5 things I thrifted in a swimming pool
5 things I thrifted in a swimming pool
£30 artwork, Fire King-alike mug and petty teak from Danmark
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Right before my Easter trip to Taiwan and Japan, I went to a vintage home show that had me lingering on the whole experience until today. Yes, it’s almost a month and I’m still thinking about it. 95% of the love reason points to the location of this show — Victoria Baths — where Chanel hosted hundreds of A-list guests from around the world following its groundbreaking Métiers d'Art show in Manchester last December. (Side story: I once thought of driving to the venue for Tilda Swinton on that heavy rain day, but the missed opportunity does not seem too bad today because I stepped on the same floor tiles and browsed a similar Victorian setting like she did just months ago.)
VICTORIA BATHS
A lavishly restored Wes Anderson vibe swimming pool complex from the 19th century, Victoria Baths was described as Manchester’s “Water Palace” and first opened its doors in 1906. The drained pool areas of the Baths is now open to the public as a heritage visitor attraction, events venue and a location for many TV and film productions. Walking through the doors of the Baths, immediately I was transported to another era of elegance: deep glazed green tiles from floor to ceiling, decorative stained glass windows everywhere, Turkish Bath suites, a sauna and even Aeratone (jacuzzi)! Nostalgic and photogenic, you would share my excitement spending a few hours of shopping here:
VINTAGE HOME SHOW
Thrilled? Yes! But vintage shopping means finding your own voice in a huge market and sometimes it’s easy to get lost without knowing it. Being smart, I have a list with several items before running into the swarm of traders and hunters:
Paintings with elements of flowers or abstract prints (approx. 2-3)
Desk lamp, preferably in milk glass or plastic shades in neutral colours
Noodles bowl (am now consuming B-grade Japanese bowls from TK Maxx)
Posters that align to my likings (aka no preference)
Jewellery boxes (2-3) made of wood and/or MOP
Let the search game begin!
As a regular vintage shopper, I have a habit of keeping an album of what I like and returning to it during future shopping. Found this really useful as a track record of
1) taste
2) setting context to purchase
3) picture taken = bought
These are to-be-added to the Album of Liking:
Pictured below, I was pondering and analysing an extra special coffee table in front of me. Surely I was not looking for a coffee table in particular but would not mind getting one if it is truly exceptional. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS four-legged pewter without mentioning its labelled tag…
Apart from those beyond budget gems, there were also treasures I took a snap of and were gone before I made them mine…
WHAT I THRIFTED
After three hours rummaging in the market, here is my roundup of love-worn thrifted treasures:
A £30 embroidered artwork. Seen above, the artwork was sneakily taken by phone as a self-reminder to check it out again because it was in one of the first few stalls near the entrance and there MUST be better deals inside the market. However not, I came back for it 3 hours later and shockingly found it was still there. Twinning with my IKEA star pendant light I hung up 365 days, this enchanting work of embroidery has found a forever home.
Right now — sitting nicely in my living room waiting for more paintings to join the blank space behind:
1970s Federal Glass coffee mug. Having a soft spot for vintage glassware, this milk glass mug is a love at first sight. Look at the cheeky lion and little mouse in bold lines and colour! I have always wanted a Fire King mug but the popular jadite does not ring the bell (yet), thus suspending myself with two rounds of aimless walking thought battle in the market, a perfect reason was found for this Federal Glass mug to go home with me: The lion looks a bit like Lubby, one of our cats (Her paw featured. See?)
1960s Cheese Sardine Set. Scored this boxed trio coming with a little oval serving dish, mini spatula for sardines and pick for cheese. What’s key? The riveting wooden handles, and it is new old stock.
Mid-century Danish teak serving tray by Digsmed. Oh Digsmed. The stall I purchased this tray from was selling everything Danish, all displayed and presented very elegant and classy (stereotyping: navy tablecloth) one finds trouble walking away without admiring or buying a thing from the two ladies who dressed in Ralph Lauren ‘old money’ aesthetic. Days passed. Sorry not sorry, I have already used it to serve snacks with a beer and a glass of wine. Thanks RRL ladies!
1950s Lancraft teak flower vase. In excellent condition. With similar designs by Lancraft there are ice buckets, biscuit barrel, canister, bowl, dish etc. but a flower vase seemed a more practical pick. Turning the vase clockwise its laminated wood shimmers, vice versa. Oh and can we spend another second admiring the bottom of this vase as well? It’s beautiful.
At this point of thrifted treasures record, there is a noticed tendency of sourcing and/or shopping generous amount of wooden homeware in different shades of brown, meaning most vintage homeware I acquired lie on the same colour ring… and guess what — only one purchase is from my shopping list and the rest are all sidetracked temptations. Told you it wasn’t easy!
NEXT WEEK: A mini heatwave is ideal for dressing up.
Until then,
Chris
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