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Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Majolica at Goodwill, And A Dozen Darling Demitasse



This weekend, the Goodwill store turned into the Greatwill store.


Thanks to my daughter Anne for taking all of the pictures for today's blog post.

On Sunday, we went to an estate sale not too far away. It was the end of the sale -- everything discounted at the last hour.

Anne spotted these:

Demitasse cups.


We are showing 3 of them, but there are 12 in all; four in each of three colors.

We love their little feet.
Where might a demitasse cup go if it could walk away?

We also love the little signs of use . . . like the worn spot in the gilt under the handle,
right where a finger goes when someone is sipping from the cup.


Demitasse means half cup in French.
Demitasse cups are usually used for strong black coffee -- Arabic or espresso, or similar blend.

Anne's taking the cups back to her apartment. Someday I plan to serve my grandkids what my mother used to serve us in demitasse cups when we were children -- cafe au lait. It was her Norwegian way of breaking us in early to coffee. It worked.

Or, since my grandchildren will inevitably have over-protective and hovering mothers,
I might have to serve them tea. Decaffeinated. While they are wearing helmets and seat belts.

By the way, the charming little demitasse cups cost $20 for all 12 of them.
Cheaper by the dozen?

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On Saturday, Annie and I hit up a Goodwill Store. It was fertile ground. I showed you the silverplated fan vase already; Annie filled it with roses from our sprawling old bush behind the house, and paired it with the demitasse cups in her table setting, above.


We found several neat things at Goodwill, but the thing
that just may be my biggest bargain ever is this:


What is it, you ask?


I asked the same thing, when I saw it on the bottom shelf of the green items case at GW.


At first, we figured we'd buy it and wrap it up for our Christmas grab bag;
it seemed bizarre enough to be a hotly contested prize.


But it kept talking to me. "I'm the real deal," it said.


So, I did some research on the internet, and found it on eBay. An identical centerpiece bowl. It is being offered by a gallery in New York for a Buy It Now of $319.99 with an opening bid of $259.99.

Who'd a thunk it?


If you want to look at the eBay listing, just search for "Large Majolica Centerpiece
Bowl Shell & Frogs Italy" and you will find it.

It measures about 10-inches from stem to stern, and is more than 7-inches tall.

It's one of those things that you can't decide if you love it,
or if you just want to giggle when you look at it.

The glaze and finish are beautiful.

We can't find any flaws, except a tiny spot of missing glaze in an inconspicuous place.

The frogs are . . . interesting.

So strange as it seems, you can spend $6.99 at a Goodwill Industries Store and walk out with a very heavy piece of Majolica that turns out to be worth way, way more than any sane person would spend for two frogs holding up a big sea shell.

Oops. I mean, of course it is worth $300.
Who would not want such lovely frogs holding up a sea shell?



Pssst. . . pssst. . . anybody wanna buy a majolica bowl? --- Cass

Linking to a batch of fun Tuesday parties!
You can click on any of the buttons, below, to join in, or just to read and learn and laugh and enjoy!

Join Tam at The Gypsy's Corner for 3 Or More Tuesday.
Lady Katherine's Teatime Tuesday is in full swing at her Tea Parlor. Go visit!

At Coastal Charm, it's Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays!
And it's Tuesday Tea For Two at Wanda Lee's Plumed Pen.

33 comments:

  1. Very nice finds , i love the cups and saucers ! very cheap too, your lucky. Hugs Catherine

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  2. WOW....Fabulous finds!!
    Stop by my blog for my Summer GiveAway!!
    Love,
    Marilyn
    xxoo

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  3. Cass, I would be one of the gigglers, but what a great find!! And those cups! SWOON....!! You get such good deals! Looks like a fabulous weekend
    xoxo Pattie

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  4. Wow indeed! The china cups are beautiful and I actually like the majollica bowl. I can't believe the price you got them for, lucky you! I love reading your blog, thanks for sharing all your wonderful stuff.

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  5. I am gasping for breath over that Majolica. What a find you lucky lady. Enjoy your day.

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  6. Cass,

    I collect Majolica. I have had some given to me and I have traded quilts for pieces and I have bought some. You have a lovely bowl. And you got a real deal. You are lucky! Have a great day!

    The cups are cute, too!

    Carol

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  7. What a great piece! And such lovely cups and saucers -- I looked longily at some blue and white English demitasse cups and saucers last Friday -- not $20 for 12 of them but still a good bargain -- they weren't transferware but china . . . . I may regret not getting them!!!! But I was on the lookout for a mirror! (which I didn't find!)

    Lovely lovely piece!

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  8. I love the bowl. Gotta love GW! The cups were a find too.

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  9. love the "feety" tea cups! I have quite a few myself, hope this finds you well and keep on shopping girl!

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  10. Cass

    Well you hit the jackpot with the frog majolica bowl!! Isn't it so fun to get such a great bargain. That's what keeps me going back to GW! Your teacups are so pretty. Hope your weekend was wonderful!

    Miss Bloomers/Sonia

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  11. I thought the cups were the great deal you found until I read further. Wow! What a good deal! I am defnately in the love it group! I don't collect frog items but the coloring on this piece is very appealing to me. What a great find! Love it!

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  12. This is my first time participating in NTT and I've had a great time seeing everyone's thrifty finds, BUT this is my absolute favorite post today! The footed cups are incredible, I would have snatched those up in a minute. Can't believe they were still there at the end of the sale.

    The Majolica bowl? I swear, it made my heart skip a beat. I fell in love instantly and you posted so many photos of it, I was hooked. You know I love seashells, but you may not know I also love tree frogs. To the point where several years ago when we were waiting to see where a hurricane would come ashore in Florida, I was out in the yard gathering up the tree frogs and putting them in aquariums until it passed. Majolica or not, that bowl would be in my house! Love it!

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  13. Hi Cass,
    Those demitasses are just adorable and what a find! I love your white tea pot; very elegant! Lovely post! Would love to have you stop by for tea. Wishing you a lovely day.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  14. Ha! Ha! What cute little frogs. Congratulations on your incredible bargain.

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  15. You and your daughter picked the right time to go shopping!
    Have a great week.

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  16. Amazing finds! Love the Majolica bowl, love the demitasse cups too.

    Donna

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  17. Morning, Cass! Oh, I love those little demitasse cups! How sweet with the little feet - they're gorgeous!
    Now to your wonderful find! Oh, my goodness! It's so lovely!! You did good, sweet friend.
    be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  18. Cass,
    That majolica piece is soooooo AWESOME...you are one lucky gal! Thanks for showing it off at NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAYS!

    Blessings,
    Linda

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  19. What a beautiful set of cups! And wow! what a deal on the frogs! My GW would have printed out that ebay listing and taped it to it as justification for pricing it really high.

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  20. I love Goodwill - and the Habitat Restore! I just refinished a $10 dresser from Goodwill and I love it!! Now my favorite part of the weekend is going out with my daughter and finding all kinds of things to reuse and redo! You had some great finds!!

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  21. What lovely finds and such GREAT bargains!! Good for you, you really are a lucky duck!!!

    Must say, tho, that my favorite part of your post is the following:

    "Or, since my grandchildren will inevitably have over-protective and hovering mothers,
    I might have to serve them tea. Decaffeinated. While they are wearing helmets and seat belts."

    Made me laugh out loud! So true....

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  22. Oh,My! What a great deal you got on the cups! They are just lovely! I want a footed Tea Cup so bad!lol Love the history you have told! Oh, and there is the fan vase! I went on Ebay and I even took the measurements and cut out the piece! lol I put a watch on it, but with the shipping, I decided to wait and see what I find Saturday in Natchez when I go to Christine's for the Tea Luncheon for the Mississippi Magnolia Southern Belles. You are tempting me with this vase! lol
    Taking my money to Natchez! lol Thank you for joining me for Tea Time Tuesday! The frog is too cute! Who would have thought it was worth $300.00! Great find!

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  23. Hi Cass,
    Wow! Did you ever score! What great little cups, they are as charming as can be! And the froggy vase! Now, you always know you can sell it on E-Bay if you get sick of it! Love those kind of finds!
    Have a great week,
    Cindy

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  25. I'll try again.
    Looks like you guys had a great time. Not sure about that bowl though.

    Melinda

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  26. Thank you for your beautiful and very amusing post. The demitasse cups are absolutely gorgeous, as well as the fan vase and roses.
    The frog thingy, is like you said, "interesting". But the glazing and colors are really fab and I am sure it is someones "cup of tea". So here's hoping they find you and want to take your frogs home with them for a very pretty penny!

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  27. I like it. The whimsey, the color, who cares what ebay says, it's just quirky enough to keep and use over and over.

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  28. I do not know if I have ever seen footed tea cups. I do love the look of demis.
    I look at frog items, since several friends collect them, but 6.99 would have been a touch high for me to look closer. Now I have changed my mind. Do not judge by a price tag!
    Another post about 50 cent plates lter sold for $150 each made me stop to look at dishes more often. Now you'll have me looking a lot more often.

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  29. Actually I would LOVE to have that frog bowl! If you really want to sell it please let me now. I think it is wonderful!!!! XO, Pinky

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  30. whoops, I meant: please let me know:)

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  31. What wonderful buys you got. We used to live outside Philadelphia where we could find treausres like that. Here in NC I seldom find anything great and our Goodwill never has 50% off days. Lucky you!

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  32. Lindas estas peças, estas rosinhas tĂ£o delicadas.

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