Featured Finds Thread

Had some extra time between appointment and errands yesterday so I stopped by thrift store that sometimes has interesting stuff. Right inside the door they had a huge display of "silver" with a Half-Off sign. Mostly silverplated, terribly tarnished in many cases, and even at half off way over priced for condition. But then I noticed a shelf with a few napkin holders and one practically threw itself at me!

I knew right away that it was Norwegian (thanks to Cheryl's many informative posts on Norwegian designs) and after a few minutes of careful looking, discovered an 830 mark, which I am sure no one on the shop staff would have seen it was so tiny! And there was hardly any tarnish! So for 7 bucks, it was a nice addition to my collection!

 

That is a great find!

 

Love the dragon on it!

 

I thought so too! They rarely have as much silver on display as they had yesterday. And as I said, so much was in tough shape, I was amazed to find the real thing in that mess.

 

Nice Dragestil napkin ring, Sue - good eye! Love the wriggle-work, looks like the center section might have been lightly etched and gilt originally...

Nicer looking dragon than the wild thing on this Hroar Prydz napkin ring I gave my Mom years ago:





~Cheryl

 

Thanks, Cheryl! I agree it does have a faint gold tinge to it.

I would not have known what it was without you!

 

One thing I wanted to ask you about - there appears to be a very small "2" impressed into the upper edge band, plus a cluster of teeny tiny round impressions in the vicinity. At least 2 or 3 seem to have letters inside, but even through the camera on super macro I can't tell if they're actual letters or just "damage." Thoughts?

 

Not ringing any bells for me, kinda surprised there's no maker's mark, though. Do see the '2' (1st pic, above the engraved 'B'?) and the nearby dots/circles, but they lose any definition on enlarging, perhaps just pitting?

~Cheryl

 

That's where it is. Really doesn't look like pitting. More like little dents. I've looked all over for a maker, but nothing.

 

I bought this small butterfly box for the equivalent of 5$ today. The frame is really not great (it's a wooden shadow box that's covered in masking tape that's been painted grey afterwards)

I'm assuming it's not worth spending the money to have it put into a proper shadow box at the frame store?

 

You could probably remove the tape by heating it with a hair dryer and exposing the wood. Goo Gone would remove any left over tape residue. Depending on what you find under the tape, you could stain or paint it.

 

Please - Don't "pull a Mansons" - in other words, be certain that the entire thing will not fall to pieces when the tape is removed!!!!!

Been there, done that (Cliche #13 for today)

 

Yes. The tape is unfortunately what holds the glass (and everything except the back) on place.

 

What about cutting pieces to go over the tape?

 

Exactly. Just go over it all.

 

see if any of the flutterbys are on the restricted list.

 

Bargain well done ,

 

Haven't been out antiquing very much lately but I did acquire a few ancient coins recently. Here is one from the Ptolemaic Dynasty (Egypt). From about 170 BC (est.).

 

very cool Joe2007!

 

Hold onto your chairs!!! I finally have something (a book) to report as a real "find" at an estate sale!!!

The Voice of Bugle Ann, by MacKinlay Kantor, Coward-McCann, Inc., New York, copyright 1935 by author, "Published 1935 (August), Eighth Printing December 1935." Signed by giver: "To Beatrice from Tom Jan. 1, 1936". Hardcover with dust jacket (original price of $1.25 on inside front dust jacket). 128 numbered pages.

Bugle Ann was a foxhound "in the tangled Missouri hill country--that strange, eerie region which is neither corn-land nor mountain thicket . . . ." (from the dust jacket).

I started reading it last night and (small print and all) I read as far as page 39 before sleepiness demanded it be put away for safekeeping until this evening.