Finds! The Recent Hauls

This past week I've had a little time to go out looking for new stock for the booths, and maybe a few things for me. Here's some of what I found:

Four vintage tablecloths that looked like they'd never been used of washed--but they had some stains. After much soaking and a good hot wash, I am happy to say they look much better than they did in this photo. The little hankie and the gold apron were in with them, in a huge cardboard bin of sheets, blankets and pillows.

I hoped this was Blenko, but it was not. Ah well. At 16 inches tall it's still a beauty, and I may just keep it anyway. I like the color!

Remember these chairs? We got them at an auction last year for $7.00. I couldn't stand to let the auctioneer say "no bid" so I bought them. They're Eastlake style parlor chairs with the little wheels on the front legs. But boy they looked bad.

So we took them to our friend who does upholstery, and look at them now! They'll be in our Ravenswood booth soon.

Anchor Hocking's Lido Milano pitcher--I remember buying one of them for my mother when I was about 12, for 79 cents.

Hofbauer German crystal basket--such a beauty!

Purinton slipware plates--I found a few bowls and cups too. Very unusual look to these, and they have a handmade feel. These are mid-century.

Three Blenko pieces! At last, some Blenko found in the wild (as collectors call it when they find something at a thrift or yard sale)! Blenko began assigning numbers to their pieces to indicate the year they were made and the order in which they were added to their designs--I think that's how it is. So the clear one is number 8514, made in 1985. The water bottle is number 384, but I do not think that number reflects the year the design was introduced. The small bottle is 6424--the color of the water bottle and the small bottle is not called amberina by Blenko, but tangerine.

This piece puzzled me at first. I immediately thought "epergne", but it didn't seem right. Made by Taylor, smith & Taylor, this is part of their LuRay Pastels series. It was so dirty I missed seeing that it had been chipped and repaired--I probably would have passed it up had I seen that. It's a fairly rare piece however, so I've listed it on eBay and we'll see how it goes.

Another Blenko--can you see my happy smile? This is #64D. The color I am not sure of--it may be wheat, or honey, or just amber. Blenko used all of those names to designate slight differences in shade. I am leaning towards wheat at this point.

Ah, Hazel Atlas! I do love their glassware! Hazel Atlas sold 10 of its 12 plants to Brockway Glass in 1964. This is their Capri Swirl pattern, in amber. I have a clear set that we use at home; this amber set is now on eBay.

Salem China's Flower Basket pattern has an interesting story attached to it. The pattern was designed by the German artist Wendelin Grossmann of Berlin, and was the inspiration for acclaimed quilter Grace McCance Snyder, who spent sixteen months piecing and assembling her Flower Basket Petit Point quilt. Entirely handmade, the quilt contains 85,789 pieces and 5,400 yards of thread to make 13 full blocks and 4 partial blocks to complete her quilt. The quilt was finished in 1943, and a photo of the quilt was sent to Salem China's President F.W. McKee, who was so impressed that he sent Mrs. Snyder a set of the china. Over the years McKee continued to sent place settings until Mrs. Snyder had 18 settings for her growing family. You can see her quilt on the website of the International Quilt Study and Museum and the Nebraska Historical Society's webpage, among others.

This is a child's set of bowl, plate and mug which I found in their original box. These came in various colors and were made by Tiara, but were sold by Home Interiors.

I have no idea who made this pretty pitcher, but probably Federal or Anchor Hocking. It's already on hold for a friend.

I thought surely this was a Paden City Glass bird, but nope! It's not even American! It's Murano glass, and was made in Italy. It's a striking piece, measuring 12" to the tip of its tail, and 16" long. Very heavy glass.

A pretty little Fenton cream and sugar set were also pretty dirty when found, but nice and clean now. These are from the mid 1950's.

I am not sure of the date on these two plates which were made of slag glass by Akro Agate. another WV company. These are small, and go with a child's tea set.

 And a whole lot more, still to sort and identify! The Southwestern looking round vase has already sold on eBay--it was a Vera Russell signed pottery piece. Not my style, but beautiful.

One special find here--a Russian Tula samovar. The bottom is metal and has an electric heating element inside. The top teapot is china. This thing is just gorgeous! It was a fantastic find, priced very low, and I am hoping to make a good profit on it when I sell it. Right now I am just enjoying looking at it.

More on the table top...

I am lovin' this lamp. It's a pale green color, probably flashed on color but so very pretty. I am tempted to keep this one--but where would I put it? always the $90 dollar question!

In the van, an oak dresser hides beneath a sheet, a primitive blue chair, and lots and lots of bee boxes, given to us by a friend who is no longer keeping bees.

And last, this old beat-up door, which will become a hall stand eventually.