Estate - More Chemex

Wasted lots of gas this morning going to the crappiest crap estate sales. Returned to one from last week. German woman was a hoarder...of mugs...ugly ones. I think, she might have been a teacher. I restrained myself from picking up 3 Boynton cat mugs.

The next had hellish parking full of honking horns and screaming people. I headed for the kitchen and saw a price of $5 for a plain ole mug and had that sinking feeling. Lots of old fashioned froo froo items not to my taste but I did find a box of small indent Christmas balls. Climbed a shaky stool to grab a Chemex with handle above the fridge. I shouldn't have left the box of filters, dang.

Headed to a 3 thrift/consignment stores in the area. Now these are in one of the wealthiest areas in the country and these places have the same junk I find in other areas. Do rich people not donate? At one, I found everything below. I can't resist wood Polish dolls. Ducks logo teak Dansk cheese board with hidden knife. A heavy corked pot signed "Anna Hogberg, Sweden 1991" Plus, pair small 1975 Vignelli for Heller glass souffle bowls/ramekin.$20ea

Thrift - Bennington Trigger Mug

Decided I was going to be there when stores opened today. Was 40 minutes late! The 3 bay rosewood wall unit was at the old biddy shop for $320 or $350. It looks smaller than Danish pieces and there are no markings - turns out it was from Yugoslavia. I thought the price was fair but no bargain considering it's a thrift store. Took a photo but I think the camera is broken?

But I did find a 5.5" Dala horse by Nils Olsson, Sweden which was not cheap SOLD. A Japanese Kokeshi doll with two character stamps SOLD. 

For my sister, I picked up a 1960's wood box fish purse made in Japan-it's missing the handle and snap but I couldn't resist the graphic fish. Found her a orange red litho tin cigarette box that I thought she could use for props, it's marked "Ardath Tobacco Co. London, Leeds & Dublin." Reminded me of London's old telephone boxes.

Can you believe, I found not one thing at my fave thrift store! It was bare bones too.

At GWill I found a Bennington Potters, Vermont "Smithsonian Institution" Trigger mug, a first! It has two glaze pops that have stained the rim. I passed on a pair of small white Starbucks mugs, a mistake? And last, for $3 a heavy maple cutting board for myself. All in all, I'm pleased with today's finds. Here's hoping for more good luck.

Thrift - Vintage Haba Horse

Took a quick stop at my fave thrift store not expecting to find anything so close to Christmas. But I was pleased to find this vintage wooden and leather fringe German "Haba" horse probably from 1960's. Waiting for Haba Germany to send me back the history on this guy.

"Heros" of Germany wheeled cart of wooden building blocks SOLD. Vintage colonial rocking horse, made in Japan SOLD

1993 Russian doll with only two dolls inside. Sandra Boynton Christmas cards from 1981. Two creepy flocked ornaments made in Taiwan. Pair vintage paper clip boxes.

Thrift - First David Stewart Pottery

Visited the old biddie shop and picked up a few items. A patent leather "Koret" purse for my sister. It has some scuffs that worry me. Inside is an attached coin purse and a small Bergdorf Goodman mirror. http://www.korethandbags.com/history/

First time, I've seen David Stewart pottery of California. Marked "Lion's Valley Stoneware #28." This wall pocket lions head is well made so I see why it's collectible. SOLD. Swedish candle holder with three spikes for apples and a German Erzgebirge angel candle holder. SOLD

Thrift - Creepy Doll

We decided to visit some thrifts out in what I can best describe as "Hillbillyville" At GoodWill I found Taylor & Ng 1978 "Birds & the Bee's" mug SOLD. Recent production Russel Wright Oneida plates. They are not nearly as nice as the original versions (stupid buy). "Seven Dwarfs" Christmas doll (knee hugger) made in Japan SOLD. Small felt elf, Sweden/Japan SOLD. My sister picked up some records.

At another thrift found a vintage Japan tin and red Heller mug. Stopped at the Salvation Army and found nothing-I don't think I've found anything there in years?

Probably won't be going out to these thrift again as the finds weren't great (except for the mug) and the drive was long!

All Sweden

All of this belonged to a lady who emigrated to the U.S. in 1946 from Sweden. She eventually opened a business importing Swedish crystal and Scandinavian furniture.

Lisa Larson "Lotta" Kid series figurine for Gustavsberg, 1962-79. SOLD

Pair teak and wicker bread baskets, stamped "Made in Sweden." The little delicate white S+P and sugar shaker are by Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg, I believe these to be quite uncommon. Unfortunately the salt has a hairline crack.  SOLD

Huge "Paprika" vase designed by Anna-Lisa Thompson (1905-1955) in 1948 for Uppsala Ekeby, Sweden. All hand incised. It weighs 12 lbs! The plan is to sell this but I'm unsure how to mail it safely.

Danish teak sculptural lamp by Ernst Henriksen, still wired for Sweden. SOLD More Spisa Ribb plates but these are seconds.

Thrift - Snowbabies!

Headed out early today. Finally bought the yellow Tupperware pitcher that has been calling me for a
few weeks. 1970s Wood painting of spice rack, signed by the artist.

Pair of Heller bowls, I always think it's weird just to find a few Heller items. SOLD

Swingline stapler that I haven't decided if it's worth selling. Vintage Santa mug made in Japan SOLD. Baggie of birds but I just wanted the carved walnut, sticker underneath says "Made by Olga." These two unmarked wood soldier ornaments didn't do anything for me but I thought they were too well made not to purchase. Made in Austria? SOLD. Red hat bottle cork that, I think, is from Italy?

Paid decent dollars for a baggie of teeny tiny snowbabies but I had noticed a few of them were marked Germany.  In addition, when I pointed them out another lady watched me intently perhaps in hopes that I would put them down? Some of the German babies are marked 1935.

1980 Avon roller skate cologne bottle.

Thift - Poor Little Angel

Went to my three local thrift shops this morning as I don't feel up to doing estate sales this weekend.

Marimekko Finland sole place mat though I understand there were four put out on the floor. White Copco spice rack with half the spice bottles. SOLD Pair of Japan knee huggers. Vintage Santa mug made in Japan. SOLD And a small winter themed tablecloth. Found the 6th Vera snowman napkin ring to the five I found a few days ago.

German Steinbach "Chimney Sweep" ornament. A victim of the thrift store is this a little Sevi, Italy "4 angel" for 10 cents.

Thrift - Little Swedish Figures

Went to four thrift stores a good distance from my house. Haven't found anything at them in ages. Did pick up this interesting lint brush, the hat & brush separate from the lower half. Don't know anything about it. It's pretty well made and heavy. Another birthday Boynton mug (I finally sold one)

A red Erzgebirge Christmas candle holder it spins but is missing a gold star on a spike. Nymolle "Maroc" cup and dish designed by Paul Hoyrup. I didn't notice the big chip until I got home, dang. Yellow Danish Rosti server. Sheffield England "Made Danish" knife with wood handle part of a carving set.

Picked up three swedish ornaments in an Antiques store for my collection. The windmill is marked Svensk Slöjd, which translates to Swedish Handicraft.

Thrift - Bahhhhh

By far my fave find today was the ram and his ewes! Even has a black sheep. Nice box frames that someone made. I can't believe no one picked this up!

Otherwise, there seems to be a drought on for really cool stuff. Teeny tiny 1960's Tensor lamp. SOLD

1969 Royal Copenhagen Blackberry vase, I paid too much. SOLD Russian doll missing baby. Homemade 1960's hand crocheted card basket. 1960's Napco mini Santa mugs, made in Japan. SOLD. Handmade Virgin Islands straw ornament. And in the background an 1960's electric hot plate. I love how they tried to jazz it up by using the iron Dansk candleholder, ha ha. SOLD.

Thift - Woooo TupperWare

Other than the missed Kluk Kluks here are my finds at my fave thrift. Modern Russian nesting doll glasses. I don't know why I bought these and a few weeks ago passed on the real ones from the 60's?

Look I found another wooden monkey sans arms and the day after I found the Zoo Line Hippo. I have seen parts on Ebay before? Had to rescue him.

Several milk glass vases and pedestal. A replacement jar (it was missing a cork lid) for the one I broke the other day. A lone glass floater. Strawberry Shortcake tin. More lovely Tupperware. Four glass custard cups that I thought were Pyrex but they are Dynaware.

Thrift Score - At GoodWill?

I'll never understand the GoodWill by my house. Most times I stop by, the shelves are empty but for HomeGoods and tons of 'Made in China' crap. But today was different.

A horribly tacky 80's ice cream mug that I couldn't resist. A Selandia stainless steel server and a rosewood server, both made in Denmark. I love when materials are mixed.

My best find of the day is the 1959 ZooLine hungry hungry hippo trinket box. The tail looks freshly broken probably at the thrift store. He need a little love. There was a lady standing in front of the shelf and when I saw the hippo, I said 'Excuse me' and shot my hand out in front of her. She gave me that sort of dazed look. Hey, I wasn't going to take the chance she'd see him. The photo is blurry because the light was very dim. SOLD

A lone knife to add to several I have already collected. A blue 1976 Bicentennial Ball jar that I got for the hubby but I just might sell? A loud 1970's stoneware plate signed Mikasa 'Indian Feast, Half Moon' I don't believe it to be by the elusive Ben Seibel SOLD.

A yellow & teak thermos I recognized immediately because I'd just seen it on A La Modern's site. Designed by 'G. Rosendahl, Falkenberg Sweden, Made in USA.' I've seen ones made in Sweden online. The tag on the bottom calls it a 'Keeper' 'International Coffee & Tea' 'Camarillo CA' Otherwise, know as "The Coffee Bean" established in 1963. I can only guess this was sold in stores in the 60-70's. Went back to the thrift store - guilty of crappy condition and beer goggle judgement.

More Bodum glasses -  looked and looked for the cork coasters. And a pair of unused stacking Christmas mugs from the 60's, what great graphics and colors.

A very tall Pinocchio made in Italy. I almost bought one in Cville a few weeks ago. Glad I waited. I have a growing Pino. collection SOLD. A leopard print vase of a lady names 'Emily' signed Susan Paley by Gant. I picked some serious tack today SOLD. Four mid 70's to mid 80's Sandra Boyton mugs. For Sale in my Etsy store.

Ladies, let this be a lesson not to apply self tanner! A funkadelic Skipper doll. Her butt says '1965 Mattel, Made in Japan' Her arms face and legs are a weird yellow and sticky. Her leg is broken, I mean broken as in taped together! Don't know what I will do with her? She was $2 so I said 'what the hell" more beer goggles. Behind her sits a milk glass vase.

Found a second 1979 Chein metal recipe card box that has never been used SOLD. A cute little jam jar. I was attracted to it because of the rattan handle. It's signed on the bottom "handpainted".

A pair a Murano glass paper weights. I think the left one is old. Unfortunately I noticed a crack in it when I got home. The other has a foil label. It's not older than the 80's SOLD.

Three bundles of blue garland tinsel, made in Germany, probably 60's. I think crafters will like it and more beer goggles.

Thrift - Brio's Puck the Dog

Coffee & tea wood caddies with rooster decals, made in Japan - booted back to the thrift store. "Horizon Blue" pair of Pyrex mixing bowls.

Puck the Dog by Brio, Sweden. Puck first entered the scene in 1964, this is a recent version. SOLD

Stack of children books from the 1950-70's. "Ramona the Pest" 1968 & "Ramona the Brave" 1975 by Beverly Cleary, one of my favorite childhood books. "The Strange Disappearance of Arthur Cluck" 1967 & Little Golden Book "Heidi" from 1954. "A Charlie Brown Christmas" 1965 that's actually worth something.

My first find from Israel! Handmade enamel over copper in a plastic frame. Circa 1960's. Labeled WIZO Home Industries, Caspi. Interestingly enough, WIZO provided an income to any poor woman living in Israel that was home bound. I found a lot of photos of woman hand making espadrilles. Anyway, it's rare for me to find handmade enamel bowls or plates in my area. SOLD

Thrift - Bodum & Swedish Dalahäst

Found at my old biddy shop. A Bodum press (missing cork coaster) for the hubby. He complains about the pod coffee maker at work.

And a four inch red Swedish Dala horse labeled "Handarbete Tillv., John Gudmunds, Sjurberg Rattvik. Probably from the 1960's. SOLD

Thrift Score - Alessi of Italy

Sign, another terrible picture. It must have been overcast when I shot this... Hit 9 stores today and found most of the items at two of them. Sometimes you just don't find much.

Scored with a recent Stainless steel fruit basket by Alessi, Italy, 'This was the first object to emerge from research by the internal engineering department into wire-bending technology, in the late 40s.' I think the square is more rare? It's super expensive to buy new. SOLD

A clear magenta Dansk tray designed by Gunnar Cyren, have what, 5 now? Little Pyrex bowl in Butterfly Gold pattern. Another Ingrid picnic ball, one already for sale in my Etsy shop. Some white Dansk Tiny Taper Candles. SOLD

At my usual haunts (where I always find loads) I only found an Iittala beer mug designed by Oiva Toikka in 1973 (found another a few months back) SOLD

And a "Federal Glass" Cancer  Zodiac mug. But for once no Heller, sad face.

Set of Bodum bowls, I love anything Bodum with cork coasters, don't know if they are worth anything. Kosta Boda Snowball for $3 that has a chip on the bottom but it for my votive collection. Green & orange what I thought were egg cups but now I think they are sake cups, have several white ones too.

Stack of 1960-70's children books. Including a wonderfully illustrated one featuring an owl. Postage scale from 1971 that I use all the time. Three high quality Danish stainless steel candle holders by Lundtofte. For Sale.

Oh, I found a rare white trash can by Japanese industrial designer Makio Hasuike (Gedy in Italy) but it was badly broken, darn sloppy thrift stores.

Thrift - Glass Cork Bottles Galore

Picked up a ton of stuff today!

Green Copco salad spinner designed by Sam Lebowitz (made in USA) that I thought the hubby wanted but apparently not... A green enamel cast iron pot by Nacco, made in Denmark. I'm unfamiliar with this company but it looks identical to Micheal Lax's Copco cast iron pots. Info I did find: N.A. Christensen & Co (NACCO). Nacco pots and pans were produced by Morsø Jernstøberi (Morsø Cast Iron Foundry) in Denmark. The thrift store said it did not come with a lid but I think it's missing. 

A yellow plastic Rosti mixing bowl made in Denmark. I have three in this size now, so I guess,  I'll have to sell one or two.

Another glass decanter with wood stopper (just sold the first). I saw a third one but without the stopper. SOLD

Four rooster and cupid weather vane cocktail glasses SOLD. I like to think they are from the 1940's?

The most adorable green & gold sugar bowl signed LG 5. I believe this to be an older piece maybe 1930-40's? There is the coolest matching casserole bowl but it has a chip on the handle that you can bet happened at the thrift shop. It was very upsetting to me! Plus its been out for two weeks and they only just put out the sugar bowl? Will have to look for the creamer. I'll try and take a photo of the damaged piece next time I'm at the store. Oh and a hidden little wood topped cork stopper for the hubby's sour beers.

A pair of handpainted wooden dolls that I believe to be Polish for my figure collection. by Aja Tra, made in Uppsala Sweden SOLD.

Someone must have donated their pottery collection. I picked out two pieces, a deep hand thrown bowl with ringed interior stamped HB but it looks like a fish skeleton. Someone had skill making this bowl as it's very thin walled and light weight. I find this mark all the time - must be local?

In addition, a the stoneware jar with natural cork stopper, it an actual whole piece of the tree not the usual ground up mash that's glued together. I don't care for the jar but I couldn't resist the cork lid, signed KA 81. I had to pass on a lovely Bennington Pottery of Vermont jar because it was cracked.

Found a load of cork topped glass kitchen bottles hidden in a basket. Had a 15 year old girl breathing down my neck 'cause she saw me find them and I could tell she was interested. I felt a tiny bit bad grabbing them up. I did manage to break one just after I listed it. SOLD

Charlottesville Road Trip

The hubby and I celebrated out 10th anniversary at Mas Tapas in C-ville this year. Driving down Route 29 we stopped at numerous antique and junk shops. Here's a helpful hint, if something in an antique store is marked at least $10 or $20 they will usually give you 10-20% off, just ask. Or if the owner of the stall happens to be present they are usually happy to bargain.

In the back is a yellow "man food" tray that I still need to clean by Chein Co., made in the USA. The illustration reminds me a little of pop artist Peter Max. SOLD

Herb illustrated linen tea towel signed "by hand wert" Found this info on Ebay: "Country Print by robert darr wert was hand printed and hand assembled by out neighbors who work with us in our barn workshop-set among the hillside ledges, wood lots and pastures along the peaceful Connecticut in in Gill, Massachusetts." Wert died in 1966. Mom freshly laundered it for me. SOLD

Royal Haeger matte brown vase 7.5"h, factory is still based in Illinois SOLD. A children story book in very good condition with bright illustrations. The hubby picked up a Civil War book.

A Raku lion with an illegible stampSOLD. It reminds me a little of Lisa Larson, ha ha. A Rosenthal Studio Linie white china cup & saucer by Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala SOLD.

Taylor & Ng "Elephant" mug SOLD. A little glass troll by Bergdala of Sweden.

Below are a 1950-60's matched pair of circus clowns for ring toss game marked "Made in France" Bojensen style soldier see original in background. A favorite is the 1955-65 stamped "Bennington Pottery Design of Vermont" lidded jar with wood dowel designed by David Gil.

Thrift - IKEA Moose

Found today at my Fave thrift. Three 50 cents each cedar planks for the grill happy hubby. 1951 California artist Margo Alexander's framed gouache silkscreen. It has that 1940's feel, right? See the back label below. And what I call an IKEA Moose "King of Crappy Furniture" except he has a "Made in Sweden" sticker and he's not a pile of rubbish. Something one would buy in the airport. Paid 50 cents, he'll likely go in my wood figurine collection.

Thrift - Humpty Dumpty

While visiting my Mom I stopped by her local thrifts. Picked up another ice cream maker, I had just sold one the day before on my Etsy site. Why isn't packaging designed anymore? SOLD

A well worn wood man crayon holder, that I just found out might be from the 1930's.

Bright orange large nosed Native American mascot for Camp Mohawk. Likely from the YMCA Girls Camp in Litchfield, CT. Late 1960 -1970's. For Sale on my Etsy site.

For my wood figure collection is a bright Humpty Dumpty. It might be an egg holder? Does the head comes off  cause its stuck. The bottom stamp is illegible probably Japan.

At GoodWill I found a lovely large pink, white and gold plastic tray by Georges Briard but all the corners were broken. A few handles martini decanters (they look like Pyrex coffee pots) that I passed since I thought the prices were high.

Up front are my mother-in-laws "Stonecraft Pink & Blue" McCoy mugs (she has an extremely large mug collection) These were never used and date from 1976. She's still looking for the pitcher then they will be for sale on Etsy. SOLD

Tip me h'at ta' ya' guv'nor!

Thrift - Seeing Red!

Was out my doctor's way so I decided to stop at a couple of local thrift stores. At the first thrift, I found the never-used red Dansk piaya pan designed by JHQ. This is a later pan because of the handle design and it's made in Indonesia. There is a chip to the interior enamel you can bet that happened at the thrift and might be a deal breaker for resale plus it's not Kobenstyle. New Zealand plastic canister with red top and scoop for myself. There were two but sadly one had a crack. Red pitcher marked Copco SOLD. Passed on two more red enamel pans that were unmarked and overpriced.

At this particular GoodWill I'm always finding Hellerware. Set of tomato red plates, a color I've haven't seen before. Another rainbow mug from FTD.

Stopped by a dead estate sale too. Wow! Was it overpriced! Everything was mostly contemporary and ornate. Did pick up 14 vintage knee hugger elves SOLD. Blue German Rosenthal vase by Bjorn Winblad. For Sale. I need to work on my bargaining skills 'cause they suck.