Tuesday, April 23, 2013

New Finds



The Chicago Botanic Gardens
has an antique show every year 
in the spring to raise money 
 for their programs.

Dealers from all over the world
come to sell their wares 
and though garden antiques
are a specialty, they do
 offer a bit of everything.

Architectural artifacts



Loved this iron horse head but priced ridiculously.



Lots of majolica pieces.
Gorgeous garden displays everywhere.





(I bought a few little things.)







I wanted to take more photos
of the beautiful things we saw,
but in this situation, 
I find it best to ask permission.
 Many dealers get very offended 
if you just snap away.
But if you ask in advance,
I have found that nearly everyone
will say "yes".


Cute display of antique bathing suits in frames. Made me think of Kim at SSS.


This was a huge tree of tiny little frames made from antique frame remnants. I bought one.
The display reminded me of a Gustav Klimt painting!

See what I mean!?

Okay, let's get back on track here...

It is a 3 x 3" shadowbox frame with a metal fox head ormolu 

Found five more limestone river balls to add to my collection. They are so heavy!



Italian iron beds with bronze sculptures and mother-of-pearl inlays. Unreal.


Cannot even imagine what these things WEIGH!




Have you ever gotten
reprimanded for taking
a photo somewhere?





Framed intaglio collections -- new ones and old, these were new.

Lots of faux bois pieces, garden statuary, and benches.



Clever baseball theme displays from a dealer in Michigan.


Found this new tiny little English potted meat crock and the oak biscuit jar with silver markings.

Found these four little antique bisque eggs.


Here are a couple other new finds!


Vintage tortoiseshell necklace... comes in handy when antiquing!


Found this leather bound book on Etsy this week
 -- paper on the cover looks like tortoiseshell.  :)


What have YOU found lately?
And one more thing: I AM IN TROUBLE!

Favorites on the First 
is quickly approaching in 
8 days
and right now...
this is my ONLY flower
in the yard! Yikes!
Looks like I may be heading 
to a local flower market
for some photos to post!
Hello, Plan B.






30 comments:

At Rivercrest Cottage said...

quite an interesting mix of pleasurable sights. I hate asking if it's ok to take pictures so I usually skip taking them. Hope you have a happy week!

Terri~terrileeauthor said...

Beautiful pictures...hope you didn't get into too much trouble? ha ha
As soon as I spied that iron horse head, I said "oooh Alison probably bought that." too sad to hear it was over priced.
oh well, better luck next time.
xo
Terri

Our Hopeful Home said...

I just love garden shows! Today I went to a greenhouse, doesn't really compare but it sure did get me in the mood for spring! I love that old iron horse head, too!

Sunflowers With Smiles said...

Looks like a lovely garden show! Wonderful inspiration too! I always ask when I am out travelling and have never had a problem with photography.

Lately I have found a vintage stool and a laundry basket!

Have a wonderful week!

Olive said...

I got blessed out at the Athens, Ga. Farmers Market for taking a photo of eggplants of all things {really now-vegetables are easily grown by many}. What lovely antiques. Joe just bought me a petite antique maple rocking chair at an estate sale.

Karena said...

Alison I love these shows that offer such great variety.
It can be disappointing when prices are out of sight on some items!

xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena

Debra@CommonGround said...

love that fun and imaginative display of tiny frames, and what a find with that great book!

Pamela Gordon said...

There sure were lots of different and expensive looking things there. I love those tiny frames though. I haven't bought anything antique or vintage in a while. Yard sales will be starting soon and maybe I'll get around to some this spring and find some goodies. Pamela

Preppy Empty Nester said...

Love the horse head and tiny frames. And yes, I have been reprimanded for taking photos. Ironically, it was not something that was worth it and told her so.

Ron said...

I get in trouble often. During the Christmas tour of homes, I was reprimanded no less than 5 times. Oh my! I want pictures and cannot believe people do not want their homes photographed. I LOVE all your fines especially the framed fox.

Debbie@Mountain Breaths said...

My husband is the one that usually takes the pictures, and he is very bold and doesn't ask. If he gets reprimanded, he is very polite and it doesn't bother him at all. Love the horse head and the small frames.

Off subject, I went to a Moody Blues concert recently and the lady next to me had a camera with a lense about 14" long (or so it seemed). She was hiding the camera, and would sneak and take a picture. I loved that! She said she was in business to sell concert photos, and has had her camera taken away during the concert. But they give it back at the end of the concert!

The enchanted home said...

Wow Alison so many amazing finds. LOVE it all...I would have had a field day there. Fun!

Curtains in My Tree said...

I am crazy , crazy , crazy about that tortoise shell necklace with the magnify glass on it

LOVE it !!!! LOL

Alison @ The Polohouse said...

I so hope it went home with someone
who loved him as much as I did!
Thanks for coming by, Terri!

Alison @ The Polohouse said...

Oh I am a sucker for stools and if I could find one of those vintage folding round wire laundry baskets -- one on the plastic rollers -- Pottery Barn now has copied versions, I would buy it in a heart beat for my closet!
They are always pricey because dealers use them to display with and they fold to flat practically so they don't really want to part with them I think!

Would love to see your finds!

Alison @ The Polohouse said...

Lots of antique blue jars and vases ... thought
of you while there, Tina!

Alison @ The Polohouse said...

Oh my goodness, Debbie! That must have been one hard camera to hide!
I bet she got some fantastic shots. How was the concert? I used to LOVE them! My sister and my aunt would play the songs and I ended learning every word even though I was in grade school at the time!

Great memories.
:)

Alison @ The Polohouse said...

It's my fill in when I have forgotten my "readers"!!!
:)

My eyesight is failing fast.
Tapping on computer keyboards hourly sure isn't helping either!
:D

Tartan Terrace said...

I took a picture of Little Stevie Wonder a few years ago at an airport and was taken to task by his manager. Can't say that I blame him. And then once my sister was at a farmers' market in Morroco and took a picture of one of the farm women selling fruit. The woman got so mad that she threw a piece of fruit at my sis! Really funny.

I love seeing vintage garden statuary. So beautiful to add to a garden setting.

Betsy said...

I am glad you got to take pictures, as I really enjoyed viewing them.

The garden tour we were on, no one was allowed to take pictures inside of homes and I totally understand that, but some snapped away even though it was posted..
I do like those limestone river stones, first time I have seen any round like the ones pictured here. I love river rocks too.

Cindy @ Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home said...

What fun, so enjoyed seeing everything! LOVE the horse head!!!
Blessings,
Cindy

Karen said...

Alison,
I'm amazed at all the gorgeous items at the sale. I can hardly wait for faves on the first.
My computer must be having an issue with blogger...I'm not getting your email notice of new posts. :(
Karen

Beth Dunn said...

Love that necklace! I need a magnifier
xoxo
SC

debra @ 5th and state said...

oh thank you for this tour allison!
i was in virginia hunt country designing a garden while the show was on and missed it, which is rare. one of the girls from my shop went and came back with 3 photo's!

great great tour
debra

The French Hutch said...

Thank you Alison for the tour. I could spend an entire day taking all of this in. I think you showed great will power when that horse head didn’t go home with you. So perfect for your home!

~Emily
The French Hutch

At Home in English Valley said...

Hi Allison , Beautiful treasures. I cannot see anything equestrian without thinking if you. I was gently reminded at the opening of a new grocery store, Mariano's that photography was not allowed. The fruit displays looked like paintings. The floral dept was awesome...oh well. I get to go several times a week to admire. Happy Spring. Love, Penny

FABBY'S LIVING said...

Hello sweet Allyson!
I was so happy to find you visiting us..thank you for the generous comments too. Boy, oh boy, such fabulous treasures in this place, wow!! Yes, my fav antiques from Europe shop, hate for me to take pics, so I don't. I'm so happy you could take now, as everything you've shared is fabulous! I love what you bought for the beautiful Polo House?, or for the store? Anyway, you have such great taste, it'll look amazing whatever you choose to place it! Have a super week and do we see each other on The First? What would the 'theme' be?...I find your special party so much fun and interesting!
FABBY

therelishedroost said...

Wow, so gorgeous! I love all it! Such Good Taste!!
Best,
Karolyn

Preppy Empty Nester said...

Allison... Went through your photos twice because of all the gorgeous eye candy!

Sarah said...

Alison, what fun to get to tag along behind your camera lens. I find that most dealers are fine with photos if I ask. They usually have gorgeous vignettes to display their wares. I saw some of these same dealers at the Nashville Antique and Garden Show......the horse head, the collection of small framed pieces, just to name a few. The frames at the Nashville show had gold bees. Love the fox head! And the tortoise necklace is of course calling out to me. Great find! I bought one of the little meat pots just like yours. Likely the same dealer again. '-) Sweet little size but the graphics with the S drew me in.
Thanks for taking us along, Alison. ~ Sarah