Featured Finds Thread

Not yet...............................!

 

This had its case broken as it was thrown in the trash pile. Got it mostly back together. Working on cleaning movement yet, though mostly running. The strike and chimes sound a bit off.

 

It amazes me what people through out

 

It is, but very pretty.

 

I know clocks aren't as hot as they used to be .. but trash? The brass in the mechanism is worth at least a dollar a pound. Not that anyone ought to scrap it, but ... trash?

 

The Wedgwood Diana is also nice.

 

Most recent finds:

And the faves: Guilloche enamel. This is an unmarked silver brooch. Despite the damage I love the muted grey colors.

The filigree locket. A spot of damage on the back but so beautiful in person. No marks on this one either.

Silver bottle. There’s a faint imprint of a the outside of a mark and a few numbers. The lid is monogrammed.

10k brooch/pendant. Small stress fracture doesn’t go all the way across.

18k white gold ring. Small blue center stone. Not a clue what it is yet.

Coral flower ring. 800 silver.

 

Wow, what a bunch of goodies!
A good polishing on the enamel silver brooch will get the damaged areas far less obvious (dark spots of oxydized silver where enamel lacks)
Love the locket too, and the chatelaine salts/scent bottle

 

I'm down with the possible sapphire ring...and the scent bottle is lovely.....
nice finds BMRT !!!!

 

I’ll def give it a try. Wouldn’t have thought to polish it to diminish the dark spots. Thank you for the tip!

 

OK. This is the good stuff other than the scrap silver and gold (not a ton) from a lot in the mail about two weeks ago. The hearts are half drilled for pendants (malachite and blue lace agate, the flower pin in the front looks like a craft kit, and that big goldtone pin is BSK. (i.e. not much of anything) The big sucker is missing some stones, but it's 1930s or so Czech. The bar pins usually aren't worth much, but they're twins and triplets. The big gold and crystal pin is probably D&E. The cross pin is 80s and missing a stone, but I like it anyway. The scrap metal will pay for the whole thing. There were some cheap gold earrings, a thinly made 10k ring and some silver chains missing all or part of their clasps.

 

The cuff bracelet is probably Krementz gold filled, check for a small mark

 

It is. I knew what it was from the original auction photo. They didn't show the mark but it wasn't hard to spot.

 

@Northern Lights Lodge

 

Thank you! I'd have never located it! The first one; likely Hairpin Lace. There are perhaps several variations. It IS handmade... probably mid-century. Probably cotton.

The second one is handmade Maltese Lace. Easily identifiable by the "Maltese Crosses" which are a necessary part of the design and the copious amount of "wheat leaves" - beautifully worked! It is a bobbin lace and yes, made in "Malta". It is made in pieces and then the pieces are whipped together... often with a finer thread which didn't hold as strongly as the body of the work. Circa: 1920-30. Very unusually, it appears to be cotton. The majority of Maltese is made in silk (or a very silky fiber); I've only run into a few pieces which are made of cotton. I've never seen any Maltese made in linen; although it is possible.

Lovely pieces! Thanks for drawing my attention to them!
Leslie

 

Thank you for the info, I will frame them up, they are so pretty. The Maltese is silky rather than cottony. Do you have any framing recommendations regarding background? Would dark velvet be a bit naff?

 

My pleasure. The Maltese may indeed be silk then - I couldn't pick up a sheen in the photos. As for framing. My most valuable suggestions are: SEW/BASTE the lace onto what ever backing you choose. Use acid free if using a matte board (I like acid free suede board) or if using a fabric - try to use something without a lot of dye that may come off or bleed. Try and make sure to leave a small space between the lace and the glass.

What I try to do; when using suede board - is to lay the right size suade board over a thick piece of styrofoam. Lay out my lace carefully and make strategic pricked holes into the pin holes in the lace. I prick in "doubles"...two pin holes... one IN the lace pin hole and another very close. Then space another set maybe a 1/2" away. They need to be enough that the lace stays put when placed vertically as you don't want it to droop and mar the finished appearance. As I "prick" these holes; I leave a pin in the lace pin hole - not deeply but enough that after I have them all pricked; that I can remove many of them to keep the lace aligned and pick up the suede board and the lace from the styrofoam.

Using a similar size and color thread to the lace and fine needle; Anchor the thread on the back side, leaving a long thread - scotch tape will work. I begin on the back and remove the first pin in the lace; then carefully bring the needle up through the pin hole in the lace and go back down through the second nearby pin hole. Continue, one pin at a time by a long stitch to the next double set of pin holes and work your way around the edge; and if necessary, any pin holes in the middle to hold the piece flat in the center of the work. When finished; (if possible) tie the end with the original long end of thread waiting under the tape (remove tape - before tying the knot). Tape will probably suffice; but I prefer to tie and remove the tape. This method has worked well for me and I've used it for years.

Even if I have the piece professionally framed. I take the lace to the frame shop; decide on the frame and mat. He will cut the mat for me. I take it home and sew on the lace and then return the completed mat to the framer. I don't trust anyone else to sew it on properly.

If using fabric. I use a foam core board. Baste the appropriate fabric firmly around the edges of the board. Then I proceed as with the previous directions.

Any tiny holes made by your prickings; generally won't show after it is framed as there is no back light once it is framed. Light color suede board is less forgiving. Fabric is often more forgiving.

I don't know your term "naff"... I've used velvet; but velvet will pick up light here and there and may give an sheen that deters from the lace. A matter of your own choice I think. And of course, with velvet, I think it matters even more to have that space between the glass and the lace/fabric.

Have fun with it! Enjoy your finished projects! OH, something to consider with the hairpin lace piece. It is undoubtedly meant to be "fluted" with starch. Therefore, probably wouldn't lay flat in the frame.

Leslie

 

I framed a tatted piece on silk once; I think the tatting was silk too. It had minor damage and a tea stain when I found it, so I tea-dyed it and then stitched it to the silk backing and framed it. Gave it away later to a refugee family who had nothing on their walls.

 

Many miles cruising the curb today.

Everything free.

Got a bunch of grass seed. Maybe it sprouts, maybe not. It was free. Bunch of fertilizer too.

Nuther bicycle for baby gurl. And Paw Patrol Helmut.

Scrap copper and brass.

A bunch of good garage chemicals - starter fluid, brake cleaner, lubricants, sea foam, etc.

Most saleable