Weekend Thrifty Treasures

I am participating in Today's Thrifty Treasures again, hosted by the fabulous Southern Hospitality. I love seeing what other people have found!

This weekend I attended approximately 12 estate sales, and probably that many garage sales. Everything I bought came from 3 fantastic sales, the rest were very disappointing.

I turned around for one second and someone was checking out my items - or maybe she just wanted to be in my blog (don't worry, she didn't come from the estate sales).
I found a few interesting vintage fabrics, including this one.
A pretty little Italian dish and a few English Johnson Bros. plates.
Another wine box, a charming light green depression glass dish, a silverplate wine coaster/chiller, a spoon with a pattern matching a previously found serving spoon, some tin pie plates, and a tin cup funnel to use when making preserves.
I sometimes am drawn to things, even though I have no idea what they are or what they are used for. Sometimes this ends up great, sometimes not. The above I bought without knowing what it was (along with the tray - but obviously I know what that is). It reminded me of an extra large salt cellar, with a scoop, and so pretty.
The scoop slides into a slot on the back. After a bit of research, I learned it was a Sugar Scuttle, probably from the 40's or 50's. It is very ornate and pretty, though a bit worn, which I don't mind. I love it. For me, this was a great find.
Now, for the not so great...
I found this at an estate sale. It started a conversation as to what it was between several people working and other shoppers. No one knew what it was, but one woman thought it might be used to hang pictures, or heavy mirrors. I wasn't convinced, but I bought it anyway.
When I was able to look with a magnifying glass, I saw that it was marked Noyes Bros & Cutler, which turned out to be a Pharmaceutical company in the Midwest, mid to late 1800's.
It also had a Caduceus (serpent and staff medical symbol) which was quite alarming to me, I am very squeamish.
I won't go into great detail, but needless to say, it was in fact used in the mid-to late 1800's as a certain surgical tool that performed more than one function. It now hangs out in the garage until I figure out what to do with it.
I may rethink my "buy if it is intriguing" policy.

Don't forget to check out Southern Hospitality for other Thrifty Treasures!