Tag Archives: ceramics

Weekend Finds – A Close to 2022

Every year, there is a point where outdoor flea-marketing for our weekend finds is just not comfortable. So as a close to 2022 antiquing, at least outside, I present our collection of recent treasures. Outside and in.

The Golden Nugget Flea-market Finds:

The first of our first weekend finds? A Rebajes Ubangi Woman pin at the Golden Nugget Flea Market. It needs to have the pin replaced, but it was a bargain at $3.00.

Rebajes

Rebajes African Woman Pin – circa 1940

On an unusual outing to the Golden Nugget on a Wednesday, (ok, not the weekend but…) this dealer sure had a bunch of pretty items. I would have bought up the lot of it. But through prudence, and discussion with Anthony, I managed to relieve the vendor of only a few items.

One of our finds? This is a copper letter holder made by Revere. We haven’t found anything about it – yet!  And no, I didn’t pay $25.00,

Revere copper

Vintage letter holder by Revere

Here’s a chrome Art Deco Samson Egg cooker. Ironically, it was made in Rochester, NY – where Anthony lives.

This unusual weekend find is a car flashlight. It plugs into a car’s cigarette lighter. I did try it but the plug is just a tad big for the modern plug. And I didn’t want to force it in.

Art Deco Plug-in Flashlight

Art Deco Plug-in Car Flashlight

Art Deco Flashlight

An inside look – the cord is about 3′ long.

A nice little glass and chrome powder box.  It’s unmarked but in mint condition.

Deco powder / trinket box

Chrome glass and bakelite powder / trinket box

A different vendor had a section dedicated to 1939-1940’s World’s Fair memorabilia.  I sent Anthony this picture. And, while there were pieces he liked, he decided to pass.

1939-1940's World's Fair memorabilia

1939-1940’s World’s Fair collection

I also passed on this lovely Whiting & Davis handbag.  Our friend Nancy liked it, but it was not the right time for her. I should have gotten it. But at $100.00, I wasn’t sure it was worth the money. It is, and more.  I kick myself over this one.

I wish we had a place for this beauty. But we don’t. And so it stayed.

Art Deco lighting

Brass and polychrome chandelier I wish we had room for it

This collection of Chase is a real and reasonably priced find.  The Sparta pitcher, designed by Walter Von Nessen and a sugar & creamer set with matching tray was originally priced at over $95.00. The dealer didn’t want to take it home and offered it all to me for $30.00. Cha-ching!

Chase Copper and Brass

Chase chrome collection

This Manning Bowman Thermos and Tray has issues.  We always caution you NOT to purchase a rattling thermos unless it is just for display. This thermos rattled.  And the stopper is badly chipped. However, the tray is an extremely difficult piece to find so after a little bargaining, both home it came for $25.00.

Manning Bowman thermos and tray

1930’s Manning Bowman thermos and tray

A bit of déjà vu and another of our finds? This is another Manning Bowman thermos, sans tray.  It doesn’t rattle and is in good condition.  This was from another dealer who just wanted everything gone. And for $10.00 I was happy to take it off her hands.

Manning Bowman thermos

Manning Bowman thermos – this one doesn’t rattle!

I loved these ceramic puppy extension cords. But at $125.00 each, with damaged cords imbedded into the ceramic bodies, I couldn’t justify the price. Had the cords not been imbedded or at least accessible for repair, I may have been persuaded.

Art Deco extension cord

Art Deco extension cord

Can you guess what it is? The dealer didn’t know. I didn’t know either. But with some intuitive thinking, I figured it out. I think.

Deco Optical instrument

Deco Optical instrument

See how well you do with these clues:

            Bakelite handle

            Non-prescription glass

            Total length about 8 inches long by 4 inches wide

            Marked Bausch and Lomb on the handle

Good Stuff Thrift Store Finds:

We’ve had good luck at the Good Stuff Thrift Store.  No brand silver-plate cocktail shaker purchased for $4.50.  This unusual item dates to the 1930s. The cork stopper both in the lid and also in the pour spout cap are more common features at that time.  It’s amazing what a little elbow grease (and a good polish compound) can do.

Although missing the chrome lid, I picked up this cute divided dish for $3.99. It is by Farber Brothers / Krome Kraft.

Deco divided dish

Farber Bros. divided dish – circa 1930

This 1930s Hall ball jug in the Crocus pattern is in mint condition. It is also the only time I got into an argument with another customer.  The short version; I put it down in front of me to look at another pitcher. A woman walks up, asks me if I was buying it to which I responded, “Yes”. She proceeds to pick it up and walk away!??? I again told her I was buying it and she responded, “Well, you didn’t have your hand on it. It’s mine now.” Details are so messy.  Let’s just say – I won!

1930's Hall ball jug - crocus

1930s Hall ball jug – Crocus

2nd Avenue Thrift Store:

This pair of silver-plate candle holders is designed by Carl Deffner, They could be anywhere from the 1930 to the 1960s. And they have a no-polish finish. The pair cost $2.50.

Carl Deffner candle holders

Carl Deffner candle holders

Savers:

Here is a Chase bon-bon / nut dish. Chase appears to be getting harder to find in the wild. Anthony picked this up  at Savers for $3.99.

Chase chrome dish

Chase dish – perfect for serving afterdinner mints or nuts

GoodWill Finds:

I love the GoodWill! This little fellow is an example of ceramics Made in Occupied Japan. While we don’t know a great deal about this category, I do know items like this were massed produced between 1945 through 1951.  Though difficult to find, these are not generally worth a great deal. This would be a good collection for someone on a budget.

I wasn’t able to find an exact match to this in my research. I did find that the more and better the details, the better quality. And therefore more desirable. Compared to the one found online, this is a better-quality piece.  Why? The hand by the hat is separated from the hat and is well defined.  Cost – $3.99.

Occupied Japan Statue

Occupied Japan Statue

This little lady is another example of Made in Occupied Japan. She’s a cutie and cost 2.99.

Occupied Japan Statue

Miniature Occupied Japan Statue

It’s time to say goodbye 2022 and our weekend finds. But I can hardly wait to see what we’ll find in 2023!

So, did you figure out the mystery item? It’s a Pince-nez sizer. It is used to measure the width of the bridge of the nose to assure your armless glasses stayed put! I think!

You just never know what you’ll find when Driving for Deco!

Chris & Anthony (The Freakin’, Tiquen Guys)

Weekend Finds – July 2022

Many of you know I thrift and flea market several times a week, but especially on weekends, looking for weekend finds.  I recently picked up some items I think you’ll find interesting.

Deco cocktail shaker

All Evercraft or a marriage (owner’s collection)

The first is a skyscraper cocktail shaker purchased at a GoodWill. Made by Evercraft, what makes this an unusual piece is the cap. We have not been able to find this shaker with this cap in any search. What we did find is this shaker with a stepped lid.  Conversely, we found a similar top on a Farberware (Japan) cocktail shaker.

Now frankly, it could be a marriage of two different shakers. But the cap fits perfectly which usually doesn’t occur between different manufacturers.

So, did Farberware sell off some of its designs to Evercraft? Did Evercraft copy Farberware? Is it coincidence that the top happens to fit the shaker perfectly? We truly don’t know! But it is still a stylish addition to our ever-growing collection.

Another weekend find came from the Good-Stuff thrift store. It is one of those, “I think it’s cute. I don’t know anything about it but I’ll take a chance.”

Bovey Anzac Figurine

Bovey Australia Anzac Figurine (owner’s collection)

Deco Bovey

Factory markings (owner’s collection)

What I found is a hard-to-find, if not rare English statue, circa 1945.

The Bovey Pottery Company closed in 1957. Had they not created the “Our Gang” series, they probably would have been lost to history.

Bovey Factory

Bovey Pottery Factory (photo via wemysswarebook.com)

The figurines celebrate the various armed services who fought in WWII. And, some of “Big Names” involved were commemorated as well.

The “Big Names” consist of “The Boss” (Winston Churchill), F. D. Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin.  And really, who wouldn’t want a Stalin statue in their house?

The figures were designed in collaboration by Gwynneth Holt (1909-95) and architect Fenton Wyness (1903-74) and consisted of 16 figures in all. They were in production from October 1940 through the early 50’s.

Gwynneth Holt (photo via sculptors.org.uk)

In general, they were sold in a soft matte buff or matte white glaze. The figures are also available in a mottled brown glaze (that I find disturbing).

Bovey The Boss

Winston Churchill in dueling glazes (photo via auction-net.co.uk)

The other figures are:

RAF Pilot, Australian Army (Anzac), New Zealand Army (Anzac), Staff Sergeant, Tommy Soldier, Sailor, ARP Warden, Nurse, Land Girl, Sergeant Major, Scottish Soldier, Navy Captain, W.A.F.F Airwoman, and Home Guard.

Polychrome examples do exist. But various sources indicate they may have been prototype models that never went into production as they are unmarked.

Pieces that come up for auction regularly sell above the auction estimate as collectors try to complete their collections. I’m glad I took a chance picking up this little fella!

So, if you like something, pick it up. You just never know what weekend finds you’ll stumble across driving-for-deco.

Happy Hunting!

Chris & Anthony (The Freakin’ ‘tiquen Guys)