This is the easy way to tell what is still available. Just click on the link below. Otherwise, look at the bottom of the post. If the item is sold it will read GONE! SOLD!
ADDRESS: The Estate Store of the Community Warehouse 3969 NE MLK Jr. Blvd. Portland, Oregon 97212
The Estate Store
Hours: Open 10am to 4pm Thursday through Monday. Closed Tuesday & Wednesday
Garage Sale
Hours: Open 10am to 4pm Thursday through Monday. Closed Tuesday & Wednesday
PHONE: 503-445-1449.
E-MAIL: Ed at communitywarehouse dot org
West Side Donation Center: Open Tuesday-Saturday, from 11:00 am – 4:00 p.m. at 8745 SW Canyon Lane, Portland (off Canyon Road in the West Slope area).
Not in Portland but want an item? We can ship most things to most places most of the time. Shipping costs for furniture are often prohibitvely expensive! If you still think you want it, contact Ed to see if we can ship what you want where you want and how much it will cost you.
In the Portland Metro area and wondering if an item is still available in the store? Contact Ed.
Last week I salvaged some sterling silver from a shipment of scrap we were about to send out. I looked around a bit more after that and found a few more pieces that seem too nice to melt down. Here they are.
Here we have four individual butter knives by Oneida Sterling in the King Cedric pattern (who the heck is/was King Cedric?). This pattern was first issued in 1949 and combined they weigh a total of 3.59 troy ounces. $110
It weighs 1.06 troy ounces and I think it is an olive spoon. The handle does have a monogram that appears to read MAB. $35
Finally there is a nice set by Stieff Sterling in the famous Stieff Rose pattern. There is a large hollow handled knife, a wacky looking lettuce server, a little two prong fork, and two tea spoons.
Due to the stainless steel blade and the filled hollow handle we didn’t include the weight of the knife when we considered the scrap value of this set. The remaining Stieff Rose pieces weigh a combined total of 4.17 troy ounces. SOLD to a very nice gentleman.
I’m not sure how or why she got the 1940 role, but her later two roles were intrinsically tied to the fact that she was a chain smoker who consumed an average of two packs a day. She had a very raspy voice that was well suited to alien characters.
Go figure, smoking is bad but intergalactic bounty hunters and alien botanists are all into it…
How does that fit with this lamp? Well, it’s not just an E.T. lamp since the lower part is also an ashtray.
Since times have changed a bit since the early 1980′s it might be a good spot to put change (providing that E.T. can still find a pay phone) or batteries for a hearing aid (so E.T. can hear on the phone) or whatever other knickknacks you might have.
Not including the bulb this E.T. is about 14 inches tall. For a 1980′s slip cast do-it-yourself ceramic lamp it is in great condition.
Sometime we sell sterling silver in bulk. I’m not sure what our customers do with it though. Maybe they make jewelry or silver ingots that they stock pile for when the paper dollar collapses, what ever it is it’s a modest, but nice part of how we pay for things.
As I was packing up the most recent shipment I ran across these items and decided I didn’t want them to be melted down yet. This isn’t all a factor of my over attachment to the past. The value of sterling is pretty good, but I think these are worth more than just scrap value. As such I’m offering them here first and if they’re still around the next time we get a request for sterling maybe then. . .
First up is this lovely little set of four drink stirrers/straws. The handle is a hollow tube, they are about 8 1/2 inches long and weigh just over 1 troy ounce. SOLD
Then there’s this set of six Wallace sterling spoons with a design patented September 27th 1882. They’re cute little spoons and have a monograph of MLB on the reverse. They are teaspoon sized, just under 6 inches long and altogether weigh 4.11 troy ounces. $125
These are my personal favorites, they’re mid-19th century coin silver spoons. They were made in Boston by Palmer & Bachelders around 1850. They have the characteristic fiddle-back shape that was so popular in the 1800′s, especially between 1840 and 1860. These spoons are about 6 inches long, bear a monogram of JLBRats, it’s actually JHB, I misread that. . .and have a combined weight of 3.31 ounces. $90
Without you we’d have no business doing what we’re doing. We’d have nothing to sell, no one to sell it to and the families we help would have just as much nothing as they have now.
And they already have a whole lot of it.
So, thanks for reading, donating, supporting us and telling others what we do.
Thank you, we really appreciate it.
This prop’s for you*.
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*Metaphorically speaking that is. In the event your feeling literal and you need an actual propeller or you’ve become tired of waiting for your ship to come in and instead you’re assembling your own, one piece at a time we do have one available.
It is about 13 inches in diameter and is designed to fit on a shaft 3/4 of an inch in diameter and about 2 5/8 inches long. It weighs roughly 7 1/2 pounds.
Three metal fleur-de-lis lamps that have been strung together on a chain. Each one is about 9 1/2 inches wide by 11 inches tall. The chains are of sufficient length to allow a maximum of 24 inches between the symbols (but without any sag in the chain).
They work fine and have small, nightlight sized bulbs controlled by an in-line switch, $35.
Have you ever tried to take a picture of a Polar bear eating vanilla cake on an ice flow? I haven’t but I imagine ones fingers get pretty cold waiting for the right shot.
While not taken that far north, this photo took some cold weather perseverance. It is low-contrast photograph of a white horse in snow by Carl Casterline of Idaho Falls, Idaho. I must admit I’m not sure if this picture was also a color photograph that faded in sunlight.
He titled it Cold Journey Home and it measures 18 1/2 inches by 23 1/2 inches in frame.
I think it’d make a great cover photo for the next Cormac McCarthysouthern Gothic apocalypse novel.
And a lovely pair they are too! These are part of the famed Købenstyle line designed by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk. These are the paella or saute pans. They are enameled ceramic over iron and feature bright white interior with turquoise exterior.
We have them in two sizes, the larger one is about 14 inches in diameter, the smaller is 10 1/2 inches in diameter. We measured this at the widest part of the pan, not including the handles. The actual opening diameters are slightly smaller due to the curved sidewall.
Both pans are in very good condition with some of the typical signs of use, like little flea-bite chips along the upper edges.
We’re asking $50 for the larger one and $35 for the smaller.
. . .And then through the cloying and savage Portland mist he saw the ancient temples of his people. They laughed at his folly for trying, now they’d cheer his bravado and success.
Decorative metal trees. 51 inches tall and suitable for use out of doors.
Do ducks with canvas backs need occasional reapplication of oil finish wax to stay dry?
Antique looking Canvasback Duck decoy. The coloring indicates it is a drake and the forward thrust head is meant to indicate motion. The cordage wrapped around the duck to suggest an anchor line, although it is purely decorative.
It is stamped ‘White’ underneath suggesting it is a reproduction piece by S.R. White Carving so it is no older than 1979. This decoy is 17 inches long, 5 inches wide and 5 1/2 inches tall and in excellent faked antique condition. That is, it is “not suitable for use outdoors or in the water.” SOLD!
Presumably another Canvasback decoy but this one isn’t marked. Unlike the one above this one has an anchor line attached (rather than the wrapped string belt) however this is probably also a purely decorative duck. It is 17 3/4 inches long 8 1/4 inches tall and 7 inches wide.
Have you checked out the Watercloset Gallery recently?
It’s located in the back of the store, cleverly disguised in the restroom.
Sure, it might not have the best ambiance, but wall space is too precious to waste.
Our current show feature two unique works* and one unusual one.
The unusual piece is a series of four cast resin mid-century plaques mounted on teak panels. It’s not hard to find these offered singly, but this is the first set our four that we’ve found. They are signed in the mold Onnie and depict women next to trees. I don’t know if they illustrate a story or have some secondary meaning. Each panel measures 5 3/4 by 18 3/4 and we’re asking $40 for the set.
We also have a big work by Earl Hamilton, an Oregon artist who is represented locally by the Attic Gallery. It measures 50 inches wide by 30 1/2 tall and features a surreal dreamscape bedroom scene. The work is in excellent condition, but the silvered frame has some slight damage. $550
We’re now showing a large and unique work by Erik Sandgren (the son of Nelson Sandgren). This work was painted in 1974 and was once “from the permanent collection of the artist” (permanence isn’t what it used to be). It measures 54 3/4 inches wide and 34 1/4 inches tall. $650
*If they look familiar they should. We loaned these out over a year ago and they have now been returned.
It’s that wonderful time of year again! Every early December we celebrate one of the great practical minds of the 19th century and the savior of lobuli auricularum everywhere.
Over the course of his life he’d gotten over 100 patents but it was the patent for Greenwood’s Champion Ear Protectors which made him rich, famous and celebrated even as it approaches 75 years after his death.
The only thing that would make this better for us is if we had any ear protectors to offer but they’re a little scarce in the relatively warm Northwest, so we don’t.
We do have quite a variety of wool blankets though, which are kind of like ear muffs for the entire body.
Here’s a small sample, but we have many more. We’ll be adding new ones as we can so stop in to see them in person.
Yes, it’s conceptually possible you could put some bulk dry materials in this, or pencils or something, but you’ll never make it watertight enough to practice your stone boiling with.
In the universe of possible flaws in things I think this is a relatively small one.
It was hand made by famous Hawaiian basketry artist Mika McCann. Fibers used in making the basket include cocoseed, philodendron, watsonia, pompas, and tokusa.
It is 8 1/2 inches in diameter and 5 3/4 inches tall.
Fabulous old ceramic rolling pin. This is a smaller size piece (6 1/2 inches wide, 2 3/4 inches in diameter) so I’d guess it was used for yummy little pastries rather than pies. I’d also guess that the glazed clay pin would stay nice and cool for rolling out mpre touchy doughs.
It is decorated in a faience/majolica style glaze with rendition of the famous blue onion pattern. It is in good condition with some glaze crazing. Unfortunately we don’t have the handle for this piece, but you could fashion one out of a 3/4 inch diameter dowel.
It’s unusual for us to get something like this with all the pieces.
This vintage urn-shaped samovar (for tea or coffee) is copper with a brass spout, legs and hardware. The interior is lined with a metallic silver material so ones tea won’t taste like the container it came from.
It was made in Italy and has raised lettering on the warmer that reads Victoria suggesting that it is from the late 19th or early 20th century.
It is approximately 15 inches tall and appears unused.
If the weather forecasters are right this looks to be a long, damp and chilly winter here in the northwest. Long winter nights are great for drinking tea, but getting up to continually refill your cup is kind of annoying. Now you won’t have to get up as often.
This is a cute little 19th century two hole tea caddy box with inlay marquetry and figurative veneers. It’s seen a fair amount of use and minor abuse. There are missing pieces of veneer, one burn on the lid and a hinge has been repaired but it still has a some life left.
It is 7 inches wide, 4 3/4 inches tall and 4 1/4 inches deep. Although we don’t have the key for it we do have the interior lids, which are much harder to come by.
Shrek is a big green ogre made famous by the 2001 film of the same name. Interestingly the character name is derived from a Yiddish word meaning fear or terror although he’s played as a (generally) nice guy in the film.
Even big green ogres like the occasional cup of tea but he found this set was too delicate for his giant hands. After the sudden fame of his first film he commissioned a mug shaped like his own head. One could think this is rather narcissistic but I prefer to think of it as ironic and unintended self cannibalism.
In any case, no one gets confused about who’s cup it is at the tea parties anymore. This is a good thing. No one wants to argue over tea cups with an irate giant and the cops got tired of coming to the swamp too.
The vintage tea set is probably Japanese, although it is unmarked. All the pieces are in good condition except the creamer, which has a notable crack (that probably makes it unfit for use and shipping). The coffee pot stands 7 inches tall. The four cups are demi-tasse sized and may or may not have once had saucers. I presume there were more cups at some point but some clumsy big green ogre broke probably broke them.
The initial premise of Ed’s House of Ugly was that sometimes ugly is pretty nice.
I think this qualifies.
This vintage round occasional or side table is a bit startling at first, but in the past week that it has been sitting in the back it has grown on me*. The pedestal base is plaster with gold paint and the top is a piece of glass with faux marbling. Around the edge is an ornamental carved wooden band.
It stands 16 inches tall and the top is 19 inches in diameter.
Surprisingly this piece is dated March 21, 1956 which makes me wonder if Hamilton recognized something that was already present in culture and managed to take it to another level.
Various bottles have been added, the faces are changed, passed out folks are under the hospital bed and a small photo of someone (the guest of honor?) is centered on the wall.
I can’t quite make out everything on the plate on the foot-board that bears the date. I can read that it says ’Ward’ but it’s preceded by something that’s markedly less readable.
The piece is in OK condition considering the paper is not archival and they used plastic tape for parts of the assemblage. It is about 16 inches wide by 18 inches tall.
It looks like who ever had it found the event memorable since it’s been around for over 55 years before coming to us.
Not Jeremiah, as popularly believed. Luckily for Mr. Warren we don’t know who he is. Given the radical stylistic deviation we’re sure he’s not the famous artist Jim Warren since that Mr.Warren’s works look pretty much nothing like this.
Personally I find that relieving. Mostly that’s because, as a used stuff purveyor, high priced items are hard to sell effectively out of a little store in Oregon. Really, what are the odds that someones going to walk through the door with a big wad of cash AND that they’ll want the really expensive thing we have? Yeah, they’re pretty darn small.
Secondly, I’m not really into modern surrealism (vintage stuff like Maret Oppenheim’s work is another story).
I consider it a win-win. We have something that’s both affordable and approachable. This signed numbered print by Jim Warren dates to the mid-1970′s and in frame it is 15 1/2 inches tall by 11 1/2 inches wide. The blue frame might be a bit dated but it works so I’d leave it as is, though you may think differently.
As you can see in the picture it would take five of them to complete a circle, but we have four and only one lid. Since the bases are unmarked we’re lucky to have the lid, and it bears a design patent number (89437).
This patent was awarded in 1933 to Jeddiah B. Clark who given his other patents was in the employ of the Indiana Glass Company*.
Each of these jars has two 5 inch long sides, a 6 1/4 inch curved side (but measured as a straight line) and they stand 4 3/4 inches tall. Unless we can be convinced otherwise or find three more lids, we’re selling them as a set.
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Indiana Glass was founded in 1907. With the rise of the automobile they invested heavily in the production of headlight lenses. They were so successful that they largely controlled that market and used it as a leverage point to expand into consumer glassware, both utilitarian wares and gob-stopping amounts of depression glass.
We don’t get many power-tools. This is OK since we’re really in the furnishings trade and there are places like the North Portland Tool Library that could put them to much better use. Occasionally we’ll get something given to us with the express instructions to sell it.
Take this 12 inch sliding compound miter saw with laser guide. It’s by Chicago Tools and probably sold new for about $170 at Harbor Freight. Ours has been well used and emits the smell of ozone when in operation and I haven’t tested the laser so we’re willing to let it go for $40.
I come from a line of working class folks who are hearty eaters. One of the unspoken litmus tests for introducing new people to the family is if they have a good appetite. While the condemnation was never explicit (that would be bad manners), dainty eaters never received full approval, i.e., ”She’s nice, but. . . why didn’t she have seconds?”
Maybe you think you’re good eater? Maybe you think you have a big appetite? Maybe you’re looking to break into a family where this is one of the early-stage tests of suitability?
We have the flatware you need to make a substantive statement. A statement that says not only do I have a good appetite but I’m willing to flaunt it.
Hypothetically this spoon and fork are decorative objects (they have a mounting ring attached to each end), but they could be used for dramatic effect when meeting potential future in-laws.
They’re each 4 feet long which is enough to reach for another serving of Mom’s unbeatable (and so far never successfully copied) potato salad, a slab of beef and a loaf of bread while remaining seated at the odd end of the table, where Mom would stick intoxicated uncles, late arriving or misbehaving siblings and potential future children in law.
Go on, get them and make an impression because the only test more insidious and hard to beat than determining if one was a good eater was the test of one’s sense of humor.
Literally. This is the price of having a new roof, which in turn means that we shouldn’t have to deploy our usual army of pots, pans and wastebaskets during the next rainy season.
In the meantime I find myself fretting about the safety of ‘the precious things’, or at least the fragile ones.
Like this vintage tea set for example. It’s very thin porcelain and the only extra pieces we have are the ones that will survive casual blows when the next piece of the roof falls in.
Circa 1950 this is now a tea set for four consisting of a tea pot, cream pitcher, sugar, five dessert plates four cups and five saucers. The primary decoration is a shiny gold rampant dragon. In addition the bottom of the cups have a lithophane figure of a Japanese woman, possibly a geisha.
The marks on the underside of some of the pieces consist of the words “Made In Japan” and a view of Mt. Fuji.
We offer for your perusal a take on the age old question “How does one make a good idea even better?”‘
The answer in this case is to put ones already incredibly handy sewing storage box on legs, thereby saving your back from repetitive motion injuries caused bending over to get things (and also possibly saving your knitting from bored little kittens who’ve lost their mittens).
The stand is 20 inches long, 12 inches deep and 27 inches tall to the top of the hoop handle. It is in fairly good condition. The only oddity is the way that the legs are attached on one end. The attachment involves two wooden blocks on the inside. It doesn’t affect the look or utility of the piece but it does reek of an improvised, half-donkeyed idea.
Ahh, the fearsome tiger, soon to be extinct in the wild.
Luckily we’ve got second-rate plastic resin versions and a limited gene stock safely stored away in zoos around the world. So, there’s no need to feel any guilt (in this specific instance) that we’re causing the greatest mass extinction since the end of the Cretaceous Era.
And yes, close inspection reveals that this is a tiger, not a tigress (trust me). He is 23 inches tall. If you’re feeling like wasting money on a mass extinction sized scale, please allow me to suggest another option, in bronze.
Just to drive home the spirit of wasteful depravity, we’re happy (in a very, very twisted manner) to offer below for your listening pleasure (gak!) not one but TWO versions of Survivor’sEye of the Tiger, done in the unholy style of Alvin and the Chipmunks.
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Of course these are but weak copycats seeing that Alvin and company covered the song on their 1982 album, The Chipmunks Go To Hollywood, which is our lead video below.
I take the copies as another sign the end of the world is approaching.
I’ll leave it to you to decide which version is “better”, if any.
Three, yes, three Chipmunkian versions folks. . . I’m ready for my apocalypse now Mr. DeMille!
