Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Estate sale finds

Lately I've been attending estate sales over the weekends. They're hit or miss but usually a lot of fun. A few weeks ago I visited a definite hit, the sale of Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart's DC house (read an article about the sale at the Post HERE). I was able to acquire quite a few really interesting things and as it was the last day of the sale, for practically next to nothing. My favorite find would have to be these 2 pillows covered with a collection of antique cigar silks.These squares of fabric were popular a century ago when selling cigars as a collectible (sort of an adult version of toys in a cereal box) and would have motifs of flora, fauna or in this case, flags from different countries. I love that this collection had obviously only recently been turned into 2 throw pillows by Stewart's widow who has lived on in their house for decades following his passing. The fact that some of these squares are frayed only adds to their appeal.
And here they rest on my couch now, a reminder of a great man and a very fun outing!

14 comments:

Todd said...

Wow - I LOVE these pillows!!! I've always been fond of some of the old cigar boxes that I have and these pillows take that to a whole new level. What a great find! I don't even want to know what you paid if you got them on the last day of the sale ;-)

pve design said...

smokin hot pillows! manly yet not another "sports" emblazoned item.
pve

Martha said...

What a clever idea and what a neat remembrance! We, too, love Estate Sales and you never know what you're going to find!

Kerry Steele- Design du Monde said...

Those are fabulous one-of-a-kind pillows. It is so exciting to find that sort of thing.

Deana Sidney said...

Never knew about them.... what amazing art they make!

Parnassus said...

I agree with you about the last day of the sale--there is usually plenty of good stuff, and they are readier to deal. I have one of these tobacco silk pillow put away somewhere, but wow! what a provenance yours has.
--Road to Parnassus

Mark D. Ruffner said...

Very classy and one heck of a conversation piece!

David said...

They're really handsome. There are few better highs than scoring something good that somehow made it to the last day of the sale.

Paisley Curtain said...

very interesting and unusual find, they are a conversation piece. Is it not fun to go to estate sales and stumble upon some interesting things and amazing deals.

Are we going to see the other finds too? :)

JWC said...

Love, love, love. So incredibly jealous... what a great find!

Divine Theatre said...

How awesomely awesome! Once again, you struck gold!
I have never been to an estate sale. Is it like an auction?
I guess I could google that on my own! LOL!

Hoping you are well...

Andie

ArchitectDesign™ said...

Andie, more like a garage sale.

Unknown said...

What unique pillows dahhling, abstolutely adore!

Thomas Hogglestock said...

I find that fun as well, but I seem to only find the dreadful ones. Where it looks like they just carted out the body the day before.