New Vintage Finds in a New Year!
It’s a new year and, as I’m cleaning and re-organizing, I realized that I have a few new vintage finds that I haven’t shared with you!
Decorating with vintage pieces can give your home a storied, one of a kind look. They create instant history, which is something that new decor pieces just can’t do.
While shopping in a fabulous antique shop in Birmingham, Alabama, I stumbled upon this sweet old garden statue, sitting on a floor in a booth.
Because I have a weakness for vintage garden statuary, it stopped me in my tracks!
The statue depicts a sweet child standing in such a precious pose.
Weathered and pitted, and with part of one arm completely missing, it was totally imperfect. Which in my mind, made it absolutely perfect!
It was such a great price and I knew exactly where I wanted to display it, so it came home with me.
The painted demilune table that I painted many months ago stands underneath our antique French church board. This was the ideal piece to display this statue.
The sweet cherubic fellow stands among my antique processional crosses, adorned with a crown and Sacred Heart.
Decorating with vintage garden statuary inside our home is something that I love to do. They can make such an impact, and if I ever get tired of using this piece inside, I can simply move it outdoors.
While visiting my favorite monthly estate sale in Mobile, AL a few months ago, my eye was immediately drawn to this lovely Louis XVI chair.
If you’ve followed me for awhile, you know that I have a weakness for French chairs. I’ve tried to refrain from buying them lately, because I really don’t have room for any more, but this chair was in fabulous condition.
It didn’t need any work and the upholstery was perfect. The best part? It was only $58.00!
Of course, I had to buy it. I mean, it was practically free! Once I brought it home, I had to play a bit of “musical chairs” to make room for this beauty to sit in the foyer.
At the same estate sale, I also found a gorgeous antique Italian mirror.
As I walked toward it, I kept telling myself, “I don’t need another mirror”, “You have no place to put it”, and “It’s probably way too expensive”. All of those warnings went out the window as I saw the beautiful gilding and gorgeous carvings of flowers, leaves, and grapes.
The top had a piece missing, but I was still smitten.
I flipped the tag to check out the price, and it was only $28.00!! I couldn’t walk away without buying it.
A friend of mine that does antique appraisals has told me that if the top piece wasn’t missing, it would be appraised at approximately $2000.00, so I feel like I found a real treasure.
Now, I have a very talented brother in law that could carve a new piece for the top, and one would never know that it was repaired, but I’m rather fond of it as is, even with all of it’s imperfections.
Saving the best for last is my favorite find, a pair of antique English dairy slabs.
Over Thanksgiving, hubby and I celebrated our wedding anniversary by spending a few days in Memphis at the Peabody Hotel. While there, we did some antiquing of course!
I was wandering around a fabulous antique market, Sheffield Antiques, when I spied the dairy slabs out of the corner of my eye. I couldn’t believe it! I have searched for years and never found any.
Grabbing them as quickly as I could, I checked the price….$85.00 for the cheese slab, and $95.00 for the pure butter slab. Based on the price, (authentic antique English dairy slabs can go for 10x this price), I assumed they were reproductions which was fine with me!
We bought a few other items and they were wrapped and packed in a box for the trip home.
It was several days later before I unpacked everything that we had purchased, and had a chance to really inspect the dairy slabs.
I’m no expert, but based on my research, and the hallmark that is stamped on each one, I believe they may be authentic antique dairy slabs, which astounds me because they were priced so low.
Dating to the late 1800s, early 1900s, and made from white ironstone, English dairy slabs were mostly used during the Edwardian period.
They were used in grocery stores and markets for margarine, butter, lard, meats, and cheeses.
The ironstone slab would keep the products cool while stored inside the dairy case. They are highly sought after as collectibles, and are a true rarity to find.
The two dairy slabs found a place of honor on the French estanier cabinet in the breakfast room.
They are a nice addition to my French and English ironstone collection, and I’m still in awe that I found them at such a low price.
If any of you have any information about these antique dairy slabs, please share!
You find the most amazing things. I would love to go shopping with you! You have a great way of putting it all together. I always glean from your talent. Thanks
Wow, have you ever found some treasures. I’ll be looking around for some dairy slabs.
Eileen, if you’re interested in ordering a reproduction dairy slab, please let us know!
I was searching for a French antique alter cross that has Mary Magdalene and the Virgin Mary on it. Your site popped up. I see the same exact piece that I have, and I am looking for information on, but I can’t seem to find any descriptions here. I would love to know more about this beautiful piece. I love the antique one that I purchased, but I do not know any of the history. Is there anything you can tell me about how old this piece is and what was it used for?
I cannot believe that this is the first time I have actually opened your email!!! I was totally impressed and am looking so forward to the next one. I Loved everything I saw and read! I too love ironstone and French Country Décor but especially loved your brown cabinet sitting on the blue dresser. I would Love to find one exactly like that!
Keep up the Great Job you are doing and if you know if I can get any back emails you have sent in the past, PLEASE, forward them on to me!!
You really made a haul this time. But above everything else, I am in love with that blue dresser you painted for your breakfast room. I still think it is absolutely gorgeous.
Thank you, Cindy! That blue dresser gets lots of attention!
Hey dear Cindy!! WOW!!!!!! What beautiful pieces you found! I am so happy for you ! Enjoy them- they are simply lovely in your home! As always, you are so inspiring. So love reading your blog !! Take care sweet friend!
Thank you sweet Adele! I love hearing from you! {{Hugs}}!
All your finds are fabulous. I can’t believe your luck with such low prices. Congratulations, and thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Deb!
OH MY, Cindy!…what a find on whiteware! They didn’t know what they had. Lucky you! I love the statue and chair too! You scooped up nice treasures on your antique trip.
Thank you, Nancy!
Love the statue, Love the mirror, but those dairy slabs!! I love love them. I could have thought you had one? Thought it was on your kitchen counter. Anyway, great finds and I can’t believe those prices in your part of the world!
Linda, I had a “faux” slab on my counter that I actually made just to get the look, since I could never find one!
Dear Cindy, you crushed it! Great finds (especially the chair and the slaps). Wish I could go shopping with you! Enjoy your loot. Hugs, Pat
Thank you, Pat!
absolutely fabulous finds, here in Australia we are not so lucky to have authentic European antiques to find
Hi Cindy, I love all of your new treasures, but my absolute favorite is that gorgeous French chair…just like you I adore French chairs, My dear mommy has a vintage one for years…I have my eye on it…lol….TFS……I hope you have a very happy and healthy New Year…
It’s hard for me to walk away from a French chair, Mari! Even though I definitely don’t need any more!! Happy New Year!
I remember you saying you were coming to Memphis. I love Sheffield’s, but have to go when I have lots of time because it takes a while to go through the whole place (including the outside areas). I hope you enjoyed your time here. I too would love to meet you if you come back to town. All beautiful finds!
Thank you, Regina! Maybe we need to plan a girl’s junkin’ day!
Oh Cindy I knew you posted you were at the Peabody in Memphis but I go in Sheffield Antique every Sunday after church.
We were so close to each other would have loved to have met you in person.
Love your home always beautiful.
Same here, Gloria! I will have to let you know if we’re ever back in the area!
All fabulous finds! I love the cherub’s feisty pose, one elbow up. And that mirror — wow! I think your dairy slabs are one of those once-in-a-lifetime finds for antique collectors. Sometimes you just plain “luck out!”
I agree! Thanks for commenting!
What incredible finds! I would have bought them all too, but my favorites are the dairy slabs. They have been on my wish list for years, but I have never seen any in any local shops or estate sales and online they go for way more than my budget would allow. What would be the fun if I had an unlimited budget and could buy whatever my heart desired? The thrill of the hunt would be lost. Love your beautiful home and always look forward to your posts.
Thank you so much Melissa!
The mirror is just lovely. My cousin would fix it by using plaster of Paris to make a mold of the part that remains. She had an unbelievable self taught talent and I was the recipient of her many talents. I miss her so. She would buy big beautiful frames that would be missing much of the beautiful molding, then paint an oil picture to put in it. They are beautiful and she left a treasure for her family.
Your cousin sounds like she had amazing talent, Alice! My brother in law is the same way, he’s a true artist. He would use bond to sculpt a new piece and replicate the finish exactly.
Your new boy has quite a personality! I love your commentary on how the pieces you acquire play musical chairs. Glad to hear I am not the only one who constantly tweaks and adjusts newly purchased treasures!
Thanks for commenting, Leslie!
I love reading your post! I learn something new all the time!
My son and his wife just moved to Birmingham…where is this fabulous antique shop??
Hi Margie! It’s Hanna Antiques in Birmingham!
Cindy I love the diary slabs!! What a great find! Congratulations!
Thanks, Susan! I’m still amazed that I found them! Thanks for commenting!
Wow, Cindy you find the best things and what fab prices!! Someone obviously didn’t know what they had with those slabs. They must have thought they were reproductions. Even thouse cost a bit more than what you paid. Of course the chair and mirror had to come home with you.
Thanks, Kim! I’ve looked for dairy slabs for years, even the reproductions, and never found any. I still can’t believe I found two of them, and at such a great price!
Love all of your new finds especially your perfect, imperfect garden statue! Oh wait…… the chair, who could not love that chair! It’s all great Cindy, thank you for keeping so many of us out here inspired
Thank you, Nancy!