Monday, September 13, 2010

Estate Sale 2.0

A few weeks ago I attended an estate sale inbetween a long list of yard sales I wanted to attend. I thought I could zip through the estate sale since I arrived well after it had begun and assumed there wouldn't be much left to choose from.

You know what they say about assuming...(and if you don't, you can email me)   :-)

Inside this modest house were thousands and thousands and thousands of pieces of silverplate flatware.

In boxes, bags, cases, on tables, under tables, in bins and coming out of the ears of everyone who had been through the house. Random pieces and patterns all jumbled together.

There was so much of it that I only managed to poke around in a couple of boxes before I decided to leave. I was unprepared to deal with it at that moment due to my pressing yard sale schedule. Ahem. 

But... (and there's always a but)

Later that week after I had a chance to process the ginormity of the situation, I emailed the person who posted the original estate sale ad on craigslist to see if everything had been sold.

As if.

Turns out she was the daughter of the folks who had collected all of this and she was holding phase two of the sale herself so would I like to come early and start digging since it was now all half  price?

I came home with 300 pieces and the story.

The daughter's parents, who were retired, had decided to collect/acquire silverplate flatware and then resell it to help fund their retirement. As it happens, they both became ill and passed away before they got much beyond the acquisition phase of their plan. Knowing this, I didn't feel right taking photos in the house but it was definitely something to see.

Please don't worry because after a little research in my big blue book of Silverplated Flatware, I've already started reselling what I bought so you won't (hopefully) come across a similar story about me somewhere down the road.

But if you do, I suspect 'silverplate' will have been substituted with 'vintage fabric.' 



15 comments:

  1. It's good to have a deaccessioning plan. (I worked briefly at a museum, and that's what they call them. Sounds so much better than "getting rid of stuff.") And in answer to the question you posed in your comment: Yes, the house came with a tiny camera. AND a tiny photographer.

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  2. I think that is why I enjoy sales so much...you just never ever know what you will come across...and just when you think you have seen it all you run into a sale like this. Wonderful you got in half price day early!

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  3. Good for you, what delightful delight! Happy selling! Hugs, Diane

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  4. Oh what a wonderful find! Such lovely pieces!

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  5. Ooooh...those are some really pretty patterns you've got there! Congrats on your great find!
    Hugs,
    Jill

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  6. First of all, I love everyone who's posted a comment on your blog today. I love Barbara's deaccessioning plan. I think we should all get together at your house for pie and a beverage. Does about 3:00 tomorrow work for you? I'm working but I could take off. We could use your fine silver and talk about what great deals you and Laurie have found in your estate sale purchasing! I could show you how to solder, and how to put on a band-aid with your teeth. SEE! Wouldn't it be so fun!?
    Back to reality. WHAT a great sale! You cleaned up - seriously!! cheers - Kathy

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  7. Kathy - 3 pm is good. Please plan to take a goodie bag of silverware with you after pie time. -amy

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  8. Wow, what a great find! I would have been beside myself getting to go through all that.
    Brenda

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  9. Is it no longer the doily factory? Are you now toiling at the utensil factory?! They're all so pretty, and I would just love to have a whole set of mismatched pieces to use every day, wouldn't you? Oh that's right. You DO!

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  10. HA! I would have probably brought home MORE than 300 pieces! You have some very elegant beauties there and I'm really jealous of your find! I must look at your Etsy store and see if I can't live without some of those!
    Blessings, Doni

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  11. What an amazing find. I love silver. Thank you so much for sharing. I am drooling.

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  12. I think I would had been very overwelmed with all that silverware. I only have the patience for a few pieces here and there Your holiday table should be very beautiful!
    Michelle
    ps
    You did a great job with your small, but largely decorated space at Camas!

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  13. Oh wow, I love all that silverware. I would like to have seen it. I just bought a set of silverplate in the wooden case at an estate auction a couple weeks ago. It is beautiful. Don't know what I will do with it, but I like it.

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  14. Amy, I went garaging saling yesterday with my daughter. First time I've been since Sept. 2008! It was an awesome experience in resistance, for as Barbara said, I'm [by necessity] in the deaccessioning mode. LUV that word. I'll collect it instead of another physical item I can't find room for:)!ha! Still...I had so much fun looking through others' treasures. Your silver ware find is incredible!

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