CHARITY ROW:
The assassination of the president is traumatic and takes some explaining to children.
That said . . . this might not be how I’d have gone about it. Especially page four, that could have used another pass by the editors.
I guess that is the nature of history though. It’s messy, awkward and there is bound to be some things that you consider differently in retrospect.
Originally awarded as a reading prize we’re asking $4 for it.
An interesting pair of vintage slip cast ceramic poodles. They are designed to hang on the wall and demonstrate through 1950′s era consumerism that one is either not a communist, or that you have a penchant for ridiculousness.
Each dog is about 20 inches in maximum length/height. They are in good condition and unlike my neighbors *#$%@!! dog they won’t be in your neighbor’s back yard, barking at them while they are in their own home.
As some would define it charm is defined* by the intersection of wit, playful knowingness and the ability to let the audience in on the joke, but in a not exactly overt manner.
No matter how ‘charming’ the great actors of the past were, Grant, Garner and others relied in small part upon the physical objects in the sets they inhabited.
Sure, they could have (in the style of Bogart as Sam Spade) poured a glass straight out of the bottle, but there’s no elegance, no . . . seduction in that.
A nice decanter, a cut crystal glass, a good suit; these are all force multipliers, set accessories that make the acting a little easier.
We offer for your own set, your own personal filmography (or unfilmed-ography) two classic and elegant decanters. The larger square one is 11 inches tall, the smaller is 9 1/2 inches tall.
Even if you just use them for iced tea on the veranda they’re guaranteed to class the joint up.
Feel free to thank us during your Oscars speech.
* Perhaps most telling, and most damning of modern culture and the decay of social skills among American men is the author’s view that Grant: “treated his leading lady as both a sexually attractive female and an idiosyncratic personality, an approach that often required little more than just listening to her [emphasis mine]—a tactic that had previously been as ignored in the pictures as it remains, among men, in real life”.
This vintage Fire King mug bears the 1950′s era mark and is in the pale blue color they called Azurite. It is in excellent condition, very glassy and shiny and seems to never have been run through a dishwasher. It is 3 1/2 inches tall and has the “d” style handle.
Just because I can, I would like to take this time to shamelessly celebrate the awesomeness that is my father. The poor guy raised 6 of the most obnoxious children known to walk the earth and yet still lives to talk about it. But aside from that, he is just one cool guy who has lead an amazing life. Descending from native royalty, pops grew up in an area of southern California known as “Lil’ Hollywood”. He spent much of his youth having orange wars in the orchards, rolling down hills in old tracker tires and most of all, playing baseball with his ‘cronies’. At age 12, it was rumored that he could hit the ball over 400 feet and thus he obtained his nickname, “Bino”* (as in THE great bambino, Babe Ruth). His teenage years were filled with the usual hijinks. Skipping school to surf, riding motorcycles, chasing girls. Like many of his generation, he joined the Army but spent much of his deployment in Germany (where he did a great deal of skiing and, um… drinking). Which he was, of course, fabulous at. Much like every and anything else he has ever done:
Hatchet Throwing/Logging
Carpentry
Trap Shooting
Motor Cross
etc. etc. etc.
I couldn’t think of a better example of skill, talent and determination. Never one to shy from a challenge, Dad coached each and everyone of his children in one sport or another. He expected twice as much from his kids then anyone else. He taught us the importance of dedication and leadership. Showed us the rewards of hard work.**
In his later years, he took on new hobbies: painting, the guitar, bass fishing and metal detecting. And as expected, everything he touched turned to gold***. It almost seems unfair that one person could possess so much talent. But, as we would find out, life isn’t fair.
After defeating both heart disease and diabetes, dad was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Of course, this superman would come down with super cancer. It has been a rough year and a half. Lots of ups and downs and high hopes only to later be shattered. Today, he seems to be beating it. Yet, as we’ve learned, we do not know what curve ball tomorrow will throw at us.
I reflect back to about a year ago. Sitting at the computer, struggling to write my ‘Fathers Day’ post, paralyzed by fear and uncertainty. Still in shock and coming to grips with the idea that maybe, the man of steel wasn’t so invincible after all. It’s incredible what a difference one year can make. How you can both achieve acceptance of ones mortality and discover a new found application for time.
With that, I advise you all to be sure to call your dad this fathers day. Or if you are so lucky, stop by. Give him an extra tight hug or handshake. Tell him you love him and that you couldn’t have asked for a better dad. Then be sure to do it the next day, and the next, and the next. If you feel so inclined, pick up a gift from one of our 4 stores: The Estate Sale East, The Garage Sale East, The Estate Store West or The Garage Sale West. As you know, we have lots of unique and/or affordable gift ideas, such as this awesome surfboard!). But remember what’s really important this Father’s Day: Making sure that he knows he is loved.
xoxo dode
8ft Surface Soft Surfboard. Available at the Estate Store West in Tualatin.
*Bino is still the name he uses to this day
**5 years straight he lead our small town pop-warner football team to northern California state championship victories. As well as countless regional baseball championships.
***Except cooking. His one pot wonders leave something to be desired.
Dad always said he wanted a boat right?
Here’s one even a landlocked sailor can handle.
This schooner model is about 43 inches long by 41 inches tall. We suspect its seaworthiness is questionable and so recommend it for decorative use only.
Many years ago I had a folklore teacher who was an amazing nearly deaf old man with a just as nearly deaf dog.
In our first class he discussed folklore as changing cultural patterns. As an example of this he polled the class and asked “Who here has a pocket knife?”
Just three hands went up.
He then noted that when he began his teaching career, some 40 plus years earlier nearly everyone would have had a pocket knife.
Maybe your dad is an old duffer or you know a young retro dad in need of a new knife or a new-old knife?
These pocket knives are priced from $5 to $10 except for the new old stock Grand Dad’s Barlow (#206 by Schrade) knives in the bottom row. We’re asking $20 each for those and they have the boxes and paper work.
So here we have a problem*. It’s a nice problem to have, but a problem none the less. This is a nice vintage piece designed by Børge Jensen & Son for Bernstorffsminde Møbelfabrik. Apparently these are somewhat . . . unusual. Not exactly rare, but not terribly common either.
So we’re presented with a problem. A problem largely defined by our market. We TRY to position ourselves so that both dealers and our regular customers can get a good deal. This is a problem with something like this as other folks are selling ones like it for well in excess of $1000**.
Although an appealing number to my inner New England merchant/capitalist I just can’t justify it for something like this. BUT, I can ask for a pretty big chunk of dough for what we’re used to. Which is what I’ll do, but hopefully this will leave room for someone else to make a few bucks too (or enjoy a scarce mid-century modern chair at a comparatively good price).
Although I can’t really believe I’m doing it we’re asking $600 for this chair (offers considered, shipping available but price depends upon delivery method).
It is in very good to excellent condition. The upholstery is original, as is the finish. The original upholstery has some slight staining from the teak oil finish but should be cleanable if one wanted to invest a few bucks. Also there is one slight ding in the right side sculptural arm. It is photographed in the slide show below with a dime for scale.
Otherwise it nearly glows with coolness.
Dimensions: 26 1/2 inches wide, 27 inches deep and 27 inches tall.
*As it turns out I’ve gotten a bit repetitious of phrasing too. The gift horse allusion in the title has shown up before, if in a slightly different context.
*My inner cheap-skate frugal New Englander says “WHAT? Are you FREAKIN’ KIDDING ME?”
A very nice pair of cast resin Chinese guardian lions (a.k.a foo dogs) but ones made in Italy. They stand 10 1/2 inches tall and we have both the male and female represented. These are just two of several foo-dogs we’ve recently acquired although most are still single.
This pair was made in Italy by Wony Ltd.
He’s more familiarly known as W.C. Fields.
Like the great comedic misanthrope this vintage breakfront book case is a little tipsy when empty, but when in its normal state, i.e., ‘loaded’ it works great.
It was made in Leicester, England under the “Dilkscraft” trademark, which seems to be a short-lived ghost brand that has left no traces of its passing.
The bookcase is about 35 1/2 inches wide, 11 inches deep and 50 inches tall. The interior shelves are about 8 1/2 inches deep so they will comfortably hold book Octavo size or smaller.
It is in very good condition. Each door is comprised of 15 separate pieces of glass and we have the key for it too.
