"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

Hello Friends!

Friends, Romans, countrymen...y'all. Foodies, gardeners, artists and collectors - let's gather together to share and possibly learn a thing or two in the mix.

Donna Baker

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Going


This is an old document box from the 1700's.  They were used by families for all their important worldly possessions and carried cross country in covered wagons.

Most of the buttery soft deer hide is gone and I still have the handmade brass brads in a container inside.  This one has the initials DB on top -  same as mine.  Yet, it just sits under the gothic stained glass window.



The hardware, nails and brads are all handmade.



The wallpaper covering the inside is very thick and heavy and just gorgeous.


Don't have the key.  Definitely not museum quality, but I don't see them anymore.  Because of the condition, I didn't price it too high.  This is going to the booth today.  We'll see.  If no one snaps it up, I'll put a higher price on it.  I did that with an old Lifesavers store display last week and it sold.

25 comments:

The Weaver of Grass said...

It is just so beautiful Donna - and what stories it could tell. As for that inside paper -exquisite.

donna baker said...

I wish it had been full of documents Pat. Wouldn't that have been grand? Yes, it is a piece of early American history which is short compared to the UK's.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Donna, in answer to your query, I did not hang out my T shirts to dry, I dried them in the tumble drier - far too strong an odour outdoors!

RachelD said...

No room in the inn, though it's breathtaking. You do have an eye for the most remarkably wonderful things.

However, if you ever decide to part with that small green leave-a-note box for the door, I'm your girl.

Hope it's SPRING where you are. BRIGHT here.

r

angryparsnip said...

What a beautiful Box. I hope it sells fast so it will be one last thing to think about.

cheers, parsnip

angryparsnip said...

What a beautiful Box. I hope it sells fast so it will be one last thing to think about.

cheers, parsnip

A Brit in Tennessee said...

Simply gorgeous, and such history it can tell.....
~Jo

donna baker said...

Oh good Pat. I wondered about that.

donna baker said...

The wind the last two days has been insane. Other than that, it would be perfect out. Email me your address Rachel. Nobody but you and me seem to love that little note box. My gift to you. I love it when my things find the perfect home.

donna baker said...

Me too, because I just got home from moving everything around to fit the box and a cabinet and I'm done for.

donna baker said...

Yes, I hope it finds a good home.

Joanne Noragon said...

I do like the raising the price school of marketing. I used to do it when things sold too fast; obviously undervalued. History, it seems, cannot be sold cheap. But when the price crosses value at the sweet spot, bingo, and it's sold, sold, sold.

donna baker said...

I can't wait to see Joanne. I've taken a loss on many things, but on some of the rarer stuff, I'll keep it before I give it away. That Lifesaver metal store dislay was really cute and sat in the booth for two months. I marked it up and it was gone in a day. Guess someone was looking for it to go down and when it went up they thought they better go ahead a bite the bullet. I've never seen another one.

Elephant's Child said...

Oh the stories that chest has held...
I hope it sells in a heart beat and goes on to shelter more stories.

donna baker said...

Me too Child. I love it when collectors buy what they love. When sellers buy it to resale, I think, grrr, I sold it too cheap.

Sandra Cox said...

Oh my gosh. 1700s. Isn't that something? The interior is gorgeous.
It's always a head shaker to me that sometimes things sell the higher the price.
It the same with books.

donna baker said...

It is for American history. It is nutty how the pricing works. So far, it seems just the cheapest stuff sells. I hope that isn't the norm, but I'll find out one way or another.

Bohemian said...

The Box is Historically Great but that Interior wallpapering, DIVINE! Dawn... The Bohemian

Jacqueline @ HOME said...

That box is amazing Donna and, if I lived in your country, I'd buy it !!
...... and, for the US, that is SO old ..... a beautiful piece of history. XXXX

RachelD said...

Oh, My Dear! That is such a precious thing, and such a part of someone's life and days---it just struck my heart, in a way that no ornate lamp or ormulu clock could chime a recognition. Think of the memories it's held and conveyed, the secrets it's kept tight. I can't think other than you'd have a tiny space for such a treasure, and it doesn't feel right just to accept such a sweet bit of history. Please may I not pay your booth price?

My computer somehow won't let me click on anybody's e-mail--could you get mine from my sidebar? Thank you for parting with this wonderful bit of someone's past.

rachel

donna baker said...

Yes, with a probably now extinct bird painted in the pattern.

donna baker said...

The only things older in the US are native American basketry and pottery and some cave paintings. I wish you lived here too. I only want it to go to someone that will appreciate it.

Sandra Cox said...

I'm sure it will sell.
Have the best Thursday ever!
Hugs

Deborah Nolan said...

What a great piece. Do love the wallowing used in the inside. Bet this is a hard one to part with friend. Have a great day.

donna baker said...

It is a great piece Deb, but I can't keep everything. It has been there for nearly a week and is still there. I can't believe the things that are still there. It seems just very inexpensive things are selling which doesn't bode well for the economy I fear.