Five Good Vintage Finds

In the past week or so, I’ve had good luck in finding five vintage pieces to add to my ever-growing collections.  The first was from eBay – a 1930s era paper fan with artwork by Fern Bisel Peat (1893-1971).  I collect vintage scottie pieces and this one is in near-mint condition.

The back shows an advertisement for Triena children’s laxative (Allied Drug Products of Chattanooga) that was for sale by Farmers Mercantile in Nelagoney, Oklahoma.

I found three wonderful items in antique malls – a Homer Laughlin gravyboat ….

….a Jadeite bowl with lip ….

…. and a set of chubby pre-WWII made-in-Japan bird salt/pepper shakers.  I’m particularly drawn to these birds which were sold in dime stores in the 1930s.

The last item, and the biggest bargain, was found in a Goodwill thrift store for less than $3.00.  This Roseville child’s plate is well worn and faded, obviously used a lot, which I prefer in my pieces.  There was one in almost identical condition selling on eBay for $25.

It’s unusual for me to buy this many pieces in a short period of time, even at good prices, but when I see them, I grab them.

 

Click on pictures to enlarge.

McKee Jadeite Bowl – Thrift Store Find

Saturday on our way to lunch in our small town of Loveland, Ohio, my daughter and I stopped off at a thrift store sponsored by our local autism group.  My daughter spied this great McKee jadeite bowl for only  $10.  It’s a nice size serving bowl measuring 8 inches diameter by 2-1/2 inches deep.

I have a lot of jadeite, mostly Fire King, so this was a new piece to add to the collection.  I use my jadeite as my everyday china and this bowl will get a lot of use.

We stopped at a favorite restaurant, Paxton’s Grill, and then drove on up the road to two more antique stores in Lebanon, Ohio, but I didn’t find any more bargains.

Vintage Creamers and Fall Flowers

I have a large collection of vintage creamers and sugar bowls which I use for flower arrangements.  I had just gotten some of my autumn-looking pieces out of storage when my daughter came home with a $6 bouquet from the grocery store and made the old china even more beautiful.

Collectibles of the Week – Covered Dishes

I  have so many wonderful collectibles acquired over the last 80+ years.  Some were gifts, some were part of my life growing up, some were inherited, some were purchased at antique malls, gift shops or thrift stores  – all are precious to me.  Some items are kept up year-around while others are brought out seasonally and on holidays.  Unfortunately, many priceless-to-me objects go undisplayed and unseen for years, so each week, I’m going to pull out an item and post a COLLECTIBLE OF THE WEEK.

I love all of the covered dishes I’m sharing this week.  The rooster and hen are on my kitchen window sill throughout the summer …

In September, I take down the chickens and put up the squirrel and acorn …

In November, naturally, the turkey has the prize spot …

The mini-dishes which are about 3 inches across the bottom are perched somewhere in the kitchen year around – a hen

…and a cobalt blue scottie

All of these dishes were birthday gifts throughout the years.  The rooster, turkey and squirrel go back to the 80s and 90s and are reproductions.  The large hen and the two small dishes are vintage, probably from the 1940s.

 

Some Very Nice Collectibles

I’ve been wanting a Harker Hotoven rolling pin for a long time  and finally found one at an antique store in Lebanon, Ohio, for a reasonable price.

When I got it home, I realize I already had a pie plate in the same pattern.  It is quite discolored and crazed, which I don’t mind.  It shows that it has been used to bake a lot of pies.  My daughter found the rack at a thrift store for $4 and it’s perfect for displaying the two pieces.

Today, we visited a local thrift store and found a Universal water bottle with a beautiful marigold pattern.  I love these vintage patterns for china and pottery.

I also found a lovely pale pink and green Hull vase which is perfect for displaying while I’m waiting for spring to arrive.

These two items were only $15 each – a bargain even with a few imperfections.

To add to a week of very nice collectibles, my daughter gave me this darling 2-inch high pitcher for St. Patrick’s Day.

It was  a very good week for collectibles.

Bargain Day at the Thrift Store

About 30 years ago, my oldest daughter gave me a beautiful set for Christmas that included a tiered plate, a basket, two candle holders and 4 mugs.  They were purchased at Lazarus department store in downtown Cincinnati and I have loved them and used them every Christmas.

On Saturday, we visited a lovely thrift/consignment shop (Vintage Market & Thrift, Loveland, Ohio) and saw eight dessert plates to this set on display.  The original price was reasonable, but there was also 75% off on Christmas items, so I snatched them up.  They were still in their original boxes which were in mint condition and  still had the remnants of a Lazarus label on the side.

I also picked up a plaque to add to my Dutch collection …

…and a Homer Laughlin platter.

The total cost was $14.95.  Now, that’s a bargain.

From the archives – January 4, 2011

Black Bean Soup

Sweetest Day 2013

My oldest daughter and I are the only ones in the family who celebrate Sweetest Day.  We give small bags of candy to my other daughter and her family, but we try to have something special for each other.  My daughter made this wonderful mosaic of pieces of a favorite Roseville vase that I had dropped and shattered along with slate-like remnants from my old childhood home which had been torn down.   The center picture is one of me with my mother, sister and if you look closely, our beagle Sissy, taken in 1945 near the back porch of the now-demolished house.

She also gave me a vintage gravy boat with a wonderful design.  Today it held some premium toffee from a local candy shop but in the future it will hold one of her sweet fresh flower arrangements.

We went out for lunch and then stopped at a favorite antique mall where I picked up a few more small pieces for my daughter to use for flowers:

There’s no lid for the sugar bowl, but that really doesn’t matter since I only want the pieces used for decorative purposes.

I couldn’t resist a more practical bowl for my kitchen.  I like the 1930s-40s Hot Oven bowls which measure about 4 inches in diameter and I especially like the vintage design on this one.

Now, we’ll settle in on this rainy night to watch a show from the Lewis and Hathaway  series via Netflix.  It was a very good Sweetest Day.

Click on pictures to enlarge.

Last Day of Vacation

We completed the last of the once-a-week vacation days that my daughter and I have enjoyed this month.  I’ve had medical problems the past year that have been manageable as far as going out for lunch or dinner, but have not allowed me to stand and walk long enough to browse through antique shops.  Since I’m better, this is what I chose for our annual fall vacation.  Fortunately, my daughter also loves antique shops and has patiently been the driver and dining companion.  For the last day, I chose a location that is about an hour from our home – Waynesville, Ohio.  The village was founded in 1797 and was an important Quaker settlement.  There are still over 200 historic homes, most of them in the shopping area of several blocks and side streets.  We stopped for lunch at the Hammel House Inn which was built in 1799.  The original brick walls are still visible and the fireplace is homey and charming.

Our table was near an open window where we could look out onto the long front porch.

We had a lovely lunch.  I chose the English Grille.  The salad with strawberries was especially delicious.

My daughter ordered a Reuben sandwich and the cheerful and efficient waitress took our picture.

We don’t usually have dessert, but couldn’t resist some really good quality vanilla ice cream with just a drizzle of chocolate, pecans and whipped cream.

In just a two-block area, we visited three antique stores.  The Olde Curiosity Shoppe is one of our favorites.

I found three items to add to my collection – a baking dish and pitcher with the poppy motif that I love and a Roseville bud vase in the freesia pattern which was reduced in price because of a chip that I didn’t mind at all.

There’s also a great quilt shop, Fabric Shack, which is familiar to a lot of my quilting friends around the country because of their excellent online service.

On the way home, we stopped off at a farm market called Hidden Valley to check out their very well stocked rustic store.

There were even a few animals to see…

…and we bought some fudge and cookies to take home.

I’m glad that my daughter and I were able to share these days and enjoy so many beautiful things that southwest Ohio has to offer.

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A Staycation Day–Lunch and Antiques in Two Old Buildings

My daughter and I are continuing to have one day a week this month as a staycation day, lunching and then visiting an antique shop in the Cincinnati area.  This week, we went to lunch at a restaurant we’ve been enjoying for over 35 years.   This beautiful place is located in the equally beautiful village of Mariemont.  Mariemont was founded in the 1920s as a planned community village and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2007.  The area has houses built in the English architectural styles from Norman to classic Georgian.  The Mariemont Inn is a Tudor Revival which opened as a hotel in 1929 and the restaurant is named after the term the founder used to describe the village – a National Exemplar in practical town planning.

There are two large dining areas plus party rooms and several areas like this beautiful lounge.

My daughter and I always order a favorite turkey and dill crepe when we have lunch here.  The potatoes are simply wonderful – crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

We left the gorgeous Mariemont Inn ….

And drove a short distance to the Cincinnati suburb of Oakley.  The antique store, Duck Creek Antiques, is housed in a building that used to be the Grace A Rush Bakery, in business from 1937 to the late 1980s.  Mrs. Rush had a thriving fruitcake business in her home in upscale Hyde Park before she moved to the building in middle class Oakley.  I raised my family in Oakley and remember the bakery and the wonderful Grace Rush fruitcakes very well.  It’s nice now to browse through the booths of over 150 dealers on two floors in this 1930s building.

I found two items at reasonable prices:  A large soup cup with a Dutch motif….

….and a small ironstone syrup pitcher.

Another very beautiful and successful vacation day.

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An Eating and Antiquing Vacation Day

My vacation plan this year is to spend one day a week during September to have lunch and browse an antique mall with my oldest daughter.  This week, we revisited Glendale, an area near Cincinnati that we love.  The village was begun in 1851 by 30 gentlemen who wanted to live in a rural area but still work in downtown Cincinnati.  The first house was built in 1852 and many of them from the pre-Civil War era are still standing and in beautiful condition.  We like to just ride through the streets and look at the old homes and gardens at different times of the year.

A more modern addition in an old building is the Cock and Bull Restaurant.  We had never eaten here before and in the spirit of vacation adventure, decided to give it a try.

We sat by a window with a view of one of the early houses in the village.

I don’t usually order fish but staying with the Cock and Bull theme, I decided to order fish and chips.  It was wonderful – two large portions of thick white fish with a great, light, crispy topping.

My daughter ordered a fish sandwich and a glass of Guiness.

After lunch, we drove a short distance to Fairfield, Ohio, to the Ohio Valley Antique Mall.   This is a huge mall and a favorite of ours.  My daughter rented space and sold antiques here a few years ago.

The store occupies 65,000 square feet (plus an in-store café) and every inch of it is filled with pretty booths and displays.  I liked this booth which included a lot of replacement lids along with its other treasures.

I was drawn to this old refrigerator and thought a bit about buying the paper storage unit on the wall with a Dutch motif.  I liked it a lot but I just don’t have the wall space for it.

I did buy a small creamer pitcher that I love.  I like these little pitchers for serving sauce for dessert or for a small arrangement of flowers.  The piece was marked Germany.

When I got home, I realized I had a sugar bowl on the mantel from the same line, only with a water lily instead of roses.

I’m really enjoying this vacation.

Click on pictures to enlarge.