dealers from the first room.  It is now in order and I can see inventory easily for me to pull to replenish my spaces.  Now, I'm working on room two and have already dropped off six more donation bags and have put together 3 more boxes for dealers to purchase.  I'm loving this spring clean out and can't wait for the nice weather to arrive so I can tackle the garage.

Did a little treasure hunting on Saturday and stopped by Vintage Village to pick up a pair of cherubs I saw on their facebook page.  Now, fully moved from their old location into their new digs and the store has never been more beautiful.  

This delightful french tub is in the entrance window and just woos you inside.

Pretty furniture pieces, cement statuary, antique shoes and pretty dishes abound.

"Early word processor" is the perfect decorative element for personal touches.

A bin full of whimsical decorative pillows are such fun. Fell in love with this one.

Easter touches can be found in the spaces.  Love the egg coddlers and molds in this pretty pink basket.

So many lovely things, it's hard to decide what to bring home.

 Two gorgeous pieces and the green cabinet has a stunning alligator finish.

I just know that the handsome man in this portrait must throw pizza dough because there is a marvelous wood pizza peel (spatula) next to him.  If I had a large kitchen, both would be hanging on the wall.

These are the two cherubs I came for. I have a weak spot for these turn of the century images of "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep".  The original portraits were taken by M. B. Parkinson, a NY photographer who worked in the New York City area during the latter part of the 1800s and early 1900s.  The picture is a real little girl named Josephine and was the daughter of a friend, a single mother who worked and sometimes left Josephine in Parkinson's care.  His cupid photos were instant hits and were sold in stores all over America.  They came in a variety of sizes and the smaller ones in tin frames, like the pair above, sold for a nickel in the popular 5 & 10 cent department stores.  These are also hand tinted with color and nested in my French display case.

Did a little treasure hunting at a few favorite haunts and came home with a few great pieces.

The queen in this treasure hunt is this gorgeous Roseville, twin handled, vase of their popular Water Lily pattern in the coveted shade of aqua blue with a gradient blend into blue at the bottom.  A large piece with a wide, spittoon shaped mouth, there is a small flake on the bottom.  Considering it's age, 1943, this is in great condition.

Vintage “boobie” ash tray.  Heavy lead crystal with engraved design in the palest shade of blue, these are too pretty for tobacco ashes, I would use for jewelry.  Circa 1940s

Beautiful vintage, sculptured leather mask face of a lovely woman. Exquisite work and so lifelike.  Signed by the Ghana artist:  Edu N’gola So 

 Sweet little terra cotta creamer with green/yellow glaze.  Signed Duriez. Circa 1940s

 Pretty little Empire Ware, Art Deco posy vase. England. Lovely art deco design and matt glaze. Circa 1940s

Vintage Chintz *Rosalie Pattern* Empire England Trinket box or Cigarette holder. Some damage but well loved.  Circa 1930s

Darling pair of lifelike cactus plant tea cups.  Signed by the artist:  Z. Weifel.

 Lovely vintage silverplated butlers tray, footed with handles and a lovely piece of sheet music dated 1929.     

It was a lovely weekend despite the cold temps but my taxes are completed, I'm cleaning out inventory rooms and I have a warm dog with a wet nose.  Life is good so with that I wish blessing to you and those you love. Sea Witch

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

Autumn Treasure Hunting

We are slipping slowly into fall, here, in the south.  Warm days and cool nights are perfect for throwing your windows open wide and letting the autumn cross breezes blow through your screen doors and windows. The sound of rustling leaves is hypnotic and the sky is a brilliant blue.  These are the days I love to meander looking for treasure and it won't be long before the apples are ready for picking at our North Georgia orchards.  My honey is already planning our first road trip for apples and antiques and I can't wait.

So enough day dreaming of fall pleasures and let me share what I found this weekend.

I know, I know...in fact "you know" I am crazy about quadruple plate.  This pretty and very big sugar bowl looks more like a small trophy.  Nearly all of the silverplating is long gone and the base metal is now exposed, but I love the gun metal finish and it is perfect for use in holiday decorating.

Pretty pair of Depression era salt and peps.  Most of the silver is still on the bases and the tops are still intact if not a little worn for wear. Pieces are dated 1929 and are heavy.

 

Found this cool frame at my local goodwill so I added more of those Victorian changing stickers.  You go from pretty Victorian photographs to ghostly images.

 

Also found these pretty little gold leaf frame mirrors that I added crow stickers too. Brought them in on Sunday and they sold the same afternoon.

 

I love Victorian rose bowls and this pretty contemporary version is a small cut crystal rose bowl.  Perfect for a single full blossom of your favorite flower.

She's a beauty.  Lovely Edwardian white christening gown constructed from a family petticoat. Crisp, white cotton batiste is heavily hand embroidered and french stitched seams.  The sleeves are also shaped in the classic Gibson girl mutton sleeves.  Circa 1900s

 

Closeup of hand embroidery and cutwork.

 

One of my two prize finds this weekend.  This pretty Weller Pottery piece.  Circa 1932 and from their Elberta series.   Brilliant yellow and green in the coveted matt glaze.  I love it when I can find these kinds of pieces in the south.

 

My personal favorite,  magnificent Arts and Crafts Roseville pot from their Matt Green line. Very early Roseville piece is from 1907-1910 and these pieces are highly sought after. This piece books at $375-$425.00.  The treasure hunting gods smiled kindly on me this weekend

Found a service for five, yea, I said five, go figure...of gold plated flatware.  Also had a serving fork and spoon as well.  Barely used and brilliant with its finish.

 

Pretty woven pine needle basket with unique star pattern in weave.  

A southern piece.

How cute is this little 1930s embroidered quilt piece?  Perfect for a child's room.

 

Found a pair of authentic Venetian masks from Italy at another Goodwill I visit.  This is a full face mask and is in brilliant blues and gold brocades.  Can be worn or hung on the wall.

The second of the two Venetian masks that I found. This one is a face mask that ties and is in gold and green with sheets of music on it.

A photo of my expanding fall/Halloween display.  Like Christmas and Valentine's Day, Halloween and fall items always fly out of the booth.

Isn't she just beautiful. Found her at a thrift store and had to take her  home.  Dated 1911, this is a lovely, sepia toned photograph in original frame.

Sold another lamp so I brought in this twin pendant chandelier.  Love the spun matt pewter and scroll work of the piece.

Sitting on a Goodwill shelf was this pretty little Victorian, stoneware toothbrush holder from a water bowl set.  Perfect condition with lovely blue-green transfer ware all around it and inside the lips.  These are usually among the first accessory pieces of a water bowl set to go as they were dropped often by wet hands.  Circa 1870s

And finally, a really cool vintage Heinz ketchup bottle with the original labels from 1904.  Notice that there is no cap.  This bottle requires a cork/cap setup.  Bottle is full of stretch bubbles as well.

So, what I lacked in quantity I made up for with quality.  It was a good weekend of junkin and putting together Halloween pieces. Have lots more to make as these holidays will be upon us soon enough.  Blessings to you and those you love.  Sea Witch