I launched over 100 auctions tonight, and hopefully ending them Sunday will be a good strategy, perhaps my US customers will be browsing eBay as a little break from last-minute pre-election coverage, as we approach the final "all election, all the time" coverage. Our Canadian election was a mere blip in comparison. I loved Jon Stewart's coverage of it! I much preferred it to Canadian Network coverage!
Despite the elections, the grim economic news and all the other occasional gloom's of everyday life, eBay does provide a few surprises now and then. I was watching this quite rare Pierre Imans wax display head.
I was thinking I might possibly put in a little bid. I don't need another wax head, but lately they seem to be going quite reasonably, compared to the past. However I forgot to bid. Just as well! Obviously I have exceptionally good taste....this one closed at..... $1, 614. 01. Do you think that penny did it? I believe my Emilie is an Imans as well. I paid a ridiculous amount of money for her but I have never regretted it for a moment. I thinks she is remarkable!
I attended an estate auction sale on Monday and bought a large quantity of antique and vintage buttons. It was the estate of a collector, and there were thousands and thousands of buttons. I had spent several hours examining then at the preview the previous week, so I had a good idea of what I wanted and what I was willing to pay. Sometimes it's difficult to stick to your limit at a sale, but it's SO important...it's ruinous to get caught up in "auction fever". (I knew someone once who had a weakness for this, she would bid far beyond what an item was worth ...and what she could afford, especially for resale... out of a determination to "win", to the point where she had to stop going to auctions entirely.) I was careful to stick to my limits, and while I didn't get everything I wanted, I was pleased to get some great lots at good prices.
There were several high-profile (meaning: a much bigger budget than me!) button dealers present, from the US and Canada, as well as numerous collectors, which meant I was outbid on most of the earlier buttons, but I did quite well, obtaining the 20th century ones I wanted.
A large box of Bakelite and Lucite buttons, there were some yummy ones in here. I still have to clean them which takes a bit of time, but makes them SO beautiful! I also got a big box of 1940s colorful plastic buttons, and a box of 1940's "Goofy" realistic buttons.
I was happy to get these antique Japanese Satsumas and hand painted porcelain studs.
No luck on these exquisite enamel buttons, I'm sure whoever got them is very happy!
No luck on these ones either! Oh well!
I got this BIG box of diminutives, charming tiny glass buttons c.1910-1920, from Czechoslovakia. Wonderful for dollmakers. These will be fun to sell.
The first lot sold, these antique Grisaille buttons sold for $345.
Charming, delightful vintage dime sized "Brooks" buttons, handpainted in England in the 1940's. This card of 50 buttons went for approximately $700! Holy Guacamole...I didn't see that one coming. Glad I didn't have my heart set on these ones.
Elizabethan Homies:
1 comment:
Whooo! Visiting your blog is like opening up a treasure chest -- so many pretty things. I spent hours playing in my grandmother's button box when I was a child, stringing them together into necklaces, etc., so it was fun to see so many pretty ones here.
Post a Comment