This is More Like It!

First an update on the African mask I bought a few days ago. I contacted Masks of the World who provide a free service offering information about your mask. They got back to me right away and while they couldn’t say with 100% surety that my mask (likely a Dan-Guere People’s Talking mask) was authentic, they did think it would attract the eye of collectors and would be happy to help sell it for me. So, I asked for details and am waiting to hear back what they think it could sell for and what their fee would be. Obviously they could sell it a lot more quickly than I could with their customer list, but I am not opposed to selling it myself either.

Well, I decided to go back to my neighborhood thrift store hoping more masks had shown up on the shelves. (Now, isn’t that a twist…me, looking for masks?!!) There weren’t any more, but I did find three wonderful items that were more in my wheelhouse and will make nice additions to my Etsy store.

This signed Robert Eickholt feather perfume bottle (dated 1999) was a stellar find. Eickholt’s a master glass blower with decades of experience. Beautiful and in beautiful condition his collectible bottles easily sell for $100 and up. Wouldn’t it make a wonderful Christmas or Hanukkah gift?

This antique silver plate Adelphi shaker is such nice quality. Copyrighted in 1890 it has just the right amount of patina and still plenty of use left in it. I’m guessing, given the larger holes on the top, that it’s a sugar shaker and a darn pretty one with this repoussé floral design. So far I’m not finding another one like it online so possibly it’s a scarce item at this point.

And lastly there’s this small intriguing weed pot signed Haynes and dated ’66–a true mid-century modern brutalist piece. I think this is fabulous. No, it won’t appeal to everyone, but it doesn’t need to. This is the real deal. Both sides have cut outs that reveal gold and rust details.

Total cost: $14.27

So just three things, but three good things. And three small things!

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I’ve also been listing more personal items. I bought this wonderful MCM Jay-Flex sterling silver and rhinestone choker some years ago and have only worn it once! Decided it was time for me to find it a new home–with someone who likes a bit of glam and sparkle.

And this vintage/antique crocheted child’s cap was discovered in a bin during our termite tenting prep. Can’t remember when I originally bought this!

This vintage sterling silver trophy was part of my engraved sterling collection. This nice-sized cup with a good weight (351 grams) is from a Shinners’ Department store (Sutton, England) baby competition! While it’s engraved for 1933, the cup was actually made in 1929.

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And in the just-for-fun category every now and then I purchase lots of old snapshots from Dan, an eBay seller. Actually, now that I think about it, I’ve been buying from him for years! I pick out my favorites from each lot and put the rest in groups that I sell or use them as gift tags. Here are a few recent 1920s/30s photos that grabbed my attention in a farm-related lot.

Love these gals in their bib overalls…a surprising image really. Perhaps they are early land girls.

These ladies in their oversized cotton dresses and crimped hair were more common of that era.

I thought this snap was fun. Not sure how far he’s going to get puffing on a cigarette!

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Sales wise it’s been my slowest month of 2021. Not what I expected in Q4, but this October “slowness” is a reoccurring theme in a social media group of Etsy vintage sellers. Many of us seem to be in the same boat and we’re not sure what to make of it! But my strategy is to just keep listing what I think are fabulous items.

Wishing you happy hunting,

Karen