Posted by So after Monday’s thrift store debacle where I missed damage on the two items I bought rendering one unsellable, I decided to focus on other store work and didn’t go out sourcing again till Thursday. I was thankful to have six orders to drop off at the post office and decided to try my luck at the thrift store again afterwards. I gave myself a stern warning to be extra observant.
Here’s the story–The real artwork in my neighborhood thrift store has been on the thin side lately with a lot of mass-produced “motel art” and dubious beginner paintings. But over the years I have found a number of 1800s engravings and Thursday I spotted this pensive lady.
The double matting colors and gold frame with ribbons were just perfect for this engraving and in good condition. And it was small enough so that shipping wouldn’t be a nightmare. This was one to buy.
Back at home I learned that this 1864 Hippolyte Pauquet engraving is of a famous mistress of King Louis XIV of France–one Louise de la Valliere, circa 1661. Now was this particular engraving really produced in 1864? While I can’t guarantee that, it has age. Using my jeweler’s loupe I can see there are no printer dots, but there are natural variations in the hand-applied color and some that extend beyond the printed lines as one would expect. And there are a few tiny foxing marks. I feel comfortable in labeling it antique. The subject matter may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but this will appeal to someone! (I’ll list this for $80.)
I also thought this vintage/antique fancy brass ink well stand (possibly Persian?) was a stunner, but I did notice the obviously missing finial on top (and the glass liner inside). Still the missing finial didn’t bother me too much because I could envision it with a small crystal affixed on top à la designer Kelly Wearstler.
Wearstler produces a line of high-end boxes ($9,000) studded with stones that I remember seeing in a magazine a few years back.
These over-the-top boxes got me thinking that perhaps a small crystal or gemstone affixed to the top of the ink well would be a rather charming finial replacement.
little jewelry catchall–a place to set rings and such.
So I’m feeling good about these two pieces. Not happy-dance good, but satisfied. Mildly pleased.
Total spent: $13.30
Though my outside sourcing was minimal this week, I did find a few more goodies at home. One was a vintage tea cup I had inherited from my grandmother. It’s been stored in a cupboard for a couple of decades, never used, and I finally decided it was time for it to find a new home. It’s always harder to let go of inherited or sentimental things, but it’s gotten easier over time. I’ve been taking the Marie Kondo approach and asking myself if it “sparked joy.” This cup didn’t!
At one time I collected vintage and antique sterling silver creamers and I used them. They weren’t just for display. But I realized over time I was using them less (and less) so recently I listed what I think is the last one–an award given to Mrs. Milton Miller for winning the Ladies Golf Championship at the Audubon Country Club in 1913. It has a nice weight of 82 grams and was made by Webster.
And as I downsize my books I decided, reluctantly, to let go of my 1960 American slang dictionary. As someone who writes and plays with words, this kind of book is a treat, but I honestly I hadn’t picked it up in years. (Listed for $16.)
What’s been selling the last few days…
It’s always a joy when you list an item and it sells in the first month or two, but I was even more thrilled when a few of my jewelry pieces purchased in 2021 finally sold. Relieved is perhaps the more apt word. The sweet sterling silver Nicky Butler bird pin with gemstones kept being put in carts but it took five years to finally sell. (Bought for $46, sold for $128.) The alpaca silver pendant was large and quite striking. I paid $10 at the flea market and it sold for $38. Fun fact–alpaca silver isn’t silver at all. It’s an alloy made of copper, nickel and zinc, the same as German silver.
The whole bottom row above sold rather quickly. That antique rose medallion rice bowl was an April purchase ($2.36) that sold for $48. But this piece was perhaps most valuable for the information I gleaned from researching it. Chinese porcelain is well out of my wheelhouse but this little bowl piqued my interest and while I learned enough to list and sell it I’m hoping to learn more in the future to enable me to continue to spot the older pieces.
I’ll close for now wishing you happy hunting,
Karen
Hunting for Vintage 