Heh Tulipman, that *is* a good karma story
Stories like that (and I've had plenty myself) are what I have to keep reminding myself of when I start getting anxious about "missing out" on something. There have been so many times that I've picked up real scores even after stuff has been picked over and over by others. The thing is that not everybody is looking for the same thing, and clearly not everybody can recognize everything. It's definitely an interesting culture, this thrift store/flea market thing - I'm not a dealer but I sometimes wonder if the people at the stores think I am because of how often I go there - truly I do it for pleasure and education - it's like my classroom (and this is my study hall, lol). I'm slowly replacing all my random furnishings with MCM, and I'm definitely on a thrift store budget, and will stepwise work my way up, trading up as I go along. It's fun as hell!! Too bad I can't make a living doing this - although if I did this for a living, I wonder if it would still be fun?
Riki, I did go to one of those mall type antique shops, it was just overwhelming - I'm used to the needle-in-the-haystack situation and when I walk into a place that's just wall-to-wall treasures, I nearly black out, lol. Also, at least in my area, the antique stores seem to really focus on antiques, hardly any MCM at all - and I'm not sure why, whether it sells fast or they just don't realize that it's hot. :shrug: There were a handful of MCM things though, a Juhl table, a (blanking) tray table - and it was so fun to actually handle them and see the real deal. But the prices... oye, just not used to that ($800 for the Juhl, and it was one with (ugh!) woven cane (and we already know how I feel about that...). On the other hand, I got that Brown-Saltman table I posted about in another thread at a little antique shop that mostly had older stuff, but this one table was like the orphan there, so I had to take it home. It cost more than my usual budget for such things, but it was so unusual and I'm nearly certain it's a John Keal design, so, it had to come home with me.
Now, if only I weren't running out of space! I think if I had a warehouse I'd be able to fill it up in a month.
Dashes,I agree completely
I think the best retail finds are in those "stuffy" antique shops where everything is hardcore federalist,and the one great orphaned MCM item is underpriced,as it is not their specialty.I once had a proproeter to an antique store tell me not to go into antique stores if I'm searching for MCM.I laughed and retorted,"Are you kidding?That's where I find the best stuff." He was none to pleased with my sharp tongued reply,but it's true.
Also,regarding the thrifts,it can be downright discouraging not to find a thing sometimes,but you must persist and visit the same place in a week or two,as the stuff just keeps changing week to week,sometimes even day to day in a city location.I actually have a grid of about a 40 mile radius which I try to regularly cover in my spare time.I think if I was a full time "picker",i would have no trouble filling a warehouse.Must watch the clutter in my apartment,as it's not looking too minimalist these days-LOL.Ah well,anyhow,bottom line is,it
is indeed good fun.IF you can put up with lots screaming kids and old ladies blocking aisles with their shopping carts-LOL-just kidding-no admonishment, please.
Interesting post
I like others am gradually replacing some or my furnishings with MCM on a very thrifty budget. I haven't been at the thrift thing long so I have little finds to report. However, it seems that when thrifting three factors come into play.
1. Location - is there good stuff to be had in your area?
2. Time - How much hunting and pecking are you willing to do?
3. Cost - How tight is your budget?
Number 2 and 3 are directly related in my experience. Places that are more likely to turn up good finds and probably require less hunting and fewer visits usually have higher prices. 1st Dibs for example. In my town those places are estate sales and used furniture stores. I have had great luck with rummage sales, especially Church ones. Maybe people are very generous when donating to churches, I don't know. Riki, being in the Bible belt I you might check these out.
I live in an East Central Illinois, flagship state university town. Given that, there is quite the mix of styles to be found. Having the U makes the town a bit more cosmopolitan so interesting MCM finds are there, but you also have the farming-rural-midwest-student element so there is alot of junk or country antiques to be had too.
I think you bring up an interesting question about the politics of thrifting. Are you taking away from those who really need to shop at the Goodwill, Sally, etc? While my 2000 Saturn is not as conspicuous as your H2, my family makes a very good living so I have wondered this myself.
I like thrift shopping for several different reasons. Mainly:
1. As a way to save money for my family and use the money saved for something else - sometimes that is for our benefit, often it is given in various ways to others in need.
2. I see it as a way to practice the three-R's. I think buying second-hand anything is a fabulous way to semi-opt out of the hyper-consuming, commercial culture in which we live. I also donate alot. Less stuff in landfills, less stuff in my house, less China-made shite in circulation, my house, and landfills!
3. I find it a way to craft a less-homogeneous aesthetic (see #2). Also related to Riki's earlier post about DWR.
I'm sure there are alot of holes in this logic, but I don't see anything wrong with thrift shopping. Most of us are not dealers looking to score a big find for profit.
I wasn't going to go, but just had to stop and take a quick look
on the way home from a meeting - and here's what I found for 7 bucks.
It's marked "Quartite Creative" and dated 1960, and I looked it up, it was company started in 1949 by a Sy Stewart (never heard of him).
I like it.
BTW Riki, I actually do understand your rationale for having the Hummer. I did something similar when, after the 1994 earthquake in So. Cal (I lived just a couple miles from the epicenter), I was so PTSD'd that I choose to sleep in my car for several days thereafter, and it was very uncomfortable - so later that year I bought an SUV specifically for the purpose of having an emergency bedroom. It sure comes in handy when I find interesting furniture, I'll tell you (of course you already know that). Much as I'd like to have a smaller car for feul economy (a hybrid preferably), I just really use the space regularly. Course, mine is an old one, not too humongous, so I don't feel conspicuous. I don't drive too much anyway, that's the only reason I can manage to keep it (fuel-cost wise).
But I get it. Not everyone drives them as a status symbol.
Edit to add: ohh! just found another matched lamp on ebay, for $20! so tempted...
http://cgi.ebay.com/1960-Quartite-Lamp-Eames-Mid-Century-Hollywood-Regen...
garage sales rock
i do visit the thrift stores time and again, but my best finds show up at neighborhood garage sales [yard sales, rummage sales, etc.]. early mornings are best for selection, and later in the day prices usually drop considerably.
just today i picked up a decent haywood wakefield end table for three dollars, and last weekend a nice mcm footstool with hairpin legs for half a buck. high-end designer stuff is a rare sighting for me, but these sales fill in on the other mcm goodies--mainly household stuff.
i agree with the others that it's a numbers game ... the odds for a successful outing increase with the number of times you get out. for the most part i enjoy talking with the sale people, so it's usually enjoyable regardless of the material gain.
I recently
stopped in a local antique dealer shop. Passed it by fifty times. Country clutter
and potpourri. I sneezed. But she was adorable and said she gets in Mid-Century
consignments all the time and took my number and said she would call.
Her descriptions were good and she has trouble selling it. Ya never know.
I'm so minimal in my desires now that i really don't have time for all the
crap, valuable or not.
I hesitated stopping at a yardsale and bought three catherineholm platters
for a buck and don't really want them.
I don't have the time to sell, so i have this stuff that i don't need.
Olivetti Valentine
Yes, I have shopped at thrift shops for many years, a tho-back to when I was a student and my kids where clothed from these and charity sales.
Time was, they were cheap - in the UK, that is- but now they have wised up. They charge more for some used clothing than regular stores and they get in, so called, experts to price stuff that may have a value. Some sell on ebay!
They are also now selling new stuff, competing with local store, which I think goes against 'good will' of the stores. That aside, I have had a few good-uns:
An Olivetti Valentine for $5! Isn't it just beautiful?
A fabulous Deco free-standing shelf in brass, acrylic and glass. They couldn't get rid of it quick enough as it was taking up too much room. "Make us an offer" they said. I gave them $50.
Quite a lot of DENBY ware, large, medium and small plates, cups, saucers, bowls, serving dishes. In fact last week I got 6 of each size plates for $20. We just like them and are happy to mix-n-match colours. Denby is good quality, fairly modern stoneware, in case you're wondering. As single dinner plate will set you back about $20.
A scale model kit of a Rietveld red/blue chair, un-made for 50c, which I sold on ebay a few years back for about $50.
Le Crueset pans.
A pair of Paul Smith leather shoes for $20 which I sold for $140 on ebay (they didn't fit me or I would have kept them).
Bang Olufsen Beomaster 1200 and two Beovox 1702 speakers. I still use the speakers!
Some 24ct gold 'O' rings in a box of assorted rubber 'O'rings!
Yeah, I've had some nice stuff
Thrift stores rule!
Just to add my little story:
As I do not make a lot of money, but I was tired of the old, bachelor, empty-beer-keg-with-a- board-on-it type furniture and thrift stores allowed me to spruce up my humble abode.
One of the first chairs I found was an Ib Kofod-Larsen designed chair imported by Selig. I paid $7.99 for it and have since found many other cool pieces of furniture. I don't find spectacular deals every day, but if one goes often enough, eventually you will find something awesome. It also is what another poster described on this thread as a "learning experience/school". Just looking up the designer or company that made these wonderful things was enough to make me a fan of thrift stores for life. I branched out from pottery to furniture, records, electronics and then clothing. The only drawback I have encountered is a lack of space. (Something I plan on resolving by selling off some of the overflow this Summer..)
black651
I have the same chair! I got mine for $25 at an estate auction. The finish had some problems so I stripped it and ebonized it with India ink. It has a very velvety smooth finish that I love. I had to redo the elastic webbing and also made new foam cushions covered with Maharam Pebble wool in the Birch colorway (I think---got it on Ebay for cheap).
One of my favorite thrift store purchases was this same kind of chair in teak from a rather dreary little second-hand store in Fredensborg, Denmark, where we lived for a year. I stopped in there when we first arrived, partly because our furniture wasn't due for another three weeks and we had nothing to sit on but thin foam mattresses on the floor and two metal folding chairs (klapstolen, or "applause chairs" as our Danish friend called them---because they fold up like hands clapping!) from IKEA. The chair cost $13. It has been passed on to my grown daughter, who has it in her living room. We took turns sitting in it in our Danish house before our furniture arrived.
If you need any help, please contact us at – info@designaddict.com