What Francis I & The White House Have In Common...

You never know what to expect when going to estate sales. There have been many times where I have been disappointed, grossed-out, happy, and excited...and sometimes all in the same house! I know I just did a feature Blog Post, A Love Affair With Silverware, but this is just so exciting that I felt like I need to share it here!

I have lived in Portland for 4 years now and Jared has lived here his whole life. Neither of us has even seen or heard of this home until we had stumbled upon it the day of the estate sale. When Jared and I pulled up to it, we both laughed at the fact that there was going to be nothing that we could afford in this home. We were right...

I am a history buff, as well as a lover of old architecture, so I did some research and wanted to give a little background to this grandeur home. In 1912 this beautiful mansion was built for a mere $46,000.... YES, $46,000. Most people today own a car on the road that costs as much as this home did in 1912. In fact, this was actually the most expensive billed home of its time in Portland! The architect was David Williams who was well known around Portland for his great homes built by the rich and famous. This home in particular was built for a lumberman, Robert Lytle and his wife Ida. This was going to be there summer home (nice, right!), which is reflected in its style. The style of the home is a mixture of Colonial Revival and Mediterranean with the Corinthian columns that dress the front entrance, and the Italianate boxed window shapes with arches and the tile roof. It was like they could vacation to Italy, without the long travel! By the way I minored in Italian Art & Architecture, so I am weird when it comes to old homes, I tend to get excited...

After a few years, the house changed hands a few times going from a lumberman to a pulp mill owner to a forest products industrialist and then to an occasional radio station broadcasting studio. A cool fact too is that in this home the very first paid commercial broadcast by a radio station in the US took place on behalf of a Portland ice cream store. In the 1960s the home was badly neglected and needed a major overhaul. Recently the home has been carefully restored and turned into a reputable bed & breakfast. 

Most of the Original fixtures & finishes remain in the home, and the furnishings have all been carefully selected to complement a fine early 20th Century home. Even the original hand-painted French wallpaper and African mahogany trim can be found!!! Jared and I unfortunately were not able to see the whole house, only a few sections, but I can just imagine all the cool and interesting features I would find if I was able to be let free to roam! Ok, so enough about the home, this post is after all about THE FIND!

Now, I know what you might be thinking, I found this c.1540 Painting of Francis I by Francois Clouet...fooled you! Turns out, I did not but instead I found something much more useful, tangible, and exciting than this painting...

I found a 60-piece Sterling Silver Set of Reed & Barton Francis I Silverware! Francis I was king of France from 1515 to 1547. After looking at this flatware, it may not surprise you that he was the first King of France to be called, "Your Majesty." It is also said that this pattern is the sterling flatware of princes and presidents, which is fitting, right? He was also a Renaissance patron of the arts. Since it is a Renaissance-inspired pattern it exudes ornateness, decorated with voluminous scrollwork, leaves, blossoms, and fruit. Also, the sterling silver doesn't hurt the eyes with its eye-catching glittering qualities. 

It would only be fitting that Reed and Barton would hire the famous FRENCH silver maker, artist, and designer Ernest Meyer to create the pattern inspired by the opulent Francis I considering he ruled over France for 32 years. Since, Francis I was a lover of Renaissance art, the best person to model this flatware after would be no other than a 1515 metalwork artist, Benvenuto Cellini (to the left is an example of the detail in his work). I should note that Cellini was also in King Francis I court of artist and sculptors, so it is very clear who Meyer should use as a model! Something interesting that I came across in doing my research is that Meyer made an executive decision to create fifteen ornate designs that would decorate each piece of the flatware. Why, you ask? Because King Francis I ascended the French throne in 1515, hence, 15 pieces as a lucky number!

So, the interesting story with this silverware is that when Jared and I got married, we had this on our wedding registry, but seeing how expensive it was per a place setting and per a piece for that matter, we never received a single piece. I fell in love with it when I saw it then, and at the estate sale I fell in love with it all over again. I was unable to purchase it, because clearly I do not have a "Francis I - 60-piece - Sterling Silver - Flatware Fund" set up. However, the asking price was insanely a good deal! I called up one of my buyers, aka Mom & Dad, and now they have a beautiful set of silverware (in my opinion the best set of silver ever made). The best part is that I am going to get to use it and enjoy it for the holidays when we all come together and they put it on the table! So, thank you Mom & Dad for having the prowess to purchase the set!

You ask what Francis I and The White House have in common? I will tell you, one exquisite set of sterling silver flatware that is both historical and beautiful!

Below are more images of the flatware, I would advise you to click on the images because they will open up to a much larger size so that you can appreciate the fine intricate detail in the pattern better...

A Love Affair with Silverware

 There is just something about old Silver Plated flatware that I love, and I am not sure exactly what it is. Something about the patina of the pieces, their imperfections, and unique intricate details etched into them makes me smile each time I open the drawer and pull one out. Even the thought of how these pieces were adorning Thanksgiving & Christmas dinner tables any where from 60 years to 138 years, brings an inner warmth and smile to me each time I use them. 

 A few weekends ago I made an unexpected stop to an estate sale I found the mother-lode. Upon arriving at the house, I waited in line... for 40 minutes. I was hoping that all this waiting would actually amount to finding something super awesome inside. Boy, was I happy I waited around! Walking through the house, I came to the conclusion that this was obviously someone who collected and had an extensive collection of the coolest, oldest, and most random things (probably what my house is going to look like in 30 years). I started to get a bit disheartened however, because everything was price at or 10% less than what I would sell it for on Etsy. Unfortunately, there was no profit to be made, nor did I have $60 to spend on a set of Jadeite mixing bowls.  

 By the time I made it into the kitchen, I thought all hope was lost at this awesome estate sale, until I came to three... large... rubbermaid boxes. Above the boxes was a piece of paper with the words written: "All Silver Plate - $0.25/each". I immediately got so excited I ran over the the cupboard, found a large mixing bowl, and started filling it with all the most unique and intricate pieces I could find! I do believe that people thought I was going mad, but I did not care. My blood was pumping, and I was excited! In the end I purchased 110 pieces for $27... TWENTY SEVEN DOLLARS!!! I felt like I had just struck gold... or silver!

 For me, these pieces turn an ordinary meal into something that is special and elegant. Not to mention, part of the fun with getting these pieces (for me, because I am a big nerd like that) is doing the research!  I love to know how old each piece is, what the pattern is, how much it would sell for, who and what the company was that produced it, and all the other information that will do no good unless I am ever on "Jeopardy - Silverware Edition". Because I know you all care so much, I have photographed most of the pieces that I have and categorized by the year, maker, pattern, and value!  

Serving Forks...

1.) BM Norblin - Pattern: Unidentified - Serving Fork - $?

2.) 1881 Rogers - 1910 - Pattern: Leyland - Meat Serving Fork - $21

3.) Stratford Silver Co - 1909 - Pattern: Lilyta - Meat Serving Fork - $45

4.)  SL & GH Rogers - 1911 - Pattern: Minerva - Serving Fork - $30

5.) 1847 Rogers Bros. - Pattern: Unidentified - Serving Fork - $?

Serving Spoons / Table Spoons...

6.)

7.) Wm. Rogers Bros. - 1911- Pattern: Old Colony - Serving Spoon - $25

8.) Wm. Rogers - 1910 - Pattern: Vintage - Serving Spoon - $24

9.) Vanderslice & Co. San Fran, CA - 1870 - Pattern: Unidentified - STERLING Serving Spoon - $?

10.) Wm. Rogers - 1878 - Pattern: Laurel - Tablespoon - $24

11.)

More Spoons...

12.) International Silver - 1894 - Pattern: Florida - Tablespoon - $28

13.) R.C. Akerly - Pattern: Unidentified - Tablespoon - $? - Engraved: "Mother to Willie"

14.) 1835 Wallace - Pattern: Unidentified - Fruit Spoon - $? - Engraved: "K"

15.) 1855 Sears & Son - Pattern: Unidentified - Tablespoon - $?

16.) Wallace - 1899 - Pattern: Anjou - Teaspoon - $25

17.) International Silver - 1907 - Pattern: Alahambra - Sugar Spoon - $35

18.) 1847 Rogers Bros. - 1910 - Pattern: Sharon - Tablespoon - $25

19.) Community Silver - 1904 - Pattern: Fleur de Luce - Teaspoon - $14

Even More Spoons!...

20.) Holmes & Edwards - Pattern: Unidentified - Teaspoon - $?

21.) Oneida Reliance Plate - 1908 - Pattern: Wildwood - Teaspoon - $12

22.) Hall & Elton - 1867- Pattern: Medallion - Sugar Spoon - $49

23.) 1847 Rogers Bros - 1906 - Pattern Charter Oak - Teaspoon - $15

24.) Cuevee Silver - Pattern: Unidentified - Sugar Spoon - $?

25.) Holmes & Edwards - 1909 - Pattern: Bride - Teaspoon - $10

26.) cc & ss Cuevee Silver - Pattern: Unidentified - Sugar Spoon - $?

27.) 1835 Wallace - 1916 - Pattern: Athena - $29

28.) American Silver Co. - 1906 - Pattern: Moselle - Teaspoon - $20

Sugar Spoons

29.) 1847 Rogers - Pattern: Unidentified - Sugar Spoon - $?

30.) Rogers - Pattern: Unidentified - Sugar Spoon - $?

31.) Rogers - 1901 - Pattern: Mayflower - Sugar Spoon - $19

32.) 1847 Rogers - Pattern: Unidentified - Sugar Spoon - $?

Odds & Ends Spoons

33.) Wm. Rogers Bros. - 1913 - Pattern: Isabella - Round Soup Spoon - $30

34.) Community Silver - 1901 - Pattern: Avalon - Curved Soup Spoon - $29

35.) Community Silver - Pattern: Unidentified -  Fruit Spoon - $?

36.) 1881 Rogers - 1908 - Pattern: La Vigne - Teaspoon - $12

37.) Wm Rogers & Sons - 1920 - Pattern: Daisey - Sugar Spoon - $17

38.) Reed & Barton - 1886 - Pattern: Renaissance - Teaspoon - $100

39.) International Silver - Pattern: Grape - Table Spoon - $29

Interesting Forks!...

40.) R. Strickland - Pattern Unidentified - Dinner Fork - $?

41.) Community Silver - 1940 - Pattern: Milady - Salad Fork - $15

42.) 1847 Wm. Rogers - 1906 - Pattern: Charter Oak - Youth Fork - $24 

43.) Wm. Rogers Bros. - 1908 - Pattern: Arbutus - Salad Fork - $19

44.) Wm. Rogers Bros. - 1908 - Pattern: Arbutus - Youth Fork - $15

45.) Rogers - 1910 - Pattern: Grape - Lunch Fork - $12

46.) Wm. Rogers - 1898 - Pattern: Melrose - Youth Fork - $12

47.) Cereta Silverplate - 1902 - Pattern: Cereta - Lunch Fork - $28

Lunch / Dinner Forks...

48.) Community Silver - 1904 - Pattern: Fleur de Luce - Dinner Fork - $20

49.) LaShar Silver - 1913 - Pattern: Rosedale - Lunch Fork - $14

50.) 1847 Rogers Bros - Pattern: Unidentified - Dinner Fork - $?

51.) Community Plate - 1910 - Pattern: Sheraton - Dinner Fork - $12

52.) 1881 Rogers - 1936 - Pattern: Mystic - Lunch Fork - $12

53.) LaShar Silver - 1910 - Pattern: Grape - Lunch Fork - $9

The Old Forks...

54.) Anchor Rogers - 1879 - Pattern: Imperial - Dinner Fork - $12

55.) Rogers Anchor - 1883 - Pattern: Saratoga/Angelo - Dinner Fork - $10

56.) Wm. Rogers - 1879 - Pattern: Newport - Dinner Fork - $12

57.) 1847 Rogers - 1878 - Pattern: Lorne - Dinner Fork - $12

58.) Anchor Rogers- 1890 - Pattern: Embossed - Dinner Fork - $9

Estate Sale Wars...The Art To Picking!

As you can see it has been a while since I have been on here posting my estate sale finds, and I am not too happy about it! The past month has been so busy. I made another two week trip to Park City, Utah, had a very successful yard sale, went to Seattle, Washington for a Bachelorette Weekend, and then an awesome Country Chic Wedding Weekend in Boring, Oregon (yes, there really is a place in Oregon called Boring!). Phewww! Now that all of the craziness is over... it's time to start focusing back on work and my shop!

Before I left for Utah this second time around, Jared and I, made it to one estate sale. Let me tell you... it was an experience like none other. Going into these sales, I have always thought I was prepared. My eyes fine tuned, coffee pumping in my veins, rolls of bills in my pocket, and arms ready to start holding stuff. Needless to say, everything I thought I knew about estate sales was about to be redefined... compared to these people, I felt like this was my first rodeo.

Now, I continuously get asked about advice and tips for shopping at estate sales so I thought this would be a good time to put in my thoughts. Considering what I thought I knew before quickly changed from my last experience I will go over some basic rules of the game.

1.) Opening Day - Don't be on time, be early...

This was the first time that Jared and I have gone to an opening day of an estate sale at the time it opened. First mistake. We should have gotten there 1 to 2 hours BEFOREHAND... just to get our names first on the list to start grabbing before everyone else. When we showed up AT ten o'clock, there was a line that wrapped around the block.... AROUND THE BLOCK! I asked someone what was going on, and they said I needed to go up to the top of the line put my name on the list and the number in my party.... I was confused. Was this a big joke and were we waiting in line for By Way's Cafe in NW Portland?! I went up put my name on the list, and 30 to 40 minutes later we were eventually called by number and allowed in the house.

2.) Arriving Prepared - Don't arrive with your Starbucks coffee and purse in hand...

While Jared and I were waiting in line, around the block, I ran into someone I knew, and she filled me in on all the tricks of the trade. I noticed a ton of people (everyone at the front of the line...Seasoned Vets) had large Baskets, and little white index cards with their name, phone number, and SOLD written in black sharpie along with a roll of tape. I thought this was bizarre at first, but when she explained why, it made total sense. The basket is for you to hold all the little nick-knack type items to make it easier for you to carry. The tags and tape were for the larger items that you could slap onto items that were to big to carry like furniture, frames, and heavy items. That way people know that it is already purchased. The least amount of items that you have in your hands the more enjoyable time you are going to have. The biggest mistake you can make is carrying your coffee around, while trying to look and grab items with people bumping and grabbing stuff right out in front of you. People are ruthless... that is all I need to say about that (don't let age fool you either, sometimes the older they are the harder they bite when you touch anything around them). Have your money and phone in your pocket, and nothing but the basket in your hands while perusing the house.

3.) Dress The Part - Don't dress too cute...

If you go to a sale where a lot of stuff is not marked with the price, then this is a VITAL tip. By dressing like you are just average joe, out-looking-for-some-cool-stuff-to-put-in-your-house, they will sometimes work with you on the price. I know that sounds silly, but there have been times where being dressed really trendy and fashionable has worked against me, because they know (or assume) what I am doing...reselling and decorating. Most of the time they don't want to me to get away with the best deals. Plus, being young, puts their defenses up. However, MOST sales are mostly tagged to some degree and this is not always an issue.

4.) Room in the Car - Don't expect the sale to hold your item...

Make sure you have room in your car for the unexpected item, like the 4-foot mirror I found or a wooden chair. Nothing is worse than finding something you love and not being able to get it in your car. Most places will not hold an item either, so if you are worried about not having enough room in your car, plan on using someone elses, or beg the sellers to hold!

5.) Make a List - Don't assume you will remember all the things you are looking for to decorate with...

Sales can be VERY overwhelming. Period. As you are rifling though an entire house of someone's life long possessions, A LOT can be missed. I would recommend before you go, think of somethings that if you would have if at that moment you could get. Etsy is a great resource too for those odd items that you would never think of. That way, when you get to the sale, you know things to look for and your eyes will be a bit more trained and tuned into what you want. Having an Iphone or smartphone is a great resource too, because you can see if what they are selling an item for is fair or too steep. An example of this was the toolbox that I got for Jared. He had been searching for months of one, and we could never find one, until I put it on a list, went to a sale, and because I looked at the list found the MOST AMAZING 1920s Kennedy toolbox!!!

6.) Neighborhood Shop - Don't always judge a book by a cover...

Look for neighborhoods in your area that are old. Homes where people have been living there for years. The older the home, the better things you are going to find, because that means some old person has been accumulating for years. I have been finding too that the better sales are not always in the more affluent neighborhoods, because the stuff they are selling is a lot of time WAY over priced and sometimes actual rare pieces that are just out of my league. Average Joe neighborhoods, with old houses is the way to go. I also like to look in areas close to my neighborhood, just for convenience sake! A key to this also, is to never ever judge a book by its cover...just read my blog entry, Never Judge A Book By Its Cover.

7.) Sunday = Best Day - Don't assume all the junk is left...

A lot of people would disagree with me on this, but I believe Sundays can be the best day to go. Ninety-five percent of the time Sundays are ALWAYS 50% off everything, or 50% off everything under $50. I always go right when they open & find the best stuff, and half off. There is an exception to this. If you are looking for items like furniture, electronics, or something very specific, I would not recommend doing this. These items usually go FIRST. You do miss out on some things the first two days, but they are priced a bit higher in the event that they don't sell by Sunday, they still get an adequate dollar for the item.

8.) Finding Estate Sales - Don't be fooled, be sure you are going to an Estate Sale...

I will tell you to not be fooled, because many people label their JUNK SALE as an estate sale. An estate sale is where you walk into someone's home who has deceased or moved to an assisted living facility. Everything in the home is up for grabs. An estate sale is not... in someone's front yard, backyard, garage, driveway, car, or porch. Those kinds of sales are FAR from an estate sale. People are getting clever however.

Craigslist... Do a search for estate sales in your area. Be sure it is not a yard sale.

Your local newspaper's Classified section... I always look online at OregonLive.com. The have an Estate Sale Classified section which is almost always accurate. G-Salr is a great garage selling website. Just put in your location, and it will tell you were all the estate garage and yard sales are that are right near you. They search anything that has been posted to the internet. They even have a cool Iphone App!

My favorite though is.... www.EstateSales.org. They are the best. Period!

I hope this helps, and if you have any specific questions, shoot me a comment or email, in the meantime, check out the cool items I aquired at the latest sale!