A Brush with Fame

When I buy a vintage object, I can't help but wonder about its past. I find myself asking: Who did it belong to? Where has it been? How many people have owned it before me? Sometimes I can get some answers, especially when I make a purchase from an estate and the owner's family member is nearby to ask these questions. But most times, it remains a mystery.

The same holds true for where an item goes and how it is used after it leaves my hands. However, lately I've had a few sales where things have moved on to people and places that have been in the public eye, making it easy to learn about their new homes. Here are three recent sales that have had a brush with fame.

You oughta be in pictures . . .

These suitcases, found at the Elephant's Trunk Flea Market in early summer, are on their way to London. They sold to someone at the infamous Ealing Studios, renowned for being the oldest working film studio in the world. Over the past 15 years, Ealing Studios has produced five of the top 20 highest grossing British independent films in the UK. Perhaps this set of luggage will be a prop in one of their upcoming projects!

Fresh from the oven . . .

A while back, I sold a sifter to The Magnolia Bakery's new Chicago store. Once again, I had a sale to this yummy shop of cupcake, cookbook and Sex and the City fame. A vintage mixing bowl was purchased by one of the New York City shops. Magnolia Bakery opened in the summer of 1996 on a quiet corner in the heart of Greenwich Village. In 2007, the original owner decided to pass her oven mitts to Steve Abrams, a veteran NYC restaurateur and consultant. Steve and his family have maintained the integrity of what had become an iconic brand and they have slowly and thoughtfully expanded it from one shop to eight. I'm hoping my mixing bowl will be on display in the bakery, or better yet, used to stir up some scrumptious desserts!

Do be a Do-Bee . . .

Just a few days ago, one of my items had another brush with fame. Miss Connie, the hostess on Virginia's Romper Room franchise during the 1960s, purchased my vintage Little Miss Seamstress Set! Romper Room was a television series for pre-school-age children and ran from 1953 to 1994. This educational show was sold to TV stations in two ways — standard syndication or as a franchise with a different local host in each city, 150 in all. (Cleveland's host was Miss Barbara, at least in the early 60s when I was tuning in.) These hostesses spent the half-hour reading from books to the seven or eight kids on the set, gently teaching them the alphabet, manners, and values. Today, Miss Connie is known as Connie Hindmarsh, creator extraordinaire of handmade bears, hares and folk art dolls. Her bears are sold and displayed at the American Folk Art Museum in New York City. She also has an Etsy shop here. So it looks like my seamstress set will be in very good company!

Have a wonderful weekend,

Susan

Comments

[tammyCA]

How neat to see where some of your finds go. I also always wonder where an object came from, what did it mean to the person, who was the person, what did they do? Recently I bought some old frames from an Estate sale and one held a WWII soldier (possibly the deceased homeowner). I asked the manager if the family wanted the photos and she said they had so many duplicates, so no. I don't know what to do with them (I will not toss them & I have boxes of my own ancestors to organize & can't mix them up with mine) but I silently thank the soldier for serving & wonder about the past.

I loved watching Romper Room in the 60s...always wishing she would call my name through the magic mirror. I also wanted one of those sippy cups with the built in straw and the romper stompers. I'll have to look up who was our Miss Romper in Chicago.

[Elsie]

WOW! Touch you Susan!!! That's great! Very interesting. The 1960's luggage, my sister
had a set just like that except hers was
a medium blue, bought at Montgomery Ward. I say it over and over again,
you always pick out the neatest items to sell. You have such a good eye.