Estate Sale Hoppin' Happenings

There is nothing so fun to me as going to Estate Sales. I have always loved bargain hunting, and finding that diamond in the rough. So I was glad when I saw a little postcard come in my mail last week, with one just a few streets away. This one is not really a true estate sale -a few designers put some of their stuff in a vacant duplex every 4 months or so and have a one-day sale. So I put it on my calendar to go to this one on Friday. Then my mom sends me an email about another one, a few streets down too and on the same day and time, and when I previewed it on-line I decided this one was a priority. So I get there at 8:30, and doors open at 9:00 am. There was a line down the street already! I spot my friend Mary from Antique Row who is at the front of the line, and she said she had been waiting since 7:00 am.  Change of plans: I can't wait for 2 hours, so I go to the Designer one first, and decide I will hit this one later.

So Here's What I Saw at the First One:

A pair of wingback chairs covered in burlap

Their rugs were well priced, and this settee with the striped cotton fabric was gorgeous

I loved this mirror! The antique glass inside was so old and rippled

I'm a sucker for anything tapestry, and this pillow is especially lovely

I contemplated this for a long time but I have nowhere to put it or no-one to buy it for!

And Here's What I Purchased From There (A few for me, but most for clients):

This pair of lamps with custom linen shades and trim were $125 .... FOR THE PAIR!  Score! These went directly into my son's rooms

This seascape oil painting was $125

An antique oriental rug for $115

Another antique rug for $85

A pair of antique gilt fragments for $35. I think I may mount these on large lucite bases and sell them.

I bought this for the frame, as it is a great example of an antique dutch frame, with burled wood and inlaid marquetry. And with the cute old print already included it was a good price at $85. 

A pair of antique oil paintings in original frames for $125

So when this is over, and I hear from my friend Dona that the line at the other one has diminished, I head over to that house to see what it's all about. Apparently the woman who lived there was quite a style maven. I say that based on the clothes and books I saw at the sale. She must of been very old, but it seems like in the 1960's through the 1980's she purchased and collected quite a few fashionable things. (Bev, this is the one you saw that you wanted to go to also, what do you think of my buys?) 

Here's What I Saw There:

I like the style of her curtains with the grosgrain ribbon-trimmed pelmets

There were two original circa 1950's chrome  étagères in the corners on either side of the window that were marked down to $50 each. I pondered that for awhile too but had no-one I could think of that needed them

This was a huge setting of ALL Herend dishes and tureens.... I'm sure this was sold in the first 5 minutes. When I got there, there was only one piece still available

This is the preview pic that got me wanting to get there so bad...lots of vintage perfumes. By the time I arrived, there were only 4 left. Apparently a Perfumer/Scent expert  scooped them all up. 

And Here's What I Purchased (two for me, one for client):

I got this sofa for $350. Isn't it awesome? It is covered in velvet and has a nice curved line to it. The whole look of it is very sophisticated, and the lines are clean. I think it will have to be recovered. My husband and a sweet friend of ours just put it in the back of a pick-up truck a few hours ago and drove it home...in the rain. It is ready to go to storage until the perfect space opens up for it in someone's lovely home.

This chinese porcelain pot was $8. I think make-up brushes or pencils would look great in it.

Here are my two perfume purchases. The vintage Shalimar by Guerlain was $20 and is huge. The vintage Givenchy III was $10. I'm keeping these!