Featured Finds Thread

I was a bit worried because someone new is sorting the jewellery in that particular charity shop and lately nothing much has been turning up certainly it’s mostly the same stuff on sale every week but recently I got the 9ct Chinese characters mop onyx bracelet (which was hallmarked) and now this, so I’m happy.

 

could the painting be on shell ?

 

Might be, I don’t really know if they used shell then, I thought possibly ivory but I can’t see any schreger lines as the paint seems to be covering all of the surface area.

 

A few things to show this week. I actually have a large back-log of lesser finds but had a couple particularly good scores this month that I had to bring here.

The first is this little Marblehead pottery creamer that I found for $2.00 at the thrift. Doesn't look like much but that is approaching $100.00 on a good day. Hardly ever any seen here in the Midwest but a good mark to know. Good examples go well into the thousands.


The other is this Weller Hudson vase found for $6.00 at the Goodwill. It was on a shelf with the garden pots and was filthy. It had a paper label attached with scotch tape that said Mrs. So and So's, Mother of Betty So and So. This was obscuring the impressed Weller mark that was faint and mostly obscured by glaze. I thought it unmarked until I spotted the tiny R in the mark. Didn't matter. I knew it by sight when I saw it on the shelf. Another dealer I know had just been through there and missed it. Wonder how many others missed it? Cleaned up nicely. About 9" tall by 7" diameter and perfect condition, other than crazing. Two sides shown are very similar but different. Maybe my best find of the year.




Here are a few lesser finds for good measure. This handsome devil was $4.00 . It is made of unfired clay that has dried nicely and is hard as a rock. About 5" tall. Has initials with a 90s date on the bottom. Likely a student piece.


This box is by well known potter Andrew Van Assche. Bought for $7.00 at the Goodwill. It is bisque with a glazed and etched design on the lid. The interior is clear glazed. Any tips for cleaning bisque?


Lastly, this Westmoreland dolphin compote was $4.00. Too nice to pass up at that money. Pink seems a bit harder to find?


As said, I have a backlog of lesser finds to show. If people are interested, I can probably post a bit at a time over the next few weeks. I also have some artworks to show that I will post over in art under the thrift store art thread.

 

Not sure I'd have known the Weller vase either, but it was a find, and you can forget about me knowing pink depression glass.

Cleaning bisque: I'd try wiping it off first with a wet cloth. If that doesn't work, get suggestions.

 

wow o wow, free chairs, lovely joolies, and so much more to look at.
You all have done nicely.

 

Finally found some nice old things at a yardsale this Saturday. The type where you have to dig. Steiff Lamby, worn but in a very nice way I think. My first vintage Steiff find ever. Madame Alexander Winnie Walker. Her head turns when you move her legs. She needs some help. I am hoping that some of these marks will come off her. A little vintage Smokey the Bear and a booklet with illustrations of Hawaiian flowers. $8 for all.

 

Last year I bought this from a dealer at a flea market for $12, I'm sure she never saw anything like it and assumed it was costume. 14k, seed pearl and semi precious stones, I'm sure the painting is on ivory. The clincher for me to grab it was the tube hinge, I knew it was old

 

You guys are killing me! I would love to find one of those hand painted portrait pins. They must have been a trend? But quite expensive at the time I'm sure! Good on you both for spotting them. It's all about having more knowledge and a better eye then the seller.

 

Also blind luck

 

sweet chair anund, glad you rescued it

 

Love the Devil, Brad !

 

I wonder if a Magic Eraser sponge or possibly a little Bartenders Friend on a moistened Q-tip would work. You could try it on a spot on the base to see what happens.

 

wonderful, thanks Peggy I'm hoping tomorrow I'll get some time to get photos of it.

 

That’s really lovely.Yes turning it over and seeing the hinge settled the buy for me too. Sometimes having no hallmarks gets us the treasures

 

Think the painted portrait miniatures of loved ones fell out of favour when photography arrived.

 

Magic eraser works really well on bisque.

 

Thanks for the confirmation on this method of cleaning!!

I do not have bisque stuff laying around at the minute or I might have tried it before suggesting it to @verybrad. It just made sense to me after seeing how well it worked on my white woodwork.

Hopefully he will show us an after-photo when he does try cleaning the piece.

 

Bisque is porous but pretty tough, so removing that top microscopic layer along with the muck doesn’t hurt it. There’s no glaze to be damaged. I use a very small piece, with care.

 

I found this nice platter at a thrift store today.
15 inches across (about 40 cm)
Happy to pay $8.00!