Seven Simple Words... Never Judge A Book By Its Cover.
Lately, I have been getting really... Really... annoyed with these listings for "estate sales", which turn out to be yard or garage sales. They are so far from opposites, that I do not know how they get off calling themselves that. On Friday, I had a list of about 5 places that were having "estate sales", by the time I had gotten through four, I had only really been to one... ONE, actual estate sale! I was not happy.
The fifth address on the list was far out in Woodstock, near 60th & Duke. I contemplated not going with the luck I was having, but something told me just go, you never know what you will find. Driving to the house, the neighborhood was not really "estate sale" promising. I started getting even more unhappy that I drove all this way for another junk sale. The sale did not look too promising. There were a few things here and there. Then I got into the house and there it was.... THERE IT WAS! Sitting on an old table, was a 1936 set of 100-Pieces Georgian Eggshell China with 24-K Gold Trim, in pattern Cashmere. They were magnificent! I started counting, and every single piece was there! No chips, no cracks, no missing pieces... just sitting their waiting to come home with me.
Now, when I see a price that is fair, I do not try and low-ball the seller, because I want the sale to be a win-win for both of the seller and me, the buyer. Since I did not have a dire need nor $100 for 100-pieces of China, I thought I would give it a shot. The set was priced at $100. I went outside and asked the lady if she was flexible on the price, and she worked with me at $50. I was on a high...
I ran to the bank, and when I came back she shared with me that this set was her China Set from the 1930s, and that she had three grandchildren, one boy and two girls who wanted nothing to do with it. Obviously, her grandson had no interest, but she was so heartbroken that her two granddaughters wanted nothing to do with it. Their reasoning was that it was too much work to hand-wash the dishes due to the gold trimming and they were not modern enough.
She later said that she prayed that someone who would treasure them would get them, and use them since her own grandchildren did not care. Then I came along, and she knew they were meant to go to me, and that was why she took $50.00 for them. I would say it was a pretty neat moment. I assured her that I was going to treasure them, and enjoy them everyday! Therefore, since the story was so meaningful to me and the items are so amazing and beautiful... This is the find of the week! Just remember, never judge a book by its cover, because you never know what you might be missing out on in the end!
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The Ninety-Year-Old Italian Couple's Estate:
This was the first home on the list of five that I visited and only one of two ACTUAL estate sales. When I walked up I felt like I was a kid in a candy store, everything I saw I wanted...It was like a sensory overload. I cringed at what the cost was going to be by the end of this visit. I started talking with the brother of the couple who passed back in January. I let him know that I had a love for all things old, and that I love to decorate with the items in my home, and write about the adventures of estate sales! He really thought what I did was cool, so he struck a deal with me...Gave me a HUGE box, and said fill it for a flat rate.
I literally think at that very moment my jaw dropped and rolled down the driveway! Among the many things I found I got: an old wooden ruler, an old wooden & metal Pedor shoe form, three various sized snips, a 1930s Swingline ruler, a 1930s old Eagle Oil can, a very large paint brush, a chippy silver wooden box, a first aid kit from the 1950s, with all the original medical items in it. Also, about 25 fine linens that they brought over from Italy, Austria, and Hungry, a vintage Limoges Dessert Plate, 10 yards of Vintage perfect Lilly Pulitzer-esqe Fabric, a 1920s Marriage License, vintage Chanel Lambskin purse, Crystal S&P Shakers, 4 unique pyrex bowls and dishes, yellow Bundt pan, 1936 Swingline Stapler, and a very old and beautiful robin's egg blue quilt. I was in heaven!
The man I spoke with was so sweet, he told me all about his brother, and sister-in-law. His sister-in-law was from Rome, and came to Portland, WAY back in the day, and met his brother, who was an Italian American. They instantly fell in love, and moved back to Italy, where they purchased a small little flat in the city, and traveled back and forth from Rome to Portland. They had impeccable taste, and were so in love, up until she passed a year ago, and then later her husband passed in January of this year. It was such a neat and pleasurable experience to get a little lens into the life that these to swanky people lived! So, as a tribute to this sweet couple:
"Vi ringrasio per il bel tesoro! (Thank you for your beautiful things!)"
Odds & Ends of the Collection
***Chippy Paint Brush *** Eagle Oil Can *** Trio of Vintage Snips***
*** Vintage Wooden Shoe Form *** Pedor Metal Shoe Form *** Yellow Bundt Pan ***
***The 1950s Johnson & Johnson Medical First Aid Kit***
*** Linens from Austria, Hungry, & Italy *** Vintage Limoges Dish ***
*** 10 -Yards of Vintage Perfect Lilly Pulitzer-esqe Fabric ***
*** 1920s Marriage License *** Vintage Chanel Lambskin Purse ***
Vintage Blue Snowflake Pyrex 9x13 Dish *** Vintage Woodland Brown Pyrex 1.5L Casserole
Crystal S&P Shakers *** Vintage Quilt ***Pyrex Nesting Mixing Bowls in Solid Colors Pink
*** Silver Chippy Slide Box *** 1930s Swingline Stapler ***
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The Brooklyn House Estate:
This particular estate sale Jared was able to come with me to, after church on Sunday. It was a good thing that he was able to come because he was the one who scored some pretty cool stuff.
In the process of combing the house, I started to smell & see smoke coming from a halogen lamp. Luckily, I was right there because it was resting on a printer and the heat from the bulb in the lamp had started a small fire on the printer.... the estate sellers were thankful, but didn't really care (kind of worrisome!). I saved the house from burning down, you think they would have hooked it up!
Jared was able to find some cool vintage ties, and brand new vintage button down shirts, along with a pretty sweet brand-new in the box Casio Calculator Watch, and a 1970s University of Oregon hurdle top that was chippy painted and said OREGON! He was so excited about the find he could hardly stand it! On the other hand, for me, this sale was ok. I did find a pretty stinking cool Rand McNally World Wall Map that is like 6 feet wide, but 5 feet tall, along with a cool vintage "M" shop lamp. But, no great amazing finds or stories, other than the house almost burning down!
*** Rand McNally World Wall Map *** Vintage 1950s M Lamp **
*** 1980s Casio Calculator Watch *** Rand McNally World Wall Map ***
Stay tuned for this weekend's finds!!! I would love to hear your comments too!!!
<3 Anna Kate
