I went to an auction

Although I don't miss the work of the store, I do enjoy auctions. So I'm going to rent a cabinet in a group antiques store. There are four large shelves, perfect for pottery.

 At last night's auction I bought several lots of vases,mostly mid-century. I don't know much about the pottery of the era, but love the fun shapes and colors and look forward to learning more. (As always, you can click on the pictures to enlarge them.)

 The mustard pitcher is marked Pigeon Forge Pottery Tenn (Tennessee). The one with flowers appears much older than the rest. The orange one looks very 70's. But I'm not sure--I have a lot of research to do.

Some are from small studios, some are marked with recognizable names. Many are unmarked, and I imagine a lone potter shaping the vase, choosing the glaze, caught up in creation. Some are smooth, others are heavily textured.

 I love the spiky bumpy green--it looks very 50's-60's to me. Sort of space age Beatnik. The large purple one is from West Germany. The green vase behind the little striped one is hand signed (as opposed to a stamp) Palshis Denmark, along with something I can't interpret.

These black, sculptural pieces look wonderful together.I was surprised to see that the third one from the left is Bennington pottery, which I associate with blue spatterware in traditional shapes. The one with the leaf is from Arabia Pottery in Finland, made in 1967.

I also got this small Persian picture, which I may keep. The figures are incised on bone, which is mounted on paper with a hand drawn border.

The work is quite delicate. I especially love the trees and gazelles (I think that's what they are.)

I don't know anything about this type of work, how old it is or who might have made it. But I only paid $20 for it so I'm comfortable that I didn't make an auction fever mistake. I just hope that I didn't overdo it with the vases.

On another topic: If you, like me, love libraries, this will warm your heart (and is also poignant).

Jen

I went to an auction

I know, I'm closing the store and have oodles of things to sell, and shouldn't be buying. Problem is, I love auctions, they've become part of my life. So I told myself I would only buy small things I could sell in the Etsy store.

These aren't small, are they? What is it with me and rocking animals? (Remember this?) I can't resist them. And the little trike just stole my heart.

A Roseville basket.

A pretty painting of pansies.

A sweet frame with a music staff and wheat sheaf on it.

Digression:

Beacon Hill window boxes, from last weekend's day in Boston.

I've been toying with keeping the painting, because it's so sweet, and pansies, and so forth. But then I look at my flowers and think, why bother? The real thing is so much better.

Tomorrow I'm off to the Catskills for almost a week.
If you send me your address, I'll mail you a postcard.

xo,
Jen

I went to an auction

 I had to have this sign. Maybe I should start selling hot dogs in the store. Of course they'd have to be locally sourced, no pesticides, no antibiotics, grass, (organic, of course) fed, humanely slaughtered hot dogs. :)

 The graphics on this side of the sign were singing to me.

 This racy green Haeger cornucopia vase was a steal.

 Hand-colored lithograph, probably mid 19th century. Butterflies and birds never go out of style.

Pantry Queen bread box, tea caddy, and sugar tin. The sugar tin is missing its top, but I think it would look nifty with a jar filled with wildflowers in it. There is a green milking stool peeking out beneath the bread box.

I leave early for the Catskills. The store is now open every Friday. Just letting you know, in case you're in the area.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Jen

instant ancestors

I went to my favorite auction last night. Early on the prices were crazy high, but toward the end of the evening a lot of people left and I got a few things. 

 I had to have this hand colored photograph of a little girl in her sailor dress.

 The dreamy-looking woman drew me to this chromolithograph, but I was also attracted to the sweet pink flowers. It looks like something out of a fairy tale. The color pictures in some very old books were chromolithographs.

 There are pots of small flowering trees, and soft greens and pinks that don't appear to be quite a carpet or the ground--sort of mysterious since one of the little girls shoes disappears into it. The window and curtain tell us that she is inside. The delicate colors and rendering of the background contrast with the dark formality of the sailor dress and the pose.

The woman is holding a bunch of lilacs, and there is another on the ground, though there are none growing in the picture.

Here are some portraits I've collected that have shown up on this blog before, but I think it's nice to look at them together.

 A steel engraving of two little girls, titled The First Lesson.

 A pastel of a sweet and solemn child.

 This print sold quickly, but there has been little interest in the two pictures shown above it.

 Formal family portrait. I'm sure there are clues in their clothes that would tell where they are from and when this was taken.

She looks like a Native American, and I like the hint of a smile. I haven't put her or the family portrait above in the store yet. I have a couple more of a similar style, and will hang them together--I think they will draw more interest that way. Auctioneers often call them "instant ancestors".

Oil on canvas.

When I re-do the store this spring, I am going to put a focus on the art, which is my favorite thing to collect.

Jen

auction fun

I went to an auction Monday. That's where I got the paintings in my last post, and also a large framed photo of a canoe, which I cannot get an acceptable photo of because of glass reflections. (Photo tips welcome.) Also:

 A child's rocker. I've sold quite a few of these, in various styles, often to grandparents.

 Twig tables. This style is often called Adirondack, named for the wilderness region north of the Catskills, known for its camps, lodges, and handmade rustic furniture, mostly from the early 20th century.

Remember the duck sleigh I got a while back?

Now we have a rocking duck of similar vintage.

Enjoy your weekend!

Jen

I went to an auction

I haven't been to an auction for a while. The store is full and business is slow, but I found myself missing them, and as I am in Massachusetts this weekend, I went to my favorite auction. I took some pictures as I unloaded the car and moved things to their various holding areas.

Nice old red bench with pegged legs.

Muffin stand.

Very old (early 19th century) yarn winder.

The base of the yarn winder--a big old hunk of wood.

A bunch of metal things.

Fabulous fifties chalkware figures. I lay the guy on top of the shrine. Not sure what it's for. A candle?

An old needlepoint and a newish oil painting. I also got a bunch of cool frames, which probably wasn't a good idea as I never know what to do with them.

I'm starting to collect these early photographic portraits. I find them interesting and moving in a strange way.

I have a fantasy of having occasional small exhibitions in the store, organized around a theme.

This is my favorite find. A toddler ice chair. The tot sits inside and the parents push it when skating.

What is your favorite?

Jen

auctions are my social life

I always feel a little hungover after a big auction night. My favorite auction meets twice a week--Monday mornings and Fridays evenings. I went to both this week (which I guess seals the deal that I'm not closing the store). It's a very friendly and social (meaning people talk while the auction's going on and the auctioneer doesn't yell at you) auction with good food cooked by Bonnie who spoils us with veggies grown in her garden and down-home baking. Don't get me started on her corn chowder. Perhaps it's a sugar hangover--that brownie was huge. It's a full evening--Fridays I leave around 4, drive an hour on back roads, then I have an hour to preview and chat and eat. I've become a regular there, not on the inner circle of old-timers, but comfortably on the fringes. Regulars are an eccentric lot, which makes me feel right at home. The auction starts at 6 and goes until about 9:30. Then it's pay and load the car,  and drive home by which time it's late, but I'm too keyed up for bed. That's a big Friday night for me--no high heels involved. I only go on the weekends I'm not in the Catskills, which is plenty. I need room in the garage for the cars. Winter is coming.

But you are probably wondering about the above-pictured chalkware cat. I did too--was it was meant to hold an ashtray or perhaps a beverage? The auctioneer enlightened us. It's for a goldfish bowl! That got my hand in the air, for it seems the embodiment of whimsy. I am tempted to keep it, though not certain I want to get into goldfish maintenance. I could put flowers in the bowl, but that just wouldn't be the same--it so obviously needs goldfish. Actually I would love to put it on the checkout desk in the store, but then I'd need to hire a goldfish babysitter, which isn't in the budget.

See my lovely hydrangea shrub in the background?

I also bought these child-size Adirondack seats. 

And a box of doggie prints. 

Some may be be original pencil or pen and ink drawings--I have to take a closer look.

This one is titled "Lost".

So what do you think? Should I buy a goldfish?