.08 Finds of a lifetime
I am a big thrifter. I love finding great quality items at fantastic prices. Some days are a complete bust, but then other days have me feeling like I hit the lottery. Wednesday was one of those days.
Mission Thrift in Forest, VA
I was on the hunt for two things in particular - crystal and glass dishes for my shell collection, and vintage frames for the natural history prints in my shop. I had hit this particular store three days before, but it was a Saturday. And crowded. And incredibly loud. I can almost never concentrate in situations like that. I get overstimulated with noise fairly quickly and it just wasn't the right time for me. But I did happen to notice a desk. An incredible, vintage desk in great condition. But we’ll come back to the desk later.
I came back the following Tuesday right after school drop offs. They put the majority of their large frames outside during open hours, so I headed straight for them. And imagine my surprise when I spotted shells from the middle of the parking lot. I high-tailed it over there and about had a heart attack. Shells, vintage, natural history, original frame! I mean, how perfect?? Right person, right time, right price, right place. $2? TWO DOLLARS???? Yeah, I snatched that baby up so fast. So here we are - literally less than 48 hours after I said I wasn’t messing around with reframing. There’s some obvious water damage and it needs a new mat, and the inside of the glass needs to be cleaned, but the frame and hardware are original and they’re in great condition. I plan to take it to a local framery to get some advice and see if it’s something I can DIY, or if it’s a project best left to a professional. I will report back once its been completed and hung up in its new home.
As found
Now - back to the desk. I have two boys, 8 and 4, and they are wiiiide open. I had yet to purchase any antique or vintage furniture as I was afraid it might get damaged or ruined. But we’ve reached the age where toys are in bedrooms and both boys mostly understand the dangers of climbing furniture or banging toys on things. This desk was still there when I found the frame on Tuesday, so I took some pictures, thought on it for a bit, and decided to pull the trigger. Do you know the anticipation that builds up when you’ve decided to purchase something there’s only one of? Alllllll the questions run through your mind. What if it’s sold? What if it’s not there anymore? What if someone else has the same idea and beats me to it? Needless to say, I was chomping at the bits to get over there when they opened Wednesday. I got there 2 minutes after opening, beelined for the back, and SHE WAS STILL THERE!
The desk in question
Original hardware, glass top, working drawers, and while the wood needs a little TLC, it’s still in great condition. All at the whopping price of $80. I’m still so excited. Based on the design, I’d have to guess it’s an art deco piece from the 1930s, but I need to do some more research. I didn’t get a chance to look for any maker markings yet, but I plan to give it a thorough check when I pick it up. I did pick up one other piece on this trip, and it is my favorite crystal dish yet. I will do a separate post in the near future on my collection of glass and crystal dishes that I keep my shells in. All in all, I gotta say this was one of the best hauls I’ve scored in a while. If you’re in the area, give Mission Thrift a visit. You won’t be disappointed.