Was My Brain Addled at Goodwill?

I am not sourcing as much as I have in previous years, so when I do buy something I am trying to make super smart decisions and not to settle for “just okay” things or so many “bread-and-butter” things. (Though honestly the small bread-and-butter things have kept me afloat at times.)

Well, today I popped into Goodwill on my way to the grocery store. I was feeling more upbeat because sales have picked up this month…thankfully. But as I wandered around the store I almost wondered if I was overthinking things at times or perhaps not too clearly!

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Didn’t Buy

I really liked this pair of crystal bud vases. (Much prettier in person.) But they weren’t signed, had a tiny bit of damage on the saw-tooth rim as well as some dirt/yellowing inside which would take time and effort to remove. I carried them around in the store and finally set them back on the shelf…with a sigh! These ended up being a NO.

I also liked this naive (student?) impressionist-style painting of Paris in fall on a rainy day. Isn’t it cool? It was priced at $9.29. I dithered about only because it was quite big and the shipping price would be hefty. If it had been smaller I would have bought it for sure.

This quirky batik pillowcase with embroidered details was signed “Estin” which it turns out is a small clothing brand from Indonesia. It was only $2 and obviously easy to store and ship, but in the end I decided against it. It ticked most of my BUY boxes, though I wasn’t sure how much I could have charged for it…$20 or $24 maybe??

Bought

I normally don’t look at the tea cups but I’ve been inspired by my friend Elizabeth who has had great success in buying and selling them. So I looked today at the few that were there and this sweet cup grabbed by attention. Turns out it’s a BD (Bawo & Dotter, Limoges, France) bone china demitasse tea cup and saucer, hand painted (I checked with my jeweler’s loupe) and likely 19th century! Haven’t found any similar pieces painted with four different flowers. Given its age, condition, uniqueness/rarity and maker, I believe it could have some value to tea cup collectors. I’ve listed this for $75.

Bawo & Dotter was a New York company established in 1860s to import porcelain mainly from Limoges. In 1870s they established in Limoges a porcelain decorating manufactory called The Elite Works. In 1896 the manufacturer began producing its own porcelain. Production lasted till 1914 when World War I began and was resumed after the war ended…in1924. Bawo and Dotter took over the William Guerin’s company and merged it with the previously acquired by W. Guerin factory Pouyat Porcelaines in one company: Guérin-Pouyat-Elite Limited. The firm continued production till 1932.

The Old Stuff

On my way to the checkout I spotted a plate mixed in with the Easter stuff. I’m not buying many plates these days but this Villeroy & Boch Foxwood Tales bread/dessert plate is one I have bought before and done okay with (sold for $30 four years ago). In fact at that time I bought three of this series of plates and they all sold rather quickly. So I was happy to buy this one as there is still a market for them.

Recent sales from Worthpoint…

Listed this spring Foxwood Tales salad/dessert plate for $45.

Total cost for the tea cup/saucer and plate: $7.00

Closing thoughts

In the end I know it was better not to buy things that I had qualms about, still there is a part of my brain that thinks “Did I just miss out on something good?” Thankfully there is always more good stuff around the corner.

As I alluded to earlier, sales picked up this month which has been a relief. Here’s what’s selling…a mix of personal items, flea market finds and a few Goodwill pieces. The ’90s Levi slim fit jeans were mine and in a size I haven’t been for a long, long time (sigh!). I listed them for $50 and they sold in a day.

Still it is funny what sells and what lingers. I have this exceptionally tall, beautiful Czech Republic Ceska vase in their Canterbury diamond pattern that didn’t sell on Etsy after several years so I tried Chairish for a while. Nada there too. And in the years I have had it for sale, it became my go-to vase for tall blooms. So I said to myself, “Nuts, I’m keeping this” and it’s not for sale anymore.

I used it just last week for my birthday lilies from my eldest daughter.

And next week I have an appointment to take a few things to The RealReal store here in my town, but I am seriously thinking of canceling it. Here’s the deal…Customers love The RealReal, but sellers/consigners consistently leave 1-star reviews on Yelp. Most say their items were discounted without their knowledge or consent and after hefty commissions were deducted they were left with a fraction of what they were expecting.

Here’s just one example…

I’ve already decided to list my 1960s/70s Bonnie Cashin leather coat on Etsy. My lovely eldest daughter modeled it for me a few days ago. It’s a bit big on her small frame! Priced at $375.

I’ll wrap it up for now, wishing you happy hunting,

Karen