A Trip to the Antique Mall
March 15, 2021
So my daughters, husband and I took a trip to an antique mall. When my husband was diagnosed with cancer (he is healthy now), I felt the need to purge, so I unloaded most of our treasured antiques by giving them away to our kids. Most of the rest I sold at a yard sale. At nearly every booth at the antique mall, I nudged my husband, pointed to an item and said, “We had that.” I kinda regret getting rid of my treasures now.
If you love old things for your home, you might enjoy some of these pics.
This shelf reminded me of the many collections my children, husband and I have and had. Our second youngest daughter has a camera collection she is working on, I collected old watering and gas cans, and David had a lantern collection.
We had a schoolhouse lighting fixture similar to this one in our downstairs bathroom. It looked good with the pedestal sink and clawfoot tub. David still has a minnow can like the one above.
My husband always had eclectic taste. Maybe that’s why we had cast iron plaques, grates, fire alarms like this, and bells hanging in odd places around the house.
When we were first married and poor, we foolishly purchased two oak pieces for $1,600, a hoosier and ornate sideboard. The piece above is on sale for $249. As you can see, antique furniture has seen a dramatic downturn. Our two pieces together sold for $400. Not a good investment.
When we were first married and poor, we foolishly purchased two oak pieces for $1,600, a hoosier and ornate sideboard. The piece above is on sale for $249. As you can see, antique furniture has seen a dramatic downturn. Our two pieces together sold for $400. Not a good investment.
Hey, we had those mugs!
Of course, we had a collection of crystal prisms and a few cast iron frying pans. I recently purchased an old phone similar to this one at a yard sale. Mine cost only $5.
Always wanted one of these. We did have an old wood library index card box that my daughter made a table out of. Can I ask for it back?
My husband had and still has an old school desk/chairs obsession. We had so many dating from the mid 1800s to 1970s. I had to put a stop to it.
Oh, and all the old Fisher Price toys! Dollhouses, barns that mooed, roly-polies, pull toys, cash registers, telephones…you name it. Now I’m down to one 1950s Jack-in-the Box and and an old schoolhouse.
So what did we wind up purchasing? Me, nothing. My husband bought an old book, our older daughter purchased a mirror and a school zone sign for her classroom, and our younger daughter found a 1950’s apron and a few 1970’s record albums for her collection – Emerson, Lake and Palmer, The Pretenders, and Jimi Hendrix. I dissuaded her from bringing home Abba.
Let me know your collections!
3 Comments
Cindi Brown
I used to collect rolling pins and kitchen utensils. When we downsized to a much smaller home, I sold almost everything. I kept my great-grandmother’s hand mixer, washboard, and rug beater, my grandmother’s rolling pin, and the little pepper mill that my grandfather used at every meal.
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It is hard to purge collections that have been made over decades. Glad you kept your grandparent’s items!
Brett Proctor
I related very well to you comments regarding the furniture. Over the years at antique auctions across the country, I’ve watched in agony as ‘treasures that once sold for thousands, went for hundreds, (and less) I have come to the conclusion that the true worth of an “antique” is in how the owner feels about the piece, They are definitely NOT investments.