Saturday, February 02, 2008

Wedgwood creamware, S.A. style

Someone asked about the black-and-white plate beneath my homemade salad dressings.

I bought a pair of these at Salvation Army last month. The 79-cent stickers caught my eye. Most plates there are marked 99-cents and up.

You'd better believe I zipped straight to the checkout when I turned the plates over!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Meredith-
I think you must have "magical" Goodwill and Salvation Army stores there in Nashville!! Honestly, I have never seen anyone find the kind of stuff that you find on a regular basis. The greater Nashville area must have a lot of wealth and/or rich, old Southern families who take a tremndous amount of treasures to the local thrift stores. I am curious as to whether or not you, too, think that your thrift stores down there are richer with treasures than many areas around the country. Have you ever lived anywhere else, or when you travel to other areas, do you still find the same types of treasures that you find in Nashville?
Also, do you think that these plates are really that old? Isn't it amazing to think of all the hands that have held them? Enjoy them!
Susan

Meredith said...

Is it an old pattern? Probably.

Are the plates old? Definitely yes.

But 1760's? I highly doubt it.

Either way, they're not a TJ Maxx reproduction, so I'm happy.

As to the quality of the thrift stores, I hate to tell you but I have found great stuff in every part of the country I've ever been in. Maybe treasures which are of interest just to me, but things we've been thrilled to find, all the same--from Massachussetts to south Florida.

Our city has a lot of thrift stores which are easy to donate to, so that makes a difference.

Anyone else local who would like to comment?

Indie Pereira said...

I think Meredith just knows how to spot the good stuff. I live in Nashville too and don't find nearly as much as she does. In fact, I've had better luck in other parts of the country.

Anonymous said...

Never find anything myself at ours but we live in a tiny town. I grew up in a family that collected Wedgwood. If it is actually marked with Wedgwood or Josiah & Sons it is true Wedgwood.

Anonymous said...

hi! I live in Bolivia (!) and here (and probably to other 3rd world countries) is sent in containers what US thrift shops have been unable to sell - of course we get a lot of junk, but I have been able to find some gems over the years (transferware, a crystal jug, beautiful chandeliers, cashmere sweaters,...)

TJ said...

I still think you are the bargain hunting queen Meredith!

Anonymous said...

DOGGONE IT! I just wrote a long post ... and fat-fingeredly deleted it!

I think that you need a good eye to spot 2ndhand treasures, but they're in more places than you might think:

Once I didn't recognize a like-new-condition Dooney & Bourke purse as high quality, although I wondered why it was marked $25 at an otherwise-reasonable garage sale. A few weeks later, I was browsing at a high-end department store, and realized that similar purses were selling for $250. The bargain was there, but I didn't have the eye to recognize it.

I think people are often gifted with items that are surprisingly expensive. My sister once received nice towels from an aunt-in-law for Christmas. She didn't like the color, so she returned them to the store -- and received about $40/towel. Apparently, they were a luxury brand. But, often people donate their unwanted gifts. I bought some nice Polarfleece hats ... still in their Christmas celophane wrap ... at the thrift store a month ago. Somebody didn't like them, but my DH does.

Also, when people inherit a household full of stuff, they can be too overwhelmed ... or too distracted ... to figure out what's valuable. For example, I once saw two women eagerly poking through the costume jewelry at the thrift store. [I would have snagged some too, if I could have got close.] A lot of it looked like 1950's rhinestone pieces. Some of that stuff goes for a pretty penny on ebay. (see Item 260207517992).

For clothes, a lot of people have an 'ewww' response when they think about 2ndhand clothes. So, thrifters benefit from people who lose weight and donate their old sizes. People who miss the return-by date and donate nwt clothes. And from people who just don't want to bother returning clothes to the store.

Also, it depends what you're looking for. The internet has driven up the price of a lot of collectibles and vintage treasures. But, if you're looking for kids' toys ... or winter coats, there's a lot of good stuff out there -- just about everywhere.

Jora

The Nester said...

Yippie!
Nice Work!

Christa said...

People tell me the same thing as the OP about our thrift stores. I think it does help that we're near a bigger city. And, like you said, there are many places to donate to. But I think that it also has to do with "knowing your stores" and having a plan. I usually scan the toy section, the housewares, then the books when I enter my thrift stores. And I do it when I go anywhere else, too. Over Christmas, I was able to help my Mom find several great toys for her grandkids in a thrift store that "never has anything". :)

I love reading about your finds, Meredith!!

Anonymous said...

No bargains here on the Gulf Coast..when I first started selling on eBay,,,I could find depression glass, first ed books, Carnival glass, napkin ladies,,,all over the place,,now our local Goodwill and Salvation Army store sell on eBay..You can't find anything anymore...
That was a great find there....I still find a few things,,,eBay educates you on what to look for,,,but since I no longer sell,,I don't look for things to resell.
eve