I thought I'd take a break on the whole kitchen theme of the past few weeks.... and the drafting which I've been slowly ploughing through today to show you a few of my auction house finds from the past few months.
As I wrote a month or so ago in the blog post Fake or Fortune, I find it hard to resist an Auction House, and every now and again, I get lucky with a few absentee bids that I leave (I'm quite stingy, so generally only leave a low bid, and it's not uncommon to find that I've been outbid on the day by $10 from the floor. Frustrating).
But here are some of the small items that I've been successful with...
This pretty Victorian hand painted box, which came complete with it's perfectly laundered hankerchief contents. Many of the nicest ones (Irish linen, with beautiful lace edging) still were in their cellophane packets being kept, presumably, for a best occasion that never came. A good reminder to use your Good Things. Tucked in amongst them I found a little Christmas tag that said "To Edie, from Edie" in spidery handwriting. Seems like Edie used to self gift...it was $40
A blue and white transfer ware jardiniere. I've put my white cyclamen in it, but I'm thinking a hot pink cyclamen might look good too. It has an oriental design of cranes all over the sides, and is nicely aged in appearance, and is reasonably well made. $40
A cast iron Victorian boot scraper. As we are surrounded by mud at the moment, and for the foreseeable future, this was a practical buy. It's now living by the front door $50
This topiary box plant in an aged Italian terracotta pot with underplanting - $80. My retail estimate was that it would be over double that.
And lastly, a dud of sorts. I love a bit of butterfly taxidermy, and was thrilled to be the winning bidder of this old Victorian butterfly dome for $70. Unfortunately upon collection, I discovered that it was all a trickery - the aged base was in fact made of chipboard, and had a "made in Taiwan" sticker underneath it. To add insult to injury, one of the butterflies was missing a wing. I hadn't noticed as I was distracted by desperately trying to control my two errant children from knocking over displays when we went to inspect the auction lots. I now feel very half hearted about this item... a good lesson to really look at what you're thinking of buying!
Have you had any interesting finds lately?
As I wrote a month or so ago in the blog post Fake or Fortune, I find it hard to resist an Auction House, and every now and again, I get lucky with a few absentee bids that I leave (I'm quite stingy, so generally only leave a low bid, and it's not uncommon to find that I've been outbid on the day by $10 from the floor. Frustrating).
But here are some of the small items that I've been successful with...
This pretty Victorian hand painted box, which came complete with it's perfectly laundered hankerchief contents. Many of the nicest ones (Irish linen, with beautiful lace edging) still were in their cellophane packets being kept, presumably, for a best occasion that never came. A good reminder to use your Good Things. Tucked in amongst them I found a little Christmas tag that said "To Edie, from Edie" in spidery handwriting. Seems like Edie used to self gift...it was $40
A blue and white transfer ware jardiniere. I've put my white cyclamen in it, but I'm thinking a hot pink cyclamen might look good too. It has an oriental design of cranes all over the sides, and is nicely aged in appearance, and is reasonably well made. $40
A cast iron Victorian boot scraper. As we are surrounded by mud at the moment, and for the foreseeable future, this was a practical buy. It's now living by the front door $50
This topiary box plant in an aged Italian terracotta pot with underplanting - $80. My retail estimate was that it would be over double that.
And lastly, a dud of sorts. I love a bit of butterfly taxidermy, and was thrilled to be the winning bidder of this old Victorian butterfly dome for $70. Unfortunately upon collection, I discovered that it was all a trickery - the aged base was in fact made of chipboard, and had a "made in Taiwan" sticker underneath it. To add insult to injury, one of the butterflies was missing a wing. I hadn't noticed as I was distracted by desperately trying to control my two errant children from knocking over displays when we went to inspect the auction lots. I now feel very half hearted about this item... a good lesson to really look at what you're thinking of buying!
Have you had any interesting finds lately?
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- Heidi
- Architect & Interior Designer. Mother of three. A sometimes Cook, Baker, Reader, Gardener, Fashion Lover, Renovator, Writer of random things in South Australia email me on anadelaidevilla@bigpond.com
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I luff it all. To Edie love Edie makes me sad...Mr FF is King of the Auctions- art, objet de art, china, old antiquities. I am outbid at every turn. 'Cept with some persian rugs and a settee.
ReplyDeleteKeep the faith xx
It is a little bit sad... especially when the whole box wound up at the auction rooms. I often wonder about who things belonged to - especially if there's a few boxes of WW2 memorabilia, including medals etc - no family to treasure them.
DeleteThe whole outbidding thing is so frustrating - keep trying! xx
That topiary is BEYOND!!!!! When you mentioned last time that you get your topiary's from auction houses, I was so shocked! I love it. I have never thought of looking there for plants. I must start scouring.
ReplyDeleteI hyperventilate when I see your veranda tiles. They are stunning.
Shame about the butterflies. You win some, you lose some.
Plants are often in the auctions, not usually topiary though - that's a local guy whose trying to reduce stock. Mostly it's pots of things like agaves, cycads, bromeliads, money trees, succulents etc - things owned by old people going into retirement homes from their houses.
DeleteYou're very kind re the tiles - I love them too, am so happy we bit the bullet and put them in rather than delay them. xx
What beautiful little pieces, boot scrapers are such a essential in winter, I always wonder why they went out of fashion.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason they've gone the same way as hitching posts, although as they're still so useful I've wondered why too. I especially love the houses with them built into the door surrounds, we have a few in Adelaide like that, it's such a lovely detail. xx
DeleteLove all your finds, even the last one! I never have the discipline to absentee bid though, I once got outbid by as little as 5 pounds plus I love the adrenaline of lifting the paddle which gets me in trouble sometimes. I have refrained from buying anything this year as my house is stuffed to the gills. xx
ReplyDeleteWell, it's good you don't get carried away if you absentee bid, but it is frustrating when you miss out by so little! I'm hopeless at a real auction, I get completely carried away. Best to keep a paddle out of my hand, I get very competitive!! I've only bought little things... think Mr AV would go nuts if I started lugging bits of furniture home. Luckily most of my buying has been plants, so they're all outside. xx
DeleteI love your assorted finds! The topiary is stunning as is the boot-scraper and blue and white planter. You've inspired me to look up some Sydney based auctions... think it might be a bit of a struggle here though! I have actually never been to an auction... perhaps I should keep the status quo! xx
ReplyDeleteOh you get such good stuff at the Sydney auctions. My sister used to go to the Glebe ones when she was a student, and used to make money selling things on Ebay that she bought! I've never actually bid at an auction yet - all absentee bids. Looking online first is definitely the way to go too - you can see all their estimates and descriptions and then hone in on what you want to look at when they have a viewing. xx
DeleteHi there. Love these bits!! I too am an Adelaide girl. Which auction houses are your favourites? I never knew plants were auctioned too - fabulous!!
ReplyDeleteHi, Scammells in Kent Town is where I've been buying plants, although both of the auction houses (Small and Whitfield is the other on Unley Road) have them. They have pretty much anything you can imagine - outdoor furniture, statues, urns and planters, gates, as well as all the assorted indoor stuff from furniture and rugs to washing baskets, boxes of buttons, vintage clothes... pretty much everything you could imagine! You just have to be patient to see what comes up. Good luck xx
DeleteYou have some lovely treasures there! Pity about the butterfly dome, but it still does look very pretty even if it isn't quite what you thought it was :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Natalie - the butterfly dome has become an unfortunate symbol of disappointment! I do still like it though... xx
DeleteSuch fun touches you have! Love all the beauty added to an already beautful home!:)
ReplyDeleteThank you - half the fun of decorating a house is in the search I think. I'd find it very dull to have it all completed at once! xx
DeleteThe linen hankerchiefs are exquisite - great buy. Ages ago brought a small hand painted ladies silk fan which caught my eye at a second hand dealer. At home upon closer inspection it has a handcarved personal inscription from 1926 along one side of the frame. Not only it is something that is lovely to look at but I like to think that it was special to someone else before me and there was a story of sorts behind it. Have a great weekend. Karen
ReplyDeleteI didn't actually realise the box had any contents in it when I bought it Karen! The linen handkerchieves were a lovely surprise.
DeleteI love the story of your fan - I love thinking about why the person before me had the item or how they came to have it. xx
No interesting finds lately but Australian wines ..my new job ..I love it.
ReplyDeleteI have so much stuff here already nothing else would fit ..I do like your painted box lovely red flowers.
So glad the new job is working out well smr! I am trying to restrain myself due to the half sized house we currently inhabit, but I can sneak in little bits and pieces every now and again xx
DeleteLove the topiary and the boot scraper. I love the boot scraping concept but have no real need for one as boots are banned in my house!
ReplyDeleteWhen I read the "To Edie From Edie" I immediately thought were there were two friends with the same name... No-one will ever know now but the handkerchiefs are beautiful....
Hope all is going well for you Heidi.
Take care.
T
x
It's already been handy with the mud from yesterday. The kids have enthusiastically embraced the boot scraper too... which is a positive step. I thought it was unlikely that there'd be friends with the same name- it wasn't that common a name back then. If it'd been "To Joan from Joan" it would have been my thought. All good here, hope all is well with your crew xx
DeleteI love your boot scraper! What a great find. The painted box is also lovely!
ReplyDeleteHow annoying that the butterfly taxidermy dome was made in Taiwan...
I wish I had more time to go to auctions... lots of our furniture is from auctions, although not at all posh or expensive!
It's surprising how cheap things are at auction. I'm always thinking of the retail prices. Although as I said, I do miss out on a lot due to absentee bidding, and general stinginess... xx
DeleteHi there, I was just reading this and saw you have an eczema problem, linked to certain foods. Me too. Eczema has been linked (in many cases) to a Candida Albicans overgrowth in the body, which is exacerbated in the form of eczema when you eat starchy/sugary foods that candida feeds off. It's something that some GPs are aware of, others not. There are a lot of things I've done to help it, mostly natural remedies incorporating anti-fungal foods into the diet.
ReplyDelete