The antiquing adventures of Don and Claudia continue. Sunday found us at our local antique barn where we took shelter from the windy blustery grayness of the day. We didn’t expect to find anything, in fact, we were just killing some time on a Sunday afternoon. However, we did find three little treasures. Each time we found something, I debated whether to purchase it and Don, who turns out to be my enabler, encouraged me to “Get it!”
First up, some Roseville pottery in the Apple Blossom pattern. Let me say straight away that this piece has a big old chip and a hairline crack. That’s why it was priced at $25. Unless the damage on a piece is so glaring I can’t get around it, this sort of thing doesn’t usually matter to me. Even so, I hesitated and…you guessed it…Don said, “It’s been loved and used. Besides, cracks let the light in.” A lovely reference to Leonard Cohen.
What’s not to love about this guy?
I believe this is called a basket. I have one other piece of Apple Blossom that lives on my bedroom dresser. You can see the damage right there on the top edge in the front of the piece. Instead of a curve, you see a sharper edge where the piece was broken.
It really doesn’t bother me at all. If this piece was undamaged it would go for at least $150. I’d say I got a good deal.
It’s so pretty and it works beautifully on the music cabinet underneath the Lost Lamb print.
I don’t know if you’re familiar with the famous English ceramic designer Susie Cooper. I’ve known about her a long time and have always wanted one of her pieces. Her career was a long and fruitful one – spanning seven decades. Her work is highly collectible, especially her Art Deco pieces. I spotted a set of four cups and saucers – all priced individually, thank goodness, so I was able to purchase one. Buying all four would have been too expensive for me.
The details of the design are so charming.
This mark puts the piece somewhere between 1932 and 1964. I have to do some more research.
Whoops! It would help if I picked up the cup and looked at the bottom. The pattern is Woodlands. Made in 1938-39. I just saw a photo of a cup and saucer that’s in the collection at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Maybe I should go back and buy the other three?
And, finally, Don spotted this one and said it must come home with us to join our singing birds on the piano. I’m pretty sure it’s unmarked McCoy. If it isn’t, no biggie. I love the glaze on this little guy.
Isn’t he adorable?
He’s doing the duck version of singing. We like to sing around here, so the more, the merrier.
Then our feet somehow propelled us to the homemade donut shop just a few shops away. Best donuts ever. Oh lordie.
Then we went home and crashed from the sugar. But it was worth it.
Happy Tuesday.
Love all your new treasures Claudia. I love finding a piece that isn’t perfect anymore and getting it for a great price. I bring it home and enjoy it’s imperfection because I feel like it’s like us, it has a story of surviving life and going on. Just as we humans all have a story so do other things and it’s sometimes fun to imagine how a piece came to be in it’s current condition. I often think someone loved it for years despite it’s imperfection and then that person passed and though it could have been headed for the trash someone had the foresight to see that someone else would treasure it and give it a good home.
What a beautiful way to speak of those imperfect pieces, Janie. Thank you, my friend.
Sounds like the most wonderful day, Claudia! I love all of your finds. The apple blossom basket made my jaw drop. I wouldn’t care if it had damage either. I love how you display your goodies, too…always a touch of whimsy that speaks to me!
Oh, thank you, Linda! That’s a real compliment coming from you!
One chip doesn’t detract from the beauty of that basket at all Claudia..the apple blossoms are so pretty..and the twig handle..I believe I mentioned before how much I like cups that are decorated inside..I will Google Susie Cooper so I can enjoy more of her designs..That little singing duck was just waiting to go home with you two..he will fit right in with with your happy little choir on the piano..I think that Don understands the heart of a woman..the best trait that a man can have…
He’s the best, Nancy. I am very lucky.
What fun treasures! I don’t know about the lovely cup/saucer designer, so am always glad for new info.
Wishing you a fine day today, Claudia!
You as well, Vicki!
Good hunting day for you two. Seeing the basket sent me scuttling to the pantry to get out the Apple Blossom teapot I usually put in the den come spring. It’s from a thrift shop, affordable but more than your basket. A few rim chips and a repaired lid (bad design, very hard to hold), but I have a few chips and repairs myself. I love the rustic handles on these pieces.
The singing duck is darling.
I bet that teapot is gorgeous, Margaret!
Beautiful Roseville piece, I would of bought it too! I buy things that aren’t perfect, and tell myself I want to enjoy the piece and I am not going to resale it…so give it a home and enjoy it! The duck fits in perfectly too! I have been to the Victoria and Albert Museum but don’t recall seeing the artists things.
Exactly. I’m not going to resell it, so who cares?
I’ve been to the V & A too. I probably saw this, but I sure don’t remember it!
All of your treasures are beautiful Claudia, but my favorite is the singing duck. He makes me smile. How fun to enjoy your time together like you and Don do.
Blessings,
Betsy
Isn’t that duck the cutest? Thanks, Betsy!
The Roseville basket is beautiful…didn’t noticed the chip, until you pointed it out, and even so, that piece really captures my eye! Every gal, needs an enabler like that! Sounds like a really fun day! ;)
That’s the best kind of enabling, Donnamae!
What fun to come upon unexpected treasures! I love the little duck, but I’m partial to birds. Donuts are supposed to be the new it pastry. Thank goodness the only donuts in my town are found at the large grocery chain bakeries. Thus, they are easy for me to avoid. Now, if there were an independently-owned local donut bakery, that’s another thing…
Normally, I’m not a big donut fan, but these donuts are incredible, Wendy!
All great finds! The Susie Cooper cup and saucer set is especially lovely. It’s so sweet to have designs inside a tea cup. Each time you sip tea you would marvel again about its magical appearance.
I agree. It’s a hidden treasure. I love that kind of detail, too!
Great post. I love hearing the back stories on your “finds,” whether they’re old lamps, old books or new cupcakes. LOL. And it’s the same for me often too. I seem to stumble on something interesting when I’m not even looking or least expect it. What a wonderful and positive concept – “Hey, you just never know…” Enjoy a very Happy St Patrick’s Day! Here’s to a lot more Green in your yard very soon…
PS – you probably already know this, Claudia, but during bridal registry training I learned that china was considered a better-quality, and was likewise more expensive, if it included “interior artwork such as the little leaf in your teacup. And I loved being able to tell that to my Mom who didn’t get her wedding china until her Silver anniversary. !!! She chose Royal Doulton’s “Old Colony” pattern which had ricing on all the plates and lots of “interior” decoration [my middle sister has it now].
Even though I’m part Irish, I don’t really do anything on St. Patrick’s Day – never have. Although, Don did buy some Irish soda bread at Trader Joe’s yesterday. And it’s yummy!
Here’s to more of the green lawn I have started to see peeking through the snow!
Very nice finds. Isn’t it wonderful when you go into a place not expecting to find anything and wham! This makes the pieces extra special!
It sure is! We’ve found some good things lately, Teresa!
Top ‘O the Mornin’ Claudia and a Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you. The green of the Apple Blossom basket would be impossible to resist even is it didn’t have the dearest little flowers and twig handle motif. Years ago I dropped a covered pottery tureen as I was washing it and it broke into about four jagged pieces. It was Mexican pottery in a cream color with large green leaves. I almost cried as I carried it out to the garbage can. I came back in the house and thought about it for awhile and finally went back out and picked the pieces out of the trash and glued them together again. I used it as a decorative piece for another twenty years and when we were moving to another state I put it out at a garage sale and it sold right away, patch job and all. Pretty is still pretty even when it is mended. Congratulations on your lovely finds.
I’ve glued many a broken piece of pottery, Sandra. Why not? If we love the piece, it’s worth it. Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you, too.
I love the little blue duck!
If a duck’s song goes…”quack”… I think he’s singing about the coming Spring! What a welcome for the new season and the new additions. They all hint to springtime… and what a lovely theme. ;)
Any good day thrifting ends with a sweet! A cup cake …fits the bill.
I figure the quack provides the bass note accompaniment to the high notes from the birds, Pat. Spring is coming!
The twig handle is amazing on that piece… chip or no chip! Just shows it was handled, used and loved in a previous life. We all have some chips and dents. Let’s call it character!! Sounds like a fun outing!
I love that handle, too! And I definitely have some chips and dents!
What a fun time you and Don always have. It is so fun for us to see your new treasures. thanks for sharing, Doris
We do have fun together, Doris!
Wonderful pieces – but I especially love the basket. Some of my very favorite things are items that would have been completely out of my budget if not for the flaws.
Me too. Some of the things I love would not be mine without a flaw or two!
I love the handle on your Apple Blossom basket! All three are wonderful finds–especially on a gray and blustery day. It lets a little sunshine in now everyday.
Just saw our forecast – windy and much colder for the next few days and some snow on Friday. Horrors!
Beautiful treasures! I wasn’t familiar with either Roseville pottery nor Susie Cooper, so I did a little hunting on eBay. There’s a lot of beautiful pieces out there! There’s a set of four cups and saucers (Susie Cooper on eBay), each in a different color, that made me go “ooh”. $40 plus almost $10 shipping, hmm…and nowhere to put them. Guess I’ll have to pass! Nice to look though. Glad you and Don had a nice day out.
I really don’t have anywhere to put this stuff, either. But I somehow manage to find it!
LOVE that Roseville piece! Beautiful piece of work. That handle is just amazing. I have a couple of pieces of that but it is so expensive around here. These were given to me by a little neighbor lady who I helped take care of and she had no use for them. Thought they were ugly????
I’m like you – if I find a piece I like and am keeping for myself, I don’t care if it’s crazed or has a small chip. Just shows it’s loved and used.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Judy
Yes, Roseville can be very expensive, Judy. So nice of your neighbor to give you some pieces!
Great finds Claudia – love them all! I don’t mind some chips and cracks either – much of my white ironstone pieces have cracks and crazing – I think it makes them look even more beautiful.
I’m trying to stay away from donuts and other sweet treats – especially after dragging out summer clothes to wear today when it reached 80F plus! Cooler tomorrow again thankfully.
Mary x
It’s freezing here today. Winter came back with a vengeance, Mary!
I love reading about your adventures in treasure hunting.
I have an odd plate from my parents’ house that always intrigued me as it didn’t really relate to anything else they owned. Thanks in part to the internet, I determined that it was by a textile designer named Tibor Reich who designed a black and white pottery range for Denby. I think this plate must have been a wedding gift to my mother as it’s from the mid fifties. I never saw it in use, but I suspect she kept it all those years as a symbol of the contemporary way of life that she secretly aspired to.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
I do love that it’s so easy to research pieces like that on the Internet. Much easier than trying to find a book with all the information.
What fun! I love the Roseville piece! gorgeous and a little loved never hurt anyone or anything. The singing duck is prefect to join your chorus!
hugs,
Linda
I love that duck, Linda!
i love the imperfect, too.
there are those customers, who shop at the store,
that try to “chip” down the price (even though appropriately
priced) for things that are old and imperfect. had a pair
of WWII field binoculars for sale and the guy who was interested
in them asked if i would come down on the price “because of the
wear on them”. i said, “really? they are FIELD binoculars!” didn’t
budge and he took them anyways……
glad to hear you like the imperfections. great choices on your treasures!!!
LOVE!
Thank you, Claudia for sharing your pottery with aficionados like me! So beautiful. Blogging takes so much time and effort. I wanted to make sure you knew it was appreciated.