Antiquing - Gemma Taccogna

Looking for Christmas ornaments for me so it was time to visit an antique mall. I picked up this pin cushion paper mache head because I thought it was Gemma Taccogna but the base is simply signed Mexico. Perhaps it's one of her students. If you have any info please let me know.

A porcelain modernist white horse with teak pick mane made in Japan. Someone mentioned to me that they thought the designer might be Italian again if you have any info let me know. The most darling tiny deer and angel (made in Italy) there was a pair but the other deer had foot damage. SOLD. Little German birthday ornament that might be pre-war Germany. And a german hoop ornament of Danish Royal guards SOLD.

Thrift - Don't Have To Eat My Shoe...Yet

My fave thrift had their fall reopening this morning and it was cray-cray! Guess, people wanted to get first crack on the new clothing, I don't have the patience to sift through loads of shirts. Shelves were empty since they were cleaned out. Did enjoy wandering around looking at my donations and the prices, yep things have gone up. I'm always amused to see a higher price than what I paid for it.

At the old biddy shop I chuckled at the $750 1st Dibs jewelery box. Really! Who goes to a thrift store to spend $750 on a box, when as my mom pointed out, they can get jewelry for that. Guess, I won't have to eat my shoe this week. They had added several new items with high listings. But if people buy and the money goes charity, one can't complain too much. I'll try and take pictures next time as I find this ever so amusing. Did pick up a Tonala owl SOLD and a Sandra Boynton card.

Thrift - Fornasetti Style

Arrived early at my fave thrift store and there was a line! With doors open it was like a herd through the gate! I stood back not wanting to get trampled. Missed another super score, must have walked by an industrial sized smoothie blender for $8.50 cause I saw a guy with it later. Not to mention last week I was just telling my mom to look out for one for me! Bummer!

The tall tower is a 1981 USSR wood stacking clock, thanks to Sputnik Housewares for the id help. Russian Khokhloma canisters that everyone in the thrift store loved more than me. Pair of handmade servers marked Alpaca, Mexico made of rosewood and what I believe is nickel.

On the bottom you'll see a wire galvanized basket, a teak IHQ Dansk board, and a little Swiss music box SOLD. At GoodW the Fornasetti style sun ball (made in Western Germany) was frankenized with a pair of butterfly candle holders. Turns out it's a pair of ash trays that when not in use sit on your table as a ball, how cool is that? Thanks to Straylight42 for the id help.

Oh and I almost forgot a mid 80s teal green leather carrier satchel for the sis. Magnum PI, maybe.

Thrift - Karhula-iittala

Found a box of Karhula-iittala blue glass bowls at my fave thrift! They date sometime just after 1956, the year Timo Sarpaneva designed the "i" logo, as I understand Karhula was dropped from iittala before the 60s. There is even the original price tag on the back. They appear to be the i-series but I'll need to do research.

Little Merten German wood cut-out titled "Max and Moritz mit Brezel" A pair of huge El Palomar Ken Edwards mugs. They aren't signed Ken Edwards but have the little bug symbols of the artisan and I have seen these exact mugs signed Ken Edwards SOLD. A La Modern informed me that KE might have left the company by the time these mugs where made?

"Crown of Thorns" iron candle holder signed JHQ, Denmark SOLD. Not to shabby after such a long dry spell. Oh, and a small noire Rosenthal Studio Linie vase found at GWill SOLD.

Thrift - Moomin Mug

Well, after the stinky estate sale I stopped by three area thrifts and found all this at one store. Spotted these four Arabia Finland mugs but the price bummed me out so I still got 'em. Three rabbit mugs by Helja Liukko Sundstrom. And "Comet in Moominland" child Moomin mug 2001. Saw some odd pricing for the Moomin mug?

Found some Ken Edwards, Mexico pottery pieces too. And a lidded jar (maybe for sugar) and bowl but am unable to make out the Mexican artists signature. SOLD

Thrift - Alert Computer Nerds!

Gsus, picked up some crap today looking at these photos! Visited the usual 3 haunts. At my fave store found a repro "Le Chat" Taylor & Ng mug. SOLD.

Baby theme illustrated tile from 1979 but I can't read the signature. Don't know why I picked it up? Snoopy heart box. Pair Joan Walsh Anglund mugs. Pair copper/brass candle holders stamped Mexico. Tupperware cups for me.

Thrifts seem to be picking up with stock, not great stuff but at least shelves aren't empty. GWill was packed with people!

Coke glass, duh? Fake Boda snowball. Beverly Guhl an illustrator better know for her cats but I liked the graphic elephant computer mug. Hubby claimed it. Red Turkish pot. Rainbow mug. "Down on the Farm" glasses minty! For Sale.

The last picture of upside down Coke glasses "7-UP" was a bad purchase, sigh, sometimes I have to wonder at myself?

Thrift - Don Shoemaker

After the estate I bailed on the second and instead hit 8 thrift stores but only found items at 4.

Picked all this at one store. Another Boyton mug, sigh. For Sale.

A red Fire King style mug. Larger blue enamel Turkish pot made in Poland SOLD. Paid $5 for the Nymolle Hoyrup Denmark pin dish. I know, I paid too much but I couldn't bear to leave it. Passed on a small $2 Nambe heart paperweight, too many scratches to top.

Vintage Napcoware pixie vase, made in Japan. SOLD. Three Swedish style Berggren tiles SOLD.

Tiny vintage blush tin prop in my sisters shop, circa 1950-60's. Four teak mouse napkin rings, made in Hong Kong SOLD. And my favorite find Don Shoemaker rosewood "elephant" salt and pepper shakers, 1960-80's. They look more like bears to me SOLD.

Thrift - Roly Poly by Dorothy Thorpe

Kids are going to back to school because they were all buying supplies at the thrift store.

The two shelves are not my usual style but I thought I'd see if they will sell in my Etsy shop. The colorful folk shelf is an artistic style introduced by Fernando Llort during the 1970's to La Palma, El Salvador SOLD. Bergren, Swedish style tile SOLD. Iron owl lantern by Hallmark. SOLD

Quail Couroc bowl. Faceted milk glass vase. Bright orange & yellow Tupperware containers, I couldn't resist the colors!

For all the Mad Men fans, five mini Dorothy Thorpe silver band roly poly glasses, I think this size is harder to find? SOLD

Estate - Poopy Sales

Went to two advertised mid century estate sales this morning. Made me realize why I haven't been to one in months. Rosewood sofa set for 2 grand, really? The houses were empty too. It seemed more like a moving sale. For my sister I picked up a pair of black kid gloves, made in France by Baltman & Co.

And a pair of Taylor & Ng mugs, had to pass on a damaged duck mug. Turns out the cat is rare. Both SOLD.

Paper mache pigeon signed Mateos, Tonala Jal(isco), Mexico. SOLD.

Blue enamel Turkish pot. I'll have to sell these just to make up the gas money.

Thrift - Raymond Peynet plate

So I returned to my Old Biddie thrift today, hoping they might have more mid century items and what luck, they did! I found a small but weighty German butter pan with rosewood handle.

A signed trinket box from Mexico very much in the style of Ken Edwards. I'm unfamiliar with the artist signature and know little about Mexican art or craftsmen. For sale on my Etsy site. I looked at that Wiirkala vase again, sigh.

But my most favorite find was this $4.50 Rosenthal Studio Linie pin dish or coaster by the French illustrator Raymond Peynet. How could I resist the squirrel?

Thrift - Wow! Lots of Finds!

Things seem to be picking up at thrift stores. Not a shabby day. Carlton cards "Spot of Tea" mug designed by Mary Thelen. Circa 80's to early 90's. Teeny tiny plastic frames made in Taiwan during the 70's for sister.

3 transparent blue Dansk bowl/tray set designed by Gunnar Cyren. Have a black one too. Circa 1970's. Very solid and heavy plastic not the cheapo dollar store stuff you find nowadays. I don't know if these are popular but I hate leaving Dansk behind. For Sale on my Etsy site

Another bullet lamp but it's missing a part don't know if it can be fixed (just sold one on Etsy)

Marimekko's 1975 "Schoolhouse" by Pfaltzgraff mug in mint condition likely never used. Perfect gift for a teacher. Probably by Marimekko's  Japanese artist Katsuji Wakisaka. Believe this to be rare. A very heavy and substantial mug this will keep coffee warm forever. SOLD

Rosti "Margrethe" white mixing bowl was designed in 1950 in honor of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. In good shape though the rubber base has hardened. Signed "Design Sigvard Bernadotte Og Acton Bjorn" 1955. On a side note, Sigvard Bernadotte was the son of King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden and uncle to Queen Margrethe the bowls namesake.

Bjorn Wiinblad illustrated "Juli, Nocturne" wall plate made by Nymolle of Denmark (I have another month too) SOLD

Pyrex "Forest Fancies" bowl. Some chipping to glass lid but I rarely find these in mint condition. I've chipped many by putting in the dishwasher. Don't understand why the bowls are unbreakable but the glass lids chip so easily?

Sometimes you have to kiss a lot of GoodWill frogs before finding something decent. $22 for a huge & heavy Danish teak mirror. Has a few dings and scratches but they mostly oiled out. Bought this exact same danish teak mirror but smaller at an auction a few years ago for $30+.

Other GoodWill finds, pair "Roadrunner, Couroc CA" trays in good condition. They aren't worth much but I like them. Yet another lotus bowl. I will probably put these up for sale on Etsy very soon.

Pair Central Park mugs, they aren't vintage but the illustration are cute SOLD. Corningware Sauce maker but missing strange shaped lid, oops. Found at my Fave thrift store "Blue Bird" Ken Edwards vase SOLD. Passed on a Edwards mug by accident last week and passed on another vase cause it had a brown bird and the signature was hard to decipher.

Small dark cobalt blue globe bowl. Thought it might be Bauer, CA. Just marked "USA c"(copyr) A mystery for me to solve. Bright red sake vase made in Japan SOLD. Have 4 now. It's hard to find one without damage or imperfections to the glaze. Rosenthal of Germany porcelain egg holder, found out it was damaged under the price tag. Black tin Dakota state tray but I don't think it's one of the older ones. Sunset "Scandinavian" cook book 'cause I wanted to look at all the gross recipes.

1970-80's German "People Puzzle" by Pussy. Has fantastic caricatures. I remember slide puzzles being very popular as a child. SOLD. Pair celery green handmade skinny taper candles made by "Creative Candles" of Kansas City, 2006.

Marimekko

Thrift - St. Andrews Abbey Plaque

"Last Supper" St. Andrews Abbey

So I'd been looking at this large ceramic wall plaque at my fave thrift for a few weeks now trying to remember where I'd seen it before and drawn to it's obvious mid century style. Plus, wondering how long before it breaks.

Then one night, I remembered it from St. Andrews Abbey in Valyermo, CA. Designed by Father Maur Van Doorslaer who grew up in Flanders Belgium, he went on to study decorative art in Ghent before entering the monastary. The plaques where designed in 1965 after a visit to study Mexico's folk art. Identified by the large-eyed abstract figures and flat, rough clay used for the handmade pieces. Each section is hand-glazed in different colors. The back is impressed with the abbey's mark.

This particular plaque is a little different from the current design and it's colors are brighter. I would guess to say it's at least 20 years old. It's in excellent condition with the exception of two chips to the bottom rim but they are not very noticeable.

When I returned to the store it was still on the shelf, this never happens for me! For Sale