Memorial Day Cutie

In honor of Memorial Day, here's a fun image from a 1905 postcard, with a sexy lady wrapped up in a flag, and sitting on an exploding cannon - I'm sure they intended a little risque sub-text. Or is a cannon just a cannon?

See all my PATRIOTIC Cards and Gifts in my online shop, Scrapbook Art Antiques.

Naughty but Nice

Recently the Antique Trader had a great article on Bawdy Bisques and Naughty Novelties -- the darling little figurines of mermaids and bathing beauties.

You might remember that I wrote about my small collection of them, way back in March, so of course I loved the article. These are some pix from the Antique Trader's article.

I am looking forward to reading the new book about these little gems by Sharon Hope Weintraub, titled:
Bawdy Bisques and Naughty Novelties: German Bathing Beauties and Their Risqué Kin

Check out her wonderful website. Her collection puts my little grouping to shame -- I hope I find some more soon!

Here is the link to see some Bisque Mermaids on ebay now, including this adorable merman on a fish.

Halloween in May

I went to a truly unusual auction yesterday. They sold off a true Collection-Macabre! Real skeletons in real caskets, and other Funereal and Mortician memorabilia. Wild stuff!



There were catalogs of caskets, and even garments that the funeral home could order to bury the deceased in. They had a couple pairs of Slumber Slippers, with lace-up backs to fit multiple sizes.



There were some small child's caskets, and several adult size caskets with real skeletons inside. The skeletons sold from $250.00 - $800.00 -- each!





Lots of casket handles and hardware, too.



I really liked the little folk-arty diorama of a cemetery. Perfect if you are really into decorating for Halloween!



I doubt I'll ever see such a grouping at auction again. I didn't buy anything. I don't have room for such large objects, not to mention that I don't think I'd want a skeleton in my living room! Yikes!



The auction generated lots of excitement, and reporters came from all around -- here's the Toledo Blade article, and here's the Lima News article. The local TV-35 news even showed some video of the auction that night -- too bad it's not on their website! Just check this google search to read some of the other newspaper articles.



I had hope that there would have been some death-related and post-mortem postcards and photos, but no. Here's the link to some post mortem items on ebay now.






I've shown some of the skeletons from the auction, as well as a few interesting post-mortem photos (not from the auction).

Springfield Extravaganza Show Report

Last Friday we went to the Springfield Antiques Show. The fairgrounds were muddy, but at least it didn't rain on us. The Country Home magazine gift subscription with our early-bird admission was a nice touch.
But I'd have to say that was about all that the partnership with the CH mag provided in the way of bringing anything "Extra" to the show. Sure, they advertised, and there definitely seemed to be a lot more shoppers, which is a good thing. But they seemed to me to be buying from the many, many "shabby-chic/garden-decor/crafty-junque" dealers who were there en-masse! Those dealers just kinda filled some of the growing number of spaces that had been vacant at the last several "Extravaganzas". There were still too many unsold spaces, and way fewer dealers than there were, say, 4-ish years ago ("back in the day").
The CH mag had a tent, but I can't tell you why. I peeked in a couple of times, said HI, and got NOTHING in response. The ladies manning the booth were not friendly or "working it". I sure hope the "Ladies Who Shop" bought from real antiques dealers, too, so that the antiques dealers will keep setting up at the show. Let's think postively, right?!

I didn't take many pix. I am just not a morning person, and we were up at 5am, on the road a little after 6am, and at the show by 8am. By the noon-time, when I was more conscious, my arms were too full of treasures to take pix. But I saw lots of nice things, and talked to lots of nice folks, and had a great, though tiring, time. I even was lucky enough to buy 3 more of the hand-painted Bauer plates that I wrote about for Cinco-de-Mayo.



I did meet an Ohio glass artist who is making these wonderful stained glass faux-windows with actual bottles embedded in them. He doesn't have website yet, but his name is Brian Winters, and you can reach him at 937-372-8172.



Well, time to start cleaning out the garage and get ready for Harrod's big community garage sale day on Memorial Day. Although, I'd much rather go garage-sale-hopping than actually work mine... hmmm... sounds like Evil-Marianne has a good idea this time! I guess we'll see!

Mansfield Bottle Show Report

Well, time to catch you up on my recent antiquing activities. I'll start with the MANSFIELD BOTTLE SHOW, which was on Mother's Day weekend. I had a lot of fun, and really enjoyed seeing everyone. Lots of visiting, some selling, lots more visiting, and some shopping, too. The show had a great vibe, and a pretty good turn-out. I heard about some pretty nice bottles being sold, and saw a lot of happy shoppers.

I added one neat soda NOS Sun Valley Orange pop bottle to my Lima collection, and Jeff bought a really nice HTF Ohio fruit jar, the DP Bedell, Cleveland. (You should be able to click on the pix to see a larger view.)

Here's a pic of my sales table at the show.

I didn't take a lot of merchandise, but you can see I had a variety. Got a lot of compliments/interest in my Sanford's GOOD LUCK Ink Bottle (I wrote about it back when I bought it). It didn't sell, but that's okay -- I am very happy to keep it for now.