Best Buys

Here are some the things I couldn't pass up at the Flea Market. Even though it's a "flea" there are plenty of beautiful, high quality treasures to be found. Like the Czechoslovakian Cut Glass (& Pink) Perfume Bottles that I took home with me. Not inexpensive, but not one chip, and these are getting harder to find. So after asking what the best price would be, I gladly paid the dealer, knowing that this was the best deal I would get anywhere. You will always pay more for perfect pieces, but they are worth it.

Once these were unpacked, I locked onto these babies. How pretty are they? They are metal, and painted in the softest, most beautiful vintage colors. Some are Clips to hold your mail or lettres d'amour, while others are the sweetest Name Card Holders for your next elegant Tea or Luncheon. I enquired what the best price would be for all of them, and a happy deal was struck. Love these. Sometimes if you offer to buy all of whatever~it~is, you get a better deal.

What's not to love about this Victorian Pink & Gilded Gift Cup? Perfect condition, perfect color for my palette, perfect price. smiles. Asked if there were any more like this one hiding anywhere, but alas, she was an only. If you really love something and you may want to buy more, it's always a good idea to ask. Sometimes vendors only put out one at a time, and may have a beautiful twin or sister hiding in a newspaper somewhere!

This time there seemed to be an abundance of Victorian Porcelain. Both the really expensive kind, and the somewhat less expensive, such as the sweet little Cake Plate above. Great image of a Victorian Lady, Pink, Roses, it doesn't get any better than that! I asked about the sisters, and was able to buy four. There actually were more, but some of them were not very clear. Often this type of porcelain transferware from the late 1800's early 1900's weren't made with very exacting standards, so be sure if you do buy multiples, that you check out each and every piece yourself.

This is a Cabinet Plate, much more expensive, and of better quality. The old, antique plates featuring Children are quite highly collected. This one has three Children, even better! I think this is Robin Hood. Love this piece, was able to get it at a slightly more "friendly" price after talking to the dealer for a while. (back to"it helps to be nice") Most dealers know what they have, so be sure to not insult them by pointing out each and every little scratch, I'm sure you wouldn't do that, but I'm always amazed by the littany of complaints potential buyers sometimes make regarding a piece they want to buy. The dealer will give you a better price, or not. If you harrass them, it's not going to make the price any better, sometimes it goes up!

A sweet Victorian Child's "Gift" Cup. These were sold to be given as gifts to little children for holidays, birthdays, or for being the top student. Sweet, no chips, no cracks (perfect matters if you are going to resell, for myself sometimes a chip is okay) added to the growing collection of Porcelain in my cart! This reminds me to tell you to bring a few old towels, and maybe some bubblewrap in your cart. Most vendors of breakables will wrap for you, but some will be out of bubblewrap. So I try to throw some bath towels and bubblewrap in the bottom of the cart to protect my new babies.

The strange thing about Flea Markets is that often, it seems that a certain kind of item is everywhere! Sometimes, it seems that almost every vendor has to die for Millinery Flowers and Lace. Other times, it's wonderful Bark Cloth, or Baby Items. This time, it was Porcelain! I couldn't pass up the Antique Limoges Chocolate Pot either. Beautiful, finding the cups would have been a real coup, but this one pot will do very nicely. Again, this is a pricey piece, but totally worth it. Love the soft colors, the shape, and the fact that hot chocolate was served in here.

Finally, I will show you something I bought that I loved, although it is not at all related in any way to anything else in my cart that day. This old, old Sea Sprite painting. From the early 1900's, painted on the antique Academy Board, by an amateur. Mr. FGH raised his eyebrows when I put her and another (less clothed) painting in the cart, but there is something sweet about this girl and her friend. I love the old Beach Cottage Look, so in the summertime am drawn to anything with shells, or beach themed. Still in my palette, it's old enough, these were not terribly expensive, so I bought them. I don't know what my point is here, just that sometimes you will find something that doesn't really "go" with everything else, but for some strange reason you love it. If it's afforable, and you love it, I say buy it! You can always find a spot for it at home somewhere, right?