Featured Finds Thread

I've found screw-threaded rhinestone earrings, but those threaded backs always raise my suspicions. Today's finds are from the library book sale and the GoodWill. The Goodwill stuff was wedding gift silver and it's already melted for $45 more than I paid for it. The books and CDs aren't worth the effort to shoot until I see if any are worth what I paid.

 

The Wedgwood illustrations look to me like the style of John Tenniel.

 

Bought something different. A pack of Whitehall Sperm Candles. off putting for any environmentalists out there but definitely a rarer thing to see. I can’t seem to find any that have sold other than a few modern nantucket versions, one of which sold for £140. Spermaceti is the name given to the spermlike substance in a sperm whales head. Sperm Latin for seed, Ceti for whale.
American searchers may fare better than me.

I think these are 19th century.

There arent near me atm but I’ll get pics as soon as I can.

 

They wouldn't even be legal here as far as I know, although as documented antiques you might be OK.

 

I know. I’ve seen one or two. They were illegal in some places up until to 70’s. here’s a pic attached of them.

 

I am cleaning up my stock, and here is what I found.
Metal letters, used as initials to put in a hat or so.
They are not quiet finished, because they are not cleaned and bear no stick pin's.
But it took hours to make one,all by hand, they where first stamped and then cut out with a file.

 

Those are nice! I bet they'd sell handily to ... somebody. I can see the ones with no posts ending up as earrings.

 

But the coffee can predates him I think

 

The only problem with antique coffee cans/cups? They generally contain no coffee.

 

I hit a local historical society's annual flea market today on about four hours' sleep. I'm fried, but scored a few bits. Among the loot: bitty WWI-era gold circle pin, some bits (not shown) for repurposing, a linen tablecloth with the original tag on it, African fabric, dark orange branch coral with 14k findings, and a POW bracelet. The last bit traces to a gentleman who was still alive and posting as of last year. I'm undecided as to whether to send him the bracelet or to wear it as a tribute to the other guys who didn't make it home.

 

I looked at the jewelry - all junk. Grabbed a pen set. Look at some ephemera. Came back and looked at the jewelry again. Still crap. Looked around the house one more time. Came back by the jewelry. There's a chunk of 14K there for $3.

 

Not the coffee cans... the pitcher.

Compare to his Alice illustrations.

 

Anything with a safety catch of that type is worth giving a close look. It's a feature you really don't see except on good gold.

 

YIKES!!!!!

 

Those earrings are fabulous, Terry! And then the bracelet, wow!

 

Cute Thomas Allen 1880 design Wedgwood pitcher

 

I went to a street fair last weekend, long story, I didn't see anyone set up early, so I went to another flea market. Seems they set up in a different place I didn't see.... oh well, live and learn. I went back to the street fair after the flea market and found them.

I was looking at a lady's tables and tables of jewelry, and this guy comes up. plops himself right in front of the gold and silver, and takes out his files, his loupes, his magnets, his acid testing kit, and his scale and blocks everybody from seeing the precious metals. Then he proceeds to lie to the lady about what she has and badgers her saying "I need this cheaper, I can't make a good profit." When he told her the ring marked 750 wasn't gold, I told her it was 18k. While he was blocking the good stuff, I did find a few goodies. Upcoming.

 

Thanks to evelyb, I knew this was a stone of Eliat brooch/pendant
(I think it is, anyway.) The lady said it was malachite. I like the colors and I imagine I see a figure in it. It has a small hairline crack, hard to see, but the brooch is huge.

I got his ring at the flea market, probably a repro, but hey, sterling and $10


I got this 9k garnet ring, probably made to look old, cast from an old mold, a few weeks ago


I still have to upload the $3 bargain I found while the guy had his paraphenlia all over the table.