around the corner
2012
I’ve been looking at art deco sideboards on ebay for a while now. Not that we REALLY need one. But I’m just so fond of them. Especially when they’re blessed with dramatic wood veneers and etched glass and curvy bits. I bid on them – shhh! don’t tell Julian – but I keep my bids really low – figuring that if I was MEANT to have it, no one else would bid and it would be mine!
That has yet to happen.
Last night – after harrumphing over a sideboard that no one else wanted for 7 days, until in the last 2 hours, someone ramped up the price and my future sideboard vanished – pffft! – before my eyes – I trawled through the ads yet again and found the sideboard to end all sideboards - man, is it gorgeous! It has lovely veneer (matches our crafty gentleman’s wardrobe perfectly), bakelite handles, etched glass, the drawers are curved …. sigh! I WILL bid low and hope – you never know. And it would look beautiful in our future home with all my lotte lined up behind its etched glass. But chances are ….
Then, I was driving home from dropping Abby at school. We live in an old part of Melbourne where the streets are perfect grids. If there is oncoming traffic and I cannot turn down one side street straight away, I just drive on to the next and turn there instead. It’s not that I’m dreadfully impatient, but I see this technique as providing plenty of opportunities to scan the footpaths for treasure. This I did this morning – down Burrindi instead of Bealiba. And there! On the footpath! Was an art deco sideboard! Unbelieveable!
Now the thrifting fairies didn’t want to spoil me. It’s very plain, and yes that is a BRICK standing in for the missing back foot. No etched glass. No bakelite. But nice veneer. And lovely rounded corners. Perfect for storing fabric. And those fairies wanted me to work damm hard for this sideboard too. Man was it heavy. So I sat there in my car and pondered it’s potential. Oh why not!
I drove home – the back of the car was FULL of the upholstery samples Abby and I collected on Saturday (I know, I’m so lazy) and I was in a clean white t-shirt. Neither things conducive to lifting a dirty, heavy sideboard into the boot. But more appropriately attired and the upholstery samples now chucked on the hallway floor, I headed straight back and collected my sideboard. And I took photos for you :-) Just so’s you’d see silly lily in action.
Did I mention it was heavy!? Oh it was sooo heavy. At one point I thought I may have to give up – but there’s nothing like not wanting to appear defeated in front of the neighbours to push one on.
And whilst we’re here – around the corner – I simply have to show you the funny brocoli trees. They really are a bit unattractive most of the year round – largely because of the dreadful pruning jobs the electricity folk subject them to. But come late spring – bang! They turn from brocoli trees into cauliflower trees – well, at least most of the tree does. The thing I love about them most is that only the side facing north becomes smothered in flowers. Serious! The southern side may get a little but nothing compared to the northern. Isn’t that gorgeous! Yes, the old brocoli trees know exactly what kind of sunlight they like best. Good for them. And how exquisite are their blooms!? Like the most delicate icicles.
:: the southern side ::
:: the northern side! ::
Now, as soon as the fence repair man leaves, I’m going to lift that sideboard out of the car and get to cleaning. Eeeeeee! After the initial thrill of finding it, this is my favourite bit. Oh, why am I waiting? The fence repair man is really small and thin and quite elderly. We get along marvellously well and I’ve heard hours of lovely stories over the last few days about his career, his days as a small fellow in Italy, his love of architecture, Ancient Rome, his dream of visiting the wild animals of Africa, and his family etc. but I don’t want him volunteering to help me lift the sideboard out of the car – it’s too heavy and awkward. I’m much better by myself. So wait I shall. Plenty to do ’til then.
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Oh my goodness!
Well where there is a will there is always a way! Ive been looking at welsh dressers on Craigslist for my kitchen. The one time I find one brought over by someone from England for only 395 US dollars my sewing machine had to break . Oh well.How to choose which is more important right now..
We call the broccoli/cauliflower trees “icecream trees”. Not sure why, it has come out of secret grandmother-grandchildren business one is not privy to! Anyway, as the flowers brown and fall away, that’s “melting”. Always been fascinated by the aspect/flowering relationship to.
What a nice sturdy find, so useful for fabric and could be good working height for your cutting mat, right where you need it….well done.
You’re such a wag. Have fun with it.
Blessings Gail
ps Love those trees.
Good for you Mrs. Boot. You were meant to have it! Looking forward to the “after” photos : -)
I see the auction finished with a single bid – $50 at that! You say you did bid in the hope of winning, so I assume that was yours? I’m so pleased for you, it’s lovely!
Also your other sideboard find – looking good in your newer post! I’m currently hunting down art deco sideboards and cabinets myself, but not living in a metro area I’m having little to no success. :(
Hee! Hee! Hee! I did! I did! I didn’t bid until the last 10 minutes – didn’t want to attract any attention or competition – and then sat nervously and counted down the time til the finish. Abby and I drove out last night to collect it and it is even lovelier in real life. It’s quite fine – doesn’t have that heavy solid look that a lot of furniture from that era has – quite delicate. And the couple we bought it from were so lovely – Terry’s dad bought it for Terry’s mum in 1948 – new from the showroom here in Melbourne – for her to put her much loved, precious china in. She kept it – and even had the glass in one of the doors replaced after it was broken, including finding a glass artisan who could replicate the lovely etching of the original – until she died. Terry and his wife inherited it and they’ve had it a few years but they have a very modern home with modern furniture and it didn’t fit in – so they sold it. I assured them it couldn’t be going to a more appropriate home! I am putting it in the front hall – pride of place – and filling it with my Lotte china. I can’t wait! The Lotte is currently in these funny little built in cupboards in the family room – you can’t see it at all and we hardly ever use it now because it’s too tricky to get out! So both the sideboard and the Lotte will have a new lease of life :-)
Thanks for the compliment on the other sideboard – it’s coming up a treat – the top, sides and curved bits are English oak (I think – not an expert in this, just comparing it to other pieces we have) but the doors are either Maranti or Queesland Maple – probably Maranti which is an Australian hardwood. I had to whack the feet off with a hammer – they were pine and had been eaten by borers – it was very satisfying – and I will buy some rounded, fat ball feet for it at the hardware store. I will treat the sideboard with a borer pesticide I have – don’t want any lingering munchers. I shall oil it, paint the insides of the cupboard in a light colour so we can see into them easily and then it is going into our laundry/pantry – I have grand plans!
Good luck with your sideboard hunt – are you in the UK? – I bet there are beautiful pieces to be had there – I’m not entirely sure of the proper dates myself, and here in the colonies we probably picked up on trends later, but when I think Art Deco I always think of Hercule Poirot – and the wonderful series on television – oh his apartment is so beautiful!
There isn’t a reply button coming up on your comment, how strange! Oh well, if I comment here again you’ll get it all the same.
What wonderful history behind your new acquisition!
Also what lovely plans for the thrifted one. Sounds terrific, it is so satisfying to breathe new life into things! I just bought an old recliner which is just begging to be reupholstered with a nice patchwork, restuffed, rebuttoned, and then loved in a corner of my room for the rest of time, a retreat for sewing and reading in the sun (or under a lovely big lamp).
Not in the UK unfortunately, just my email address and my dreams. My other half has citizenship and we hope to move over there permanently soon, but until then we are in Parkes, NSW – home of the Elvis festival and the famous dish.
:)