This and That: A Blog

  Thursday Postcard Hunt : Sculptures or Statues Cigar Store Indian, XIX century, National Gallery of Art, Washington DC Lindworm Fountain in Klagenfurt, Austria. A Lindwurm is a mythical dragon-like creature in Northern and Central European folklore.   Depending on tradition and the story, Lindwurms can be good or bad.  Washington Park, Portland, OR Scottish knight and national hero,  Sir William Wallace , by Alex Carrick, Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland  c. 1940s Illustrations is next week's postcard theme.

Giving you a break this week from the ephemera!  Here are some items found a various spots around town. Japanese earthenware from 1955-1965 from St. Vincent de Paul.  Not a big bargain at $5.  (So much glare from the windows...) A cast concrete froggy who looks like he's enrapturedly praying to his froggy god (or he sees his beloved passing by).   He's from the Goodwill Bins. Salt cellar with cobalt blue glass insert and period-appropriate spoon (not original to the cellar) from St. Vincent de Paul for $4.  The garland motif, ball feet, and openwork design were popular around 1880-1910.  The liner is possibly German or Austrian.  Its deep blue protected the silver from corrosion caused by the salt.  The spoon is marked “850 S" which is Continental silver, 85% silver.  Sterling silver is 92.5% and marked 925. The spoon is also most likely German or Austrian from the same date period.   The frame is not marked, it might be s...

 I was delighted to find some antique photos at St. Vincent de Paul.  It really pays to looks in places you don't expect to find things, as these were just stuffed down in a plastic container of the loose "artwork" (which is mostly junk).  1905 Hugo Hahn, Austria, cabinet card.  Larger than others I've found, 5 x 8. $2.00 A group of businessmen in front of Schloss Moritzburg - near Dresden, Saxony, Germany.  Pencil date on the back of 1940. At the time Moritzburg was a government-controlled site used for administrative and cultural functions, where delegations would meet for planning and negotiations.  It was under periodic restoration.  Perhaps the large bag carried by the one man held documents, maps, or tools.  Even the hats are telling. There are three Homburgs ( the power hats of 1940 Germany!), the hats of senior officers or high status professionals.  Three others are wearing fedoras, mostly worn by middle-ranking professionals, techn...