Auction Fever

Spent Saturday at a local auction and to say there was "fever" is an understatement.  Lots of smalls on the block to be had and a consignor's, multi decade collection of every Precious Moments figurine ever made was also on plat after plat after plat.  One PM collector said this easily was a $10,000 collection.  With so many eclectic items offered, this auction could be a bang or a bust for me.  Of course, that is the fun about attending auctions, you never know which way they are going to go.

First item offered was a vintage electrified Gone With the Wind lamp.

What, not one taker?  Well my paddle went up and I took this beauty home for pennies.  This may be a good sign for me.

They roll out this bad boy and again, no takers...so this beauty also came home with me for pennies.  This Underwood model is often referred to as the "World Fair" model introduced in 1939.    

Next came up a few of the many plats of Precious Moments figurines and that is where the bidders were.  These bidders must have been collectors because the bidding was feverish with plats averaging $100 or more each.  

A plat of vintage silverplate came up in between the figurines and I was the winning bidder.

This pretty compote was in the same box.   So far, this auction was a winner for me.

This stunning, Queen Anne, overstuffed chair has carved elements and the comfiest crushed velvet in a stunning shade of seafoam.  The sofa sold but no one wanted the chair and so my paddle goes up and it came home with me.  It's in my booth space now, but I keep looking at it and thinking it would be a lovely mermaid chair for the SeaWitch. 

Next up was a box of linens...I go weak in the knees for Edwardian whites and inside this box was a set of Edwardian cotton sheets with cut work cherubs along the edge and a set of three fancy shames with hand embroidery and the phrase "Buonanotte" which is Italian for "sleep well". 

A box of vintage tablecloths was another win with this very cool gambling tablecloth with a slot machine theme.  

More boxes of figurines were fought and won by the same three bidders.  Had hoped to win at least one box to give to grandchildren but that didn't look like it would happen unless the three main collector/bidders stepped out.

A box of early Carnival Glass in marigold was offered and I won this lot too. 

The jewel in that lot was this stunning Dragon and Lotus piece.  The lustre on this piece is stunning.

 A box of Precious Moments Christmas ornaments was offered and crickets.  It seems the three collectors had stepped out to get some lunch so I won this lot for $5.00.  These will be perfect for Christmas in my space.

Ladies were still at lunch so I won two plats of figurines at $10.00 a plat.  Pictured are the figurines that did not come in boxes, I still had 9 other figurines that were in their original boxes.  By the time the next lot came up for bid the three collectors were back and so were the high bids.  I am delighted that I was able to get these for the price that I did.

Was so pleased I won this small box of jewelry items.  It had several small boxes filled with Catholic medals along with sterling chains.  A working Bulova watch and assorted sterling charms.

My final win was this lovely set of Rogers AA silverplate. The pattern is Heraldic and has an engraved monogram "S" on all flatware pieces.  

Was so pleased with all of the treasure that I won during today's auction fever.  I have lots of linens to clean, starch and iron and medals to price.

Brought in some old pawn turquoise pieces along with a massive watch cuff.

 A stunning coral and sterling bracelet.  The shaped coral are matched stones.  The fun guitar brooch is a Taxco Mexico piece that is sterling silver with brass. 

It was a fun auction and always good to see friends and colleagues at these events.   I always learn something new when I attend them.  Wishing everyone a gentle week and blessings to you and those you love. SeaWitch

Getting ready for the holidays

Hard to believe that September is half over and the autumn days will be upon us shortly. These last few months will bring lots of holidays and the biggest sales of the year for antique/vintage dealers.  I need to make sure I have lots of inventory so I spent Saturday at a local auction and then stopped off at Statham, GA to look for a new fireplace mantle for my Victorian booth.  I sold my gorgeous antique mantle a few months ago and now I need to find a new one to fill that empty space.  

A fantastic Leeds, England serving platter. 

 Heavy and in perfect condition, this will be a showpiece on any Thanksgiving table or focal point hanging on a wall as a lovely decorative element.

 Large velveteen tapestry of a stag.  

The definitive Victorian design for a masculine room.

 

 Won this great vintage suitcase at my local auction.  This suitcase is a nice, large size but has lots of travel time to it.  The previous owner even taped the bottom with masking tape to keep it together.  Brought it in to my booth on Sunday and it was sold three hours later.

 

One of my favorite wins on Saturday is this fantastic antique Eastlake Victorian rocking cradle for a girl's dolls.  In pristine condition, this beauty is perfect for displaying a prized doll collection. 

 I have a weakness for antique quilts and this beauty from the late Victorian era is pieced with rich velvets and a few silks.  Love the brilliant colors, I'm leaning on keeping it rather than selling.

 Closeup of the pieced work.   This quilt is so joyful in its colorful brilliance.

Same place I found the quilt had this marvelous early stoneware jug. Nice ovoid shape and stamped with the number 1, this jug dates to the early 1800s.

This was an auction win that was buried in a box full of vintage American flags.  I was bidding to win the flags and found this nifty little lunch pail inside it.  Score, a double win for one money.

 I collect antique pudding molds and although my collection is small (4 of them) this one is my new favorite. It is a smaller mold and the corn impression is deep and clean.  Can't wait to make a Thanksgiving pudding in it.

 A Goodwill find, nice vegetable tureen with pretty green transferware pattern.

 Pretty green transferware pickle server was also found at Goodwill. Someone must have cleaned out their china cabinet.

 Pretty vintage Japanese Christmas candleholders.  So sweet.

 A lovely Victorian chromolithograph titled, The Oaken Bucket.  Original frame and glass.  Large print measures 16 x 20 inches.

 Found these at a local thrift shop.  Couldn't believe my luck when I saw them and the price was more than right.  Love these blown milkglass eggs and handpainted Easter messages from the Victorian era.

 Neat cast iron safe with a working combination. Circa 1920s

 Found the linen mannequin torso at my local goodwill so I bought an old lamp and had my son mount the torso on it for me.  Now we have a nice tabletop display mannequin.

 Filled the shelves with lots of vintage and antique transferware.  This always sells so well over the holidays.

  

Moved my glass case from the front of my booth to the right corner to open up the space.  I need to bring in items for the holidays and will need room for additional furniture pieces.

 

 All of those linens I cleaned, starched and pressed have been selling as fast as I can bring them in.  Have already sold 4 large tablecloths and lots of doilies.  These pretty tea towels are rich with color and so much fun to 

use as decorative elements.

It was a great weekend for finding treasure and adding them into my inventory sheet and pricing.  Wishing everyone a joyful week.  Blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch

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