Silversea Water Cooler: Welcome! Part Five

[Stumblefoot]

I think it was Lois who introduced us to “Searching for Italy” on CNN.  They have a new show, hosted by Eva Longoria, for those who would like to learn more about the cuisine of Mexico and is titled; Searching For Mexico. 

[mysty]

Greetings Coolers!

 

Today's funny.....

 

 

Have a great safe fun day all!

[spinnaker2]

[zqtchas]

[Tothesunset]

On Good Friday Europe's largest Antiques Fair was held about 20 miles from us in Peterborough. 

 

Hang in there, this is going somewhere. 

 

We have had some dealing with a small business that trades in early 20th century pottery and it was great to meet the owner in person and gratifying that his stock of Clarice Cliff, Susie Cooper and William Moorcroft items was, by some margin, the most carefully sourced and defect-free. Indeed, the majority of the stalls - and there were hundreds - seemed to be trying to sell tat with just a few carrying worthwhile antiques. 

 

Nearly there now. 

 

However, we happened upon a dealer with 2 large Moorcroft vases in the pomegranate style, each vase being perfect, properly marked to the base, large and definitely genuine. I'd normally expect each one to retail for £1500-£2000 and maybe 2.5 times that for a perfect pair. He wanted £895 for both and settled on £800. They were the only Moorcroft he had, his stock being mainly small pictures and jewellery items. 

 

So there we are - conservatively £3-£4k worth for £800. Do we feel smug? Of course we do! 

 

At the risk of boring you even further we also unearthed a small (7 cm) but exquisite rimless Moorcroft pomegranate vase fired in 1914 with an extremely rare blue base (the only year that particular firing happened). Seemed a bit ambitious at 195 but got it at 160.  Hard to value for auction/retail because of its rarity but it's something I'd probably have gone up to £500 for. 

 

So, all in all, an unexpectedly successful day out. It was even a warm, sunny day. In England. At Easter! 

[mysty]

11 minutes ago, Tothesunset said:

On Good Friday Europe's largest Antiques Fair was held about 20 miles from us in Peterborough. 

 

Hang in there, this is going somewhere. 

 

We have had some dealing with a small business that trades in early 20th century pottery and it was great to meet the owner in person and gratifying that his stock of Clarice Cliff, Susie Cooper and William Moorcroft items was, by some margin, the most carefully sourced and defect-free. Indeed, the majority of the stalls - and there were hundreds - seemed to be trying to sell tat with just a few carrying worthwhile antiques. 

 

Nearly there now. 

 

However, we happened upon a dealer with 2 large Moorcroft vases in the pomegranate style, each vase being perfect, properly marked to the base, large and definitely genuine. I'd normally expect each one to retail for £1500-£2000 and maybe 2.5 times that for a perfect pair. He wanted £895 for both and settled on £800. They were the only Moorcroft he had, his stock being mainly small pictures and jewellery items. 

 

So there we are - conservatively £3-£4k worth for £800. Do we feel smug? Of course we do! 

 

At the risk of boring you even further we also unearthed a small (7 cm) but exquisite rimless Moorcroft pomegranate vase fired in 1914 with an extremely rare blue base (the only year that particular firing happened). Seemed a bit ambitious at 195 but got it at 160.  Hard to value for auction/retail because of its rarity but it's something I'd probably have gone up to £500 for. 

 

So, all in all, an unexpectedly successful day out. It was even a warm, sunny day. In England. At Easter! 

 

Excellent!  Your joy screams from this post!  Very excited for you! 😁

[lincslady]

Golly, Tts, I hope you have got the bargains of the century here.  Presumably this Dealer does not often deal in Moorcroft, but specialises in the jewellery etc.  

 

Your finds will make a nice contribution to your next cruise, if nothing else.

 

Lola

[Tothesunset]

Just now, lincslady said:

 Presumably this Dealer does not often deal in Moorcroft, but specialises in the jewellery etc.  

 

Lola

That's it exactly. Plus we were amongst the first through the gates. I reckon they'd have been snapped up had we been even a few minutes later. 

[lincslady]

Yes, being early was definitely a good idea.

 

The only time I had what turned out to be a bargain find was a bit sad - I had a pretty Victorian planter, with tulips just coming out, right by my front door.  When I looked out of the bedroom window to admire them the next morning, the whole thing had gone.  Eventually got the insurance money - they asked me to look up in Millers Guide how much it was worth, and it turned out £5 had become £500 in about 8 years.  Not a fortune, but I was still delighted.  Gives you a buzz, doesn't it.

 

Lola

[Tothesunset]

It really does. And it's not always the obvious thing that gives the most pleasure. We have a pair of long-stem Waterford crystal wine glasses with simple blue glass bowls that are probably worth very little, maybe a couple of hundred pounds, but are so perfectly clean of line and form that make them just so joyous to look at. Needless to say, they'll never go anywhere near a place setting! 

[Tothesunset]

The vases. Mid haggle.. 

 

[Daveywavey70]

52 minutes ago, Tothesunset said:

The vases. Mid haggle.. 

 

Sounds like a good day at the office TTS 🙂

 

[gnome12]

1 hour ago, Tothesunset said:

The vases. Mid haggle.. 

They're beautiful!

[Camillus112]

 DH inherited from his grandmother a figurine of Tom Sawyer, one hundred years old, which was not at all to my taste and I placed it on top of our fridge.  By chance, a friend told us to look up its valuation...turns out it is worth close to one thousand dollars...I still don't like it, up in the fridge it will stay.  I do like your vases.

[Tothesunset]

53 minutes ago, Camillus112 said:

 DH inherited from his grandmother a figurine of Tom Sawyer, one hundred years old, which was not at all to my taste and I placed it on top of our fridge.  By chance, a friend told us to look up its valuation...turns out it is worth close to one thousand dollars...I still don't like it, up in the fridge it will stay.  I do like your vases.

Thanks. It's strange to find things like your figurine that seem to one person unattractive yet to others quite special. 

 

I saw an absolutely stunning, mint Goldscheider figurine from around the 1920s of Dolores Del Rio. It was priced, reasonably for its quality, at £2.5k. Rang the dealer to view only to find it had just been sold. Showed OH the picture and she really didn't like it. I'd really have been in the doghouse if I'd bought it. Lucky escape! 

 

Some Art Deco ceramics and pottery are impossibly attractive. It's finding undamaged and unrepaired pieces that presents a challenge. 

[mysty]

Greetings Coolers!

 

Today's funny.....

 

 

Have a great safe fun day all!

[zqtchas]

[jpalbny]

Speaking of cats, zqtchas... This is a classic!

 

 

[QueSeraSera]

On 4/9/2023 at 10:55 PM, Stumblefoot said:

I think it was Lois who introduced us to “Searching for Italy” on CNN.

Yes, & we loved the show.  Because of it we have a land trip to Italy booked this fall.

Would like to suggest another show, on Apple TV: the Reluctant Traveler.

Humorous.  Eugene Levy is the reluctant traveler.

Just watched the Portugal episode - loved it.  Others have been fun too, but this episode combined w/ JP's posts in months gone by have me ready to book something that will take me there!

But perhaps vacations should not be booked after finishing a + Rioja bottle ....

[zqtchas]

[mysty]

27 minutes ago, QueSeraSera said:

Yes, & we loved the show.  Because of it we have a land trip to Italy booked this fall.

Would like to suggest another show, on Apple TV: the Reluctant Traveler.

Humorous.  Eugene Levy is the reluctant traveler.

Just watched the Portugal episode - loved it.  Others have been fun too, but this episode combined w/ JP's posts in months gone by have me ready to book something that will take me there!

But perhaps vacations should not be booked after finishing a + Rioja bottle ....

 

Go for it Que!  If nothing else, the last 3 years have taught us to seize the day!  A bottle of Rioja or not! 😁

[Lirio]

On a business trip to the Amazon region. First the river encounter where Rio Negro (black river is clear water) meets the Solimoes river (mud water) and keeps flowing together for several kms.

 

 

Second the flooded forest which stay under water on the raining season.

 

 

 

 

A historical house in a small city.

 

 

Sunset in the amazon river.

[Stumblefoot]

2 hours ago, QueSeraSera said:

Would like to suggest another show, on Apple TV: the Reluctant Traveler.

Humorous.  Eugene Levy is the reluctant traveler.

Just watched the Portugal episode - loved it.

Thx for the reco Que.  I wasn’t sure if I’d like that show from the previews.  So, it’s nice too see it recommended first hand.

[Daveywavey70]

1 hour ago, Lirio said:

On a business trip to the Amazon region. First the river encounter where Rio Negro (black river is clear water) meets the Solimoes river (mud water) and keeps flowing together for several kms.

 

 

Second the flooded forest which stay under water on the raining season.

 

 

 

 

A historical house in a small city.

 

 

Sunset in the amazon river.

Just beautiful Lirio. Which is the small city? South America is possibly my trip for next Jan so I’m looking up options right now!

[jpalbny]

10 hours ago, QueSeraSera said:

Would like to suggest another show, on Apple TV: the Reluctant Traveler.

Humorous.  Eugene Levy is the reluctant traveler.

Just watched the Portugal episode - loved it.  Others have been fun too, but this episode combined w/ JP's posts in months gone by have me ready to book something that will take me there!

But perhaps vacations should not be booked after finishing a + Rioja bottle ....

 

Thanks QSS - I just added the show to my queue. We just got Apple TV a week or so ago when I changed my TMobile plan, and it's included. Lucky me! Looking forward to it; Eugene Levy is great.

 

Portugal is an absolute gem. You must go. Bottle of Rioja or not. As you remember we did a week there on our own and it was one of the most fun trips - just full of incredible sights and so much good food. I hope you book something soon.

 

ETA - just saw a post on the River Cruising boards (River Cruising Water Cooler) from someone who is in Portugal now. Check out his pictures if you need any more temptation!

Edited April 12, 2023 by jpalbny