This Week’s Vintage Finds #74
Hi everyone! I had a great time shopping this week-end, both on Friday and then on Saturday when accompanied by my sweet husband. I shopped at a mix of thrift stores, garage and estate sales. Happily, I found some vintage treasures.
Cheerful red plaid anything is always fun to find (cost: $4.00). I’m in love with the sweet little skeleton key, still attached to this piece of luggage.
.jpg "world's fair glass and cake stand")
These glasses bring back memories for me. Whenever I reached into the cupboard for a drinking glass, there they sat, on the top shelf. We never used them, but I remember them! The crystal cake stand is a gift for a special friend (cost: $2.99).
.jpg "world's fair glasses")
I typically have good luck selling world’s fair items (cost 25 cents each). These are in good shape, so they should sell well (worth: $10.00 each). You can see the pattern of the crystal stand a bit better in this picture.
This fall, I think with some embellishments, this apple basket lid will make a nice wreath. It was a steal for $1.00.
Stands always come in handy when you have an antique booth. This one is especially nice–solid brass and sturdy (cost: $1.00). The chain needs reattachment, but otherwise it’s in good shape (worth: $6).
A well-known manufacturer of elegant glass, Fostoria Glass Company produced this pattern, “American,” from 1915 to 1982. As a rule, the larger pieces tend to be more valuable than the smaller ones. This tidbit (or sandwich tray), measuring almost 12″ across, is worth about $40-50.00 (cost: $1.99).
Many other companies have reproduced this pattern, but almost none have the weight and beauty of the originals. When you look through the cubes of glass, it should be crystal clear. Most repros are lightweight and hazy. Ebay has a nice guide on the topic: Fostoria Glass Photo Pattern Identification Guide.
I’m not sure exactly what this piece is. I’m thinking a yarn winder of some sort? (Help, anyone.) It’s entirely held together with wooden pegs and has a wonderful primitive surface, so I think it’s quite old.
One of the estate sales I attended had several piles of vintage towels that I found difficult to resist. This is a sampling of what I purchased. Most I bought in pairs.
The towels cost $1 each and the hand towels 50 cents, but they gave me a deal because I bought so many.
Some of them I thought I might try to sell on Etsy, where attractive examples seem to go for $10.00 each or more, especially if they come in pairs.
This one is interesting because the colors are clearly vintage, but the design is very current.
Two little restaurant ware/ironstone fruit bowls (cost 39 cents each) that went right into my corner cupboard, and a syrup dispenser (cost 69 cents) that I’m also keeping (worth $8-10.00).
The fruit bowls are marked Homer Laughlin, a large, West Virginian china manufacturer that is still in business today, providing wares to large hotels, restaurants, and government contracts
Silhouettes have great graphic appeal, making them perfect for gallery walls (worth: $15-20.00). I’ve always wanted to paint a vintage owl sculpture white or silver. This guy cost just 59 cents, so if it doesn’t work out, it’s not a terrible loss. The colorful tin held candy from Long Island but was manufactured in England (cost: 25 cents).
A very sweet husband and wife teamed up to hold a garage sale of mostly [sadly overpriced] primitives. It was fun to poke around, but nothing was priced right for me. I bought this newer plate rack, however, $7.00. It will make a useful display in my booth, though it will be for sale as well (worth: $35.00).
Linking up with these great parties:
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Great finds, Diana!
Thanks, Melissa!
You got some great stuff. I am floored at the great prices people sell things for in your area.
The vintage towels are in fantastic condition and were my favorite of your finds.
Thanks Kim! It's surprising to think that I would find things cheaper here in NY than you would out west. I do remember you getting some very cool stuff for free off the side of the road 🙂
I think you are correct with your guess about the yarn winder. I'm thinking that there might have been pegs that would have been used further out on the arms, but I'm not certain. Given the age, it was likely used to wind hand-spun yarn into hanks. You will also see these called "swifts" so you should include that word in your listing. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the info Joyce; I really appreciate it. Learning from each other is one of the wonderful things about blogging 🙂 Hope you have a great week–
You are right… the plaid is the thing right now! And your find is perfect! I think you may also be right about the wooden yarn winder. Great find. I'd be interested to see how the Fostoria glass sandwich stand does… it just seems like these next generations are not into porcelain and glassware right now…even with the great quality which amazes me. They just don't make them like they used to! 🙂
Great finds Diana … I love the vintage yarn winder (I am sure that is what it is). Hand made and wood pegged … I think you got a steal at $7.00 !!! Don't blame you for keeping the ironstone fruit bowls and the syrup dispenser … I would too.
Thanks for sharing all the information on the value.
Audrey Z. @ Timeless Treasures
I love anything primitive! Your yarn winder is a great find!
Oh you did so good Diana! And those towels!!! I absolutely love the colors and patterns! And that primitive wood piece is so cool! I could see using this in so many places including the garden!! Wishing you a glorious week ahead my friend! Nicole xo
Wonderful finds this week. I am a sucker for anything red plaid. The plate rack for your booth is a great find too. sb
Lots of goodies this week, Diana! The winder is sure an interesting piece…and I got a kick seeing the vintage towels, as it brings back memories!
What a great variety of treasures you found! The garage sales have not started here yet but I hit a few thrift stores and a church rummage sale. Got some great stuff! Can't wait for the season to really start! Hope your booth is going great for you!
Well my friend, I am drooling over that plaid luggage. So, so fun!! I have that exact cake stand and I love finding syrup dispensers with the colored lids. I have a red, green, and yellow. Hoping to find an aqua one! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Great finds, Diana! I love the syrup dispenser!! I can't believe the prices you pay… so lucky! Thanks for sharing at Your Turn To Shine! 🙂
Kendra @ http://www.joyinourhome.com
Great finds gal! I love the old wooden thingamajig!
Thanks for sharing on Something to Talk About!
Karen
great finds…and it is called a yarn swift…very nice find…it is for winding yarn into hanks
That top towel is vintage 70’s. I still have some from my ’73 wedding. Today’s towels ain’t gonna last that long! Mine were mint green and yellow! My lone red-topped syrup dispenser is used for cinnamon and sugar and pours so well onto wherever I need it–I love repurposing stuff so I can use it frequently. Did yoyu refinish the owl. I have spraypainted stuff black, then drybrushed it with silver,bronze, or gold and voila, an expensive metal sculpture! Verdigreeing it with a turquoise wash and then re-drybrushing it on highlights looks cool, too! I covet the apple basket lid for a wreathe arrangement!