Found Something Unique

As a vintage seller I enjoy learning about different types of items and exploring new niches. Of course I have favorites areas–pottery, jewelry, sterling silver, religious stuff, old books–but every now and then I like to buy something totally out of my wheelhouse. I like to take a gamble. And that’s what I did with this piece!

Here’s the story…

Last month a friend and I went thrifting. Well, kinda. The three thrift stores we hit up were all small, boutique thrift stores and some of their prices were rather breathtaking. The Junior League store in particular tends to have their best items at antique-store prices which seems a bit mean spirited considering that the items were all donated. But that’s a story for another day.

It was Saturday so all the stores were busy which made it harder to move and to concentrate. Still. Still it was fun and despite the gray sky we didn’t get rained on!

In the end I bought just one item and my friend asked with surprise “What made you buy that?!”

My reasons were varied:

• It had old world charm with an Italian/French vibe.
• It was gilded. Folks like gilded items.
• It was something different!
• I was in the mood to buy. (Always a bit dangerous.)
• But most of all, I had a strange tingly feeling it might be good! Really good.

This store was having a 25% off sale, plus I had a $10 customer loyalty reward to use, so those two combined made the purchase doable as a reseller.

Back at home I had difficulty getting information about my gilded decorative column (about 15″ tall). With Google Image Search there was no direct match.

Similar columns (mostly carved wood, some plaster) were antique (1800s and earlier). I’ve ascertained that mine is plaster but was when was it made? Was it crafted in Italy, France or Spain as many were? Is the bird-eating-grapes motif significant?

Hmmmm. So far I’ve spent several hours researching it and have discovered that the column style with a twisting barley shaft and theme of grapes (a nod to the sacrament of the Eucharist) is known as a Solomonic column. Smaller versions, renditions of the large columns in St. Peter’s Basilica, were made and often used on church altars.

A closeup inspection of mine reveals that it has the pleasing chippy patina of time. Lots of time.

So after digging around on the internet, here’s what I can say about my column:

• It is gilded and painted plaster.
• It’s in the Solomonic style topped with a Corinthian capital.
• It’s possibly European in origin, leaning towards Spain.
• It likely came as a pair and was used on a church altar.
• It has age. Vintage certainly, but given the overall wear possibly 100+ years.

Now I could spend a few more hours researching it, and I may do a bit more, but I honestly don’t think I will be able to nail it down 100% and there comes a point when you have to stop, analyze what you’ve learned and get it listed. But since I still have a few suppositions about it, I will price it modestly compared than others out there. (Those with provenance and in pairs are often in the $$$$!)

Still it was a good find out of my wheelhouse which made it fun to research. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but I like it and am displaying it till it sells!

Wishing you happy hunting,

Karen

P.S. Here’s my listing if you’re curious.