Take my trash, please!

I just didn't get it. I had put our old 70's era stove on the curb for someone, anyone, to haul away. Two burners of the stovestop still worked and the oven worked, so I covered it and put a sign on it that said it was still in usable condition. I had tried to give it away but didn't have any takers, so it went to the curb. Usually, I park something on the curb for free and it doesn't matter how crappy it is, someone will snatch it up within minutes.

Well, this stove sat there two days and I finally decided I'd better get it off the curb and into the junk pile in the back yard. While I was trying to get it loaded on the hand truck, the stupid stove fell over on its side and one side came loose at the bottom. No one was home, so I thought, to heck with it, I'd wait until someone could give me a hand, and left the stove lying there on its side near the curb.

Well, before anyone got home that stove was gone. I never see anyone take things, they just sort of disappear, I turn around and they're gone. I thought it was ironic that I couldn't give a good stove away but somebody was willing to haul it away when it looked like junk. Next time I need to get rid of a good appliance I'll just chuck it out there sideways.

Future Collectibles: Chester Nicodemus and Ferro-Stone Ceramics

Sometimes I come across pottery, glass or other vintage items and add them to my own collection just because they are unusual or unique or otherwise have some appeal to me. When I dug through my stored collectibles recently I found a small (about 5" dia.) aqua-glazed pottery ashtray that I had kept. It was inscribed "Nicodemus" on the bottom, which meant nothing to me at the time.

I did a search for Nicodemus pottery and discovered that Chester Nicodemus was a potter from Ohio, and lived between 1901 and 1990. A graduate of the Cleveland Art School, he had been an art professor at a few different Ohio universities before becoming a professional artist. He worked from his garage studio from 1935 until his death.

Nicodemus used local red clays, and called his business "Ferro-stone Ceramics" because of the iron content and durability of the material. His method of glazing allowed the rich russet color of the clay to show through. Many of his works are in aqua, but he also favored ivory, pink and yellow glazes.

His first pieces were teapots, ashtrays, vases, flower blocks and other useful wares, but later he began to produce sculptures of animals. Many of his smaller animal figures were designed by his protégé, Ellen Jennings. Most of his works are incised with "Nicodemus" or "E.J. + Nicodemus."

I found several pieces of Nicodemus pottery on retail websites, and they are selling for high prices. For example, one site listed a 7" vase, in the same aqua glaze as my ashtray, for $235. An aqua wall pocket sold on eBay recently for $98. His larger sculptures retail for thousands.

I'm not sure what my ashtray is worth, but as more collectors become aware of Chester Nicodemus and Ferro-Stone Ceramics, prices are sure to rise! I think I'll hang on to it a bit longer....

Estate Auction Treasures!

Hubby and I hit an estate auction Saturday, at a farmhouse on the edge of town. I love these auctions, a lifetime’s worth of possessions from past eras displayed in yards and barn. Our senior generation, being raised in the depression era and thrifty because they had no other choice, kept everything they ever owned. At some estate auctions, the family has already claimed whatever they want and what is left is depression era and mid-century "junk." But as we all know, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

We ended up buying two van loads of these wonderful leftovers. Often sold by the boxfull, there’s always a hidden treasure. To me, that is any piece of Fire King! My hubby is thrilled when we find WWII memorabilia. Saturday’s box lots contained the ususal variety of sewing and craft supplies, vintage puzzles, linens, curtains, dishes, glassware, books, and other rummage-sale fodder. All this and more for only $13.50!

The lot also contained four vintage ceiling light fixtures that are all in excellent shape and perfect for eBay. I can expect them to bring in more than rummage-sale prices. Vintage ceiling light fixtures are in demand, mid-century through the swingin’ Seventies, and ‘70's kitsch is hot, hot, hot right now. You can pick it for a song at estate auctions, and very inexpensively at garage sales and thrift shops.

I found one piece of my beloved Fire King. A milk glass coffee cup with blue asters, and I’m sure I have a matching saucer somewhere. Many of my collectibles are packed away right now awaiting a separate sale. Most folks who come to rummage sales don’t want to see collectible prices, they want bargains. My plan is to amass a quantity of vintage glass and groovy vintage decor and have a "collectibles" sale, maybe at a Christmas bazaar. Almost everything is collected by somebody, and collectors will pay a better price, and sometimes ridiculous ones! Not that I’m greedy, mind you, but I’m not stupid, either.

So we’re pretty happy with our haul. I’ll be busy this week getting cleaned up and ready for sale. The secondhand business is more work than you’d think, because a lot of auction junk has been stored for years and almost everything needs to be cleaned to make it presentable for sale. The grandkids are always willing to help, though, if cleaning involves the garden hose.