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Chic Flea Market Finds

by habituallychic

07 . 25 . 11
The heat abated slightly on Sunday so I ventured to the flea market.  I was hoping others would stay away so I would have my pick of the good stuff and I did manage to find a few treasures.  My rule of thumb for the flea market is to buy what I love and always have a price in mind before I approach a dealer. 
The first thing I bought was at the parking lot flea market on 25th Street.  The powder box on the right was very dirty but I could see it’s beauty underneath.  The dealer dropped it as he was trying to decide how much to charge so I got it for $1. It has hairline cracks on the top but at least you can’t see them.  The box on the left caught my eye the minute I saw it because I love that robin’s egg blue color. 

It’s marked on the bottom T&V France.  It stands for Tressemanes & Vogt which was a porcelain factory in Limoges, France. I loved the color so much that I didn’t even turn it over.  According to the mark, it was probably produced 1892-1907.
My pièce de résistance purchase is this Marie Antoinette print.  It was the robin’s egg colored mat that caught my eye and I thought it was so beautiful that I had to buy it.  The dealer had a tag on it marked $58 but I talked her down to $45. 
The dealer told me that it was probably from the time of Marie Antoinette which I of course took with a grain of salt. 

A little internet research yielded that the engraver was Jean Charles Levasseur (1734-1816) and it might actually be from the 18th-century.   I found another example online here, which alerted me to the fact that there is also has a companion Louis XVI engraving. 

I think an appraisal is in order soon.  But first I have to drop it off at the framer so I can hang it on the wall.

I also love the tag on the back of the picture.  I am wondering if it was reframed at some point so I can’t wait to find out.  I wasn’t going to buy anything else but on my way out of the Garage flea market, I noticed the cane bench in the top photo.  I was thinking that a bench would be nice in front of my entry bookcase so I could sit my bag down when I entered.  The $25 price was right so I took it home too.  It was very dusty and when I turned it over to clean it, I noticed a tag from Heywood Bros. and Wakefield Co. San Francisco, Cal. Turns out the company is very well known which means that I probably won’t paint it as was my first instinct. The bonus of buying what you love is that it might actually be worth more than you paid.  Bonne chance!

14 Comments
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  1. Michele July 25, 2011 | 2:00 pm

    Now those are great finds! xoxo michele

  2. Bella @Bellgetsreal July 25, 2011 | 2:39 pm

    Wish I had an eye for hidden treasures. You should do a HOW TO post.

    Great finds.

  3. Joseph the Butler July 25, 2011 | 2:40 pm

    Nice finds–they make you new home a HOME with history and depth.

  4. Splendid Sass July 25, 2011 | 2:59 pm

    Great finds, Heather. Love the robing egg blue too!
    Teresa
    xoxo

  5. making50fabulous July 25, 2011 | 4:38 pm

    Jealous!!! No, I’m glad for you. What a score. And that whole Baroque thing is spot on for right now. Good eye! 🙂

  6. Cassy July 25, 2011 | 4:41 pm

    Wow those are awesome!! Thanks for sharing.

    I’m having a giveaway on my blog…head over to check it out

    http://www.suite4e.com

  7. ArchitectDesign™ July 25, 2011 | 5:25 pm

    oh GREAT finds -which flea market? some people may kill me -but I say paint the bench a cute color or creamy white and leave the caning natural (sorry!).

  8. Anonymous July 25, 2011 | 5:43 pm

    Beautiful finds. And all of your treasures complement each other and you.
    BarbaraG

  9. Meghan Beierle-O'Brien July 25, 2011 | 8:01 pm

    These are fabulous! Great finds – I’m always excited to mix the new and the old:)

  10. Decor Arts Now July 25, 2011 | 9:44 pm

    Score! Doesn’t such great finds make you smile all day
    Best, Lynn from Decor Arts Now!

  11. Anonymous July 25, 2011 | 9:53 pm

    Great treasures! Where do you go to get your pictures framed in new york? I’ve been wanting to get some things framed but there are so many places it’s overwhelming!
    Gabrielle

  12. Habitually Chic July 25, 2011 | 10:02 pm

    Thanks everyone! There is nothing I love more than antiquing and flea marketing!

    Bella – I think it’s hard to teach “how to” shop at a flea market. As I said, just buy what you love!

    Gabrielle – I’ve always had good results at Lee’s Art Shop on West 57th Street. I’ve had a lot of pieces framed over the years. Some designers swear by J.Pocker and Sons but they are very expensive. I have just started to go to a place a half a block from my apartment but haven’t had him actually reframe anything yet. I’ve only had him do small jobs so the jury is still out.

  13. mydeco July 26, 2011 | 9:10 am

    looks good interesting finds

  14. rogers.com July 26, 2011 | 4:29 pm

    Hi Heather – what fabulous finds – you are a great flea “marketer”Love everything you bought. It sounds like you are going for blue in your new abode