Wisdom Lane Antiques

I've moved!

2016-02-13T20:49:00.001-06:00

I have been doing this blog now for several years, and I have learned a ton along the way. I have now come to the conclusion that I needed a change.

With great excitement, I would love to say that I have moved! I have a new website called wisdomlaneantiques.com, which can be seen here.

I will be leaving this blog active so that all of the wonderful posts that I have done can still be enjoyed. I hope that I will see you at the new website!

It's cold outside--you need to bundle up!

2016-02-11T09:30:00.000-06:00

Boy, is it cold outside! One of the better ways to beat the cold is to bundle up in a really warm coat. A faux fur coat will definitely fit the bill, and this one by Tissavel France will deifinitely keep you warm.

The great thing is that it is about a small to medium size, so it's not too bulky when you have it on. You can see the jacket in my Etsy shop here.

Another jacket that you can wear is this terrific by CXT CLASSICS.

This jacket is hip length, so you don't have to worry about the bottom hem getting dirty by dragging on the ground.

You can see this wonderful jacket in my Etsy shop here, and you can see even more warm coats here.

There are many different wonderful types of coats on the market, what kinds have you run across?

Atomic Sunburst jewelry comes in a set!

2016-02-03T07:00:00.000-06:00

Costume jewelry is a great way to jazz up an outfit, wither it be a formal or everyday occasion. Sarah Coventry produced some great examples of costume jewelry, and this set is definitely one of them.

Sarah Coventry opened for business in 1949, and this set was produced in the 1960's. The set (this can also be called a suite) features the ATOMIC SUNBURST pattern.

The set has a pin, clip on earrings and even a ring. What makes this set great is that it still has the original box with it.

The pieces look like they are exploding fireworks, and would definitely be the talk of the town! You can see this terrific set in my Etsy shop here.

What kinds of jewelry finds have you run across?

That would be great in my DVD collection!

2016-01-27T08:00:00.000-06:00

DVDs are a very popular format in today's world. They can have movies, television shows, or even animated shows.

One of the possibilities that you can do is to get a complete season for a show that you love. One of the shows that I have a complete season for is RAY DONOVAN.

This is for season one, and the DVD was released in 2014. You can see this DVD in my eBay store here. Are animated movies more of your thing? You could get the INVINCIBLE IRON MAN animated movie.

This DVD came out in 2007, and you can see it in my eBay store here. Sometimes a show may have the time it's changed and you miss watching it. You could also miss a show for other reasons. If so, you might look for a later season.

You could do that with season 2 of the show WEEDS.

You can see this great DVD in my eBay store here. You can also see all of the DVDs that I have for sale on eBay here.

What kinds of shows or movies do you like to watch?

A variety of Halloween costumes!

2016-01-20T08:00:00.000-06:00

Halloween is a great time to dress up and have a ball! One way is to dress up like your favorite TV character, like SKIPS from the regular show.

You can see this great costume in my eBay store here. Another way to go is to dress up like your favorite animal or bug, like this lady bug costume.

You can see this costume in my eBay store here. If you want to go another route, you could dress up like your favorite movie character. One character that you could do is Francesco from the CARS 2 movie.

You can look at this wonderful costume in my eBay store here. You can also see some more costumes in my eBay store here.

What kinds of fun costumes have you worn in the past?

An ice cream sundae for everyone!

2016-01-13T07:00:00.000-06:00

There are many different stories about the history of ice cream sundaes, it all depends on where you are in the country.

One of the stories that I have heard was about the city of Evanston, Illinois. In 1890, Evanston was one of the first cities to pass a blue law that outlawed selling ice cream sodas on Sunday.

How did drug store operators get around this? They served the syrup on top of the ice cream, and they omitted the soda (and the sundaes were born).

There are also different towns that claim to be the birthplace of sundaes as well. Two Rivers, Wisconsin; Plainfield Illinois; and even New York City claim the dessert.

Glass manufacturers eventually made a special glass for these sweet treats, and they are as popular as the treat itself.

There are two great listings for sundae glasses that I have on eBay, one of them here and the other here.

What kinds of history of the ice cream sundae have you heard?

Hey, it's Houseplant Appreciation Day!

2016-01-10T06:00:00.000-06:00

One item that usually gets over-looked during the holidays are the houseplants. So why no appreciate them? Today's the day to do so!

Since today is Houseplant Appreciation Day, it gives you the chance to play in the dirt and trim away the weeds. One thing that you can do is to replant everything in a new pot, like this Lefton hat planter.

Another one that you can use is McCoy planter in the shape of cowboy boots in case you bring home a new plant.

Once you get it planted, make sure that you get the plants plenty of water. The best way to do that is to use a vintage watering can like this one:

You can see all of these terrific finds in my Etsy shop here.

So have fun and enjoy hanging out with your houseplants. I hope that you have a terrific Houseplant Appreciation Day!

That’s a Catalina pottery vase made by Gladding McBean!

2016-01-06T21:31:00.000-06:00

When out shopping at a local flea market, I recently ran across this terrific pottery vase that is marked CATALINA POTTERY C-333 MADE IN USA.

The vase has the Calla Lilly pattern on it, and it was made from 1937 to 1942 by the Gladding McBean Company.

When you see the mark on the bottom of the vase, you think it is for CATALINA ISLAND POTTERY made from 1927 to 1933. A good rule of thumb to use is if it says POTTERY, it’s made by Gladding McBean.

One great thing about this vase is the fact that the top of the vase is not too small so that it doesn’t strangle your favorite flowers. Not only that, but it would also look wonderful on any table.

You can see this terrific vase in my Etsy store here. Have you ever run across anything like this?

January 3rd is the Festival of Sleep Day!

2016-01-03T06:00:00.000-06:00

I love to hear about the not-so-famous holidays or even unofficial holidays. I especially love the one called the “Festival of Sleep Day”.

The Festival of Sleep Day was created for people that would like to get some well-deserved sleep after Christmas and New Year’s Day.

So when is the Festival of Sleep Day? It always falls on January 3^rd. If you are still wired from all of the running around and cooking the big meal for Christmas day, I recommend grabbing a good book to curl up with to help you unwind.

I have several books listed in my shops on eBay and Etsy right now to choose from. One of them is titled, "When A Man's A Man" and was written By Harold Bell Wright.

The listing can be seen here. Another is this fantastic book titled "Bittersweet" by Danielle Steel:

You can find all of my books listed on Etsy here, and all the books I have listed on eBay here.

What kind of holiday's like this haver you heard of?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2016-01-01T05:30:00.000-06:00

Hello, it's Jake again!

I decided to give John the day off from writing a blog today so that he can sleep in. After all, the guy was asleep on his feet after he rang in the new year.

I am truly hopeful that everyone is going to have a fantastic 2016 and find tons of treasures!

For me, my New Year's resolution is to go on even more walks and find tons more garage sales this year!

Upcycled guitar picks for the novice and expert players

2015-12-29T07:00:00.000-06:00

Upcycled guitar picks are available right now from Wisdom Lane, and each package contains 10 picks.


*These are the light gauge guitar picks

You may choose from a light gauge for the lighter gauge strings on your guitar or a medium gauge pick for strumming and single note playing.

*These are the medium gauge guitar picks

Beginners often prefer lighter gauge strings which are easier on their fingers—but medium gauge picks can often break these strings.

The picks feature oddball colors like green and blue, which are easier to see on the carpet or floor. These picks have been reinvented using lids and even plastic plates.

You can see the light gauge picks in my Etsy shop here.

You can see the medium gauge picks in my Etsy shop here.

Like all items offered at Wisdom Lane—they are better with age.

Merry Christmas!

2015-12-25T05:00:00.000-06:00

I hope that everyone has a wonderful day, and that you get everything that you asked Santa for!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Fun facts of United States history from 1866

2015-12-23T08:00:00.000-06:00

When I am trying to find some information on an item that I recently purchased, I run across some fun facts about the United States history. Here’s some from the year 1866:

February 13 – The first daylight bank robbery happened on this date. It was the first one during peacetime, and it happened in Liberty, Missouri. People consider it to be the first robbery by Jesse James and his gang (although James's role is disputed on this one).

May 16 – The U.S. Congress approved the production of a 5-cent coin (which is made from nickel). The minting of this coin eliminated its predecessor, the half dime.

July 24 – During the American Reconstruction, the state of Tennessee becomes the first state to be readmitted to the Union following the American Civil War.

It’s always fun for me to see these fun facts, I never know what I will run across. What have you run across?

Great vocabulary words to remember for the antiques lover

2015-12-17T16:00:00.000-06:00

It doesn’t take very long for you to hear some interesting words when you deal with antiques. They could apply to just about anything, here’s some of them that I have run across.

Lavabo—this is a French word that means "wash bowl."

Nesting tables—this is a group of tables (there’s usually three, every once in a while there’s more) that is constructed so that one fits under the other.

Tin glaze—it’s an opaque white glaze that contains tin oxide. It has been used on faience, delftwares and even majolica pottery.

This is only a small portion of the words that I have heard over the years. What kinds of words have you come across?

Go-withs for that special occasion

2015-12-10T21:24:00.000-06:00

Got that spectacular prom or spring formal dress? Have an amazing outfit for a lavish wedding that needs a little pizzaz?

This pair of silver Eisenberg earrings would be great with an up-do.

You can see the earrings in my Etsy shop here. A necklace would add a lot of flair to that plain neck line. This wonderful piece Ron Rizzo is the perfect item. The great thing is that the necklace comes with a matching pair of earrings.

You can set this great set in my Etsy shop here. Shoes also draw attention to your outfit, and this pair of slingback heels by Alex Marie are perfect.

You can see this pair of shoes in my eBay shop here. What kinds of great accessories have you run across for that special occasion?

It’s cold outside, so grab a coat!

2015-12-03T10:58:00.001-06:00

With the cold weather now starting to set it, it’s a good idea to grab a coat to take with you. The great thing is that they can be tailored to how cold it is outside. If you are needing one when you head out on the town and it's not that bad, this great leather jacket would do the trick.

It was made by Margaret Godfrey, and you can see it in my eBay store here. Another one that will come in handy especially when the wind starts to blow is this terrific full length suede coat.

It's a Wilson's Leather Maxima full length suede coat, and it's got a terrific faux fur collar to help keep the wind off the back of your neck. You can see this coat in my eBay store here. Another coat that will really help keep you warm is this leopard print faux fur coat.

It was made by J. Percy for Marvin Richards, and is a size extra small. You can see this wonderful coat in my Etsy store here.

What kinds of coats have you used to keep warm?

Today's Small Business Saturday!

2015-11-28T07:30:00.000-06:00

Small Business Saturday isn't just about brick-and-mortar stores. Many micro businesses get their start by establishing an online presence first.

You can support small businesses Saturday without leaving your living room. It's also a great way to find that unique, one-of-a-kind gift.

I'll be online supporting other small businesses and invite you to shop Wisdom Lane Antiques on Etsy here and eBay here.

Scarves

2015-11-25T05:00:00.000-06:00

Scarves can be used to dress up or make any outfit new.

There are plenty of different pieces that you can get without breaking the bank. A beautiful designer scarf or even a stunning unmarked one can also be a welcome and beautiful gift. Saute Angelo produced this wonderful scarf with a great yellow and brown pattern on it.

The great thing about this scarf is that it's a great size and color that could go with a lot of outfits. You can see this terrific in my Etsy store here.

A great unmarked example is this wonderful Italian made scarf.

The scarf even has a cupid motif on it, and can be seen in my Etsy shop here. Like the examples seen above, there are many different pattterns and colors that can be found on a scarf to dress up an outfit.

You can see more scarf examples in my Etsy store here. What kinds of scarves have you run across?

Prohibition Cocktail Sets

2015-11-18T09:00:00.000-06:00

During Prohibition, teapots and cups were often used in restaurants and homes to hide what you were drinking. No matter what drink you were sipping on, someone could think that you were having a cup of your favorite tea!

Here’s a modern take that gives new meaning to the phrase "cocktails for two." The Art Deco pot and Czechoslovakian cups date to the 1920's, which was right in the heart of Prohibition (it ran from 1913 to 1933).

Not only does this set look great gracing any table, it is quite the conversation piece. The set can be seen in my Etsy store here.

Have you ever used a set like this?

Buying lesson—check items out for damage!

2015-11-11T06:30:00.000-06:00

Recently at an estate sale, I bought quite a few items. One of the items was a Lefton salad plate made for the Order Of The Eastern Star.

I had purchased it under the notion that the plate was in good shape. When I got the plate home, I found that the plate had a good sized chip on the edge of it.

Today when we shop, we have the ability to use out cell phone to check out the worth and rarity of a piece that we are interested in. To a great extent, it has diminished the need to go with your gut, but not completely.

You still have to be able to judge an item if it’s fake—and frankly to discover flaws. You need to use your fingers and the light around you to discover chips and cracks.

Fortunately, my purchase mistake was inexpensive. It was less than 5 dollars.

Currently in my Etsy store, I have an Eastern Star cup and saucer for sale (which can be seen here). I am including this plate as a free gift when you purchase the cup and saucer.

What kinds of mistakes have you made when you purchased an item?

Vintage sheet music for all

2015-11-04T21:26:00.000-06:00

Once upon a time and not so long ago, sheet music could easily be found in music store racks. It usually surrounded a piano where someone would play it for you, and it all was less than a dollar.

Their beautiful cover illustrations were often done by well known illustrators. Not only that, they feature songs that are in movies as well. The song "Gladiolus Rag" is a perfect example of this. The song was prominently featured in the movie "The Sting," and it can be found in my Etsy shop here.

Today, for the piano or guitar student, these vintage items are still fun to play and sing along with. They also make great wall hangings when they are framed.

You can see more terrific sheet music examples in my Etsy store here. What were some examples of the sheet music that you have run across?

HAEGAR Pottery Cylinder Vase Brown Drip Glaze Mold #03917

2015-10-30T05:00:00.000-05:00

Haegar pottery got their start as a Dundee, Illinois brickyard in 1852. They got their clay from the riverbank of the Fox River.

When the 1920’s rolled around, they were making teaware, luncheonware, crystal and glassware.

The 1960’s saw the production of the vase pictured above. Haegar pottery produced this wonderful cylinder vase with a brown drip glaze, and it’s mold #03917. This style of vase can be found in a wide variety of colors including (but not limited to) green, blue and even grey.

What's great about this vase is the fact that the top of it is wide enough to where it doesn't do any damage to your flowers.

You can see this terrific vase in my eBay shop here. What kinds of Haegar pottery have you run across?

A little history of a Victorian red tomato server

2015-10-21T06:59:00.000-05:00

During the Victorian era, you could find a serving piece for the table for just about anything. Olive forks? Got it. Cake servers? Yep, got that to. But have you ever run across a red tomato server?

These items are great. Tomato servers come in two different variations, one for red tomatoes and one for green. Why in the world would you have a different one for each type of tomatoes? It’s simple really when you think about it. The red tomato servers have the openings built in for all the juice from the tomato to drain through the server and not onto your tablecloth.

The server for the green tomatoes doesn’t have the openings for the fact that the green tomato are not as messy and don’t need the openings. You could even use the green tomato server for fried green tomatoes.

Currently in my Etsy shop, there is a red tomato server that was made by the William Rogers Company. It’s made out of silver plate and sports the LA FRANCE pattern. You can see the piece here.

The Victorian era truly did make a wide variety of serving pieces for the table. What items have you run across?

A little Lefton Pottery history

2015-10-14T08:00:00.000-05:00

George Zoltan Lefton was a Hungarian-born sportswear manufacturer, and he had a big passion for collecting fine porcelain. From 1945 through 1953, the Lefton pottery company was importing many things from postwar Japan including (but not limited to) head vases, figurines, cookie jars, and salt and pepper shakers.

These items are marked “Made In Occupied Japan,” and the figures even sport a red and gold paper label that read “Lefton’s Exclusives Japan.”

Lefton contracted pottery companies around the world to produce ceramic items for Lefton. These items are just as diverse as what they imported.

One of these really cool items is this picture frame with a floral motif.

The great thing about it is that it is the perfect size for any side table or desk. You can see it in my Etsy shop here. Another item that shows how diverse Lefton is is this great nappy.

Not only is it a nappy, it can be used as a business card holder, candy holder, or even paper clip holder. You can see the nappy in my Etsy shop here.

What kinds of Lefton pottery have you run across?

Mix and match Cocktail, iced tea, or lemonade sets

2015-10-07T06:02:00.000-05:00

Having a get together? Looking for that WOW addition to your table? A mix and match cocktail set would be the perfect way to go.

They can even be tailored to the size if the get-together. The set above is perfect for when there's two people. You can see this set in my Etsy shop here.

Another way to go is a set like this for when you have a few more than two people coming over.

You can see this great set in my Etsy shop here. There's also a wide variety of colors that you can use. Purple, cranberry or amber glass are a very small amount that's out there. Using a focal point like the pitcher or the tumblers above makes the set even better.

Whether you use these sets for cocktails or iced tea, these sets are sure to bring a “where did you get this?” response from your guests. These would also make for an unexpected one-of-a-kind gift.

Have you mixed and matched a set like this?