Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Flea Finds

One of our local Churches held their bi-annual flea market a couple of weeks ago. I was only able to pop in briefly before dashing back to collect S and D for a friend's birthday party while hubbie brought H to another party (our kids have way better social lives than us). Here's what I managed to find in my brief rummage...

This lovely double-bulb lamp, I saw a similar lamp in a gorgeous homewares store recently but it was very expensive so I was thrilled when I saw this one.

I adore this large brass document clip, it can be used on a desk or hung up, lovely!

Yet another typewriter (don't judge me), this one is an Olivetti Lettera 32.


A pair of beautiful original etchings entitled "Mechanical Bird". These are market A/P which I recall from my days doing print-making in art college means "Artist's Proof". Basically when an artist is producing any sort of original print, such as screen-prints, etchings etc, they do a run of test prints before whatever their final print-run will be, messy or unsatisfactory prints get binned but ones that are true to the effect the artist desires or would like to keep for themselves or possibly a gift are marked A/P. These are often considered more collectable than the numbered prints.

I don't know this particular artist, probably somebody local clearing out their portfolio. I really love the graphic bird, I think the black one will be nice in our living room and the red in our boys' bedroom.

I have been on the hunt for a pair of bedside lamps but haven't been able to find anything with the character I like in retail stores. I saw this pair of brass lamps but they had huge frilly shades way too big for me to carry, so I took the shades off and left them back on the stall, who knows maybe somebody else was looking for a bit of funeral parlour-chic for their home?

I picked up some back shades a few days later in Target, the smaller version of the one I used for my tripod lamp...
... and am very happy with the result.

I'm using this large document filer in the kitchen to sort the million handouts/newsletters/notes my kids bring home from school and preschool each week.

And finally an aqua snowflake pyrex divided dish to match the large casserole I found recently :-)

The pricing system at this market was on a sticker basis, different coloured stickers denoted prices of 50 cents up to $5. Some bigger items had larger sums marked on them, some no price at all. So when I brought my haul up to the desk to pay I was given a final price of $14, giving each item an average price of approx $1.55!

I would have loved to spend hours browsing this market but we did have loads of fun at the birthday party we went to so I can't complain!

16 comments:

CACHANILLA73 said...

I just got that blue divided Pyrex with the lid, I'll post it in the future.

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Love the wonderful items you got and hey for an average price of $.55 you can't go wrong. Love the Pyrex of course and those prints are awesome!!

Kate Moore said...

I do like those artist proofs. Very good find.

littlebyrd said...

Amazing finds! I love the new shades you put on those brass lamps - nice work :)

Emma said...

Etchings are divine! Well spotted.

iheartsunnydays said...

Love those etchings! And the Pyrex is wonderful.

mylittlebirdie said...

oh my goodness! you always score so well. you have an amazing knack for finding just what you've been dreaming of : ) love the etchings!

Anonymous said...

You scored!! LOVE all three lamps (and the shades you put on the brass ones are so pretty), the etchings and of course the typewriter rocks. I went to a church sale recently and was so disappointed - glad you had better luck!

Vanessa said...

Nice treasures! I just found your blog today and I love it. I'll be adding you to my links section on my blog shortly. I love your colorful den- very inspiring!

Unknown said...

the bird prints are GREAT! & anything that tidies up a bit of paper clutter has got be good xo

sue said...

Fantastic Finds! I love the prints - and yes AP means artists proof - it means they are not part of an edition. Gorgeous - love etching - wish I was better at it!

My Handmadehappiness said...

fab clip i love brass!!

http://misstracianderson.blogspot.com/2010/05/happy-sunday-yall-my-library-is-firm.html

Charlotte said...

Way to go! Great finds and great prices!

Vic said...

Oh now here you have some most excellent finds indeed! Things I LOVE; the prints, the document holder, the birdie clip, the pyrex... should I go on...?!

Anonymous said...

ooohh... Olivetti, the Italian typewriter! I like it: I still have one at my mom's in Italy :-). I also like the brass goose clip and the mechanical birds.
Wonderful finds!

Kim said...

I hear ya...I can't pass up a typewriter. I love the wood file. I also can't pass up those.