Posted by Spent a little time this past weekend sourcing for my Etsy store and had a blast. I found the most at the flea market so it gets the gold medal, but honestly they had the unfair advantage of having a lot more to choose from. Still Goodwill did okay for Goodwill! (If you know you know.)
First, the Flea Market
After missing my local flea market’s February sale, I was super excited to go March’s. I got there at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday while it was still chilly and some vendors were still setting up. But I was ready with my bag, cash and three categories. I was particularly looking for small artwork, religious items and jewelry.
By now I know which vendors to pass by and which I must visit. The “pass by” folks include those selling newer items, clothes and shoes, plants, new jewelry, toys and those whose prices I know are too high for me. So that’s about half of the vendors. Still even at this small flea market, that leaves enough.
And I do have favorites! Including a lovely lady I’ll guess is in her late 70s. She never brings a lot and many of the things she sets out are personal possessions. But over the years I have bought some amazing things from her for reasonable prices. Well today I walked up to her table as she was talking to a gent and spotted this 22″ hand-painted beauty. It opens to reveal a mirror. As soon as I picked it up I said “I’ll take this.” I didn’t need Google Lens to tell me this was fabulous.
Turns out it’s an antique Persian mirror cabinet from the Qajar dynasty (1789 to 1925). I will list it but I’ve also picked out a spot to hang this in my house hoping it doesn’t sell quickly. (I’m tempted to keep this one!) Similar ones have sold for $250 to $275 on Etsy, but at posh auction houses like Bonhams they fetch a bit more! Close to 700 pounds (which includes the auction house fee).
I also bought a small vintage filet lace tablecloth from her. I like this sort of lace and have sold it before. But. But part of me was saying “put it down” because lately pieces like this have taken a long time to sell. Still I was happy to be buying another item from her.
The only piece of jewelry I bought was this chunky midcentury Mexican mixed-metal pendant/brooch with an Aztec face. Such a unique, bold piece.
I found a similar one for sale on Etsy for $145 which also includes the option to make an offer. I thought their price might be a bit inflated, but did find vintage aztec necklaces that have sold for over $100!
After I paid and we got chatting I noticed a rusty brass lion door knocker and asked the vendor if he’d take $5 for it. He thought about it and in the end agreed. I have sold a couple of vintage brass door knockers before so it’s not a totally new category for me. But after I got home and looked at it more closely I got to wondering. Wondering if the rust was applied rust. Hmmm. I also realized the casting wasn’t quite as nice as I’d like. While it should still sell, I’ll price it more modestly.
Another vendor had items I wasn’t interested in (used shoes, car parts, new books, etc), but at the back of his tarp I saw this–an adjustable brass book stand. Well this was fabulous and a good reminder not to skip by vendors too quickly!
These type of stands can sell for $100 and up. I’ll list mine for $75.
At another vendor, a professional one who I think also shows at the huge Alameda Flea Market, I bought this replica Royal Navy brass telescope. It’s heavy and it works. Just something different but it not valuable. I’ll list this for $48.
In the end I didn’t find anything religious to buy or any paintings and only one piece of jewelry. It turned out to be a brass day! Am I pleased with everything? Yes, but from a purely profit perspective I should have left behind the tablecloth, door knocker and telescope. Still I came home buzzed with my finds.
Total spent: $52
Left Behind at the Flea Market
There were tons of wonderful things I left behind including these two charming packages of vintage paper Easter decorations from Germany. Sadly I had no use for them and at a $5 a package I doubted there was any profit in them. Turns out these very packs sell for $3 to $4 on Etsy!
I had never seen this toy before and the vendor shared that it belonged to her husband. He had received it as a gift from his grandmother when he was a boy and never used it. They had the European cable car toy priced at $80 which I thought was likely right on the money.
Goodwill on Sunday
I almost never go to Goodwill on a Sunday, but today as I was passing by after church I was in the mood to pop in. In my first aisle I found this Art Nouveau silver-plated candle holder by Jennings Brothers, a company in operation from 1891 to the mid-1950s. It features jonquils or poppies and has all the sinuousness you’d expect from an Art Nouveau piece. So far I haven’t found another like it online. (Circa 1920s-1930s.) I’ll give it a light polish and list this scarce singleton for $48.
This new-old stock replica icon is Saint Dionysios of Zakynthos, Greece, made of wood, gold leaf and a lithographed print. It’s from Greece and comes with a certificate. Still this type of item is fairly common. I’ll list him for $48 as well.
Total spent: $11.90
Neither of these were happy-dance scores. And truth be told more of the money was spent on the icon. Hopefully he’ll sell.
Left Behind at Goodwill
I literally carried up this pretty pierced, slightly worn, silver-plated tray to the counter, but decided against it at the last minute. As much as I liked it (and it was only $3.60), I knew it would likely only resell for $18 to $28. Still it was hard to leave behind.
And this small bonsai tree with stone leaves and grapes was sweet and I carried it around for a minute and then put it back. While I like things made of stone, this is not really my cup of tea. It’s a bit fussy. And it was dusty and how many people want this type of dust catcher?
This porcelain creamer from Ireland was in great condition. Back in the day my Aunt Mary collected creamers. At one point she had over 100 and I had given her several of those over the years, but sadly she has been gone for a while now. And creamers stopped selling for me a couple of years ago so I had to leave it behind.
In the End
I’m pleased to be adding some new, interesting pieces to my Etsy store and enjoyed finding them. Flea markets in particular are a blast because you never know what you’ll find. Goodwill less so. These days a lot of their best donations gets put online.
Wishing you happy hunting in your neck of the woods,
Karen
Hunting for Vintage 