Items of Value

      In what is now 41 years of doing estate sales, we have never seen a cleaner and more organized house.  The house is in a seniors community, having commodious rooms and beautiful landscaping.  The owner had very good design taste and decorated well in different styles.  You will appreciate her talents as you walk through the house.

      Upon entering the front door, you will see a tall modern colored glass vase in a wall alcove.  To the left is the sitting room with three wall units full of assorted items.  Note the Satsuma vase on wood stand on the bottom middle shelf.  You may like the shepherd's crook-style open armchair just to the right of the round table or the diminutive rocker to the left, newly reupholstered in white brocade.  Discover the large selection of "fish plates" on the two tables at the front windows.  These were used when fish was a major meal in the 1890s-1910s.  The large oval platter, with a picture of a fish on it, would have held a large fish.

     A surprise discovery in the house is the antique Chinese blue/red bowl, which we have set on a low round white marble-top table on the way to the dining area.  You will discover Franciscan "Cherries" pattern china in the china cabinet and a pair of electric lustres flanked by candlesticks on the mahogany buffet.  The dinind table looks elegant dressed up with red napkin rings and placemats topped by rose pattern china and crystal goblets.

     This house has an usually large number of small tables, square, demilune, and round.  Make your choice of which ones would look good in your place.  There are also a good number of boxes, chest, and stools which the owner used to decorate her space.  On the top shelf of the hanging shelves in the passageway, we have put ruby cut-to-clear crystal goblets and on the second shelf a small demitasse tea set in autumn leaf pattern.  The table below sports Christmas items.  You will also find there a small assortment of furniture tassels.  We assembled the hardcover books on an adjacent table.  

     If you still need one or would like to use it for storage, perhaps adding shelves, you will find a TV armoire in the large living room, also a large cast resin horse standing in the alcove in front of a beveled mirror over the fireplace.  The hearth is fronted by a tall nielloed brass vase and a topiary.  To the left is a real working oil lamp with milkglass shade sitting on a columnar stand beside a dark naugahyde bench.  Two more large oil lamps of modern make are on top of the TV armoire.  We have spread out fine purses and handbags, including Coach on the 3-seater sofa, and have set FINE table lamps on the flanking tables.  In fact, you will discover a good selection of FINE table lamps throughout the house.

      Perhaps it is the great grandfather's photo portrait that hangs in an oval frame over an antique family photo below it, over a small chest on frame that you may find not only attractive but useful for storing.  Don't forget to appreciate he quality of the floral needlepoint work on the stool nearby, on your way to the kitchen.  The kitchen is filled to overflowing with cookware, glassware, and china of different styles.  Discover the "harvest table" in front of the windows there accompanied by Windsor-style bench and chairs.

     The largest of the framed pictures in the house are in the guest/second bedroom along with a variety of decorator pillow and linens that we have put on the bed.  The master bedroom offers a variety of furniture plus a walk-in closet full of stylish women's clothes, bed covers, metal shoe rack, and comfortable chair and stool.  You will enjoy the decorator, lamps, and towels in both bathrooms.  We have brought in several tables to display the many items.  One small table is devoted to costume jewelry, most in their original packages. 

      We have brought the metal mesh-style bench into the garage and placed it along a wall along with planters and tub of Christmas garlands and red bows.  On the left side of the garage, you will find cleaning supplies plus an assortment of plant containers and small hand tools.  So, look forward to another good sale by Items of Value and perhaps plan to enjoy a fine pizza at the local Lido's.