i have a site on etsy now with my friend nicole (and hopefully other duval crafters in the future!). she does amazing creature paintings and is selling them on etsy. i have some of my collage pieces and am also adding some super cool vintage finds that i have been collecting. in my adventures on sunday i came across this gorgeous piece! don't hold your breath, this one isn't getting listed on etsy... i can't part with it! this vintage french floral gravy boat caught my eye not because of the stamp on the bottom (i didn't notice that till later...) but for the exquisite blue rose print on the ceramic, the way the handle curves so delicately and the soft ruffled edge around the base, among other things. it was so perfect and totally love at first sight. i knew if i didn't get it, i would be thinking about how i lost it for the rest of my life. i hate living a life filled with what-if's, so i knew it was going home with me long before i knew it's worth!
i also fell in love with a vintage perfume bottle and a turn of the century silk pillow with vintage brass safety pins but didn't want to spend $30 and $50 (respectively) on those. at least i have good taste... ha ha. i am still lusting after that bottle though. it was only a couple inches tall but the label and the detail on the bottle were perfection.
after a little research on the gravy boat i did purchase, it turns out it's a
WH Grindley & Co. circa 1891-1914
i couldn't figure out what pattern it was, but i found some patterns from the 1940's that were worth $125 and up! i have no idea what this one could be worth. if anyone knows about vintage china, i would love some input on this. i will research the stamp more when i can. for now i will just use this piece for it's perfect french turn of the century perfection. for now, i'm going to use it as a planter. baby succulents that need to be replanted.
i'll keep you posted on the perfume bottle. maybe we will cross paths again. all you have to do is believe in a little kismet.
