This week's Treasure Trek took Kat and Mary up IA#169 to Adel and Perry.
First stop: Next 2 New on 215 S. 6th Street in Adel where we found a clean, neat
shop run by Shannen Bargman. Decorated with old whiskey barrels and farm
primitives, the inviting store has spoon jewelry, handmade soap, windows, signs,
vintage wind chimes, and racks of high quality "next to new" clothing. A special
feature is the Bohemian booth where Maggie Rooney (who arrived aboard her
turquoise Schwinn bicycle) presents a novel collection of special occasion clothes
for rent. Check out nexttonewadel.webs.com or call 515-993-1935 for more info.
Second stop: Stitches in Time at 1201 2nd Street in Perry. We were fortunate to
find gregarious former owner and now substitute shopkeeper, Gordon Klatt,
manning the store which is owned by George and Cathy Kurtinitis. Still chuckling
over Gordon's colorful stories, we perused the extensive collection of pictures,
coins, quilts, jewelry, books, linens, lamps, furniture, and an unusual Illinois Show
Case Works cane holder tagged at $2,500. Phone is 515-465-3294; FB page is
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stitches-In-Time
Third stop: Hotel Pattee (so gorgeously restored!) for a Perry Mac lunch served in
a cast iron skillet.
Final stop: Mary Rose on 1215 Warford in the renovated telephone company
building. Owner Mary Rose Nichols has filled her shop with a mixture of art,
antiques, and gifts. Custom stained glass, furniture, jewelry, dishes, pottery, soaps,
gift items, and linens caught our eye as well as early 1900s calendars and
postcards framed by Alan Lentz in quarter sawed oak. You can reach Mary Rose
at 515-465-3294 or visit her website at www.maryrosecollection.com.
Happy Treasure Tripping!
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Antique Roadshow
Antique Roadshow, PBS's most-watched series, heads into its 19 year in 2015. The show's success rests on an addictive blend of expectations, history, and dramatic, though sometimes disappointing, revelations. Heads up! The show will be in Omaha, NE on Saturday, June 27, 2015. Check out http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/ for ticket info.
Could one of the highest appraised items in Roadshow history be in your attic? Here's the list of the top ten so far.
10. Rare Victorian Brooch: $18,500
9. Rare Edgar Allen Poe Daguerreotype: $50,000
8. 18th century Prussian Plate: $185,000
7. Seymour Card Table: $250,000
6. Navajo Chief’s Blanket: $350,000-$500,000
5. Peanuts Comic Strip: $450,000
4. Oil Painting by Clyfford Still: $500,000
3. Anthony van Dyck Painting: $673,000
2. Jade Bowls: $1.07 Million
1. Rhino Horn Teacups: $1.5 Million (hope seller donated it to Save the Rhino, International)
Happy rummaging!
Could one of the highest appraised items in Roadshow history be in your attic? Here's the list of the top ten so far.
10. Rare Victorian Brooch: $18,500
9. Rare Edgar Allen Poe Daguerreotype: $50,000
8. 18th century Prussian Plate: $185,000
7. Seymour Card Table: $250,000
6. Navajo Chief’s Blanket: $350,000-$500,000
5. Peanuts Comic Strip: $450,000
4. Oil Painting by Clyfford Still: $500,000
3. Anthony van Dyck Painting: $673,000
2. Jade Bowls: $1.07 Million
1. Rhino Horn Teacups: $1.5 Million (hope seller donated it to Save the Rhino, International)
Happy rummaging!
Want to be a professional treasure sleuth?
Kat has some tips to help in your treasure hunt.
TOOLS
magnifying glass:
tape measure:
flash light
jeweler's loupe to check authenticity
black light to detect repairs
a quarter
ACTIONS
Use your fingertips to feel chips
Ping with your fingers or a quarter to detect cracks
Look underneath for company logos & marks
View the item in bright light
Smell items like books and textiles
Check for old screws (beware of Phillips heads)
Look for wear marks
Tap jewelry with your teeth (not recommended during flu season)
Happy sleuthing!
Kat has some tips to help in your treasure hunt.
TOOLS
magnifying glass:
tape measure:
flash light
jeweler's loupe to check authenticity
black light to detect repairs
a quarter
ACTIONS
Use your fingertips to feel chips
Ping with your fingers or a quarter to detect cracks
Look underneath for company logos & marks
View the item in bright light
Smell items like books and textiles
Check for old screws (beware of Phillips heads)
Look for wear marks
Tap jewelry with your teeth (not recommended during flu season)
Happy sleuthing!
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
HOLIDAY TRADITIONS
This week Treasure Talk digs up three holiday traditions with deep vintage roots: the tree, the elf, and
the pickle. Yes, the pickle!
TREE
The high luster aluminum tree with Rotochrome color spotlight wheel surged in popularity in the
1960s, but was soon relegated to antique shops (perhaps hastened by Charlie Brown's procurement of
a scraggly sapling in preference to a gaudy silver tree in the 1965 premier). More than a million tin
trees were manufactured and sold for around $25. Because draping lights on the metal tree invited
short circuiting, a rotating clear plastic wheel was used to cast colors on the tree's metallic branches.
Some lucky homes even had a rotating tree stand. The aluminum tree has been dubbed the Space Age
tree as well as an icon of bad taste. But a rare pink aluminum tree sold at auction for $5,000 in 2005.
ELF
The Elf on the Shelf had a predecessor in the 1950s, a knee-hugging elf who simply hung on the tree
without retreating to the North Pole, relocating daily, or professing to "don't touch" magic powers. And
this diminutive creative did not spy and tattle about naughty-nice behaviors. Now an omnipotent elf
has emerged from a book in 2005 followed by a TV special, and over 20 million elves sell annually.
Dare I mention the elf accessories market? Look carefully and you might spy the 50s humble, hugging
elf still hanging around antique stores for around $15.
PICKLE
An old tradition involved hiding a pickle deep in the branches of the family tree. The most observant
child would spy the pickle first on Christmas morn and, therefore, be worthy of an extra present and a
year of good fortune. In fact, Berrien Spring, MI is the Christmas pickle capital of the world and holds
an annual festival in December. Woolworth's first imported these glass blown decorative gherkins to
the US in 1892. Most of the originals have disappeared, but your might just get lucky as a pickle
picker at a antique store or holiday bazaar.
the pickle. Yes, the pickle!
TREE
The high luster aluminum tree with Rotochrome color spotlight wheel surged in popularity in the
1960s, but was soon relegated to antique shops (perhaps hastened by Charlie Brown's procurement of
a scraggly sapling in preference to a gaudy silver tree in the 1965 premier). More than a million tin
trees were manufactured and sold for around $25. Because draping lights on the metal tree invited
short circuiting, a rotating clear plastic wheel was used to cast colors on the tree's metallic branches.
Some lucky homes even had a rotating tree stand. The aluminum tree has been dubbed the Space Age
tree as well as an icon of bad taste. But a rare pink aluminum tree sold at auction for $5,000 in 2005.
ELF
The Elf on the Shelf had a predecessor in the 1950s, a knee-hugging elf who simply hung on the tree
without retreating to the North Pole, relocating daily, or professing to "don't touch" magic powers. And
this diminutive creative did not spy and tattle about naughty-nice behaviors. Now an omnipotent elf
has emerged from a book in 2005 followed by a TV special, and over 20 million elves sell annually.
Dare I mention the elf accessories market? Look carefully and you might spy the 50s humble, hugging
elf still hanging around antique stores for around $15.
PICKLE
An old tradition involved hiding a pickle deep in the branches of the family tree. The most observant
child would spy the pickle first on Christmas morn and, therefore, be worthy of an extra present and a
year of good fortune. In fact, Berrien Spring, MI is the Christmas pickle capital of the world and holds
an annual festival in December. Woolworth's first imported these glass blown decorative gherkins to
the US in 1892. Most of the originals have disappeared, but your might just get lucky as a pickle
picker at a antique store or holiday bazaar.
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