Tag Archives: Rebajes

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 – October 2021

With the crisp autumn weather, Anthony and I hit the road  hoping for some nice weekend finds.  Our first stop was the Golden Nugget Flea Market, Lambertville, NJ.

Now, a few weeks ago we saw a dealer with four intriguing copper plates. Unfortunately, he was selling them as a set and the price was more than we were willing to spend. Also, we didn’t know the artist, Rebajes, so we passed.  Once home, we researched this fascinating man.

Art Deco Rebajes

Rebajes (detail of signature)

Francisco Rebajes (1905-1990) emigrated to the US in 1922 from the Dominican Republic. 16 and knowing little English he supported himself as a cafeteria worker. In 1932 he married and they lived, by the kindness of a friend, in a basement apartment. Clever with his hands, Rebajes used old tools to recycle tin cans into animals. These he exhibited at the first Washington Square outdoor show. By chance, Juliana Force, then director of the Whitney Museum, bought all his work. From then on, well, that’s another post.

,,,

This weekend, the vendor was back. And apparently, he was convinced to break up the set as he only had two available.  And anxious to sell, he dropped his price form $40 each to $40 for the pair! Needless to say, this desirable art was one of our purchases.

Art Deco Hazel Atlas

Sportsman Sailboat tray by Hazel Atlas

Our next buy was a Hazel Atlas Sportsman Sailboat tray for $10.00. And just for fun, a 1938 board game, Cabby, for $5.00.

Art Deco Board Game

1938 Cabby by Selchow & Righter

Then, we were off to Antique Haven.  This is a good size, but not large store and we rarely walk out empty handed.  Our first find was a set of hard-to-find Chase Doric cocktail cups. Then we saw and debated a #1 Fiesta mixing bowl and a Fiesta footed salad bowl. In the end, our only purchase was the Chase cups.

Art Deco Chase Chrome

1930’s Chase Doric Cocktail Cups

Hungry, we hoped to eat at Someday Café and Roastery just one driveway down. The last time we were in the area, they were closed due to the pandemic.  But today they were open! Under new management and a new name, Hungry Locktender. We ate a delicious (and bigger than expected) Crepe Florentine; a crepe stuffed with spinach, cheese, and mushrooms.

Art Deco Freakin Tiquen 2021

Hungry Locktender, Riegelsville, Pa.

Satisfied, we headed off to Easton, Pa.  By luck, we passed a new antique store (for us) Allen’s Antiques.  This is a smallish store chocked full of mostly small items from colonial to mid-century and with fair to better than fair prices. While we looked at some interesting items we didn’t find anything in the main store. However, there is a barn in the back and there we saw several interesting items, Anthony picked up a Chase binnacle lamp for $5.00.

Art Deco Weekend Finds

Allen’s Antiques, Riegelsville, Pa.

Back on the road, we drove to Easton Antique Emporium. Anthony purchased a 1930’s ruby glass recipe cocktail shaker. And it was time to start heading home.

Art Deco Cocktail Shaker

1930’s Ruby Recipe Cocktail Shaker

We stopped at Restore in Washington, NJ. This is a great place to find odds and ends at bargain basement prices.  I found a nice platinum trim bowl, perfect for popcorn for $1.00.

Art Deco China

Canonsburg Pottery hand painted by Pacific China

And then, closer to home, we stopped off at the Tomato Factory Antique and Design Center, Hopewell, NJ.  This is another place where we seldom walk out empty handed. And today was no exception.

Tomato Factory and Design Center (photo from website)

Anthony found an original 10-inch ivory Fiesta vase. Though expensive, it was more than fairly priced. And then discounted, too!

Art Deco Fiesta

1936-1942 10 inch Fiesta vase

In all, a successful day of antiquing!

Chris & Anthony (The Freakin’ ‘tiquen Guys)