Featured Finds Thread

Forgot this one. This seems to be the best of the necklace lot. It is all glass beads and seems to have some age. There are 4 clips with this, all pretty much the same. Maybe a pair of earrings and dress clips?

 

You are so right, Brad. That set is stunning!

 

Ditto!

The bracelets look interesting, too.

 

Besides the Middle Eastern bracelet, the one is gold plated with black enamel detailing. There is a MOP insert at each hinge. It has a nice look but can't be too valuable being plated. The other one is just gold-tone metal with faux seed pearls glued in. Pretty cheapo but cute.

 

I like them... Unfortunately I have a metal allergy, so can't wear some things; especially metal bracelets! Most metal touching my skin makes me break out in an itchy rash. That doesn't keep me from liking them, though. If they were platinum, then I could wear them.

 

I'm not seeing anything earth-shattering, Brad. That canetille pin in the front is definitely Peruvian; that's a llama on the front, pretty much diagnostic. The bracelet with the Hamsa dangle is probably Turkish like you thought, but if I could see it closer I'd be certain. Those hamsas are pretty much universal in the southern/eastern Mediterranean. I wouldn't worry about any of the necklaces; they all look like $5 bin bait. The one with the walnut shells is cool, but probably not worth a lot. You might want to get a closer look at the green ring though. Check for signatures and make sure the stone isn't real.

As for taking pictures of shiny stuff, got a milk jug? Empty? One of the translucent ones? If not, get one from a neighbor with kids. Cut the bottom out and put it over the jewelry you want a picture of. Shoot through the neck of the jug. Instant light tent. A jewelry dealer taught me that years ago and it works.

 

I think your costume jewelry is saleable The silver ball end bangle,I have had many through the years, have you tried to unscrew one of the end balls? If so they were to add on extra sterling balls or charms,also I agree aabout the peruvian pin,looks filigree. Also the red necklace looks to have sliced painted walnuts? A favorite in the late 70's.

PS
Your glass bead demi parue is stunning.

 

The sterling bangle does have a ball that screws off .... Thanks!

The ring sure appears to be glass. It has a small chip at one corner and has no inclusions. I realize that lab created stones could have similar characteristics but I really think this is glass. It is only marked .925.

I have tried the milk bottle light box with little success. I had a better set up at one point for taking pics but never got it back up after I moved. My camera is 15 years old and has light limitations that the newer ones don't seem to have. It does take pretty good macro pics of most things so I have hung on to it. I don't think I'm putting any of this jewelry up on ebay so don't think it matters much right now.

 

Just got back from visiting friends in Pittsburgh for the weekend. Only had time to stop in one TS, but found this little beauty...



A very well cast/made early-20th C. sterling silver pin/brooch in the form of a Northwest coast totem pole.

(***isn't there a poster here that collects miniature carved Northwest coast totems?***)

 

@komokwa ??

Is it marked?

 

Thanks!

It's marked on the reverse: 'STERLING'.

 

Similar totem pins have been made for decades, that one bears an uncanny resemblance to some Steve Stamas designs, but would expect his mark...

http://www.stevestamas.com/pins/pinsp6.html

~Cheryl

 

More to show. I have done very little shopping of late but do have a few things.

Hall teapot. Thrift store find for $4.00. Common form but less common in perfect condition. Probably one of the reissues.



Chase grave/sauce boat with underplate and ladle. Thrift store find for $3.00.


MCM or a bit earlier chandelier with aluminum trim ring. Thrift store find for $5.00.


Circa 1970 swag lamp. $10.00 at the thrift store.

 

Brad, I had the same problem with my old camera. If you have a photo editing program, it is better to go darker with the older cameras and use the editing to lighten the picture. Google's Picassa will work for that.

I found the milk jug was to small for the distance and width I needed so I made these from things I bought at the dollar store for $4.

The cake keeper let's through more light and gives a much wider area to work with. Just cut a hole in the top for your lens. Same with the white opaque bowl, it worked best for super shiny rhinestone things.

Cake Keeper



Opaque White Plastic Bowl



To get more light into my dollar store light tents, I made my own light soft box using a dollar store bowl, my own clamp light, electrical tape and a dollar store shower cap. I have three of these so I can point them down or use them on the surface right up against the sides of the bowl/cake keeper for better lighting. The most expensive thing was the light bulb.

Back


Front



With the show cap on

 

I think the shower cap diffusers would go a long way to solving most of my problems. Great idea!

 

Smart on the shower cap - I just tape a piece of tissue paper over the light...

~Cheryl

 

I have a honest to gosh pop-up light tent. Do I ever use it? (LOL)

 

Last group of finds here. The local auction Fri. night had a large collection of World's fair items. Much of it was from later fairs and of little interest to me. Some of it was early but went high. I was able to sneak in on a few items.

This lot of hankies and a pillow cover came with some paper ephemera. The lot was $5.00. The top two hankies are from the 1939 New York Worlds, Fair. The small one in the middle is from 1933 Chicago. The fair logo is on the corner and really doesn't show in this pic.


This 1939 New York Fair commemorative Bissell carpet sweeper is an odd item. Bought for $5.00.


This paper parasol from 1933 Chicago has seen better days but I think I can re-string the top and get it functional. Bought for $2.00.


Lastly, I bought this wicker chair at the auction for $4.00. It is in really great shape and I have the perfect little wicker desk to go with it.

 

Where do people find auctions that sell stuff for so little money? I don't mean little for what they are, but just such small amounts? $2? WTH?

PS, I like the lighting rigs and I'll try a few ideas myself. Copper coins are a real pig to get half decent.

 

My local auction house is near the bottom of the barrel for any place that has antiques. There is a mixed auction most every week and everything is sold without reserve. There is always a lot of what I consider vintage junk with some desirable items mixed in. I have seen a lot of nice things go for a buck.

Furniture tends to go very cheap unless it is just pristine. In fact, a Heywood Wakefield drop leaf table with stained top went for a buck on Fri. I just did not need another project or would have jumped on it. Other things tend to have more of a following here. Old rusty farm stuff, primitives, and advertising consistently do well there. MCM stuff has little interest unless the right people are there. They occasionally have all antique auctions and things tend to go a bit higher at those.

This auction is only 3 blocks from my house. Even so, I don't always go since I am often away on Fri. evenings. I do need to get there more often as I always come away with bargains.