Tired of all those noisy butlers, yak, yak, yakking away all the time, telling you their ailments in detail and missing all the crumbs on the breakfast table? Well, this charming Silent Butler might be just what you need!
Also called a "crumber," I believe, these decorative items were used by Victorians and Edwardian folks to tidy up their dining tables. Occasionally I'll see them in antique malls, but it's a rare find indeed at the thrift store, particularly to find both pieces-- the tray and the crumb sweeper. This one came from the Salvation Army.
Judging from its art nouveau styling, and the fact that it seems to be made of spelter, that would date this piece to somewhere in the early 1900s...
Most enjoyable is that it seems to have been a souvenir item, from Atlantic City, to "Mother." Ah, those wacky Victorians-- they sure did like their travel memorabilia.
It cost me a whopping $0.99.Other finds these week included a surprising amount of Anchor Hocking Waffle/Waterford depression glass. I was missing both coffee cups and tumblers in my set, but this week the Waffle just seemed to be waiting.
At a Goodwill on Route 30 in North Versailles, I got four coffee cups, for $0.25 a piece...
And then at the Salvation Army on the South Side I uncovered six tumblers for $0.79 a piece.
Just look at those babies sparkle!
My last rather unusual find of the week was this bag of vintage wooden dominoes for $0.99...
I was thinking they might be nice as a part of some shadowbox projects. Just look at the interesting detail on them. They remind me of the dominoes I played with my Grandpa a millennium or so ago.
And because this was such a short Treasure Box Wednesday, I thought you might enjoy seeing what's become of a previously-thrifted lamp. I think I shared this crazy crystal green lamp from the 60s with you before...
But it was shadeless. The shade, I found on Ebay. It just seemed to me that any lamp as over-the-top as this one, needed an over-the-top Victorian shade.
It's essentially my version of the Leg Lamp from "A Christmas Story" and its tacky madness makes me smile when I go in that room.
And isn't that what treasure hunting is all about?
- If you missed Sunday's post featuring some nifty ideas for thrifting gift baskets, click here.
If not- perhaps I shall see you on Sunday, for our next post? I certainly hope I will.
Take care of yourselves, my friends!
16 comments:
Wow, those dominoes are fabbo!
i have that same silent butler, but with no engraving. it is aluminum, not spelter, and dates at the latest to the 1930s, earliest would be the 'tens.
i also used to have that same lamp, but with red baubles instead of green.
The Queen- Thank you-- gosh, you know, I haven't seen dominoes like these for a really long time. It was such a shock to come across a whole bag of them.
Sunshine- Ah! Thanks for the info on the aluminum. I was figuring it was probably from around the 1910 era, as it has many stylistic elements similar to my Victorian/Edwardian postcards from that time, and once the 1920s or so hit, things went much more art deco than nouveau.
I have a friend who would have ADORED your quirky red lamp. :)
Nice finds. You know I'm lusting after that silent butler. :)
I love the dominoes!
Ah, now I see what I need to curb those crumbs...I've got to look for a silent butler!
That silent butler is fantastic! Just what I need to look for - we generate more crumbs than a - um - crumb factory.
You do find the coolest stuff, Jenn! Love seeing it!
Da Old Man- By Jeeves, who isn't? :) (Just a little butler humor there...)
Meg- Fun, aren't they? For some reason the way they're patterned they remind me of Oreo cookies... :)
Carrie- I'll have to use mine at my next posh event... haha...
Lidian- Oh, I can never have a nice meal with a tablecloth without spilling SOMETHING all over it. It's like the law of averages, isn't it? Thanks for visiting, Lidian! Hope you've been doing well. I've seen you've been posting up a story over there!
Who needs a silent butler when you can have 4 starving dogs patiently waiting beside you? LOL
I love those dominoes, they'd be the perfect gift for my brother. Will have to keep an eye out for some in my neck of the woods. Last year I got him a package of foam kids dominoes. Not sure he got the humor in that one. ;)
That Lamp is just gorgeous!!!!
Chyna- Heh, sounds like you have a humorous sibling relationship going on there. :)
Regarding your Silent Barkers, I somehow think you might prefer not having them, um, licking the crumbs off your tablecloth, though. Or maybe I should say, any GUESTS might prefer that. :)
Hi Jenn,
Your Goodwill has great prices! Those items would be at least $0.99 EACH (i.e. cup = $0.99, saucer - $0.99) at my Goodwill/Salvation Army! Also, I've had a real dry spell with finding good stuff lately, but your post has inspired me to try again over the holiday weekend. Have a great Labor Day!
Jenn
Hi, Jenn! I was pretty sure I'd gotten lucky with the cups. I think folks don't think of the clear crystal stuff as Depression glass because it's not the typical pink or green. I feel lucky that way, really. You'll have to let us know what goodies you find over the Labor Day weekend!
My brother in laws parents had a set of those lamps in red right next to their blue brocade couch that still had the plastic on it.
Stop laughing.....I'm not kidding!
By the way I love the glasses and plates.
Beautiful set, I am sure it looks stunning when it's all put together for a dinner party.
Do you use them or are they just for your collection?
PS That lamp shade is something else too!
Lois- Oh yes, the plastic on the couch-- talk about your 60s/70s period details! (Heh!)
I do use the plates, yes. In fact I used them at Christmas last year, along with some greens and golds, and WOW-- it was very sparkly, helped brighten up the cold dark winter evenings.
Yes, the shade is nutty-- It's like Mae West as a lamp. :)
Oh my goodness I ADORE the domino set!!!! I want one SO BAD!
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