15 Fab Farmhouse Vintage Finds: Cook Books & Majolica
Saturday my sweet husband chauffeured me around my favorite “neighborhood” garage sale, where we scored some pretty awesome finds, despite steady, though light, rain.
Here are some farmhouse vintage finds from that sale.
I love the checker board cover of this homey little cookbook with the charming name (cost: $1, sold: $18 on eBay).
I have a thing for old cookbooks and have written a couple of posts about them (Part I & Part II) and have a cookbook price guide as well. So when I found this Woman’s Home Companion 1946 edition, I snatched it up (cost: 50¢, sold: $12 on Ebay, even in this slightly raggedy condition).
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A made in Portugal copper kettle (cost: $1, value: $15-20).
A new-ish, too-glossy version of a dough bowl (cost: $3, value: $25-30). I’ve already begun sanding it some to reduce the unattractive glossiness. I’d like to leave it with a natural looking wood finish, but if I’m unsuccessful, I may paint it matte black.
A small crate with some moss green paint remaining on the surface (cost: $3, value: $25-20). I may stencil something on the side, like I did here and here.
I’m thinking something like “North River Farm” along with an address off some sort, perhaps, “7 Locust Lane.”
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This bread knife is one of my favorite recent finds–“bread” is carved right into the wooden handle (cost: 50¢, value: $25-30). Neat, right? And the carbon steel blade is engraved “Bread Knife” as well.
I have a confession. I am now a collector of wicker-covered bottles; I’m up to six and this one makes seven (cost: $1, value: $20-25).
But it’s the first I’ve owned with the wicker cap. I had three of them on display last fall next to my “Farm Fresh” stenciled crate. You can see them in my Harvest Home Tour post.
Related Article: A Wicker Wrapped Bottle Collecting Guide
Vintage blackboards, like this c. 1960’s one sell very well for me (cost: $1, sold: $15).
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I’m fascinated by old, hand forged tools like these unmarked pincers (cost: 50¢, value: $8-10).
Nutmeg graters make darling farmhouse decorations, but add one of my mini wreaths at Christmas time and they are irresistible (cost: $1, sold with wreath: $10).
This pretty Portuguese, majolica platter (c.1980’s) with all of its fruit and leaves is perfect for fall and Thanksgiving (cost: $3.50, value: $25-28).
Related Article: A Majolica Collecting Guide
This beautiful 1800’s era water pitcher was likely part of a larger toilet set that would have included a bowl for the pitcher to sit in.
While it’s unmarked, I would guess it’s English because Americans tended to prefer undecorated ironstone, but the English liked there’s decorated.
It has all the bells and whistles for me–both beautifully shaped and attractively decorated. Too bad is has a hunk missing from it’s lip, as well as a nice 2″ crack–hence the excellent price of just $4.
But for my personal use it’s just perfect. At the moment, it’s sitting on my counter, where I get to enjoy it every day.
Related Article: A Transferware Collecting Guide
I thought about saving this stoneware pitcher for an “epic fail” article because I’m fairly certain that it’s a newer piece. I was attracted to the interior green paint, but the shape seems off to me, as does the glossiness (cost: $6, value: $15?).
Same with the bottom. I would expect an unglazed rim around the outer edge. Nonetheless, I think it would look charming filled with a bouquet of wildflowers, sitting on a farmhouse table. I have it in my antique booth, priced low and described as “newer,” so we’ll see if it sells.
Final Fabulous Find: An apple green, yellowware pitcher featuring flowers against a basket weave pattern (cost: $4, value: $50-60). Yellowware and farmhouse go hand in hand in my book.
Related Article: A Yellowware Collecting Guide
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I found this pitcher on ebay. It’s not marked either
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Large-Heavy-Brown-Glaze-Stoneware-Pitcher-w-Green-Interior/232753351244?hash=item36312e4a4c:g:UaEAAOSw2xRYYr7-
You did have some wonderful finds, Diana! I love them all!
Loved this post and learning more about your fabulous finds. And for what it’s worth, I love hearing about your personal details of home life. And I’m pretty sure your other subscribers do as well. It makes you more human, just as long as you don’t go on and on. Then we say, okay, cut to the chase please. lol.
Great finds, Diana! That brown pitcher with the green inside reminds me of the Village Green line by Red Wing Pottery. Slightly different in design but the colors are so similar. I have a set of tall mugs that I believe are Village Green.
If the dough bowl ends up matte black maybe a stencil on it would be an unexpected different twist 🤔
Hey Diana, I’ ve been looking for a dough bowl!! Not painted though….. I’d love to buy it from you as is….
I can’t believe how cheaply you are able to buy many of the items you show. I would expect to pay two or three times the amounts around here. Maybe I ‘m not going to the right places. Actually I haven’t been able to go to garage sales as frequently as I used to since I don’t have my car anymore. May I say HOW MUCH I don’t like the situation!
But on to other things. You snared some goodies for this post. The unique bread knife and the old crate are my favorites. The green pitcher is nice, too, but I have too many pitchers already!
It’s been raining here for about two and a half days and I am straining at the bit to get outdoors and do some planting. I haven’t heard you speak about doing any gardening; do you enjoy it? I expect your business takes most of your time. Anyway, I am just an old farm girl who loves digging in the dirt!
Love your “finds” and hearing about them. The crate, the greater, and the pitchers were my favorites, but of course the “bread knife” caught my eye and made me smile! You can find things for such amazing prices!
grater, sorry
See these, too. No unglazed ring on bottom. http://www.laurelleaffarm.com/item-pages/china-and-glassware/Country-Fare-or-Red-Wing-Village-Green-stoneware-pottery-large-beer-steins-mugs-or-cider-cups-Laurel-Leaf-Farm-item-no-nt82989.htm
I also have a one-handled piece that maybe is a jam or sugar jar. The rim and interior are the turquoise green and this piece has the same color lid.
Honestly, all those items will make a super vignette all by themselves, just imagining them under a wonder rural landscape picture with a brown frame painted with white and distressed. While I love white, I think it can be quite sanitary looking and hospital like. Adding anything to break up white is a great idea!
Great treasure hunting finds! 🙂