Get your pop corn! Sharing a movie!

Once upon a time I helped a local movie production find a few props. The movie is now available FREE on you tube. It’s eclectic…..has drug themes so not for the young. Most of the locations shot were in the Reading and Berks County areas so see what you can recognize! I got my name in the credits. Best prop to watch for is a beautiful pink patch work quilt which is draped behind the young girls in a bedroom scene. I still have the TV if anyone needs……. XO Malissa

New merch is here! I’ve cracked the IDs on these pieces

I picked up the long waited low dresser, matching mirror, matching pair of twin beds, a gorgeous cube end table and a gaggle of miscellaneous items this morning!

The only mid century in the house is what I bought and it surprisingly is very well kept. There was a high end colonial vibe in most of the decor. I got some wall art from Paris and others with ladies in Victorian hoop dresses. I also grabbed some gorgeous Lenox and English gold leaf China, an array of candlesticks, 2 Couroc inlay trays in their whimsical mid century glory and I was very happy to find a matched pair of textiles that were woven here in PA by Family Heirloom Weavers in Red Lion. They weave on period looms and reproduce all kinds of classic patterns with each run being limited and they may not make it again. Made of wool and cotton, you can’t beat the quality. The 2 pieces I have feature a classic design called Lee’s Surrender.

On the pattern:
Other names seem to have nothing to do with the pattern itself but, rather, reflect the time or place the pattern was designed. The draft for Lee’s Surrender, for example, came sometime in the aftermath of the American Civil War. Specifically, legend says it was designed by a Confederate mother mourning a son lost in battle.

The pattern is currently not available from the weavers. All tags remain and these pieces are basically as good as new. They are called table squares. Will be good on a small accent table with or without a long skirt. Fiber colors are tan, green and burgundy. 36” by 38.5” each. *****THESE ARE BOTH NOW SOLD!

Next up…..the furniture. The dilemma here was who made them and who designed them? The google search pics I found multiple potentials for each but there is only one answer….and I needed proof. Much to my dismay neither the bedroom nor the cube end table were marked. They did, however, retain their ‘numbers’ which translate to catalog proof. I had 2 brand leads on the dresser. I focused on Directional. I found a great fb group which has tons of scanned catalogs in their files. That is so amazing and many other enthusiasts are doing this now so always add Facebook into your research schedule! First Dibs is NOT a factual place to get your info and neither is any other online platform. These dealers lie all the time. If the maker and designer mean something to you, do your own research! Find the catalog or an add. Pinterest, google image search, websites and searching good mcm fb groups for convos and files is always where you should start.

Ok so what did I find????

Love this dresser! It is very clean. I keep looking at it and think….no way is this old! Ha. But it surely is! There are 12 drawers. They are shallow. My plus size self would not have a lot in there. It would make a great lingerie type chest for me and maybe tshirts. You smaller folk won’t have an issue. But def no jeans or bulky items if you want to maximize your storage. The walnut is beautifully figured. The knobs are black and there is a thin black strip framing the outer drawer area as well. The ad eludes to Ebony. Could it be? Who knows as it’s not spelled out on the catalog where it only says walnut. Here’s a look.

Patterns 9 is the line! Designed by (not Milo you lazy ass first dibs dealers) JACK CARTWRIGHT. See the ebony line ⬆️?

It’s a match! Number on my piece matches the catalog!

Here’s the mirror. Wire is attached and ready to walk mount.

The 2 twin beds have some issues I need to clean. They prob could use a refinish. Headboard plus metal frames. I did not take a pic of them yet. The mystery has been solved in less than an hour!

Next we move on to the cube table. To be fair, it looks like it could be a Pearsall. But I never trust what I can’t prove. The irony here is, there is a Craft Associates company that makes various reproductions of Pearsall designs and some other companies/designers. Unsure the story and if they really have the rights to the designs or not. Regardless, they have a great website and I was able to find they are reproducing a legged end table like the cube! So here we go!

The cube end table features a plinth bass, 2 inner drawers and nice walnut veneer. The barn door style latch is neat. Lucky for me, there is a number written on the bottom. That’s the only clue. I will say the walnut is lighter than my Pearsall pieces which I have been intimate with having refinished all the trim on my couch. I used a clear oil finish that had no added color pigment and it’s just a dark wood. This piece is def not as dark. So what did I find?

Well thank you Craft Associates for providing research materials on your site! Maybe those other first dibs dealers got so excited they found it on the CA website that just attributed it to them without analyzing the pic??? This one IS Milo Baughman! LEGIT. Directional made some great stuff and I had some pieces a few years back that were designed by Arthur Umanoff. Looks like the line is ‘Gallery 1’ and manufactured by Johnson Furniture Co, Grand Rapids. Interesting. Directional did not make their own stuff? We may need another deep dive!

I have a few other things including a very cool chrome fold in half directors chair which I found who made but was hoping to find a bit more info. I have to clean some rust off the chrome. Here’s a peek:

I have smalls too! They mostly have already moved into my booth. Come shop! 10-6 WED-FRI at Fleetwood Antique Mall. My booth is on the right just inside the entrance.

I may have a walnut dining room on the horizon next….in a month or so.

XO MALISSA

*saving mcm from chalk painters and placing it in enthusiasts homes since 2014ish.

Moroccan tray table and incoming bedroom items

Hey there! I am still here and although I am less focused on my business these days, I am still trying to help people by purchasing their better brand mid century collectibles and move them on to new homes for the next Gen of collectors. The merch definitely is not as easy as it was to get and I refuse to bid up the competition which only drives up prices.

My husband wanted to go to the flea market on Sunday. I am not as enthusiastic as I used to be about finding things in the wild just because I am focused on working what little hours I get and looking for permanent full time work, but I said ok, let’s go!

I managed to buy a cute little Moroccan tray table from a gal who looked quite surprised I was interested. She told me that the comments she got all morning about the ‘pentagram’ on it and references to occult theme made her wonder if anyone would want it. I bought it and within the hour knew more.

This piece features a hand worked copper tray, intricately stamped and etched. The star symbol is taken from the Seal of Solomon and represents the five pillars of Islam. This star was used on the Moroccan flag since 1915. The tripod base is a beautiful piece of carved teak which is all cut from one piece and all pieces are permanently interlocking. It collapses into itself and is amazingly compact if needed to store. This piece will bring a taste of the exotic yet pair well with bohemian and eclectic decors, mid century and organic designs. It is now offered in my Etsy shop and on my website for local pick up.

Coming soon! I just got a 2 week warning to schedule pick up for some bedroom items I committed to buy several months ago. I have not seen anything in person and have been poking through the interwebs for authentication. This stuff is a mixed bag. There are far too many different attributions that I hesitate to mention them. I want to inspect in person and then I will deep dive for answers. In the mean time, I want to share some pics of what is coming and you can let me know if anything interests you. I have determined that this is higher end stuff. I will be pricing accordingly but will still be far under any others you will find. I am certain no one got the memo that the market has died? It should be a buyers market right now and in my world, it has always been. I want to provide high end collectibles for a value with high service to boot. The bad: I no longer have a delivery vehicle. I will be picking this up in my VW Vanagon and I will not be able to deliver in that vehicle. I can offer services of a Philadelphia based shipper who will deliver anywhere east of the Mississippi. Or you can rent a van and come get it yourself- which already puts you at a cheaper price as my website is pick up only and discounted from my Etsy and Chairish shops. Reach out if you want first deets on anything! Some of this may be Milo Baughman designs. I will work on that. 😘 (there is also a headboard….might be twin? Unsure by pic.

XO MALISSA