Going International

[thunderthrift]

Hi,

FWIW:

I like buying American made products at thrift stores, however, I find it a rich source for international products.  I have purchased a number of items of foreign manufacture while thrift shopping.  For example, I purchased a [stoneware?] bowl made by Brendan.  On the bottom of the plate it says "Brendan ERIN STONE MADE IN ARKLOW IRELAND".  Between the words, "ERIN" and "STONE" was a graphic of a 3 leaf clover.  All of this in Green [of course].

Among other recent purchases have been a blue-green vase made in Japan and a couple of blue and white pitchers made in Portugal.  Needless to say, none of this was expensive.  The Brendan plate cost $1.07.

What products from various countries have you purchased?  Like to hear from the perspective of the forum members who don't reside in the US as well.

[valleythriftshopper]

I can never resist the old made in Japan figurines, especially cats or the figural salt & pepper shakers- they have so much character.  And to think they were considered the cheap goods at the time much like today's made in China.  I do see the Portugese ceramics at many stores like TJ Maxx & Marshalls.  There must be some companies in Portugal that have figured out how to compete with the Chinese goods, TJ's also has some nice Polish pottery & English porcelain like Spode & Denby for good prices. 

I was at a local Antique store last spring when I saw a huge Dedham pottery style bunny made by The Potting Shed.  The Potting Shed is a Concord, MA company that makes pottery in the Dedham style here in MA.  It was priced at $24.00 which was a steal as Potting Shed pieces are pricey & this was a big piece.  I said to the owner, "Wow this is a potting shed bunny".  He warned me that it was just a reproduction piece (Dedham reproduction).  I said I knew it was more modern that the real Dedham but informed him that Potting Shed pieces are made in MA & are quite popular & expensive.  He had never heard of the company & was surprised to hear that these were made in the U.S.   He did not seem too happy as he was ringing up my item!

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj292/thriftshopper/psbunny.jpg

[Thrift Shop Romantic]

I found one of those Made in Japan figures just yesterday myself! It's a tall, figural piece of a woman dressed in 1700s garb. Probably a mantle figure.

Also recently I found an old British mug commemorating the wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles. Being a bit of an anglophile, I could resist-- plus it was a whopping $0.49!

[ChrisMiss]

I was at a local Antique store last spring when I saw a huge Dedham pottery style bunny made by The Potting Shed.  The Potting Shed is a Concord, MA company that makes pottery in the Dedham style here in MA.  It was priced at $24.00 which was a steal as Potting Shed pieces are pricey & this was a big piece.  I said to the owner, "Wow this is a potting shed bunny".  He warned me that it was just a reproduction piece (Dedham reproduction).  I said I knew it was more modern that the real Dedham but informed him that Potting Shed pieces are made in MA & are quite popular & expensive.  He had never heard of the company & was surprised to hear that these were made in the U.S.   He did not seem too happy as he was ringing up my item!

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj292/thriftshopper/psbunny.jpg

My husband was stationed at Hanscom AFB which is right next to Concord MA.  Many stores sold the Dedham pottery made by the Potting Shed.  I was given a bunny when he retired. I've found a couple of small ones at the thrifts that I bought.  Recently I found a bunny attached to a leaf shaped plate at a thrift store.  It was a big piece, actually too big for me.  It was only $4.99.  I stood there and admired it for several minutes before finally passing it up.  I just don't have anywhere to put it.

What amazes me is that at retail it's pretty expensive.  At thrift stores it's not much at all if you can find it.  I was surprised when looking on ebay that it doesn't sell for much.  There's not a huge following for it I guess.  I think it's really attractive with the creamy white, the blue and then the crazing of gray, very nice looking.

[Big Daddy Audio]

When I spot a piece of audio gear, I always check the country of origin.  Pretty much anywhere in Asia is bad to see, with the obvious exception of Japan.  The work done by the Japanese on electronics gear is top-notch.  It was only when the manufacturers started having pieces built in China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand, etc. that the crap started flooding the market.  Of course, pieces made in Europe are generally top-quality, as are the pieces made in the USA. 

There are, of course, exceptions, but it's the general rule.

See you next time
bye for now

[SecondhandSophisticate]

Hi,

FWIW:

I like buying American made products at thrift stores, however, I find it a rich source for international products.  <snippity-snip> 

Yes, I buy Ameican when and where I can. And yes, the thrifts can be a source of classy international products.  What I would buy, if I found them and they "spoke" to me:

Italian anything: including, but not limited to pottery (hopefully, DeSimone--all my great DeSimone-two pieces of it, lol--is from thrifts), handbags, scarves, anything leather--as long as it is well-made, classy, elegant, moves me, and I or someone I know needs it, of course.Designer clothes. Did I mention on this board that I found a pair of Dolce y Gabbana jeans (normally sell for 400-800 bucks) in a dollar-a-pound store recently? And that they fit me perfectly? PERFECTLY? perfectly?  Not even my digust at DyG ripping off Marimekko (FYI, Scott, LOL!) will stop me from wearing these!)

Turkish cotton:  My big, white hooded after-shower and all-the-time bathrobe is from Turkey (and the Salvation Army)

West Germany pottery:  clearly marked "West Germany"; the kind I look for: "Fat Lava" design. I scored two similiar pieces late last year, at two different thrifts: One was a buck, the other a quarter.  

French: well-made leather, silk (ahhhhh, to score Hermes or Chanel at a thrift) designer clothes.

Irish:  Bellek china or anything made in Ireland is groovy (my stepfather is Irish, so I like to send him stuff from the "old sod") Irish linens, vintage.

Egypt: Anything to do the with the great Goddesses, Isis, Bast, Nepthys--I found an incredible tablecloth at the GW last year of Egyptian mythology. But not so much--it has to be very unique and have a use, or I leave it behind.  Linens--Egyptian cottons are superb!

Sweden:  Ystad Metall! I scored a pair of vintage Ystad Metall candle holders for .50 in December! They are bona-fide "Swedish Modern" Anything in this genre comes home with mama.

Scandenavia: Jewelry! Marimekko (the more vintage the better)Dansk!(not the made-in-China crap of today) Anything Danish/Swedish/Scandenavian Modern!! Very hot for it, and very rare here.

USA: Just about anything, it's so rare! Clothes, linens, leather. Think VERAVERAVERA. Vintage handbags. I have me a hankering for pottery made in the USA and signed by the small-time potteries--if it's vintage (think the Sophie Newcomb school, for example--not that I've ever found a piece, but I would love to.) Mid-century modern anything. Redwing Merrileaf. Pyrexia. Ben Seibel and the MCM gang. Eames anything.  It must speak to me and it must be cheap!  On my BD thrift trip, DH picked me up a lovely "Pottstown Potters" little blue jar with a lovely, watery blue-glaze for .79 at a GW. Score!

Just a few of my "favorite" things to thrift!

Ciao, Bellas,
SeSo

[valleythriftshopper]

What amazes me is that at retail it's pretty expensive.  At thrift stores it's not much at all if you can find it.  I was surprised when looking on ebay that it doesn't sell for much.  There's not a huge following for it I guess.  I think it's really attractive with the creamy white, the blue and then the crazing of gray, very nice looking.

Some of the more common pieces or smaller pieces don't go for much on Ebay.  This bunny is unusually large, when I got home I looked up on Ebay how much it was going for & one just like it had sold for $80.00 so my purchase price was pretty good (especially since I got it at an antique store where they thought they were selling some foreign repro thing!) .  My aunt used to paint for this company.  I have only seen one piece of it at a thrift & it was chipped.  More people around here probably recognize it. 

Another Massachusetts company I would love to own something from is the Vaillancourt Folk Art company of Sutton, MA.  They are one of the last two American Christmas ornament & decorative collectible makers.  They make awesome hand painted chalkware Santas using antique choclolate molds.  Some of them appear in museums.  Maybe they have a seconds shop?

[foutchie]

You all have found a lot more than I - I did find a cashmere sweater made in Ireland, which I love, but that's about it!

[SecondhandSophisticate]

You all have found a lot more than I - I did find a cashmere sweater made in Ireland, which I love, but that's about it!

That's a wonderful find, foutchie! What does it look like?

[foutchie]

It's a nice spring green, cardigan style!  no holes, etc. =- really nice!

[SecondhandSophisticate]

Oooooo, I am so happy that it is green! So nice to know cashmere is made in colors other than black! Enjoy it, it sounds lovely.

[foutchie]

I have it in a variety of colors - purple, gray, teal, lilac, pink etc - all bought at thrift or resale shops......

[Scott]

Not even my digust at DyG ripping off Marimekko (FYI, Scott, LOL!) will stop me from wearing these!)

Boy, SeSo ... I don't think I could pass up a pair of D&G jeans (or anything for that matter) in a thrift, even with the recent Marimekko rip-off controversy! That said, I think I'd have to do retribution by finding something vintage Marimekko to "make up" for the transgression.

And I couldn't agree more with your VERAVERAVERA statement. I've been absolutely nusto for her stuff lately, and have been digging through linens galore trying to come up with more examples. Love it!

To stay on topic, though ... I think the only non USA items I buy are Scandinavian. Especially tableware from the mid-20th century. That stuff is awesome!

[oceangurl]

About the Vera items, I picked up years ago beautiful linen placemats with different images of oil cruets, vinegar cruets and different herbs, all in the colors of olive green, lemon yellow and a touch of orange, they are signed and I dont remember what I payed for them but got them real cheap, I love Vera items, her scarves etc, but her houseware items are great vintage...