House in Progress Diary

What on Earth!? Archive

Things we've found that the previous owners left behind. (Its a long story...)

What on Earth!? (a brief explanation of all this stuff...)

We bought this 1914 bungalow from a woman whose family owned it for 70 years. With all that history and an interest in collecting (plus quite a bit of cash which they didn't spend ON the house), they'd developed quite a houseful of things from around the world. Like this:

As a result, we gave the seller a 30-day rent-back period after the official "closing" to sort through and remove her family possessions (well, we didn't charge her any rent, actually. Just utilities...we felt sympathy for her...there were so many things to sort through). Then, three days before she was to move, we received a letter...

The seller had not removed all of her things and didn't intend to. She also did not clean. She told us that since she was "officially" a renter, not a seller, that she was within her rights to leave the house in any condition she wanted to. Surprise!! We were caught a bit off guard, as you might expect. That night we went through the house and found that 50% of what was originally there still remained. She had hired an auction house to come through and they took most of the furniture. We found books, pottery, glass, paper, trash, kitchenware, rocks (really) and boxes and boxes and more boxes.

After some discussion, we ended up negotiating an agreement. We were rather overwhelmed (we had to rent storage for our own things for an additional month and delay our move into the house) but figured we could rent a dumpster to quickly get to the task of renovating our new home. But then came the second surprise--some of the things in the house were really cool! (There was still a lot of trash and dirt too.) So, yes, it has set back our renovation by months and months. And we are finding many more things to fix in the house as we peel back the layers of grime and "stuff".

We've decide to make lemonade out of these lemons and share the experience. So, we're going to start posting photos of the items we've found. Well, some of the 1000's. We'll just keep plugging away until you have no more patience to peek in here with us.

To see all the photos we've taken so far click here and scroll down. (Just a warning--there are lots of photos to download!!)

Update: We're now offering some of these items for sale via our "Virtual Estate Sale." To see what we're offering click here.

Enjoy!!

The First Batch

While my computer savvier husband sets up an integrated website, I'm going to start posting picture of old and ends we find in the bungalow. Please be patient with us! There are so many odds & ends. Whew.

If you have a particular story or comments about the item, use the 'Comment' link below each entry. (As in" My grandmother had one of these, and she used to make us....)

You can send all correspondence to owners@houseinprogress.net It is so terrific to be able to share all of this, the overwhelming nature of it all, with people who REALLY know what the word "overwhelming" really means.

Item #1--



I thought that this elephant would make a good doorstop, until I noticed the Asian signature on the bottom (see red insert). Any ideas on this one?

Item #2--SOLD



No home should be without a "Beckwith Reed Organ" made in Chicago. Do you know this sweet little thing still works? The 4 middle stops need to be reconditioned. See this in the Estate Sale.

Item #3



A signed copy of the rare book, "The Great Myth", (about American Indians) signed by the author, John C. Wright, with a postcard from the author to the recipient inside. I didn't dwell on this too long, but I know that this was the author who wrote "The Crooked Tree". And that is cool. Wright's grandmother was reportedly the great granddaughter of Pontiac, the revered Ottawa Chief who led the last rebellion against the English at Detroit in 1763.

Item #4--Sorry, these are, um, gone



These are lovely plaster cast foot molds of the PO's mom, who I suspect was having special shoes made. We have two pairs of them. Found in a paper bag.

Item #5



And then there was an unusual children's play book from the late 80's (the, um, 1880's)

Item #6-Adopted


A metal and plastic, never used, in the box, Melodica from Hohner in Germany. The reading material places it around 1950's.

This was an interesting family. We'll find out more about them when we tackle other things in the house and their origins....

(5)

The Second Batch

Item #1

This is a Buddha from Japan in Bronze. He has an incense burner in his lap. I need to some research on his markings/history.

Thanks to Naomi M., I have more information about this little piece! (look under Comments for this entry...)

Item #2 - Happily Adopted

A Zenith H725 AM/FM "Portable" Radio. Works beautifully.

Item #3 < Adopted

Here is a U.S. Army Standard-issue "Service Set" It was sponsored by Gilette and features: A collapsible razor (non-disposable), a silver box of blades (never used, good as new), and a mirror.

Item #4

This is just one room from the second floor. Yowsa. Eventually all of the historical records and paintings/pictures find their way here too.

Item #5 < See him in the Estate Sale Shop

Mr. Peanut bank. Never used. We blew a lot of dust off of this guy. Found out that this is actually a desirable collectible, especially in mint condition. Who knew?

Item #6

And this is giving you even MORE of an idea of what we've got going on here. Shelves and shelves of glassware, pottery, porcelain, fossils/rocks, lighting, clocks, metal and kitchenware...as well as 20 years of Boy Scout supplies. Did I mention the rocks?

The Third Batch

Okay, we knew it had to happen sometime. Get down to some "nitty-gritty", marks on the bottoms of things, and all that. What is this stuff? Is there a market for it? (Albeit a small one) Can we finance our new bathroom tile and kitchen repairs from these things? Or just buy a new tea cozy?

Item #1--Has new home

Part of the "branded" collection. Tarnished silver top and filigree over glass. Between silver exterior "cup" and top is the word "Nestle" in the glass.

Item #2-Has new home

We've adopted this one, but we're still curious. We think it is a "netsuke" from Meiji Japan that used to be used as decoration for traditional Japanese clothing,,,,

Item #3

This looks like a gold painted porcelain ashtray. The mark is difficult to read, but seems to be a fancy "coat of arms" type design with the words "Stouffer Fine China" on the bottom.

Item #4 < Adopted

Salt and pepper shakers. No further explanation needed, eh?

Item #5

Metal Boy Scout Wall emblem? That's all we can think of,

Item #6 < Adopted

A "Rumford" metal measuring cup, greatly in need of a good polish. It says, "Rumford Measuring Cup" and has marks for "Quarters" and "Thirds".

The Fourth Batch

Well! I rummaged through the historical papers and postcards and tickets and menus and so on today while waiting for the pest control people.

This family is certainly well-traveled. And at interesting times too.

Picture this...it is well after World War I. A young "L" enters law school at some point...single, attractive and smart. With well-heeled parents who have invested in international stocks and real estate (and I don't know what else) that allow her to "see the world" with a girlfriend DURING THE U.S. DEPRESSION (1929 - 1936). Her future spouse, W, is also traveling the world at this time. I don't know if they knew each other yet or not. But there they are, our globe trotting pair.

Item #1

Someone was in pre-WWII Germany in 1930.

Item #2

And pre-WWII Pearl Harbor in the early to mid 1930's.

Item #3

We know that both made it to the "Orient" sometime during the early 1930's. From shop receipts, I would trace probably L (?) to this cruise with her girlfriend. I know that she focused most on Japan and China.

Item #4

On another trip perhaps, the Japan-China War of 1937 broke out? Or perhaps something smaller beforehand. I believe the President Taft they refer to is "ex"-President Taft and maybe the "current" President Hoover (1929-1933). I do not know who the Baronness is in Tokyo. But there were refugees, and barricades and confusion. Maybe someone more familiar with history here could comment. I believe this card was part of the traveling "presentation" that W & L gave after marriage to small church groups and so forth. The kimonos, tea and sake sets and so on are still here. This would explain the overpopulation of Asian antiquities a LOT though...

Item #5

Someone was also in Cuba, pre-Castro. Fidel did not assume power until 1959. But this seems to be post "Republica" (1900-1930's?) We also have maracas...pretty strong evidence, eh?

Item #6

A cruise to Bermuda in 1934...very relaxing in the midst of all of this global tension!

Item #7 See this in the Estate Sale Shop

And after all of that, I just want to know...WHO began stealing the ashtrays from hotels in Europe??!

The Fifth Batch

J's unexpected journey through the linen closet...is a trip back into her grandmother's all-American "kitsch-en".

And yes, make us an offer on those things that haven't been adopted. We have thousands of things in this house. No kidding. And we will be having a garage sale within the next month. But wanted to give bungalow folks and friends a chance to see and perhaps even own a little Americana at garage sale prices.

You can send all correspondence to owners@houseinprogress.net

Well! What have we here?? Our built-in linen closet yields wonders.

Items #1- A lot


Potholders and dishtowels GALORE! (Chrissy and Elaine...are you catching this? Some of these potholders were DEFINITELY in Nanny's kitchen.) I couldn't post them all, just a representative sample. Has anyone absorbed the MAGNITUDE of this yet? (As in, what is with ALL OF THE STUFF?)

Item #2 -- Has new home...it's a long story

And if you are enterprising, you will use a mangle like this one (working with instruction booklet and original light bulb still wrapped in packaging) to iron all of your linens. (And shirts and clothes, etc.)

I am not enterprising in this way. We are looking for a nice home for a super low mileage mangle. A B&B in a neighboring city bought one recently or else...perfect. Ah well, their loss? Your gain?

The Sixth Batch

Some Japanese and Chinese Items

Paper Items Sample: We know the owner brought back items from 1931 China and Japan...we just don't know which items are from "when." I believe they went back during the 1950's as well. We have other paperwork from 1931 that places at least the one of the couple before they were married in Japan.

Porcelain Items Sample:

Blue flower piece: Writing says "Nishikawa Japan" with a border above and below. I think there is an artist's signature (?), but I cannot understand it.

Spotted piece: This only has a signature or name. I cannot discern it.

Floral piece: This says "Maple Ware...Made in Japan" with the imprint of a red maple leaf.

Small Cup: The writing on this piece looks like raised white letters on white. The foot and bottom of this piece are not glazed.

Sake jar (?): Again, the writing "Nishikawa Japan" with a border above and below. The cups that go with this piece are very delicate and beautiful...they remind you of the shape of the jar, but their rims are carved into flowers that have cut-outs in the porcelain.

Pottery: The glaze on this piece is rougher...the markings are on labels. The one on the side says "J 7 5 9".

Laquerware: We now have found three sets of these...all with matching lids (not pictured here). I imagine them to be pretty common.

Cup with Characters: The bottom of this cup says "WAKO China Made in Japan"

Bronze, brass and metal items sample:

Item #1
< On hold

Bronze Elephant: I tried to reproduce the signature on the bottom because it does not photograph well. It is in the red square.

Brass (?) Teapot:

Wooden items sample: < Has been adopted


Netsuke (perhaps?): I cannot place this piece. No signature on bottom. Perhaps had a slight red stain on lips at one time. Detail of clothing is exquisite.

Paper arts items sample: < On hold

The first one is from "Collection". The second and third are individual pieces that were once in frames.

Thank you so much to the gotheborg.com discussion group for helping out a very perplexed me. They specialize in interpreting marks from China and some from Japan, as well as helping to identify the age of objects. The site is fantastically educational with lots of great pictures. So check it out if you get the chance.
Look in the comments for a note from "HR" who helped me out with a few items.

The Seventh Batch

I am so tired from endless cleaning. You'll have to guess the story of these items and send in your guesses. Are they related? Are they even identifiable?

Items...Random or no?

Boy Scout Bandana!

Note: There's a neat story someone sent about this. Check out the Comment entry from WC...

And...Chicago World's Fair, Fisher Price, a porcelain fish from a Chinese roof, Richard Hudnut, slide projector, lithograph of the London bridge, Hibachi-Ets, Chicago Photographer's badge, retro salt and pepper, black opaque Chevalier de la Nuit by Ciro Parfum...

< New Home
< New Home

< New Home
< See this in the Estate Sale Shop
< New Home < New Home
< See this in the Estate Sale Shop

Yawn!! Goodnight!

The Eighth Batch

More random (or no?) pictures of items from "the house."

Item #1 - Has new home

I am obsessed now. Many people who have come over to gape at the museum which is our house turn over everything they look at. Now they have me doing it too. Like I know what I am looking at?! This dish says "Royal Albert, Bone China, England, Cotswold." I was in Cotswold for a lovely weekend after working outside of London in June of 2000. Other than that, I have no idea what this "mark" means.

Item #2 < Adopted

There was nothing on the bottom of this coffee can. But there are a few different ones in the house and people seem to like them anyway.

Item #3 - Has new home

This is a vase that we dig. It has symbols on the bottom and is from Austria. We don't like it for the bottom though. We just think that it is nice. You can't read the bottom in photos, which is frustrating.

This is better and just cooler looking as a photo. Some people are probably laughing right now, saying, "She doesn't even know that she has a famous Leffenhoffermausten Vase."

And they are right. Which is why I never felt a need for ADT before this point in my life. Now we have ADT from the previous owner AND our dog. And still have no idea why.

Item #4

This is much more funny than vases. It comes with the weight set, too.

Item #5

Headless turkey salt and pepper shakers. Also kind of funny.

Item #6

Some say Michelin Man...some say Stay Puft Marshmellow Man. To us, he's just a little mystery man.

The Ninth Batch

It's Ladies Day (or Night) here at "What On Earth?" Or, at least, the stereotypical Ladies persona created by marketers earlier this century.

But I'm digressing into a rant about marketing and feminism. Which would pretty much wreck the lightheartedness of these pages. So, we can talk about that topic on postlacesociety when it is up and running. ("Lace" as in "shoelace" as in a bunch of clog, sandal and Teva wearing pals blogging about modern topics of interest. You know who you are.)

Note: These are all being handled as a seperate kind of sale to be announced later. Some are available online at the Estate Sale

In the interest of time, I've had to take photos of "groups" of these items. Sorry we couldn't linger on each one, but that would take forever!!!

Group 1

These perfume bottles fascinate me. Especially the ones with just a wee bit of perfume left. What was the owner saving it for? What special occasion? Or maybe they just moved on to a new scent. We'll never know.

From left to right:

Sortilege Le Galion
Paris, France

White Rose
(Quadruple Essence)
Geronne

White Rose
(Quadruple Extract)
Crofts & Reed, Chicago

Crab Apple Blossom
Essence de Luxe
A. J. Hilbert & Co.
Milwaukee, USA

Group #2

Then there were these cool refillable containers.

From left to right:
Skylark Power Puff
in marble jar

DeVillbiss Perfume Bottle (S500-119)
etched crystal with 24kt gold plate

Unknown Bottle
crystal

Group #3

Everything in here is interesting. Because now I'm beginning to see bottles sometimes "disguised" as other things. And names of perfumes that suggest unspeakable feelings and acts :)

Far right/front:

Unknown refillable bottle in black silk pouch with faux jewels

Middle row, left to right:
Scandal
J Lanvin
Paris, France

Mon Desir
Ivel Perfumes
New York

Penthouse (Whisper, B, C, N)
Lucien LeLong
France

Back row, left to right
Kaleidescope
Yanky Toilet Water
Richard Hudnut
New York/Paris

Opium
Eau de Toilette
Yves Saint Laurent
Paris, France

Group #4

Tiny "mini-me" bottles. We have quite a few of them. Too many for photos.

From left to right:
Le de Givenchy
Paris

Cabochard de Gres
Paris

Khus-Khus
by La India
Jamaica

Fleurs de Rocaille
Caron
Paris

Parfum "Y"
Yves Saint Laurent
Paris

Group #5

Agh! Now it's like an overload of perfume bottles. And it is late and I am tired.

In this line up:

Tabu (Diana, Paris); Fleurs de Rocaille (Caron, Paris); My Sin (Lanvin, NY), No. 4711 Blue & Gold (Colonia, Germany); Corday; Evening in Paris (Bourjois, NY/Paris); Cologne Aphrodisia (Faberge, Paris/NY)

Group #6

Stop! Stop! I'm overwhelmed!!

In this line up that haven't been mentioned already:

Shocking de Shiaparelli (New York); Quadrille (Balenciaga, France); Blue Grass (Arden, NY); Tweed (Lentheric); Youth Dew (Estee Lauder, NY); Marbert Man--how did this get in here? (West Germany); Illegible Name (___RCHIEF); Cinnabar (Estee Lauder, NY); Shanghai (Lentheric)

Group #7

Belle de Rauch (Madeline de Rauch, Paris); Lilies (Floris: Perfumer to the King, London)

Couterines Doll Lipstick Case (Revlon, NY); Extrait 14 (Hugues Guerlain, Paris)

Facial Powders (Richard Hudnut, NY/Paris); Je Reviens (Worth, Paris, France)

Last Group

Yup. This is me on a motivated evening when not cleaning. Just to compare. What is here? Facial Powder (Clinique, NY/London/Paris), Great Lash Mascara (Maybelline, NY); Perfect Blend Crayon (Cover Girl, Maryland); Carmex (Franklin Wisconsin); and--because I became addicted to it in Anncey, France--Allure (Chanel, Paris).

Thank you to the supporting cast of scents and make-up that were fascinating but not photographed:

Young Hearts (Avon, NY/Pasadena); Nectar Lipstick (Avon, NY), Contina No. 7 (Detroit Michigan), and Hawaii Nei Pikaki Lei of Fragrance (Honolulu, Hawaii)

The Tenth Batch

(A's on deck for the page tonight :)

Original Prints

Here are some prints that J photographed today...

And they're signed....

The Eleventh Batch

kitsch, kich, n. items mass-produced for the American Market (i.e. souvenirs and the like); generally something that recalls a specific vintage genre through its symbolism. Sometimes these items could be considered outlandish. Generally they symbolize an "age of excess" and the items are of value in that they were of popular appeal at one time while now they might be considered sentimental and of "poor taste"...leading kitsch to a charm of its own.

tacky, tacki, adj. 1 : not having or exhibiting good taste: as a : marked by lack of style : DOWDY b : marked by cheap showiness : GAUDY

HOW CAN YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE???!!!

Today we present you with a variety of items. But! Are they "kitsch"? Or "tacky"? (Or neither?!) I'm still a beginner on this topic. "Kitsch" is actually a genre of collectible. And can create some really cute results when displayed the right way. But how does one distinguish between "kitsch" and "tacky"? Can you tell?

We're going to test your knowledge by offering some photos of items left in the house...and you can give us YOUR opinion.

Item #1



A tissue holder made of yarn. Kitsch? Tacky? Neither?

Item #2



Pictures made from the bark of trees. These are unmarked. Could be Mount Fuji in Japan. Could be something in the Western U.S. We're not sure. But they are all about being three-dimensional.

Item #3



A photo of Boris Yeltsin superimposed onto a hanging banner. Very tiny. Maybe 7 inches high.

Item #4



A slightly blurry picture (sorry) of a "faux" ship's wheel clock (unless the ship was 4 feet long...then it isn't faux it might be real!) from Telechron. It's electric and it still works.

Item #5



It's, um, a bedpan. Of white metal edged in blue.

Item #6 < See these on the Estate Sale Site



These are brass candle holders...what do they represent? It's a mystery. But my husband used to live in Nebraska and they are vaguely familiar to him. (UPDATE: No longer a mystery, we found them in a book on ART DECO DESIGN! They were designed by Bruno Matheson. We couldn't believe it. Ystad, Sweden. Crazy. Some folks online were saying 1950's, but, well, there they were in the Art Deco Book. So.)

Item #7



Now these are nifty! If you have a lot of cups, these "...hold six cups in fond embrace, and take up little cupboard space."

Items #8 & 9



I know you want this one on the left. You know you want this. Burlap and yarn has never looked so good. And, confess. Someone gave you one of these (on the right) during your lifetime. Probably in the seventies.

Item #10



It's from Austria. Land of Lion Heads. Painted onto ceramic trash cans.

Item #11



We have two of these. No shades though :( The color blue is super cool. They would be even more vivid if I had time to clean the dust out of the little nooks in the porcelain.

Item #12



More usefulness!! These are bamboo cups from Jamaica. I know this because "Jamaica" is carved on the side of them.

Item #13



Fruit. Chalkware wall hanging fruit. These were featured in the latest issue of "Country Home Living." Strangely, many things that we've found in the house are in there. Wild.

Items #14 & 15



To go with these lovely placemats on the right (and they are in nice condition...they roll up for storage and remind me of mats in Asia. But I think they are from Hawaii or Mexico), are a set of curtains (see photo on left...this is just one of many.) The curtains are from Peru, I believe.

It could be a whole new Tiki look for your breakfast nook. :)

The Twelfth Batch

Tonight, we are playing a NEW GAME here on WHAT ON EARTH??!! It is called...

NAME THAT MARK

I have a brother-in-law named Mark. And, although he is a pretty cool guy, this game is not about him.

A "mark" according to one of the MANY definitions of the word in the Oxford Dictionary means a "badge, brand, device, emblem, hallmark, label, seal, sign, stamp, standard, symbol, trade mark."

Many things have a mark or label or signature on them. Picasso's signature is a "mark." The words "Coca-Cola" is a "mark." Even "Made in Japan" is a mark. People who watch "The Antique Roadshow" dig marks.

Marks can help you to discover the story behind items, even if that story is as bland as "Hmm. She bought this at Walmart."

Item #1

A mark can be very clear...but its origins can still be pretty mysterious. (The writing on the front of the plate says, "Combined Thresher and Harvester at work near Connell Washington.)"

Item #2

The statue base is wood. I know the statue is not plastic, but what is it? Ivory? Something else? And who is G.R.? And what's with the fish?

Item #3

Why is this elephant doing aerobics?

Item #4

A blurry mark leads to frustration and speculation that you might need new glasses.

Item #5

Some marks are cooler than the actual item (to me, anyway. Though this is a really bad picture of this vase. The outside is unglazed and therefore shows fingerprints well. Especially dusty ones. The inside is glazed white. Who was Von Tury de Vegh?)

Item #6

Some marks make you take a second, than a third look. Is this a really good fake? Or does that really mean what it says..."1840 Italy"?

Item #7 < Virtual Estate Sale

Hedi Schoop in Hollywood, CA...glam!

Item #8

This is a brand I do not recognize. But maybe someone out there does? By the way, the "preserves" in these jars are little white tablets. That makes me wonder.

Item #9

No mark on the bottom because no glaze. That seems significant. Is the mark ON the main part of the piece? Argh. I cannot read Japanese...and I wish that I could!

Item #10

This is Royal Haeger's kidney bean shaped dish. And this reminds me...thanks mom, for never making me eat kidney beans.

Item #11

Now this is a mark!!! No guessing here!

Item #12

In a world before lighters were disposable...there was "Ronson"...I especially liked the "two-handed smoker" twin lighter set.

We really need to start thinking up prizes for these contests...it's bad enough that everyone is nervous about the possibility that I could pick their name in the Christmas name swap this year...