Posted by I’m on my bi-annual visit to Tennessee visiting my brother and father. So far the days have been very warm and sunny and part of our plans include antiquing. Two of my favorite antique stores near my brother’s house are in Maryville–Broken Arrow A True Antique Journey and Highway 411 South Antiques–and we visited both the other day. What a treat. As usual there are a lot of items I’m just not interested in or that would be too cumbersome to pack in luggage for air travel or that are too expensive. That knocks out a lot!
But in the end I did buy a few things. First at Highway 411 I spotted this vintage inscribed brass cup that I just found so charming. One side has “CAC, Cairo-Egypt, Miss Caputo” and the flip side “The Best School Store Staff Ever, 1978-79.”
Turns out CAC stands for Cairo American College, an international school founded in 1945, and our Miss Caputo must have done a heck of job at their store to receive this accolade! It has no great monetary value but was such a quirky one-of-a-kind piece that I had to snag it. I think it would make a great pencil holder or even a vase.
I also picked up an antique dresser/powder jar with repousse silver lid and heavy crystal bottom. I adore the Art Nouveau style of the lid, but I have not determined if it is sterling silver or silver-plated. I expect the latter as I have found no maker’s or sterling marks. Still I thought it was worth the risk.
I’ll test it when I get home, but even if just plated I should be able to make a small profit with this appealing jar.
I did go into one booth at Highway 411 that was having a 50% off sale and I realized last October when I was there they were also having a 50% off sale and I didn’t buy anything then. And I didn’t find anything this time either. We’ve all seen vendors do this before. Jack up prices and run a perpetual sale to make you think you’re getting a bargain.This doesn’t work for savvy shoppers. For example, there was a box of pretty crystal knife rests priced at $110 or $125 so even with 50% off there was no profit to be made.
At Broken Arrow, housed in wee cottage, I was smitten by this old, heavy metal door knob in the Eastlake style. It does have some age but is it authentic or a reproduction? Kinda silly buying something I know diddly squat about, still I found it so appealing and it gives me a good reason to spend time researching this type of architectural salvage.
Here’s what a Google Lens search came up with. (It is missing the piece that would mount to the door jamb.)
More research is needed!
Total paid for all: $48
Friday’s antique jaunt to a few stores in Walland (Cook’s Antiques & Collectibles and Rivermill Antique Mall) was not successful. I didn’t find much that I could buy and the one little thing I did buy was a mistake. Here’s the scoop–this little metal Chinese man incense burner is one I have sold before. There’s not much money in him but it was 70% off so I thought it would be worth buying as a bread-and-butter item. But I did not look it over properly. Rookie mistake. It has damage at the bottom. Nuts! I may just end up keeping this little fellow for myself and using it for my cone incense. (Paid $4.25)
At both antique stores today there was a cornucopia of glass and china. Tons. Booth after booth filled with it. Pretty, but not a big category for me or one I would try to buy on a trip and pack in luggage.
I’ll be honest, I had hoped for more and better finds this trip. I’m sure they were there. We did zip through the four stores pretty quickly and of course my knowledge is deficient in some areas. So it is what it is. Bought just a few things, mostly metal, and a couple of books.
Wishing you better hunting,
Karen
Hunting for Vintage 