Items of Value Inc

     What word has two "ch"s, ends in "ke", begins with a "t" for some reason, also has another "t" just because?   It is "tchotchke".  It means a small decorative object having little functional value.  The word is originally Polish, taken into Yiddish, taken to New York City, used by many people who never know how to spell it.  Well, the small house where we are conducting this sale must have over 3,000 tchotchkes.  We I drove down the street for the sale interview, I said to myself "The houses are too small here for us to do a decent sale".  When I got inside the house and saw everything clean and already exceedingly well displayed on both the ground floor and the subterranean floor, I said "You have done all of the setup work.  Yes, we will do a sale for you." 

     The sale is 3 days long because there are so many items to sell.  The house is very clean, free of dust and mold/mildew.  It will be like stepping back in time to the 1940s-1960s.  I discovered the same salt/pepper shakers that my grandmother used, the same hobnail glassware she had, but I have never seen so many tchotchkes in my life in one house.  The photos we took will show you the great variety, from glassware and ceramics, little metal-framed pictures, vintage hats, vintage beverage thermos jug, vintage lemonade glasses, even an approx 5'h x 7'w scroll map of the world (as it was then) in very good condition hanging on the wall in the basement dining area.  In fact, nearly everything is pristine, looking like a 1950s movie set, even the upholstered furniture.

       You will find men's 8-1/2 shoes, sz 38-40 suits, medium sz shirts.  For women's clothing, who of you will take home the red or blue or tan wide-brimmed hat with artificial flower on it?  Who will stroll around with a vintage handbag?  For those of you into retro mid-century furniture, you will have a rare opportunity to buy from among the birch-veneered dining table, chairs, china cabinet, chests of drawers, or the blanched coffee table and ends tables, all is very good condition. 

     Walking through the house is almost like walking on the Lucille Ball TV set because of the French Provincial-style bedroom set, the framed pictures on the walls, the kitchen items.  If Lucille Ball had patio furniture, it would probably have looked like what we offer you -- iron furniture painted white:  settee, chairs, tables, stands.  The owners kept the blinds closed, even on the porch, and they took care of everything, so condition is very good.  The porch is hung with 7 glass or ceramic mobiles of the most interesting types:  "G" clef, cowboy boots, crocodiles, dolphins.  You will even find a pair of period spiral twist wrought iron floor lamps there.

       You will not believe the equal quantity of outdoor statuary, yard ornaments, and furniture.  Here is an opportunity for you to take home 2 cement lions, or a larger-than-life green frog looking up at you.  We also have patio tables/chairs for you along with the ubiquitous cement bird bath.  Back inside, you will find vintage table linens, doilies, table covers, teacup/saucer collection, collector spoon racks, cake stands, serving trays, vintage set of plastic TV trays in like-new condition.  One room has hand tools including rather larger wrenches and wood level.  The period formica-top kitchen/work table is in the laundry room.  The three ceramic plaque flying ducks are on the wall over the period TV.

      Beyond these, you will enjoy discovering some more valuable items of which we have found only one each:  antique black slate mantle clock, cuckoo clock, cloisonne vase, Murano glass vase, sterling salt/pepper shakers, partial Lionel train set with track, Victorian corner etagere, 19th framed painting of a waterfall, pair of vintage Chinese carved soapstone bookends, stained glass window of angel fish, vintage thermos jug.  We have discovered other items in a few multiples:  glass fruit, sterling collector spoons, costume jewelry, Harley Davidson sweatshirts, small wall sconces.

      On the modern side, we offer you a new flat screen TV and small pink/blue/white-striped sofa, wheel chair.  These  items are likely the only additions to the house since the 1960s.

      We can supply you with newspaper for wrapping and small plastic bags.  Please bring empty boxes to cart away your treasures.  On Sunday afternoon, with every purchase we will also be giving you one free item of our choice that you probably will not want.  Come enjoy this sale.  It will be an experience to talk about.