New Thrifted Artwork for My Bedroom

I purchased this framed poster several weeks ago on the third day of an estate sale. I couldn't believe my luck. I have always admired this artist and I have been living with a blank wall in my bedroom since 2004. It was very heavy (20 pounds) and I didn't get up the nerve to hang it until yesterday. I am beyond thrilled.

Here's a horizontal view showing how it lines up with my window. I got the placement right on the first try. Actual hanging it was a little tricky because the wire kept getting stuck on the hanger instead of the hook. After some tricky maneuvers I finally got it on the hook. I used to do custom framing and had a space in an antiques center where I hung my antique prints so I know how to measure the placement of hanging hooks.

Mine is, of course, a reproduction and that's fine with me. An original sold in 2007 at Christie's in London for 12,500 British pounds. Alphonse Mucha is the Czech artist, painter, illustrator and graphic artist living in Paris during the Art Nouveau period. This delightful  artwork was used as the cover for a promotional copy of a British literary magazine THE WEST END REVIEW in 1898. 

Thank you to those of you who have emailed me to see where I've been. It's nice to be missed. There are some things I'm supposed to be doing to my blog that I cannot figure out. I decided today to just keep doing what I know how and hope for the best. xo, Rosemary

My Jointed Harlequin Clown Pull Toy

Here he is in action. It wasn't easy taking this photo with one hand while pulling the string with the other. This toy is called a JUMPING JACK.

Still view. His head and hat are hand-carved wood. The body parts are jointed metal and everything is hand-painted. I have had him for ages and got him at a house contents sale (on the second day) in a condo that was for sale and under contract nearby. He was mixed up in a pile of kitchen utensils and I was surprised nobody had grabbed him. Lucky me.

xo

U P D A T E: This articulated toy is painted on the back!

Mama Pea left a comment I haven't even published yet asking me if I knew how old this toy might be. When I got up and turned it over to examine the overall condition I found out it was also painted on the back. I had completely forgotten this detail. The head is three dimensional and I love the expression on his face on the blue side. I think it is very old from early to mid 20th century. 

Thanks, Mama Pea (click on the link for her blog). You made me take a closer look and now this toy is twice as nice. 

Happy Thursday morning everyone.

xo

Unknown Albrecht Dürer Drawing Discovered at House Sale for $30

The Virgin and Child with a Flower on a Grassy Bank 

(around 1503) Agnews, London

This is an absolutely fascinating story. This signed Old Master drawing, in an antique frame, was sold by the daughters of a deceased architect/antique collector/dealer. They thought it was a 20th century reproduction but it has been authenticated as a circa 1503 original and the auction estimate is in excess of $50 million. The whole story can be read in the link I will leave below this post. If you want to see the Dürer in person, this drawing will be on exhibit in NYC in January 2022. Keep going to estate sales and maybe you can make a discovery too. Let me know and I will post it. xo

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2021/11/19/unknown-durer-drawingbought-for-just-dollar30-at-a-house-clearancecould-sell-for-dollar50m

Favorite Vintage Watering Can

The marks on my favorite vintage watering can shown in next photo. It was made in Germany, marked Schneiderkanne. I found a similar one online with the same maker’s mark, only in a larger size, that sold for $160. I found mine at an estate sale along with a lot of other gardening items for not much money. If I had paid a lot, I would have remembered. 

Watering can mentioned above. The urn is filled with lovely African daisies now. 

I can see this urn filled with Gazanias or African Daisies. I can see this particular urn from the window in this photo. The desk in my pantry fits perfectly under this window and is my favorite looking-out spot.

Frog Mug

Yet another find from last weekend's estate sale. I have always wanted a frog mug since seeing my first one at a neighbor's house around 1976.

I am a very patient person, aren't I? My patience paid off and I got three frogs instead of a single one in the bottom like my neighbor had and two handles instead of one as well! I posted these photos on my Instagram yesterday so this will be a repeat for some but not all of you.

Antique Wirework Find

My Valentine to myself. Yesterday's find at an estate sale is so exciting. I love this piece of wirework and will have fun finding things to display in the baskets. Fruit for now. I used the portrait mode on my iPhone for this photo. Have a great weekend.

Radiator Tray for Brass Candlestick Collection

Notice the unintended self portrait reflected in the watercolor above the tray. I picked up this old tin tray in the garage at a nearby estate sale about a month ago. I intended to use it under potted plants being overwintered indoors but it turned out to be a perfect fit atop a living room radiator. So now it is the perfect container for brass candlesticks that were scattered here and there. The heat won't harm them either. I am so pleased with my $2.00 purchase! Smile.

Organizing My Closet

I have only just begun, but this is an early view of the closet in my second bedroom. The room where I sleep doesn't have a closet so that's why I call this my dressing room. I dare not take a photo of the rest of the room right because it looks like a war zone. That's the only way I can work, by tearing everything apart and slowly putting it back together again. The two stacked shoe organizers, purchased yesterday at the church rummage sale, started it all. I have a way of stepping out of my shoes when I first enter my kitchen and leaving them there. No more! Now each pair has a home.

The books on top of my lingerie chest, decoupaged on all sides and inside the drawers with old sheet music, houses all the books I got at the church sale too. The chest was a garage sale purchase years ago that my mother enjoyed for many years. I need to look through the books before they find a permanent home. Most are on gardening. By the way, my nasturtium seeds are beginning to sprout!! There is more depth on either side of the closet for hanging clothes so it's larger than it looks with storage above for winter blankets, etc. I'm still not finished organizing my clothes into keep or donate piles, plus I wear the same few things all the time. Don't we all?

Here's a closer view. The two vintage shoe organizers with dividers are made from heavy duty cardboard and are covered with paper that makes me happy every time I open the double doors of my closet. When they were new, they were sold folded and flat and required some assembly. Someone kept them in perfect condition and they waited for me until I could get to the sale on the second day. Lucky me!

Nasturtium Seeds and An Acorn Tile

I found the seeds for trailing nasturtiums and bought 4 packets. I have already planted 2 packets in various planters in my front garden. It has rained every day since and I have turned on my heat twice. Mother Nature is still on a rampage of sorts but I'm ever hopeful the seeds will do their thing and give me a wonderful display. Fingers Crossed. I will put in supports for the ones I want to climb and leave the rest alone so they can trail.

The fabulous blue acorn tile was purchased at the same estate sale as my silver trophy. I adore the impressed acorn design, the intense blue color, and just looking at it makes me happy. Enjoy your Sunday. xo

Antique Engraved Armorial Trophy Cup

This wonderful English hand-engraved trophy cup with an armorial crest was my favorite find yesterday at an estate sale. It was black with tarnish but it is now transformed. I spent the morning rearranging my collection of trophies on my fireplace mantle and their mounts too. I collect small boxes too and have for years. This cup is silver over copper and I love that the engraving has exposed the copper after years of being polished. I shall try to find this armorial in my Royal Book of Crests. No matter what I bring home and no matter how small it is, I usually spend the day finding the perfect spot and arrange and rearrange until the new (old) items are perfectly at home in my cottage. This was a nice way to spend a dark and gloomy Saturday morning and I finally have achieved an arrangement that is pleasing to my eye(s). I haven't been to a sale in a very long time and I'm glad I went to this one. 

Have a great Mother's Day weekend. xo