New Old Territory: Essex, MA

What is there to do on a gloomy, misty fall Saturday?

Take a drive up to the North Shore of MA and visit some antiques shops in Essex.

This was my first time there and I enjoyed it. I always like seeking out new antiques territory and there are many shops, large and small, clustered along route 133 worth poking through.

Probably the largest shop is the conveniently named Main Street Antiques.

The Word: Mums

Four floors are stacked with all sorts of items from Life magazines to antique hardware.

I wasn't on the hunt for hardware but went for this pair of cast iron oil lamp holders.

Judging by the art deco design, I'd guess these are probably from the 1930s.

Even better, everything in the shop was 30% off!

I did a bit of online research and discovered a similar pair painted silver.

If I decide to hang them on a wall, I'll need a metal hardware piece like the one pictured at the bottom right. I could place pillar candles on them or small plants. Mainly, I just like them as architectural pieces, especially their hefty weight and quality.

I climbed up a spiral staircase to behold more treasures.

I poked through a wooden bin filled with belt buckles and discovered a beautiful inlaid piece I just had to have. Typically, I see Western designs with horses or deer, but this one really stood out.

I don't think it's very old but the back says "HECHO EN MEXICO" (Made in Mexico).

In another shop I contemplated a white swan TV lamp but I passed on it because I'm running out of places to display them at home.

I often get caught up in the visual overload when I go antiquing, which is all part of the fun.

Soaring In Store

Candles In The Round

UNLESS YOU ARE THE LEAD DOG
THE VIEW NEVER CHANGES
(The word "DOG" got cut off – wasn't paying attention)

Cool Vintage Finds on a Steamy September Friday

The Brimfield Antiques Show is always a visual feast, and this September was no exception with plenty of larger-than-life treasures on full display.

Big Boy Ahoy!

Pull It Up To The Bumper Car, Baby.

Feeling nostalgic yet?

At the September show, more dealers than ever offer vintage Christmas items for sale.

One dealer had an excellent variety of plastic blow molds, including carolers, Santas, snowmen and this pair of red candles with white lantern tops.

I didn't photograph the back, but near the base it says, "Empire Plastics Co., 1969." Except for some faded green paint, these are in excellent condition for their age.

As much as I love these, I'm giving them as a gift to my brother.

Usually I arrive home with a sleigh full of Christmas treasures. This time I only bought a few shiny ornaments for myself.

In my previous post I mentioned decorating for Halloween, and I found this black tinsel feather tree to help me along.

I don't think it's very old, but it's just the right size to place on my marble-top lamp table in the living room. I especially like the spider webs on the base.

One of the most unusual items I found was this Gladiator TV lamp. (My lucky 7th TV lamp, in case anyone is counting).

I took photos of this lit, but the details were obliterated. The 15-watt lightbulb is behind the right top of the plastic shade. The shade has a tear in it somewhere at the right, which I fixed with scotch tape. 

It was extremely dusty when I found it, and because of the tear in the shade, I got it for just $20. I especially like the curve of the shade and the whip-stitching on the borders. 

The dealer I bought it from had a whole table full of TV lamps, including two pirate ships, two pink deer planters, a large black poodle, and a black Asian themed one. 

The other unusual item was this Italy-themed tablecloth.

Mangia! Mangia!

Italy scenes with Leaning Tower of Cheese-a

Center border detail

Delicioso E Delicioso!

I really like the colors and fine details and – no spaghetti sauce stains! Yet.

After an Italian feast, it's time for a Dutch treat...

I did discover one other somewhat unusual treasure: this Dutch scene print.

I'm guessing this dates from the early 20th century, perhaps the 1920s.

I think the frame shape is really the most unique thing about it.

Frame detail – probably hand carved

From cool to steamy and back, it was a September day to remember.

Already dreaming of next May...

Hoo Wants Another TV Lamp?

Part of the fun of decorating is planning ahead for the next season or holiday. If you're like me, you'll gather items throughout the year, anticipating how you'll display them in their best possible light.

Speaking of light, I've decided to decorate a bit more elaborately for Halloween this year, beginning with this Kron owl TV lamp I found on ebay. I believe it's from the 1950s, possibly made in Texas. There's a whole history on Kron TV lamps, and there was apparently a rare white version of this owl as well.

Unfortunately, it arrived damaged as a result of not being packed carefully.
Fortunately I am due a full refund from the seller.

But all is not lost. With my brother's help, we glued the larger pieces back on with clear epoxy glue.

Unless you look really close, you can't see much of the damage. Compared with other TV lamps, this one has exceptional details in the feathers and even the base, and the way its eyes light up is spooky and cool at the same time.

The other TV lamp I found on ebay is this wonderful Yellow Tulip with a green leaf base.

I really like the artistry of this one and the shades of pink at the bottom of the flower, and the variations of green on the base. It also has a handy on/off switch. Most unusual: this one was made in Italy.

Decorating is Bellissimo!

Ciao!

Night Rider? A TV Lamp Horse, Of Course!

The newest addition to my burgeoning TV Lamp Collection:

My most recent CT antiquing excursion yielded this unusual glossy black horse TV lamp, which, I suspect, may have been given a new coat of spray paint. In any case, I haven't seen this form before and like his proud stance.

I've placed him on a white pedestal right outside my kitchen entrance. Note the handy on/off switch at the bottom back.

I had a tough time getting a good photo – he wouldn't stand still! –  but you get the idea.
Giddyup!

At the same antiques shop, I spotted this pair of fab 1950s lamps. I've never seen lampshade shapes like these before. I love the colors and the whipstitching at the top and bottom. Primo! (I was so tempted...)

 Even more tempting was this art deco sofa and chair set. The mix of upholstery fabrics is truly inspiring, as is the thick silhouette and stepped design on the center back and curved sides.

Deco delicious!

Sink Praises

I've been on a mildly ambitious home improvement kick lately, beginning with a newly refinished bathroom pedestal sink.

I'm not sure how old it is, but it probably dates from the 1930s or 1940s? As you can see, it was in rough shape, with chipped paint and rust stains.

I finally got so tired of looking at it in bad shape, I contacted three different companies to get estimates on reglazing it. Only one company responded, and their estimate was fair, so I took the plunge.

I had a choice of about six colors. I chose American Standard White, which is an off-white that worked pretty well with my existing toilet and bathtub. The only odd thing was, they wouldn't paint the pedestal part for a reason I can't recall at the moment. Still, it looks much better, don't you think?


Next on the list was a hallway runner.
The challenge was finding a size long enough to fit my bowling alley-like hallway.
ABC Carpet had this vintage Turkish "Nomad" runner, which measures approximately 11'1" long x 2'9" wide. It's 100% wool flat weave with an intriguing tribal design. "Flat weave" means that it was woven on a loom instead of being knotted. This makes it thinner because it doesn't have a tufted pile. I believe this one may have been hand-loomed as opposed to machine-loomed. You can surmise this by the slightly uneven design motifs.

Initially, I thought it was a bit too dark, but I've decided I really like it, and like how it fits the space.

During the cooler months (most of the year), it will feel wonderfully warm underfoot.

Walk this way.

'Tis The Season For Outdoor Antiquing

July in New England has definitely improved in terms of both weather and new finds along the antiques trail – beginning with these two Ball turquoise mason jars I found at the Elephant's 
Trunk Country Flea Market in New Milford, CT.

Ball Mason Jars, approx. 9.5" tall x 4.5" wide.
Based on the script-like logo, these date from between 1910 to 1923.

I don't usually buy "country" antiques, but the turquoise color and large size of these attracted my attention. They make perfect accent pieces in my red and gold living room.

Yesterday I attended the Brimfield Antiques Show on a gorgeous sunny summer day. I missed the May show due to inclement weather. Needless to say, I made up for lost time with a few fun bargain purchases.

One of my favorite Christmas dealers had a fun Santa blow mold I couldn't resist. This one is popping out of a chimney and has a happy, jolly face.

Dapol Industries plastic Santa, made in the mid to late 1970s?, possibly in Worcester, MA.

The back says, "Dapol Industries Decorative Outfit. Made in USA. For Indoor Use Only."

I also bought a plastic ghost (back says, "1995 Empire Ind., Inc. Made in China") and an angel (identical to one I already have). The angel has no markings, but according to my Collector's Encyclopedia of Electric Christmas Lighting, it was made by the Levinson Mfg. Co., USA, around 1955. She originally came with a white plastic pedestal base. A true bargain at $5!

1955 Angel prays for 1995 Trick-Or-Treating Ghost.

I also purchased a C-7 Santa bulb from the same dealer who sold me the plastic Santa and Ghost.

C-7 Santa bulb, marked "JAPAN" on screw-in base. Dates from 1950s?

My crowning purchase of the day? This unique decorative wall piece, the likes of which I'd never seen before.

Though it's missing a few "jewels," I really love the design and shape of the black velvet crown and the curvaceously scrolled swag, as well as the unusual twisting finial. The back says,

GOODMAN-DEAN-SCOTT, INC.
CONTINENTAL BOUTIQUE   34263
MONARCH CROWN-SWAG

I couldn't find much info on the company, but one online comment I found suggests Goodman-Dean-Scott was based in Chicago. This piece was probably made anywhere from the early 1960s to the mid 1970s.

In any case, I really like it, and it was a bargain at $23.
It's also missing a couple of small "hook loops" on the left part of the swag. I'm thinking crystals may have hung from them originally. SO, I visited the hardware dealer at Brimfield for a few crystal drops, including these two ruby ones.

Positively REGAL!

Finally, here are a few photos of quirky-cool, novelty-WOW items – Brimfield usually has a wild selection of them!

BIG CAT – yours for $1,800!

"No parking, I'm on vacation."

Got wheels?

Pimpalicious dining set with paint-by-numbers dogs portrait?!

Happy (Antiquing) Trails to you!