Thursday 16 January 2014

Vintage finds

Today it is 40 degrees in Melbourne, and since I now have my license I thought I'd drive myself down to the Frankston op-shop and take a look around. I've been feeling quite sad since Savers Frankston closed down, I used to go there a lot and rummage for hours and because there was so much there you would occasionally find some good things, but alas it is gone, so now I will have to make do with The Salvos.

I've been doing a bit of thrift/vintage shopping since the new year has begun and have found myself some new goodies. Here's what I found:

1. Xylonite hand mirror


Just before the new year I spent a few days down along the bay at Rye and visited some antique shops while I was there {I also visited Queenscliff, a beautiful, old fashioned town, and though I didn't find any good antiques there, I always enjoy admiring the old buildings, wide streets and the view across the bay}. I found this little xylonite mirror at The Factory Antiques Market in Dromana . Xylonite is apparently a celluloid plastic akin to Bakelite. I've always eyed off hand mirrors but have never bought one before now. I was drawn to this one by its turquoise color {and also it's reasonable price tag! Some hand mirror sets are quite pricy}.


~ Dreams ~

I adore Antique sheds and rummaging through them. I often think how wonderful it would be to sell antiques - to be able to spend my life surrounded by old things. However, I also suspect I would have some trouble letting go of all the beautiful things - I would want to keep all of it!

2. Flower power dress


I found this little baby at Lost & Found,  a huge, and slightly pricy warehouse size antique emporium. I love the bright 60s/70s flower design. It's a very cheery dress. I've worn it around a couple of times already and it's the kind of dress that makes people smile {and possibly takes them on a trip down memory lane}.

3. Myott teacup


I came across this, rather worse for wear, little teacup today sitting on it's lonesome at the op-shop with no saucer in sight. It is in pretty bad condition, with a big crack and some chips around the rim, but I was drawn to it nonetheless. As soon as a saw it I felt that I had seen the design before somewhere, however I do not remember where, or even if this is the case, or if it simply reminds me of another tea set. The colour doesn't show up so well in this photo, it's sort of an off white colour with a faint yellow tinge. The handle, and the back rim seem to suggest it may be a Deco design - another reason I was drawn to it.

Since taking it home, I have searched online in vane to try and find out the name of the design {design names are usually written of the base of the saucer} but have not been able to find anything resembling this. I have found many similar designs by the same brand, but none identical. So it remains a mystery, and possibly will remain a mystery until or rather if, I happen to stumble upon the design again at some point in the future. But I don't mind. I have a soft spot for tea cups, even though I rarely use them to drink out of because they don't hold enough drink for my liking, I like to display them around and admire their beauty.

7 comments:

  1. Great finds! I love op shops too :)

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    1. Thankyou :) Yes op-shopping's always good fun!

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  2. Lizzy, I love antiques, perhaps because I have become one. But what vintage articles suggest to me is a time of striving and learning with which I personally identify. In the early '70s, I found myself thrust into a California economy that made supporting oneself and family --we had 2 little ones-- a pretty lonely business. I joined a general movement to learn crafts and methods, in my case picture frames and art restoration, in the midst of double-digit unemployment figures. Much work with little remuneration but, by and by, we made ends meet. One progresses, makes contacts, and some of those contacts turn out to be important. Point is, I'm at the other end of the age scale and retired from various jobs but still value and use what I learned back then. I have followed your very instructive fashion ideas for some years and predict a bright future for you. For me, there were ditches to dig, dumptrucks to drive and toilets to clean, but eventually the world unlocked and I got to garden for a living, creating topiary and sculpting Edens. Whereever life and work take you, I hope you'll keep transmitting particulars. I find them fascinating.

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    1. That's a great to hear that you've finally got the garden Geo, the pot of gold at the end of a road of hard work. I find it very inspirational. I hope that one day I will also be able to do something I really love, but I guess you just have to be patient and persistent. Restoration and crafts sounds lie a nice road to take. I often have trouble deciding which interests to pursue, but I think sometimes life decides for you. Happy gardening!

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