This Week’s Vintage Finds #120
Hi everyone! I hope you are all well. We are hunkering down today as the temps have plummeted to the 20’s. And yet on Saturday, I wore sandals to show off a new pedicure(!). About 4″ fell yesterday and it doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere. Strange weather this year, right? Well let’s move onto today’s post. I mentioned yesterday that I shopped a couple of estate sales and a thrift store over the week-end, so let’s take a look at my vintage finds, shall we?
I found this lovely grainsack-style towel in among a pile of traditional, terry cloth towels, under a sign that said 2 for $1.00. I snatched it up and that’s what they charged me. It needs a good soaking in some OxiClean (I use Aldi’s “Oxygen Base Cleaner”) to perk it up a little, but otherwise it’s in great shape (cost: 50¢, value: $10.00-15.00).
To learn more about how to clean and care for your vintage linens,
check out “Success with Vintage Linens” by Rita at Panoply.
I think this set of three linen hankies in their original box, with tags no less, would make a sweet mother’s day or wedding shower gift (cost: $2.00, value: $10-12.00). Notice the hand-stitched, rolled edges and the pretty white-on-white embroidery (likely machine-made). They date to probably about the 1950’s or 60’s.
Martha Stewart has an informative video,
All About Collecting Handkerchiefs that you might enjoy.
I couldn’t pass up this new linen towel with the great bird and flower graphic (cost: $1.00); it was just too pretty. And the green index box was too darn practical, especially as it is filled with index cards and dividers–all ready to go (cost: 25¢, value $10.00). [I have vintage linens available in my shop.]
This large, ironstone platter was a steal at my local Salvation Army (cost: $1.99, value: $15-18.00). Patterned ironstone tends not to be as popular as plain white, as was the case back in the 1800’s. English potteries shipped plain white to America (where it was preferred), but sold decorated pieces with transfers and hand-painting to the English market since they preferred their ironstone with decoration.
W.H. Grindley of Staffordshire England manufactured this piece. [Click here to read about my ironstone collection.]
There’s nothing super special about this enamelware pot, but at just 6 1/2″ diameter and 4″ tall, I thought it was cute (cost: $1.00, value: $10.00). It would make a great plant holder or vase.
Click here to learn more about enamelware.
What’s not too love about this vintage-y cigar box–it’s dovetailed and has a cool paper label and writing all over it (cost: $2.00, value: $10-12.00).
Not my idea of a fabulous piece of art, but I liked the frame (cost: 25¢).
This old souvenir paperweight came from Torquay, England, a popular vacation spot in Cornwall (southern tip of the island). Cornwall is to England what Florida is to the Northeast (except the weather is actually closer to Maine or New Hampshire’s). They are also known for producing red clay motto ware, sometimes called Torquay ware (cost: $2.99, value: $15-20.00).
I found this old egg crate in pretty rough shape–a bit dirty and misshapen (cost: $2.99, value: $20-25.00?). I know it can serve as a good display piece, once I clean it up.
Another option would be to take it apart and use the pieces for signs.
I found this oil painting tucked away in the back of a dark shelf at one of the estate sales. I’ve mentioned in the past that our area (NYC to Albany) was settled by the Dutch, and I wonder if this little windmill painting made its way over directly from Holland (cost: $1.00, value: $45-55.00?). I’d like to do some research on it.
I’m showing the back of the painting so you can see the signs of age. Both the wood and the canvas show signs of oxidation, i.e., aging caused by exposure to air. It’s what has caused the dark browning. Things like drawer rails or framed paintings with paper backings don’t oxidize to the same extent at those directly exposed to the air.
The windmill painting was not the only Dutch item I found at that estate sale. I also purchased a stack of seven dinner plates, two in this hand-painted floral pattern (cost: 25¢ each, value: $15-20.00) produced by Societe Ceramique Maestricht Co. in Holland.
This mark appears on the bottom of all seven plates.
The other five bear this attractive combination of hand-painting and stick spatter decoration. The style originated in Staffordshire, England and then gradually made its way to other parts of Europe. The cobalt blue decoration on the rim and the small cobalt flowers in the center would have been applied with a sponge attached to the end of a stick (cost: 30¢ each, value: $20-25.00 each). Likely made about the turn of the century. I think they are beautiful to decorate with. Stay tuned for a post focusing on this charming dinnerware.
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{Where I Party}
Check out my newly listed vintage linens–
You have such great finds in your area!
Wonderful finds, Diana…the dishes are lovely…and I LOVE that little painting!
Thanks, Linda! Yeah, it’s pretty neat 🙂
Love the egg crate!
Thanks for stopping by, Melissa 🙂
I like the linen towel with the great bird and flower graphic!
I know–it’s so beautiful! Hanging in my kitchen as we speak…
You had a great week of finding treasures. I really like that painting, it does look old. I am drawn to them like a moth to a bright light!
Have a great week, Diana.
I hear you, Marigene, I’m drawn to art also 🙂 Thanks so much for dropping in and chatting!
You had a very successful shopping trip. I think my favorite find this week is the cigar box.
Thanks so much for dropping by, Debra 🙂
Those beautiful Dutch dinner plates caught my eye. My sister-in-law has place setting for 12 in that wonderful pattern. She and her husband spent 3 years in Holland in the ‘eighties; she purchased those dishes there. Love them!
I thought of you, Mary Ann, as I was buying those dishes 🙂 I remember you have Dutch background. What a beautiful table those dishes must make!
What woderful finds. I especially like the plates. I look forward to a post on them.
Thanks Sarah! They are beautiful, aren’t they? The post is coming right up 🙂
Such amazing finds Diana!
I love the windmill painting!
It always amazes me to see ‘new’ old things, like the box of hankies that have never been used!
Hope you are having a wonderful week!
Hugs, Kimberley
Thanks Kimberly! I agree, that painting is special 🙂 “New” old things are like a kind of time capsule, aren’t they?
Love all your finds Diana! I’m crazy about enamelware so that pot is my fave. We were having lovely weather in March and now winter is back here too. We had snow a few days ago and more is coming tomorrow. Hopefully this is winter’s last blast… for both of us.
Thanks Tuula! I know, that pot’s a cutie. Yes, hopefully the end is near. (Quite cold this morning, though…)
Great dinnerware! You always have such interesting facts to share as well:) Looks like you had a great weekend! xo Kathleen Charm Bracelet Diva {At Home}
Thanks Kathleen! It’s one of my favorite parts about this business–learning new things 🙂
I love your windmill painting and although I know basically zilch about ceramics and dish ware, your English platter and Dutch plates are lovely. Excellent discoveries.
My heart leapt at the site of that grain sack stripe towel!! I just got a waffle cloth red and white towel as a gift and I adore it. That little enamelware pot is just too cute! I am quite partial to that old crate with the peeling label too. The weather here is absolutely crazy! Our snow finally melted overnight but we are to get more this weekend!
Such good finds!! I especially like the linens! Thanks for sharing at Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop!
Does your Paperweight actually have a glass dome over it? If not it may not be a paperweight. I can’t really tell from the picture but it does have the look of a Pot lid. Pot lids are an expensive collectible and if this is one it would be a Prattware pot lid. They were actual lids that covered a pot of various items. Prattware pots are from England and were the very first lithographs on pottery. They are so coveted that the English actually framed them. I have a collection of them and you should be able to google them to find out about them. The online antique site Ruby Lane usually has some under Aesthetic movement pottery. I’d love to hear your answer to my question.
Hi Sherlynn! Thanks for all the great info. Yes, it’s definitely a paperweight–glass dome over a photo of the town, framed in wood. But I can see how you might think it was a pot lid since it’s about the same size and has a similar look. Thanks so much for chatting 🙂