Going, going, gone!

Yesterday I lost out on one of the most beautiful pieces of hotel silver/china I've ever seen. This Hotel Ritz, Paris teapot fetched $560 on eBay. My bid just wasn't high enough!

You may already know that I collect and sell hotel silver. I have similar pieces to this in my collection (from US hotels), but have never seen a combination of Christofle silver and a very rare china manufacturer, the Sarreguemines Co., that was located in France.

Interesting...the cobalt blue china insert portion of the teapot is turned to the left side and was intentionally designed that way to accommodate pouring with use of the right hand.

This piece dates to 1919 or 1920. Beautiful elaborate crest Hotel Ritz crest on the front and insanely beautiful craftsmanship. Divine...

Okay, so I didn't win, but my, oh my, isn't it beautiful?

images from here, uniondepothotel

Some Fab Finds...

Saturday was another whirlwind day with Claudia. An early start at the Clars Auction house, then hitting the shops in the North Bay. It was wonderful to see some sun! And little Vito got to spend the day with the girls too!

LOVE these groovy 1960's 'Hermes Orange' chairs that I purchased. I even found a matching orange hat in an I. Magnin hatbox!

And this large oil on board "Missionary Recruits boarding the Empress of Missions, 1926" that I won at auction. It has a real "folk art" feeling to it.

Check out Claudia's blog for more photos (coming soon) from Saturday's shopping spree! I'll sure miss her when she goes back to Miami (:

Bye Bye Miss C. Have a great trip back!

Do You Think I Have a Shopping Problem?

Yesterday I woke up at 4:30 am to attend our monthly outdoor antiques faire. Thank heavens my friend Renee drove (thanks Renee), as we had to take a loooong route because the Bay Bridge was closed. A boat would have been much easier.

After 6 hours of sprinting walking and hunting for treasures with not too many finds, extreme sweating from hauling furniture, we decided to stop by a local auction house to use their clean bathroom. The antique faire has outhouses, which are okay in the early am, but as the day progresses, well... The next thing I knew, I had a paddle in my hand and was bidding on this Victorian agate seal ring. Gosh did I want this ring. Needless to say, I was half comatosed and ended up losing to an online bidder. I'm still mad about not bidding higher.

Wasn't 6 hours of antiquing enough for me? I sadly turned in my paddle, and off we went. I know my job is to buy things to resell, but when is enough enough? Such is the life of an antiques dealer...enjoy the rest of your weekend!

The Ed Hardy Collection

Antiques buyers from around the country are expected to attend the auction of antiquarian, Ed Hardy. Ed Hardy has been a fixture here in San Francisco since 1976. His studio is built like an Italian palazzo and is filled with the most outstanding and unique examples of period furniture and decorative arts from the 17th through 20th centuries.

Partly due to the declining economy, Hardy will closing his studio and auctioning off over 700 items through Bonhams & Butterfields on May 5th.

An Italian Restrato glass five light chandelier
circa 1950, in the manner of Barovier
estimate $4,000 - 6,000

This is so sad as Ed Hardy has been among one of the most respected dealers around the world. He still plans on consulting after giving up the studio.

Here are a few previews I've selected among the hundreds of items at auction. If you can't make it to San Francisco, you can bid online here. Also be sure and sift through the items on Bonham's website as well. Amazing things!

A pair of American terracotta lion form architectural elements
New York
last quarter 19th century
estimate - $3,000 - 5,000

A Burmese gilt lacquered seated Buddha
19th century
estimate - $2,000 - 3,000

A pair of French cast iron, brass and glass side tables
circa 1960, in the manner of Maison Jansen
estimate - $3,000 - 5,000

A superb French Baroque blue and white faience pharmacy vessel
Montpellier
early 18th century
estimate - $3,000 - 5,000

An Italian Rococo style green painted commodino
mid 20th century
estimate $1,500 - 2,000

A magnificent pair of Venetian tempietto tôle, clear, amber and cobalt glass lanterns on botticino marble bases
19th century
estimate - $70,000 - 90,000

A pair of Murano glass and giltwood lamps 1940s
estimate - $3,000 - $5,000

An American or English scrimshaw hourglass

Capt. John Reuter, 1817
estimate - $2,500 - $3,500

Photos from Bonhams & Butterfields

Museum of Victorian Curiosities Auction

Di over at Designer's Block has tortured me once again with her post about the The Shambles Museum in Gloucestershire sadly closing and holding a 4 day auction, May 18-21. I wish I could simply "hop over the pond" to the UK to attend.

Divided into interesting sections, this auction has an array of eclectic items with reasonably priced estimates. Auctioneer Simon Chorley said it was one of the largest collections of everyday Victoriana in the UK.

I've selected a handful of photos of some of my favorite things, but be sure and visit the website here to check out the HUNDREDS of things they are auctioning off. Perhaps you'll be there to attend?

THE STATIONER:

A quantity of pens, pencils, nibs etc, many in original packaging

Estimate: £ 50 - 70

THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S STUDIO:

A No 3 Cartridge Kodak camera by Eastman Kodak Co.

Estimate: £ 120 - 150

"The Shambles museum uniquely recreates the feel of Victorian life of the 1890s and everything from the original shop facades and their shelf-stacked interiors to agricultural corn merchants and the police station manned by its Bobby will be offered in the 2,300 lot sale."

THE PHARMACIST:

A quantity of pots for Woods Areca Nut toothpaste

Estimate: £ 80 - 120

THE DOCTOR'S SURGERY:

An early 19th Century apothecary's chest, the brass bound mahogany box with hinged lid enclosing a fitted interior containing various bottles etc above a drawer similarly fitted, bears label for George Anderson, Chemist to the King, Worcester

Estimate: £ 150 - 200

THE GROCER:

Huntley & Palmers Tin, Morocco

Estimate: £ 30 - 40

Nine jars for Frank Coopers 'Oxford' Seville marmalade

Estimate: £ 30 - 40

THE DRAPER, HABERDASHER, MILLINER AND COSTUMES:

A large quantity of gentleman's shirt collars and leather collar boxes

Estimate: £ 100 - 150

THE PAWNBROKER:

Six ivory napkin rings with plated mounts, in a fitted case

Estimate: £ 30 - 40

A pierced fish server and sundry plated items etc

Estimate: £ 20 - 30

Photos from Simon Corley Auctioneers

Going, Going, Gone!

Today marked the 4th annual Gentlemen's Library Sale at Bonham's auction house in London. Can a gal be more disappointed than to have missed this? The auction featured library furnishings, science curiosities and eccentricities from around the world.

I was looking through the online catalog and would have loved to have purchased half of the items auctioned off. And, the prices realized didn't fetch as much as I had imagined they would. Here are some of my favorites...and, believe me, there were hundreds to pick from! I think I'm going to purchase a catalog since the items are so fantastic!

20th Century Ebonised Chesterfield Settee (fetched £1,440)

Victorian Gilt Timepiece (fetched £120...that's it? Why so cheap?)

Victorian Black Museum Cabinets (fetched £2,880)

Early 19th Century Magnifying Glass (fetched £1,080)

Collection of 19th Century Chemist Bottles (fetched £1.020)

Magnificent 18th Century French Ivory Game (fetched £336)

Oak Club Boards (fetched £168)

19th Century Bone Alphabet Hand Plaque (fetched £240)

Elephant Oval Tooth Box (fetched £216)

William IV Traveling Inkwell (fetched £216)

Silver Royal Coat of Arms (fetched £720)

Photos from bonhams.com