How Old is This!

I spotted this pushup candleholder at a sale at an old church in Clearwater. At first it looked like just another brass thing from India but upon closer examination it appears to be very old. I reached this conclusion by the wear, patina and construction. Any help with this would be appreciated. The area around the push up device is black with wear. It is stuck in place by old wax which I have had no success in removing.

A Couple Great Finds this Weekend

Memorial Day weekend was a good one for us. I showed a couple of items earlier but thought I would save these two unusual ones for last. The first is this frosted bottle that held I can only guess what. From the design and construction my feeling is it was made around 1900 and held a feminine product of some sort. It may be European. I have seen reproductions of these but this is the first time I have found a real one. It is large, around eight ounces so I don't think it held perfume! It is what my wife would call a very romantic piece!

These two are California Angels. Not retired baseball players but a pair of cherubs marked Santa Anita Ware, California. They have a lovely white glaze and nice detail. I wish I had these when I did the post on Califonia Pottery last week. They were made somewhere in the middle of the 20th century, most likely in the 1960s.

Thanks to Efusjonweave and Faithful 5252 for becoming my followers. Please come back soon. My next post will be about finding unusual wall art!

Two Weekend Finds

My wife was very happy that right before leaving a church rummage sale I spotted this large pink depression glass bowl that was wrapped in plastic. Because of the wrapping no one saw it! A great 5.00 find to add to her collection of pink glass! It has a cherry blossom pattern that can't be seen in the picture!

This black and white flour tin is around 100 years old. It has a lot of rust but will look good in the right place. It is 14 inches high with a latching top and two bail handles.

Meanwhile back in Frogpatch Abigull Van Bird wrote an article in the Frogpatch Dispatch that smoking should be banned within one mile of anything green. I agree!

These are weeds!

I spotted these with binoculars from my terrace, growing along the bay here in Clearwater, when I was trying to identify the sqwawking birds that wake me every morning. I went doem to the water and cut some and my wife had me place them in this antique ironstone pitcher. They look nice on the vintage iron table outside. I think the white ones are Queen Annes Lace but I do not know what the purple one are. The white flowers were on six foot tall plants. I never found the birds however. I am sure they will be waking me up at daybreak.

Thank You Yvonne for becoming a follower of my blog! I am honored!

Save a Plant

Every now and then I go to the local Loews store and in the back of the nursery there is a section where they put plants that look like they have arrived at deaths door. I picked up this little Lantana plant for a dollar, stuck it in an empty pot and put this little guy in charge. I told him if it did not grow and get flowers he would become a Travelocity trainee. So far the plant has gone from wilted to standing. I will post its progress through the hot Florida summer. I wonder what color it is?

Using Vintage Glassware

At the end of prohibition in 1933 the country was in the midst of the Great Depression. People were now allowed to legally indulge in the consumption of alcoholic beverages and did they ever! Distilleries and breweries rushed to get product out the door to meet the demand. Glass manufacturers produced fancy glassware in feel good colors that was often used in promotional giveaways. Today it is known as Depression Glass. After the U.S. became involved in the second world war, the golden era of cocktails was born and lasted through the early 1960s. Companies such as Heisey, Fostoria and others produced glassware tailored to a well heeled public that is today referred to as Elegant Glass. Here is a picture of an assortment of glassware that dates from the 1930s through the 1970s from our personal collection that we have accumulated over the years. Many delicious concoctions have been enjoyed with them.

California Pottery

California Pottery refers to Art Pottery from various companies in the mid 20th century. The most common and familiar are the brightly colored pieces from the 1960s that are usually marked simply Calif. with a letter and number. The example pictured was picked up at a yard sale in NJ a few years ago and is now for sale in my Etsy store. The most common colors are orange and turquoise. A few years ago I found a six piece chip and dip on a Lazy Susan in pink and black. It fetched a good price on eBay. My wife would not let me keep it! She is not a big retro fan!

American Pressed Pattern Glass

Very attractive and made in hundreds of patterns from the middle of the 19th century through the first part of the 20th century American pattern glass is the bargain of the antique world if you are looking for clear pieces. The colored ones are pricey and hard to find but the clear patterns are readily available at affordable prices and add a nice vintage touch to any table. In this picture are four pieces that we found recently. The compote is signed with the Higbee Bee mark and is called Thistle. The vase appears to be flint glass as it is much clearer than the rest although it dose not have the characteristic ring of most early flint. These pieces were all found at yard sales and rummage sales for less than 10.00 each. I think I paid 5.00 for the little pitcher at a sale right on my street.

Thanks Chris for being my first follower. Please email me at frogpatch@gmail.com if there is anything you would like to see!