Thrifting redux

Hey, y'all!

I've been lacking in thrifting lately. My brother's been in the hospital for 4 weeks, and my sister and I try to spend as much time there as possible. He's an hour and a half away, and just traveling takes up a good bit of time.

On top of that, Tom broke his collarbone a couple of weeks ago and will be in a splint for a couple more weeks. Right collarbone; right handed. Makes it rough for him. And for me, who has to do everything he can't.

That's my excuse for not having much to report in the way of thrifting, though I did manage one short stop at Goodwill, where I picked up a few things.

This small planter for one.

I love this piece.  It's hand-thrown and has a great luster. I'm calling it majolica, though it probably isn't.

Wikipedia defines majolica as a type of pottery in which an earthenware clay body is covered with an opaque white glaze then painted with stains or glazes and fired.

This has the earthenware body but aside from one white mark on the very bottom, I found no other indication of a white glaze beneath the color.

Also I got this heavy pair of 3-arm candelabra. They're marked W, which from what I could dig up, is the mark for Boyd Welch. (See note below.) The only other brass I found attributed to him were spiral candlesticks and there were a lot of those.

Best I can tell, Boyd Welch was a glass-blower from West Virginia who, in the '50s and '60s, also made brass.

(Note: Totally wrong on maker, though obviously others have made the same mistake. Turns out pieces made by Baldwin, an American company. Probably from the '80s or so. Boyd Welch was a glass-blower from WV, period, and developed a cool technique in glass, which was lost when he died in a studio fire.)

A pair of marble and brass pillar candle holders came home with me too.

And a Nicholas Moss jug.

I also brought home a bamboo tray, not yet listed

And an Arthur Court dancing elephants bowl holder, also not listed.

All in all, it wasn't a bad half hour shopping. (The little plant holder has to be my favorite piece of all I found.

It's a perfect size for a faux succulent.)

Ta, y'all.

Another Week Thrifting

I didn't have much luck junking this week. Tuesday was colder here than a witch's nose so I stayed home. Wednesday, Maria cleaning day, I dawdled at a couple of thrifts. (I like to give her time to finish before I come home.) 

At the local Goodwill, I picked up a small Chinese vase for a couple of bucks

It's chipped and only about 5" or 6" tall, so I'll be keeping it. The size isn't the issue but the chip is. If I'd looked closer while in the store, I'd never have bought it but I really like it so am kind of glad I didn't.

Also found a metal-clad box for another couple of bucks.

I really like this one, so I'll be keeping it too. The metal has a brassy look but it could be just plain ol' tin.

Since I had to go back into town today, and the weather has warmed up, I hit a couple of thrifts after my pedicure. Found nothing at the first--Library Thrift, which can be a goldmine--but I scored a few items at the second, Good Neighbor, if anyone's keeping track.

Thursdays are half price day--as are Tuesdays, for over 55--so I paid $3 for each: a 9 12" bowl and a 15" x 12" platter. Wilton Armetale Richard and Mary pattern. 

I also found a set of 12 hammered brass napkin rings for $4. (Marked $8.)

The brass doesn't show up as well in this photo--they look more aluminum-y, but they are brass. A couple have even turned green.

At half price, these skeins of mohair were reasonable, under $4 each. Still, 8 skeins of this color and another 8 skeins of pink hit my pocketbook pretty hard. I had to dig deep to find enough cash to cover everything. All will go to my sis, who crochets.

This was one of last week's finds. I couldn't pass it up; it really is well made.

At the thrift store. 

In my guest bedroom.

It had no stand so I've got it sitting on a Chinese dark wood plant/bowl/vase stand. I think it looks good there. I haven't decided what I'll do with it. Another sister, Daisy, loves to sail and of course I thought of her first. But dang, doesn't it look good where it is?

That's all for now. Ta.

All Things Oriental

I've mentioned before--but who can remember?--that I live in an area with a high population of elderly, a boon when it comes to thrifting.  (Unfortunately, I'm nudging at the bottom end of that range now myself.)

I've lately become enamored of things international. Today, Oriental; tomorrow, Mexico; soon, Africa?

This little find was something I stumbled upon on a day when I rarely go thrifting. The hub had an appointment in town so we stopped at my fave thrift store afterward. And I found this:

Chinese Nephrite Spinach Jade Duck Carving. It's small but mighty. (About 2 1/2" tall with a base measuring 5" x 1 3/4".) The carving is magnificent, with the duck pulling a fish from splashing water.

Gouache ancestor portraits on silk. These are fairly large, about 16" x 22". I find things, text a photo to my sis, who does the research while I shop. Found one of these, texted her and she sent me a link for a pair that were way expensive! But I only had one. Then a thrifting friend, who just happened to be in the same store, found the second one. Yay!

Extra Large Hand Painted Porcelain Charger. At 18" diameter, this one makes a statement. It's hard to capture the size of it in a photo, and even the dimensions doesn't make it seem all that large, but it is large.

Japanese Cherry Blossom Lidded Jar. Another statement piece. At almost 12" tall and 13" in diameter, it dwarfs my 4-person kitchen table. Otherwise, I think I'd use it in my own home. I can see it as a centerpiece on a large dining table. (Again, the dimensions don't make it seem as large or impressive as it actually is.)

Hexagonal Porcelain Vase with Figural Pomegranate Handles. At 14" tall, it commands attention.

Hand-Painted Porcelain Vase. Another attention getter, also 14" tall.

Japanese Patinated Bronze Solifleur Vase. At 8 1/2" tall, this has a very delicate look but, being bronze, it's hefty in weight. .

Chinese Blue and White Peacock Bowl. It has a chip but was so beautiful and so obviously old I couldn't pass it up.

Just a small taste of the Chinese/Japanese/Asian/Oriental things I've found recently, but most definitely enough for one posting. Check SumpnSassyVintage if you'd like to see more.

Ta, y'all.

And she's back!

I'm really into thrifting these days, and not so much into decorating/crafting, so decided to share my thrifting finds here. I can't wait to share them all!

I'll start with these pre-Columbian/Mayan replicas I found at auction. It's been a while--and I've since sold one and given one as a gift--but I'm still really pumped about them. They were part of the estate of a long-time collector.

Chacmool terracotta replica sculpture, signed Mexico. There are a couple of chips on this one, right front corner. Otherwise great condition.

Colima Pottery Dog Vessel, terracotta replica sculpture, unsigned. There are several chips on one ear.

Sculpted Head of King Pakal. Perfect condition.

Jalisco Terracotta Female Effigy Figurine. Also perfect condition.

Mayan God Sculpture. One chip on nose.

Pre-Columbian Style Standing Female Terracotta Figurine. Also a chip on nose.

Toltec Warrior Statue. Perfect condition.

Meso American Style Terracotta Colima Dog. This was my favorite--and the one I think was worth the most--hence a gift for my long-time friend who collects these.

Colima Terracotta Dog. This was the smallest, and the one I asked the least for. In selling it, I made back my investment in all. Yay!

Laters, y'all.