Today is Vintage Black Friday hosted by the French Cupboard (click here to join). I had a few pieces to share today, one for fun, the other has memories.
BLACK FASHION
My friend Jess that has the store Tinsel Bright, was out scavenging one day and came upon a place that had three storage buildings full of goodies, all owned by an elderly couple. One of the things she found was this costume piece. We think it was part of a dance hall gal's costume. Surprisingly it is in good shape, but nonetheless fragile, and is now viewed under glass with a tiara sitting on top of the frame.
BLACK TRAINS
My next treasure is a pair of train bookends. Marked Japan in gold lettering, my husband remembers having them on his childhood bookcase. After his dad passed away, they came to our home. The train plaque/wall vase was a recent find at Goodwill for $1.99. It is also marked Japan.
Speaking of things that are Black, I am finally ready to post the shower photos. As you will recall, it was a black and white theme. Unfortunately, there had been a glitch in my camera, and I have had to wait for photos from others to use. I will have everything ready for Saturday to finally post. It had been a wonderful shower and I was glad to see that the bride-to-be was so pleased.
See you tomorrow. Please don't forget to stop by and see what everyone is posting for Vintage Black Friday. The corset and train graphics were courtesy of the Graphics Fairy.
Have a good day.
Sherrie
A Vintage Black Friday in the first days of Spring.....doesn't sound quite right. We should be showing yellows, pinks, reds, and purples. You know, the colors of all the flowers just waiting to pop up in my yard. So I thought why not display a little something from France, of course to be fashionable, but also what better place to be than Springtime in Paris? Okay, that is a stretch for a tie-in, but please let me show you what I have.
A few years ago, I received some black glass dishes from my cousin Phil. He is actually my father's cousin and is in his 80's. These dishes had belonged to their aunt. It wasn't a full set, in fact there were two distinct sets being represented but all tied together by the solid color of the glass.
I have a stack of dinner and salad plates with an ornate edge, but no markings on the underside of the plates except what looks like a consistent 2 inch scratch in the center.
Then I have these 8 sided plates (both salad and dinner size - the photo shows the smaller size), 3 originally from my cousin, 8 more from Goodwill with yellow tag of $.59 and 7 with red tag at $.99 cents but 50% off that price. The dishes were found at two different GW's. These are all marked with FRANCE; however, some list a number right next to the letters while the rest have a number listed on the direct opposite side. Even though the plates are identical the numbers range from 4, 12, 15, 13, 17, 37, 47, 57, 55 and even 07 and 014.
These two creamers best represent the characteristics of each set of dishes, one is 8 sided and the other has the ornate edge. Again, both are solid black glass. The octagon creamer is also marked FRANCE with the number 13 but also a N5. It is my only FRANCE piece that includes a letter/number combo in addition to the marked number.
This photo shows 5 candy dishes/bowls all with similar shaped handles. The top row of three have identical handles with each handle displaying a three circle design. The bowl on the bottom right is marked with the letter C inside a small triangle.
Along with the assortment of plates, cups, saucers, and candy dishes, my cousin gave me an Elephant Ashtray, the larger of the 2 shown below. Again it has a center 2 inch scratch on the bottom as its only mark. Last summer, while looking through the craft section at Goodwill, I found a smaller but identical ashtray for $1.99, also with the scratch mark. As soon as I turned the corner of the aisle, I immediately spied it on the shelf next to some lime green balls of yarn. I was very careful not to knock down the lady standing there as I reached over to grab the piece. Luckily I do have long arms, even more lucky, she had only wanted the lime green yarn. To each their own tastes.
So these are my Vintage Black Treasures for today. Other than having either a specific looking center scratch or the word FRANCE with various numbers, I have no other information about these plates. Obviously, the ones from my cousin are old; however, I am not sure if the pieces I have found are also old or reproduction pieces. Any help would be appreciated. Even if I remain clueless as to their origin, it will be as the French say "C'est la vie". They are family pieces and will always be special to me.
*****UPDATE Linda of A La Carte has come to my rescue with information as to my dishes origin. The scalloped design is black-amethyst Depression Glass produced in the 1920's by L.E. Smith Co. Apparently, the company was founded in 1907 by Lewis E. Smith, a sometimes employed chef with a special mustard sauce recipe. The original purpose of the company was to manufacture glass containers for the sauce. To read more about the history of L.E. Smith company and to see better photos of the dishes, please click here. Thank you Linda for your assistance. It really is more fun when you know about a piece. To visit the ever knowledgeable Linda and her lovely Blog, please click here.
Please be sure to visit our lovely hostess Jill of Gypsy Brocante at the French Cupboard and all the other participants for today's Black Vintage Friday party. Please click here to see the list.
Also a quick reminder that my giveaway ends on April 10th. Please click here for details.
Wishing you all a lovely Easter. Have a good day.
Sherrie
It is the first Friday of the month, so it must be Vintage Black Friday. Today I am linking up with Jill (Gypsy Brocante) at the French Cupboard for this little get together. I wasn't sure what to showcase today, but as I plan on sewing this weekend, I thought that would set the theme.
When I was around 8 or 9, my mother gave me this little Singer sewing machine. Unfortunately, she can not recall its history. What I do know is that it has been one of my most cherished possessions for over 40 years. I spent hours and hours playing with it, making doll clothes for my Barbie. I still have the actual Barbie Doll patterns that I used that I am planning to showcase on a future Vintage Barbie post. This was a very happy time for me with my little sewing machine and my Barbie.
I haven't done any research yet on my machine and would love any comments that you may have on its year of origin, etc. Thanks for your input.
The Bingo card holds a collection of all black buttons created by my friend Jess. I know we have all seen buttons displayed this way. Jess has given me some cards from her stash and I hope to be playing button, button, where's my button ..... with my own button collection.
Next I have a vintage Crazy Quilt square from my collection. I found this at a Church sale a few years ago. I absolutely love crazy quilts. Any quilt is a labor of love and example of fancy stitching, but the crazy quilt with all its embellishments, is one kicked-up-a-notch quilt. It is also a testament to the women that sewed before us of recycling and repurposing at its very best.
I know this isn't all black; however, my favorite parts of this square are the black ones. I just love this embroidered flower.
Please be sure to stop over at the French Cupboard to see all the other goodies being shown today.
Also a reminder of the giveaway Melinda at The Alabaster Rose Designs is having. You still have time to enter.
Have a good day.Sherrie
My friend Jess that has the store Tinsel Bright, was out scavenging one day and came upon a place that had three storage buildings full of goodies, all owned by an elderly couple. One of the things she found was this costume piece. We think it was part of a dance hall gal's costume. Surprisingly it is in good shape, but nonetheless fragile, and is now viewed under glass with a tiara sitting on top of the frame.
My next treasure is a pair of train bookends. Marked Japan in gold lettering, my husband remembers having them on his childhood bookcase. After his dad passed away, they came to our home. The train plaque/wall vase was a recent find at Goodwill for $1.99. It is also marked Japan.
Speaking of things that are Black, I am finally ready to post the shower photos. As you will recall, it was a black and white theme. Unfortunately, there had been a glitch in my camera, and I have had to wait for photos from others to use. I will have everything ready for Saturday to finally post. It had been a wonderful shower and I was glad to see that the bride-to-be was so pleased.
