This Week’s Vintage Finds #111
Hi everyone! I mentioned yesterday that I had a few vintage finds to share with you with week. I drove north to Plattsburgh (NY) during the week to stay with my mother while she had [very successful] cataract surgery. The day after the procedure, she felt so well that she wanted to do some shopping, and by that she meant vintage shopping. This apple didn’t fall far from the tree. She took me to one of her new spots and we both picked up a couple of items. We also stopped at a Humane Society thrift shop, but we found nothing vintage, just a few books and other odds and ends. Then over the week-end, my sweet husband and I popped into a local Goodwill, and that’s where I bought today’s first find.
Isn’t she beautiful? This Rayo brand brass lantern has been converted to a table lamp, as many have been over the years. I found the lamp and the shade in separate locations in the store, each with their own price tag. I put them together and at the check-out, the gal kindly charged me for just one (cost: $4.99, value: $50-60.00). The only thing it’s missing is its glass hurricane-style shade–fairly easily replaceable.
To identify your Rayo lantern, look for the mark on the the body of the lantern, where the fuel would be poured. You’ll see “Rayo” on the cap that seals the vessel. Manufactured by the Hubbard & Bradley Mfg Co of Meriden, CT, they cost just $2.00 each in 1911 and were in production until the 1950’s. Electrification reduces the lamp’s value, but certainly makes them more functional. You can read more about Center Draft Lamps, which Rayo lamps are, at the Rams Horn Studio website.
Here’s another Goodwill find–a fun, chunky costume bracelet in a floral motif (cost: $4.00, value: $10-12.00). It’s a keeper.
Not something I would ordinarily get too excited about, these ironstone-ish custard cups have such a nice shape, I felt I needed wanted them. They’re quite large and useful for all sorts of things, like dips and cheese spreads. I bought eight all together and am thinking about stenciling some numbers on the side of a few (cost: 25¢ each, value: $1-3.00 each).
This crate was among my finds made while shopping with my sweet mother. I’m adding it to the four or five others that I’ve found recently, and which are [almost] all waiting for some stenciling on the side (cost: $3.50, value: $18-22.00 stenciled).
Here’s a view of the side (I was having trouble photographing it well in my “photo-shoot” area).
I have good luck selling natural history-type items, like shells and bee hives, so when I saw a bucket-full of dried lichen for sale, I decided I’d give them a try. I have several on display in my home and thought others might like to do the same (cost: $1.00 each, value: $6-8.00 each, I’m hoping).
I’ve also seen artists use them as a sort of canvas. Was I crazy to buy them?
Final Find: This book title caught my attention as I’ve always liked the sentiment–Know Thyself (cost: $1.00, value: $4-5). It makes me think of a favorite quote of mine by Thomas à Kempis from The Imitation of Christ:
A true understanding and humble estimate of oneself
is the highest and most valuable of all lessons.
I’m thinking about framing the cover or putting the entire book in a shadow box. What do you think?
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I love your finds, Diana! The lichen are very cool…they would be beautiful just displayed in a basket…and I love the shape of the crate!
“Framing the cover”? R U seriously thinking of separating cover from book????
What I think is shadowbox the book or sell it to someone who loves intact old books.
You did ask……..
That lamp is gorgeous. I just passed on mine (not brass) to a son who will treasure it and pass it on in the family. It was in the late 19th-century house my folks bought in 1950. No electricity. Wood stoves in the kitchen and parlor. Three hole “outhouse” in the basement. Pump in the kitchen. Such memories of an immigrant childhood, as we kids helped our dad bring it into the 20th century. (Did you ever move enough rocks to fill in a basement cistern? LOL)Thanks for bringing back those memories.
The stories your lamp could tell!!!!!
Hello Diana! New here and have passed your name and site on to my co-workers. There are three of us. We are newly in charge of our Catholic Church thrift shop. Your expertise is truly a gift from heaven! Thank you so much for sharing your research and personal feelings on all these wonderful treasures. ~Gayle
Several great finds here!
I love shopping the Goodwill; I’ve called it GW Fashions for years, but after reading your post, I think I’ll call it GW Fashions and Finds! Really like that cuff bracelet and wooden crates.
Love that blue book and that wooden crate! I would not have known to pick up that lamp, great find!
Very nice haul. That lichen will look spectacular in a garden or window box. And that book is darling. That lamp is a once in a lifetime find at that price. Good eye and a lucky find!
You discover the most interesting finds. This week my favorites are the crates and the book. Although the lamp is extremely interesting. Thanks for sharing.
You were NOT crazy to buy the lichen. Love them. I would have bought them in a heartbeat. I love decorating with natural items. Also, absolutely LOVE that book. I agree—don’t separate the cover. A shadowbox would be better. But it is a work of art, isn’t it! Love that bracelet also. What great finds this week. Always love to see what you uncover every week.
Thank you Karen!! I appreciate the encouragement 🙂 Still haven’t decided what to do with the book…
Great finds, Diana! Love that crate and the bracelet is fun!
Thanks Cecilia–they’re favorites of mine too 🙂
I likee the lichen! Plus the great crate.
I likee them too 🙂 Thanks for stopping in–
If you decide to sell the book, I would love to purchase it.
I’ll let you know Barbara–thanks for the interest!
The little white dishes will look so cute stenciled with numbers. And, that crate is fabulous.
Glad your mother’s surgery went well and that you got to enjoy some shopping with her.
Thanks for Sharing Your Cup!
Now if I can just find my fancy “No. 1” stencil!! Thanks for the party–
I have never seen dried lichen before! There is a lot of it here in Oregon and in a variety of colors!
You can also write/draw on them while they are still moist, just after “harvesting.” Then when they dry, your art is permanently on display 🙂
Great score on the lantern! Love the box and the book! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Thanks so much Jann! And thanks for a great party 🙂
you find the best treasures my friend xo
Thanks for the encouragement, Katie 🙂
I love the Know thyself book! The cover is amazing and I love that you are thinking of framing it. I think that a shadow box would be best as it would be a shame to harm the book. Great finds!!
When the lichens are already dry, you can woodburn on them; house number, herb/flower name. Of course, stenciling if they are fairly flat. But I think they would be awful cute at the background of a fairy garden. Maybe even backed into dirt with a scrap wood door or door woodburned onto it to suggest an underground house. Have I assembled my fairy garden this year; heck no!
Thomas A Kempis has the classiest quote for minding your own business; when I come across it, I will send it to you! Did you keep the book? You could always color print the cover and frame it (maybe with a gold spray of oak leaves and acorns across a corner) and sell the book! The lantern was adorable. I love thinking up ways to do YOUR projects! Who’s doing MINE!