Tag Archives: Cocktail Shaker

Weekend Finds – A Close to 2022

Every year, there is a point where outdoor flea-marketing for our weekend finds is just not comfortable. So as a close to 2022 antiquing, at least outside, I present our collection of recent treasures. Outside and in.

The Golden Nugget Flea-market Finds:

The first of our first weekend finds? A Rebajes Ubangi Woman pin at the Golden Nugget Flea Market. It needs to have the pin replaced, but it was a bargain at $3.00.

Rebajes

Rebajes African Woman Pin – circa 1940

On an unusual outing to the Golden Nugget on a Wednesday, (ok, not the weekend but…) this dealer sure had a bunch of pretty items. I would have bought up the lot of it. But through prudence, and discussion with Anthony, I managed to relieve the vendor of only a few items.

One of our finds? This is a copper letter holder made by Revere. We haven’t found anything about it – yet!  And no, I didn’t pay $25.00,

Revere copper

Vintage letter holder by Revere

Here’s a chrome Art Deco Samson Egg cooker. Ironically, it was made in Rochester, NY – where Anthony lives.

This unusual weekend find is a car flashlight. It plugs into a car’s cigarette lighter. I did try it but the plug is just a tad big for the modern plug. And I didn’t want to force it in.

Art Deco Plug-in Flashlight

Art Deco Plug-in Car Flashlight

Art Deco Flashlight

An inside look – the cord is about 3′ long.

A nice little glass and chrome powder box.  It’s unmarked but in mint condition.

Deco powder / trinket box

Chrome glass and bakelite powder / trinket box

A different vendor had a section dedicated to 1939-1940’s World’s Fair memorabilia.  I sent Anthony this picture. And, while there were pieces he liked, he decided to pass.

1939-1940's World's Fair memorabilia

1939-1940’s World’s Fair collection

I also passed on this lovely Whiting & Davis handbag.  Our friend Nancy liked it, but it was not the right time for her. I should have gotten it. But at $100.00, I wasn’t sure it was worth the money. It is, and more.  I kick myself over this one.

I wish we had a place for this beauty. But we don’t. And so it stayed.

Art Deco lighting

Brass and polychrome chandelier I wish we had room for it

This collection of Chase is a real and reasonably priced find.  The Sparta pitcher, designed by Walter Von Nessen and a sugar & creamer set with matching tray was originally priced at over $95.00. The dealer didn’t want to take it home and offered it all to me for $30.00. Cha-ching!

Chase Copper and Brass

Chase chrome collection

This Manning Bowman Thermos and Tray has issues.  We always caution you NOT to purchase a rattling thermos unless it is just for display. This thermos rattled.  And the stopper is badly chipped. However, the tray is an extremely difficult piece to find so after a little bargaining, both home it came for $25.00.

Manning Bowman thermos and tray

1930’s Manning Bowman thermos and tray

A bit of déjà vu and another of our finds? This is another Manning Bowman thermos, sans tray.  It doesn’t rattle and is in good condition.  This was from another dealer who just wanted everything gone. And for $10.00 I was happy to take it off her hands.

Manning Bowman thermos

Manning Bowman thermos – this one doesn’t rattle!

I loved these ceramic puppy extension cords. But at $125.00 each, with damaged cords imbedded into the ceramic bodies, I couldn’t justify the price. Had the cords not been imbedded or at least accessible for repair, I may have been persuaded.

Art Deco extension cord

Art Deco extension cord

Can you guess what it is? The dealer didn’t know. I didn’t know either. But with some intuitive thinking, I figured it out. I think.

Deco Optical instrument

Deco Optical instrument

See how well you do with these clues:

            Bakelite handle

            Non-prescription glass

            Total length about 8 inches long by 4 inches wide

            Marked Bausch and Lomb on the handle

Good Stuff Thrift Store Finds:

We’ve had good luck at the Good Stuff Thrift Store.  No brand silver-plate cocktail shaker purchased for $4.50.  This unusual item dates to the 1930s. The cork stopper both in the lid and also in the pour spout cap are more common features at that time.  It’s amazing what a little elbow grease (and a good polish compound) can do.

Although missing the chrome lid, I picked up this cute divided dish for $3.99. It is by Farber Brothers / Krome Kraft.

Deco divided dish

Farber Bros. divided dish – circa 1930

This 1930s Hall ball jug in the Crocus pattern is in mint condition. It is also the only time I got into an argument with another customer.  The short version; I put it down in front of me to look at another pitcher. A woman walks up, asks me if I was buying it to which I responded, “Yes”. She proceeds to pick it up and walk away!??? I again told her I was buying it and she responded, “Well, you didn’t have your hand on it. It’s mine now.” Details are so messy.  Let’s just say – I won!

1930's Hall ball jug - crocus

1930s Hall ball jug – Crocus

2nd Avenue Thrift Store:

This pair of silver-plate candle holders is designed by Carl Deffner, They could be anywhere from the 1930 to the 1960s. And they have a no-polish finish. The pair cost $2.50.

Carl Deffner candle holders

Carl Deffner candle holders

Savers:

Here is a Chase bon-bon / nut dish. Chase appears to be getting harder to find in the wild. Anthony picked this up  at Savers for $3.99.

Chase chrome dish

Chase dish – perfect for serving afterdinner mints or nuts

GoodWill Finds:

I love the GoodWill! This little fellow is an example of ceramics Made in Occupied Japan. While we don’t know a great deal about this category, I do know items like this were massed produced between 1945 through 1951.  Though difficult to find, these are not generally worth a great deal. This would be a good collection for someone on a budget.

I wasn’t able to find an exact match to this in my research. I did find that the more and better the details, the better quality. And therefore more desirable. Compared to the one found online, this is a better-quality piece.  Why? The hand by the hat is separated from the hat and is well defined.  Cost – $3.99.

Occupied Japan Statue

Occupied Japan Statue

This little lady is another example of Made in Occupied Japan. She’s a cutie and cost 2.99.

Occupied Japan Statue

Miniature Occupied Japan Statue

It’s time to say goodbye 2022 and our weekend finds. But I can hardly wait to see what we’ll find in 2023!

So, did you figure out the mystery item? It’s a Pince-nez sizer. It is used to measure the width of the bridge of the nose to assure your armless glasses stayed put! I think!

You just never know what you’ll find when Driving for Deco!

Chris & Anthony (The Freakin’, Tiquen Guys)

Weekend Finds, Two by Two

In an unusual turn of events, I felt like Noah and his ark with my weekend finds, two-by-two. I never know what, or even if my hunts will be successful. But in this case, I was seeing double. Depression glass and chrome and aluminum ware – oh my!

Depression Glass:

First off, we are not collectors or experts in depression glass. But we do dabble occasionally. I purchased a similar vase to the one pictured below years ago for $1.00, because it was cute. But that’s another story.

Small Bedford Vase made by Bagley (photo via 20thcenturyglass.com)

Depression glass is a catch-all term for massed produced, inexpensive glassware popular from 1929 through the early 1940’s. And mostly produced in glass factories in the Ohio River Valley.

In 1929, household incomes dropped an average of 40% due to the depression. And this left families with little spare cash for luxuries.  Glass factories, use to producing higher end hand cut glass, struggled with lost sales.  And in an effort to keep their doors open, they started to produce attractive, machine-made household goods in clear and colored glass to brighten the home. More efficient to make, factories could produce upwards of 1000 items per day.

The goods were so reasonable priced, they could be given away as premiums. For those of you not old enough to remember premium giveaways, you could get a piece in boxed goods (cereal boxes or oatmeal containers, for example). And each week a different item was offered.

Sometimes, you would get a set as a prize at your local movie house! And for larger services pieces, you could go to your local 5 & 10 store and buy them for around $.50.

Even appliance manufactures joined in. With the purchase of a refrigerator, Frigidaire would give you a complete table service set consisting of plates, cups, saucers, a sandwich tray and a sugar / creamer set.

Selection of depression glass

Depression glass society show (photo by J Fuhrman via patch.com)

At the height of production, there were more than 20 manufacturers producing over 100 different patterns.  Common colors are clear, pink, pale blue, green and amber.

Less common colors are canary yellow, ultramarine, jadeite (opaque pale green), delphite (opaque pale blue), cobalt, red, black, amethyst, monax (translucent white with a faint bluish hue), and white (milk glass). And, rarer yet are the colors lavender and tangerine.

Depression Glass

Varity of colors (photo via thenatroute66.com)

Some glass contains “trace” amounts of uranium and will glow under a black (UV) light. The “trace” amount varies from 2% to 25%!  (And you’re worried about using your red Fiestaware!?)

Uranium Glass glowing

Glowing Uranium Glass (photo via decorativecollective.com)

After WWII, the economy rebounded. With more disposable income, many house-hold threw out their old, cheap dishes to upgrade to something better, generally China.  Silly people!

Fortunately, much of it was equally cherished and passed down through families. By the 1960’s, depression glass became highly collectible. Rare pieces can sell for hundreds of dollars.

,,,

Some of the original manufacturers continued to produce their popular patterns as well as introduce similar and new patterns post WWII and through the 1950’s.

But be careful. A lot of what is for sale online is newly produced in Asia.  If you see the terms, “Depression era-style” or “Depression style”, they are new items.

I found these two glass pitchers at the local GoodWill for $3.99 each.  And I believe they fall into a depression sub-category called “Elegant glass”. Both are in excellent condition.

Elegant glass was sold in department stores and it is better quality. Seams are polished, the glass is heavier, and they are usually hand decorated with painted and / or etched decorations.

Depression Glass Pitcher (author's collection)

Depression “Watermelon” Glass Pitcher (author’s collection)

Above it is an example of “watermelon” glass. It gets the name from the combination of pink and green glass. Though hard to see, this has a hand cut band of stylized flowers and leaves around its belly. Unfortunately, it is missing its matching lid.

The second, obviously, is green glass, a popular color. And, its complete with its lid! Though undecorated, is has an interesting shape.  Neither has a manufacturer’s mark.

Depression glass pitcher

Green Depression Glass pitcher with lid (author’s collection)

Depression Glass Pitcher

Green Depression Glass pitcher with lid (author’s collection)

Unfortunately, I don’t have a UV light.  Therefore, I don’t know if either of these is uranium glass.

Two in One:

Now this next weekend find is a bit of a stretch considering the title of this installment. But go with me, here.  This is a wonderful little Depression Glass powder or trinket box from around 1935. And in my research, is attributed to L.E. Smith Glass Company.

Art Deco Powder Box

Elephant powder box attributed to L.E. Smith Glass Company (author’s collection)

While I only picked up one at the GoodWill, it does have two elephants on top! Powder boxes are not exactly difficult to find.  However, the double elephants in good condition appear to be one of the harder ones to add to your collection.  Several sources state this particular style has a tendency to be cracked where the trunks join.

For the piece as shown in pink, prices vary greatly from a low of $50 to over $100.00 depending on condition. But mine only cost $2.99.

Glass jars of this type were quite popular and available in various colors. And also, a variety of animals and even human forms adorn the top.

Cocktails for Two:

The our next pairing, Art Deco cocktail shakers, is more up our alley. And both purchased at the Golden Nugget Flea Market.

Art Deco Evercraft Cocktail Shaker

Evercraft back stamp (author’s collection)

The first cocktail shaker is by Evercraft accented with navy blue stripes . You don’t see this shaker very often. They are more commonly available with black or white (cream) bands and sell in the mid $100’s. However, I couldn’t find any examples online with blue stripes.  I snapped this up for $15.00.

Art Deco Evercraft

Evercraft Cocktail Shaker with blue stripes (author’s collection )

Overall, the design is similar to the Chase Gaiety Cocktail Shaker. However, Evercraft does not enjoy the general prestige of Chase. But it is quality giftware and worthy of collecting.

Kensington Coldchester Cocktail Shaker

Kensington Coldchester Cocktail Shaker (author’s collection)

This 1936 shaker, designed by Laurelle Guild, is an early version of the Kensington Coldchester Cocktail Shaker.  But how do we know it is the earlier version?

Glad you asked.

Early Kensington back stamp

Early Kensington back stamp

The mark on the bottom shows only the stag head shield.  In later versions, the word Kensington appears added under this mark.  This is another harder-to-find piece and you can expect to pay upwards of a $100.00. This was a bargain at $20.00, complete with the often-missing aluminum cap on the cork.

Thanks for joining me on my journey that had me seeing double!

Chris & Anthony (The Freakin’ ‘tiquen Guys)