There's nothing more exciting than finding a design treasure in an Op Shop - and you just happen to have the trailer on the car ready to take it home ON THE SPOT!!
A few months ago I found what I thought was a truly great find, at one of my favourite "secret spots".
In the 50's and 60's Grant Featherston designed some really cool chairs, tables and desks for Aristoc. For those of you not in the know, they sort of looked like skinny black legged creations akin to the aliens in the modern "War of the Worlds".
Fabulous laminate table top "slabs"and studded vinyl seats seemed suspended, "almost" sitting on Giant spider like legs. Matt black metal enhanced by gaudy gold feet. YUM!!
My heart skipped a beat when I saw an entire 6 seater dining suite in pristine condition. My poor Husband, whom you will come to know as "Don Draper", rolled his eyes, knowing full-well that I wasn't letting this baby go.
As I triumphantly handed over my dosh, I recalled seeing Aristoc dining suites in Vintage Price Guides for over $800. My god, I'm gonna make a mottser on this....
How wrong I was.....
This was in the days prior to The Click-Clack Lounge and in a time when I thought the "Vintage" World was at my feet.
I hurriedly listed my newest aquisition on Ebay - planning ahead of time, searching for the ultimate Barsony lamp which I was to purchase with all the "doe" I was to make from the sale of my dining suite.
Days passed. 10 watchers. 20 watchers. 37 watchers. No bids. No bids. No bids. No sale.
Maybe I didn't have enough photos on my listing....
Re-list. Days passed. 14 watchers. 27 watchers. 35 watchers. No bids. No bloomin' bids. No sale.
Maybe I had the suite listed in the wrong category.....
Re-list. Days passed. Watchers came and watchers left. No bids. NO FREAKIN' BIDS. NO FREAKIN' SALE.
Then I committed the mortal rule of the Vintage Dealer. I separated the chairs from the table. Maybe someone just needs the chairs. Maybe someone just needs the table.....
As "stuff" overflowed in our garage, the table and chairs became hidden under a pile of Tiki Bars, swivel egg chairs, cupboards that needed sanding, lamps that needed lampshades, eskies that, under the stressful circumstances, should have been filled to the brim with cans of JD & coke...
And just as I was about to leave the bloomin' suite on the side of the footpath for the Council truck to crunch-up,....THE CHAIRS SOLD!!!!!! I was ecstatic.....BUT the BLOODY TABLE WAS STILL THERE....
Re-list. Days passed. 10 watchers. 13 watchers. 25 watchers. With a starting price of $0.99, surely one of these dudes will bid. No bids....UNTIL.... my saviour, whom I shall call "Mintie Girl" came to my rescue. I SOLD THE TABLE FOR $0.99....
Honestly, knowing she would have to carry so much cash to pick up the table, made me nervous for her. We decided to organise an Armoured Guard to escort her with her payment to our house. She arrived safely with her Beau "Mr Muscle" in tow to help with the load.
"Don Draper" had ensured that the table was easy to load into the "Mintie Girl's" car.
But the curse of the Aristoc Table arose like a sludge of water from a mozzie ridden swamp.
In true form, the table DID NOT FIT IN THE BLOODY CAR. SO near and yet so far.
As I pulled the garage door down, I tucked my Aristoc table back into bed. Familiar in it's surroundings. Safe and cosy amongst the Fler chairs, my Pop's cupboard and my newest aquisition - a gorgeous deco shop counter.
"Mr Muscle" will return tomorrow with a bigger truck.........and I'm off to skull a strong JD and coke....if only I could reach the esky......
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