One Mans Trash....

....is my treasure!  Matt and I went out to one of our favorite indoor Flea Markets on Saturday afternoon. We showed up only about an hour and a half before their marked closing time so we made a huge, speedy loop before we started getting down to the nitty-gritty.

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To give you an idea of the caliber of this flea market, there was one of these Panthers there just waiting for a good home. We've also seen a helicopter, an 8 seater horse drawn carriage and most recently a larger than life-size elephant head from a movie set.  So! On that note, lets see the goods that we picked up. 

Though we didn't pull away in some hot European car with a giant elephant head dragging behind us, we did walk away with a couple arms full of sweet goodies.  The first thing I had seen that I considered picking up was this classic eagle mirror.  On our second lap 'round the market, I had to get a closer look.

It was marked at $15.  Not too shabby!  It had been marked down from $22.  I definitely would not have paid $22.  It's by no means perfect. Notice the missing bits in the frame? I'm not too worried about it. I'll fill it back in.  When I said I would take it, the vendor volunteered, "I'll give it to you for ten."  SOLD! I'm thinking I could use a lightweight air dry clay to fill in the missing spots.  And then I'll paint it some awesome, bold color.  It depends on where it will end up living. But check out some awesome spaces that used these mirror oh-so well.

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I suppose I could refinish the gold by adding some gold leafing? 

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The next fabulous find we picked up {from the same vendor} was a crazy retro Lucite chair that we almost left behind.  I had no place for it in my house, and thinking Matt didn't really either we walked away for a while. But after a little more talk about the chair, we knew it had to be ours.  Again, it was marked at $25 before we could even attempt to bargain with the kind gentleman, he said "It's twenty-five but I'll give it to you for $20."  He must not have known what he had on his hands.  Of course, the chair is at Matt's house currently so I will show you pictures of it's long lost brothers and sisters. 

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Pretty sweet, right?  It would be the perfect desk chair. I'm trying to convince Matt to use it as his, since I already have my beloved Buttercup.

Last but certainly not least, Matt picked up an original program from the Hagler vs. Leonard Middle Weight Championship fight from 1987.  I may not have mentioned before but Matt is a boxer.  {A really good boxer too.}  It runs in his blood, he comes from a long line of boxers.  His twin brother boxes. Their father was a boxer and trainer and he was in the audience of this very fight.

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This program {in nearly pristine condition} was only $5.  So while this wasn't a decor purchase, it was a sentimental one.  Once home, Matt's brother flipped through the program only to find a ticket stub to the viewing party at the Worcester Centrum.  Pretty cool.  

 

It's finds like this that remind me that what we're buying isn't just new to us. We are a continuation of its history.  When we all buy things new, we bring things to life, add character and give them a story.  We reminisce about where we got them, who we got them with... and then pass them off to another caregiver.  I prefer to be on the receiving end of this chain.  I like getting things second hand {Well, I suppose somethings I want new... Mattresses being one of them.}  with years of a story in them.  I wonder who sat in that Lucite chair?  Could it have been a great writer?  The predecessor to the modern blogger, perhaps? Or my federal mirror... who knows? Maybe it was owned by a Vet who has seen more than my innocent, sheltered eyes can possible imagine.  I suppose these are all questions that will go unanswered for me. In the meantime I'll just pretend famous and infamous historical figures owned all my thrifted goods.  

 

So, Nesters, what is your favorite second hand piece and what is the story you attribute to it?  Maybe it's from your Grandma and you do know the history from the beginning? Or just like me a fun piece you dream up a story.  Spill it, Nesters!