Dansk Teak End-Cut Coaster Set

I'm finally getting around to December and January finds - fairly "slim-pickings" from those two months or perhaps I'm just getting too choosy. In any case, I found these 8 coasters at Goodwill - they had the two rubber bands around them as shown, wrapped in plastic with a $1.92 price on them.

They looked great and even better once I got them home. I don't believe they were ever used - so these are keepers.

Dansk would normally market these in sets of 4 so I'm presuming that these 8 are actually two sets. Also, Dansk would normally mark the edge of at least one coaster with a small "Dansk" imprint - I've looked these over and couldn't find one so these are potentially knock-offs. However they are so nice it doesn't matter to me, plus they are extremely functional.

I'm particularly fond of the butcher-block end-grain cut of similar cutting boards. I find the grain patterning entrancing. Sorry about the glare on these - they aren't high-polish but due to the wood's hardness and silica content, they tend to reflect light.

More to come...

-- John

Heller Two Quart Casserole Designed by Vignelli for Heller

It's been a while since I've found something worth posting about - this time I found this Heller Two Quart Casserole with Au Gratin Cover Designed by Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Heller - these started production around 1975. I've always admired the one that my friend John Stephens has - first seeing it during a pot-luck at the house where they brought a yummy dish presented in the casserole dish. I was very lucky to find this example for less than $5 at a Goodwill near work. This one is marked Heller, Made in USA and Microwave Safe - no chips in the lid or dish at all. Measures about 9 3/4″ in diameter at widest and 5 1/2″ tall and very heavy - the interesting texture is from grooves moulded into the glass. Very happy to find this during a serendipitous moment...

-- John

So Why a Blog on Thrifting?

I guess I have a lot of idle time or something - or maybe it was due to my being brought to Flea Markets as a kid by my dad - in any case, I'm the type to be drawn to the random "Yard Sale" - "Garage Sale" - "Estate Sale" signs you see on weekends. I also frequent a handful of Thrift Stores including Goodwill (to which I also donate), Value Village and some other random spots. It's just something in my nature, to want to re-purpose an item or see new life in the old. I'd much rather find something than purchase new (it also makes me an eBay addict). In any case, I'll be posting to this blog from time to time with my latest finds.

So here's a list of items I look for:

1. Books - if you're priced a book lately, you'll know what I mean - I can often find a paperback at Goodwill for $1.50 that retails for $7.95 or so, and hardcovers are $2.50. Both are 50% off if it's the right color for the week. Yard sales are the best - I've often found whole boxes of books for a buck or two.
2. Knick-knacks - generally I look for modernist designed or international design objects. This includes the odd piece of ceramic, wood items (especially in rosewood, teak or other exotic), kitchen tools, etc.
3. Clocks and Radios - yeah, I like those too, especially items from the 50s-70s that are made of cool plastics, etc.
4. Vintage Toys - I rarely find anything other than board games at thrift stores, but have been lucky a few times at estate sales.
5. Paper Ephemera - I look for old posters, framed prints, booklets and pamphlets - this kind of goes with the book thing and my love for paper, good printing and design.
6. New Clothing - it's amazing how much new clothing you can find at thrift stores and tag sales - seems a lot of people buy clothes and outgrow (or maybe they get items as gifts?) - most recently I found a Monty Python T-Shirt "It's only a flesh wound" with the tags at Goodwill for $2
7. Modern Furniture - I'm always on the lookout for the occasional table, chair, etc. I just passed on two MCM dining chairs and a large shelf unit (the unit was $49 at Goodwill, made of walnut with a fold-out secretary) - sometimes you just have to let it go.

So for my first post, I thought I would talk about one of my latest finds - this is a Danish, marked, hand-carved teak serving tray. It immediately caught my eye. Unbelievably, it was also the "Color of the week" at Goodwill so I got it for 1/2 price - yup, less than $2.

55 cm long by 22 cm wide

Well marked "DENMARK"; "ODENSE" and Maker?

$3.93 B (so purchased for $1.97)

Notice the chisel marks!

 So how's that for a first post?

-- John