Posted by Today is the last day. After 30 some years, it’s the last monthly flea market at our local high school. I’ve only been going the last 10 years or so still it was bittersweet. Some of the sellers I talked to shared where they might be setting up next. Others hope someone else will pick up the mantle in town. I do too! Phylis who spearheaded this whole effort all these years said she would like to be able to be a seller one day!
Despite my somewhat sad frame of mind it was a gorgeous summer morning and and I enjoyed my slow meander around the parking lot and all the conversations. And of course I found a few things.
Afterwards as I was walking back to my car, I considered emptying my tote and heading back for a second round. Unfortunately my feet were already complaining so I called it a day.
I’ll be honest most of the things I bought are just bread-and-butter items, but a couple have…possibility. One in particular I’m very fond of!
Here’s what I bought…
First purchase–two vintage glass advertising Nevada ashtrays. One is from Winnemucca where my husband and I had a spectacularly bad night on our honeymoon trip across the country in a van. Due to a convention in town, the only motel we could find for the night was the kind with a sagging mattress and cigarette burns in the blankets. Our modest dinner included food that arrived both cold and burnt. It was a memorable night for all the wrong reasons!
My second purchase–five little pewter fish by Selangor. Turns out they are chopstick rests, but would equally work for knives. They are a long-tail item but I thought worth buying. I’m not finding too many comps on these, though a set of four sold for $40 on Etsy and someone else has a set of four for $50+, also on Etsy. (I’ll list my five for $48.)
I thought this vintage brass wall sconce in the Louis XVI style was something special but the seller was no where in sight. I hung around for at least five minutes till he showed up. He quoted me a price which I thought was very fair so I paid him and then had to remind him that he owed me change! He did look a little frazzled and the market had just opened.
I liked this small surprisingly heavy brass Asian (likely Japanese) vase with charming relief images but I am a bit confused by the darkish treatment over the images. I’ve never seen that done and am not sure how I feel about it. Could this just be tarnish that the previous owners decided not to remove? Thoughts??
This antique, likely French, embroidered silk purse is my fav pick of the day and the last thing I bought. The embroidery on it is so tiny and exquisite. The silk lining is shredded inside and there’s a tiny bit of damage on the exterior, but overall it’s in good condition.
Turns out the embroidery style, point de beauvoir, is “a form of tambour embroidery worked in delicate chain stitches using a tiny hook on an embroidery frame.” (Things Most Delightful) This purse is lavish with point de beauvoir on both sides.
Total paid for all: $52. (I bought a couple of pieces of jewelry too, but I’ll save those for another post.) Not sure of all of the prices yet.
So I had a lovely time but it was bittersweet too. I’ll likely have to start going to more estate sales. I did go to one of my way home (it was more like a yard sale) but didn’t buy anything. It featured a lot of ladies clothing (not my thing) and newer costume jewelry (also not my thing!). I considered a small, square crocheted tablecloth, but at $10, it was too pricey for me.
I’ll close for now wishing you happy hunting.
Karen
Hunting for Vintage 