Hi everyone. We had occasion this week to travel beyond the "Orange Curtain" and do a bit of thrifting. That's Orange County, for the non-SoCal folks. Not much found in the several thrifts we visited. One thing I noticed is that many thrifts had closed or moved, since the last time I was in the area about a year ago. Interesting - I've seen a lot less change in my usual thrifting haunts.

These Fire King mugs were a nice find - unusual shape on these footed glass pieces, and perhaps that's why they survived being picked. We've stopped buying Pyrex and Fire King mugs unless they're valuable or unusual, or extremely cheap. One of these days, we have to put the 200+ mugs we currently have up into inventory...

I immediately thought this little vase was a De Simone or a Nino Parrucca. However, it doesn't have the usual marks - there does seem to be the remnants of a mark on bottom, but I think it's on the outside of the glaze. I'm not entirely certain this isn't a modern production made in the style of those two makers - anyone have an idea?

I didn't do as well on our usual rounds this Friday. This single Rorstrand cup from Sweden in the Elisabeth pattern was a nice find, but when I got home I discovered a tight hairline on it. I've been having a lot of trouble missing wear and damage lately on ceramics, especially on cups. I'd like to say my eyesight is going (don't tell anyone, but I've started the reversal in eyesight toward farsightedness already!) but I SHOULD be able to identify this damage easier. I even tried the "ping" technique in the thrift, and the cup passed, so...

This simple white bowl caught my eye, because I knew that some of the Swid Powell stuff has a lot of value (just look up the Michael Graves teapot). This one is a Calvin Klein line, I think called "Stoneware" or "Khaki"? I haven't done full research on it yet, but don't believe it has a ton of value.

Last up - here's that funny story I was promising. I picked up this beautiful Kosta Boda vase designed by Kjell Engman. The swirling snowy inclusions and wonderful shape are really nice, the pic doesn't do it justice. I'd seen this piece at a thrift near us, but was put off by the price of $10. I'd recognized the Kosta Boda name inscribed on bottom, but couldn't figure out the rest.

When I got home, I did some research and found out it was a piece with decent value by Engman. I didn't think anyone would poach it since it was pricey for a thrift, so I waited until Linda got home and then we headed out to the thrift to pick it up.

I walked in the door, went immediately to the houseware section and just grabbed the vase in front of about 3 people browsing. They were surprised... this always happens to me at thrifts. I feel like anything I do is heavily scrutinized by the rest of the shoppers - or maybe that's just me being paranoid.

Anyhow, we went to pay. Two of the folks who had watched me grab the vase were in line behind us. I should explain - the area we live in has a large population of Chinese-American people. I chatted with the clerk, who commented the vase looked really nice. After we were done, Linda, who can understand Chinese, said that the lady told her friend "I can't believe they just bought that vase for $10!" They were going on about what crazy suckers we were to pay that much for a cheap glass vase.

Interestingly, I'm not fluent in Spanish, but have a pretty good idea about what's being said usually. And I've had the same thing happen to me at thrifts, but with the shoppers speaking in Spanish instead.

This kind of thing - it makes me so HAPPY. As it should for any serious thrifter. We WANT everyone to think we're nuts to buy this stuff, and I could care less if people talk behind my back. Bring it. It keeps the uninformed bears from poaching from the honey holes. Seriously, stories like that give me hope that there's still goodies to find at thrifts, even with the increased pressure on them from resellers.

Happy thrifting, you informed bears!