Find us at the Verdellino Mercatino (Verdellino Market)

Recently we began setting up shop at this wonderful little market in Verdellino Bergamo where a wide range of vintage and antiques are traded for rather good prices too!
It is held on the last Sunday of every month, except December 2011 when it will be on the 18th Dec due to xmas.

So, why not come along and keep an  eye out for us, if you mention you follow this blog or our Etsy shop you can receive a special 10% discount on any purchase!

Verdellino Antiques (+ Vintage) market, Bergamo

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Old Italian Religious Motif on antique Wood

A small 3 fold wooden religious (catholic) item with a beautiful Italian motif showing the mother Mary with baby Jesus. The wood has been beautifully carved with a wonderful crucifix. This item belonged to my wife's family (Italian). Dates from pre 1940s, although we believe that at some stage someone has replaced the hinges. It is in wonderful condition considering it's age with only some minor wear on the motif. A fantastic Christmas decoration or even gift.

handmade in Italy

Antique Catholic motif

Beautiful wood carving

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Rare French Business Letters & Documents

My wife and i were walking through a little Brocante in France when underneath a pile of boxes we spotted a collection of French handwritten business documents. Upon closer inspection I realised that there were various items, such as old bank cheques still carrying the original stamps through to elegantly handwritten business letters, all dating between 1892 - 1936.
Immediately we snapped up this bargain and then proceeded to go through each of them to understand better what treasure we had found this time. Some of the more interesting business letters were from a L. Grandjean Lace & Ribbon factory of Paris which were all (20 in total) handwritten by the founder within 6 weeks of the end of WW1! Interestingly there were references made to "... although the staff all have the flu, at least we did not succumb to the great malady that has befallen so many others..." Paris, 28th October 1918 exactly 13 days before the official armistice pronounced on November 11th, 1918 when optimism and knowledge that they had survived the greatest war man had ever, and still has, known to this day! Holding this old, delicate piece of history in my hand I can only wonder at the feeling that this author must have been feeling during all those weeks from September to November 1918 in the City of Love, Paris.
Other finds were a collection (x13 certs) of original Company Stock (or share) Certificates dated 1892! Now as an ex-investment banker you can imagine the surprise on face when I realised I was holding historical financial documents from the Victorian Period!
Others included bank cheques from 1925, all handwritten including the original postage stamps!
There were so many (100+) that I still haven't quite got through all of them and classified them so I have added some images below of those I have sorted and have already added to the shop... enjoy!

 

Cherub wood carving

I'd like to showcase one of my favorite little treasures I found at a flea market in France or Brocantes for those French speakers of you out there.
It's a little hand carved wood Cherub playing a little harp. Perfect item for a rustic little cottage or even a Victorian Colonial property. It's for sale in our shop at a great price... I'll be sad to see it go!

Myott, son & co Transferware Teapot

Beautiful ironstone ceramic teapot of the famous label Myott, son & co from Royal Staffordshire, England. Scene is of Paladin Villas along the River Brenta in Italy. This was a typical inspiration for the artists from 1880 to 1930 based on the Venetian aristocratic villas that were built along the Riveria Brenta in North Eastern Italy, as summer residences to escape the Venice humidity which can be suffocating with mosquitoes also in abundance. Please visit http://www.padovanavigazione.it/en/itinerari2.htm for further information on the inspiration behind this scene.
No chips, cracks etc in perfect condition.
Believed to date between 1925 - 1935 (Edwardian)
The bottom also contains the factory mark also in perfect legible condition.
Quite rare item for the style and imagery with such a perfect white ceramic color, difficult to find the same listing over the internet. Please visit our "shop" to purchase or view pricing.

New French & English Vintage Antiques in our NEW SHOP!

Currently my family and I are at our holiday home in France. And as you do in France, we like to spend our time walking the many "Brocantes" or second hand markets that spring up in the rustic villages around the province of Les Vosges.
This year has turned up quite a few interesting little treasures of which all can be bought in our NEW ETSY SHOP. We had a focus on selecting some little easyily posted items that are also not so fragile. What we found was quite a mixed bag with some fantastic surprises that we couldn't pass up!

For example take this gold painted Victorian period decòr (circa 1890) of a Cherub playing:
(Click the images below to visit the shop and see prices or to purchase)

c.1890 Gold painted wood with velvet background

Cherub playing harp

And staying on the Cherub theme we found this rather cute little decoration:

Circa 1890 - 1910 Cherub wood carving

Hand carved, French decorative house piece

In the same market we found this early 20th century perfume bottle in-cased in a decorated metal frame:

Metal in-cased blue perfume bottle (c.1920 - 1930)

French, highly collectible

Image showing relative size

 Another little surprise were these (x2) 20th century decorative, baby warming plates. They keep the food warm by adding hot water to the dish:

Early 20th century (c1920 - 1935), French made.
Scene shows a cute bunny rabbit eating carrot.
Off-set by a beautiful gold gilt with matching rabbit water stopper

Another cute rabbit scene from a later period (French c1950s)
Please note this ceramic dish, although very cute &
highly collectible, does not have a matching stopper

Strangely for being in a remote part of France we also came across this rather beautifully English transferware coffee pot:

English transferware
Early 20th century (c1910-1920)

Staying in the English theme, how about this highly decorative metal tea caddy probably dating from the 1950s:

English made Tea Caddy in tin

Or for those ceramic lovers, how about this blue and white water jug probably dating from the early 19th century during the Edwardian period (circa 1920):

Blue & white ceramic water or milk pitcher (c1920)

And lastly, the greatest treasure of them all... a hand painted ceramic Faience Soupiere (Soup holder) dating from the mid 19th century (circa 1870) signed by R.B. and in total perfect condition as it had been in the same family in a  cottage in Northern France, passed down as a treasured heirloom through the generations.

Hand painted French Faience soupiere (soup holder)
dating from the late 19th century (1870 -1890)
In perfect condition with no chips or scrapes

1900 travel trunk

Leather clad travel trunk. probably early 20th century maybe late 19th (1880 - 1910)
Trunk stands up to reveal a dresser style inner. Stickers show travel to Argentina which is probably in line with the date estimate as many Italians emigrated to Argentina during that period.
These style of trunks were popular for long distance travel, usually it was a mid to high level of passage for the quality of this trunk.
Make an offer! bids over €400