I'm tempted to rip the book apart just for this one plate.
Showing posts with label Flea Market:. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Flea Market:. Show all posts
Thrift Store Treasures Not Purchased:
The Vita Master! $20.00
It probably has more uses in a home dungeon rather than a home gym these days.
The 60's, Vaguely Mediterranean bachelor pad bedroom suite with a cool bow front.
Over 8' long dresser with triple bow-tie mirrors. $129.00
Two night stands. $29.00 a piece.
High boy with same bow front detail (too the right). $89.00
Detail of hardware.
Beautiful early 20th century triple mirror vanity dresser. $150.00
IN BIRD'S EYE MAPLE!
With beautiful fluting and flower chain details.
Four hand crocheted polyester dolls and or cozy's. $5.00 - $10.00 a piece.
Gerald Thurston - Cricket Lamp:
A couple of Saturdays ago I was actually up early enough to attend a few yard sales. After following some very misleading signs to an address, I got turned around geographically. Let me explain that I never get geographically challenged. It's a built in thing I've come to trust more than GPS. So I found myself in one of those hollows where numerous streets converge and I got so mixed up that I was convinced some neighborhood kids had played a prank by reversing street signs. "These guys are good" I told myself passing one after another after another until I couldn't justify that the kids had actually been so thorough as to change every sign in the neighborhood that I finally had a moment.
After I recovered my composure and bearings I took a turn and there was the sale. Tah Dah! There in plain sight was this fabulous mid century desk lamp. I thought to myself, "I'm gonna buy that bitch whatever it costs." I greeted the lady and browsed about the remaining junk, Happy Meal toys, cheap clutter, clothing and bits and pieces of hardware. I wandered over to the table and saw the price tag. "Oh sure...that's why it's the only item left on the table. It's $100.00. I move a little closer and let me say that I recently started wearing reader glasses. Who am I kidding, I'm up to 2.00 magnification. I search for the readers for a minute then remember that they are on my head.
After sliding them down on my nose I glance at the price again and it magically changed to $10.00. Woo Hoo! I've been in the junk business since I was thirteen years old when I set up a booth at a local flea market and I know how to haggle or more appropriately when not to haggle. I promptly pulled out a ten dollar bill. The lady informed me that she collects lamps of the 40's and 50's.
OH?
"Would you happen to have anymore lamps inside your home that you would be willing to part with?" I love talking my way into strangers homes. It's another of my talents but that's another story. "No I don't but I'd be happy to show some of them to you. Inside her 1920's bungalow was a mid century museum. I recognized several design stars from the past but others were completely unknown to me. I'm pretty good at identifying a designer or a specific piece but many of the zany fixtures were so obscure I hadn't a clue. We exchanged numbers in case she should change her mind and off I went with my new lamp, one in which I wasn't so sure of the designer but was very familiar with the manufacturer, Lightolier.
After snapping this picture I uploaded it to Google images and instantly came up with Gerald Thurston Cricket Lamp. Gerald is so far off the celebrity designer radar that no biographical information is available. However his and furniture routinely fetch high dollars. I quickly and mentally moved this item over to the assets for future retirement column.
Big Eyed Love:
Even though I’ve been away working I’ve been thinking of you. While cruising the aisles of Goodwill I discovered a treasure, a big eyed treasure. Margaret Keane was the queen of big eyed children portraits but many other artists followed her keane eye like the artist, Eden. It’s a cheap knock off lithograph mounted on cardboard without a signature but a true original nonetheless.
So what should I do with it?
Put it in the magic attic and let it languish?
Or should I give it away to one of you, my faithful readers?
Tell me why you deserve this little ballerina in 500 words or less and it could be yours. I’ll choose a winning essay and the lucky recipient will be the proud owner of this big eyed ballerina. If anything please tell me what horrible death she should receive?
Overheard Today:
Random statements overheard at the flea market,
“Oh My God! That’s the most beautiful Lava lamp I have ever seen.”
“Well I was thinking I could hang it on the bathroom door of the travel trailer.”
“Don’t judge a book by it’s cover, I may have tattoos all over my arms but I’m just as Godly as the next person out here.”
“That is THE cutest covered wagon lamp”
“Mmm handcuffs...how much fer the handcuffs?”
“What are you askin’ for the Jeff Gordon collage? We love NASCAR...the whole room is done in NASCAR.”
“Neveah and Natas git back over here.”
Today’s Flea Market Treasures:
Looky what I ran across at the Flea this morning. I just love these paintings with muted pinks and greens. They were most popular in the 1950’s - 1960's and the subject matters tend to favor flamingo’s or parrots with palm trees and blossoms, they just say Florida! It’s imperative that you know how to bargain for what you want. This is me in action.
Me - “How much for the cockatoo painting?”
Dealer - “He wants $35.00 for it.”
Me - “Do you think he would take less?”
Dealer - “He’s around here someplace can you hold on a sec.”
Me - “Yea sure.”
Dealer - “It was his Moms and she’s dead now...”
Me - “I see...Tell him I‘ll be back around.”
I just love a challenge. I don’t expect there has been much interest in the painting or anything else on their table. It’s pouring down rain and the patrons have stayed home today. I’m pretty ruthless about a bargain and the Mother story has gone in one ear and out the other leaving me unfazed. I return half an hour later and show interest in the painting and sort of begin to inspect it.
Dealer - “It’s a nice paintin’ aint it?”
Me - “I like the birds...”
Dealer - “It belonged to my Mother an she’s dead now...so...”
Me - “Sorry to hear that.”
Dealer - “I’ll take $30.00 fer it.”
Me - “I’m looking for something to hang in my living room, I’m not sure about the size or the frame.”
Dealer - “Yea she had it a long time.”
Me - “I see...would you take any less for it?
Dealer - “Maybe...things has been slow today. Whatcha offerin'?”
Me - “Would you take $15.00?”
Dealer - “Oh man I don’t know...”
Me - “Tell you what I got a few other things I’m looking at so I’ll go and pick those up and let you think about it awhile...I’ll come back if I got any money left.”
Dealer - “Alright.”
I wander off and buy a fish tank piece for $2.00.
It's marked “Occupied Japan” and the dealer was unaware. Quite a deal as it’s easily worth five times that much.
Score!
I find a man selling albums for ¢.50 apiece all are in mint condition too. I got Keely,
and Ella,
and a nice Martin Denny”s ‘Quite Village’ with Sandy Warner on the cover, it’s the best copy I’ve ever seen before.
Ah and the cutest little plaid windbreaker from the 1960’s in blues and greens. It’s reversible into a shiny baby blue solid. I immediately think of Mr. Peacock and his fondness for plaid (we share the same fondness) and I plunk down the $2.50 required to own such fine haberdashery. Don’t bargain for something that is already an obvious steal, it’ll just piss off the dealer and the price will go up. I return to my painting about a half an hour later. I walk up and study it some more.
Me - “I’m still not quite sure if it’s the right piece.”
Dealer - “It’s been a real slow day and I need gas money so I guess I’ll take $15.00 fer it.”
Me - “Done.”
I pay the man exactly $15.00. Never bargain for something then hand the person a $20.00 or a $100.00 and have them make change it’s just plain rude. I am NOT a sucker for a hard luck story. I know I’m evil. It’s business and I really wanted this painting but I didn’t want to pay $35.00 dollars for it though. I tucked it under my arm and waltzed off. I’ll keep it around for awhile but eventually someone will insist on having it and I’ll sell it for around $200.00 or more, it’s ultimate profit. I know I know I’m evil...but business is business.
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