Fancy Estate Sale

Lots of estate sales again this weekend!
In my area during the summer months, we have estate sales that run Thursday - Sunday, with the majority falling over the weekend. Most of my weekend mornings are spent attending various sales. I look in the local paper to map them out, concentrating on nearby sales. Most of them are run by companies that have websites, with pictures, so I can get an idea what is there. However, you never know what you might find. Maybe there is a box of tarnished silver under a table that wasn't photographed?? You never know...
Estatesales.net is a good source to find sales in your area.
This weekend I attended one of the largest and best estate sales I had ever been to. It was the house of a prominent doctor and his wife, they were very involved in the arts community. Their house was 5 levels, and packed with treasures. They had the largest silver collection I've ever seen. They had tons of sterling flatware full sets, serving pieces in every imaginable form and function, and almost everything was monogrammed. It was amazing.
Unfortunately, most of it was out of my budget. I did pick up a few onsie silverplated pieces.
All monogrammed pieces.
And a beautiful set of art nouveau spoons with a woman figure on them.
I overheard a worker mention one man had bought $10,000 worth of silver!
It was fun to look around at this sale - it was a pretty rare event.

There were also the normal variety estate sales. I picked up a few more things.
A pair of vintage 1940's cat eye glasses. They are very strong prescription bifocals, so I may change the lenses out, but they are adorable. They have the owners name monogrammed on the inside of the silver frame.
A set of 3 Italian framed pictures.
And 3 of these. I wasn't sure what these were at first, but figured out that they hold individual lemon slices! You squeeze the lemon and it keeps the seeds out.
Here they are cleaned up and ready for tea.
Very clever. Perfect for dinner parties.
I also found a few miscellaneous books, a cookbook, a sewing book, a French guide, all from the 40's.
I also saw something I loved, but had to leave behind.
This old 1920's gas stove was in the basement of one of the sales (sorry about the terrible cell phone picture). It was marked $75, but since it was the last day of sale, it was 1/2 off that! It looked like it was in great shape, I think it could easily have been restored, but I just don't have anywhere to put it! I was so sad, but I couldn't take it home.
Oh well, there's always next week....

I'm participating in Thrifty Treasures, hosted by Southern Hospitality. Check out all the other great finds!