Chartreuse Gown, Big Bustle and a Parrot - Vintage Diva

Just had to share this lady. Made by Trico, Nagoya, Japan, she's hand painted porcelain in a shimmery luster glaze. A red head is an oddity in these types of MIJ figurines (cheaply made reproductions of 17th and 18th century European figures). And how did that old saw about green being the color for red head's make it to Japan sometime between the 1930's and 1950's? And why this shade of chartreuse green? Maybe the parrot influenced the shade. Whatever - it works for me. I think she's a definite vintage diva. Unbelievably found her on a GW shelf, unbroken and reasonably priced.

Sabino Art Deco Opalescent Figurine

I found this piece of opalescent crystal this morning at the local thrift store for $1.99. I didn't recognize the 'Sabino Paris' marking on the bottom, but it looked like 'quality.' I don't know how else to describe it. It literally stood out from all the other knick-knacks surrounding it. Anyway, it turns out to be a piece of art glass made by Sabino of France. Retail price for this particular piece is about $700. Perhaps that will make my husband reconsider his opinion of my junking addiction.

Today's Haul

• 2 Wedgwood jasperware Christmas plates


• 2 bone china egg cups


• 2 pyrex casserole dishes


• a Sandra Boynton coffee mug


• a cobalt blue glass rolling pin


• an unopened rug hooking kit


• a bag of assorted christmas ribbons


• an old teacup that I have no use for, but figure some craft idea will present itself

All for nine bucks and change. What do you think? A bargain or not?

Where Have These Binoculars Been?

Sometimes the things I find make me really pause and wonder about the history. Not too long ago, I found these binoculars in a fine old leather case. The case has a compass in the lid and the binocs are marked US Army Signal Corps. In researching them a little I found that they are likely from World War II. They're substantial, heavy metal and have perfect optics. I just have to believe they were a treasured tool and have seen a lot of the world. The $1.50 I spent bought me a piece of history and a wandering mind with thoughts of what the original owner might have been like and where they went together.

Betty Crocker is very collectible

If you find one of these old Betty Crocker cookbooks - the one with the pictures in a round pie shape - grabt it! These things sell on ebay for upwards of $50 depending on the shape they are in. Just be sure and include 'Betty Crocker red pie' in your title if you do decide to list your find on ebay. This was today's big find at $1.50.

Vintage Hand Painted Tie - Would you wear this?

Found this at an estate sale thrown in a box with hankies, scarfs, scraps of material, etc. Still in it's original box with the tissue paper, it was a steal at $2.00. Are you thinking it was still in the box because it was never worn? Wrong! It did have some faint wrinkles at the knot area and it had a dark spot right about where you'ld expect a drink or some soup to drip. Good news is that the dark spot was just that, a darker area not a blaring stain. Someone mopped up the spill quickly and did damage control, bless their heart. Don't think it was worn often, if more than once, then placed back in it's box and saved with care. Probably dates to the 1940's or 50's, when liquid arches from little boys seemed to be a big source of amusement - obviously these people never changed a little boy's diaper! And if you're still wondering who would want this thing, just let me say that the bidding on ebay proved it a still popular item - go figure.

Pink Flamingos, Their Nests, and Occupied Japan

Here's a perfect example of the twisted way my mind works. Find this Florida souvenir plate at the Goodwill and am immediately drawn to the hand painted pink flamingos. Then notice that one of the flamingos is feeding a baby and it's in my cart. Didn't even notice the Occupied Japan stamp on the back until I got it home. Of course all that stamp means is that it was made sometime between 1945, or the end of WWII, and the early 1950's. The fact that it's handpainted probably says it was made in the 1940's, before the big Made in Japan boom of automated exports.

What really gets me is the detail. A search of flamingos on the web shows that this is how they build their nests, mini volcano looking mounds of mud. Only I can't find any reference to flamingos being native to Japan. So who was the person, probably American, that explained flamingos and their breeding habits to a Japanese artist? Were they homesick? a birdwatcher? What were they doing in Japan? Was it a military man brought in specifically to explain flamingos or a southern businessman trying to get a good deal on gift shop items? Who took the time to provide the correct details for this scene rather than just a painted bird and a palm tree?

Obviously the design didn't take as you don't see it in any of the later mass-produced Florida plates. I like this one a lot better even if it is a little rough looking. And now I know how flamingo nests look - and so do you.