At the beginning of every summer, bumbling creatures across Canada poke their heads out, blink their eyes at the sun and make their way out of their groundhog holes.
Then we go to garage sales.
OR if you're like me, you make your way to Canada's largest antique show, Christie's. And this groundhog isn't the only one that marks the start of summer with a trip to Christie's. Thousands of people show up every year to marvel at, ponder and buy weird things covered in dust rust, and very occasionally ... sparkle.
People wander around asking whatever happened to gramma's such and such that was JUST like this one, or why did I ever throw that out?! But far and away the most popular statement echoed around the show all day long was "What the hell do you think that is?". And more often than not, some head would pop in from somewhere and tell you exactly what it was.
In fact, I dare say, if there's a single thing in your house you're curious about all you'd have to do is grab it, go to Christie's, stand in the middle of an aisle and quietly mutter "What do you think this is?" just ONCE and you'd have an answer. Probably 12 answers. Even more fun, they'd probably be 12 different answers.
It was a cold one this morning and in fact there was a frost warning the night before. But by the middle of the day sweaters and mittens came off so my sister and I could focus on the antiques as opposed to runny noses. There's nothing less becoming than a groundhog with a runny nose.
Every year it's something different, but every year I'm on the hunt for something. Having something to search for a purpose at the sale makes it exciting because you aren't just looking, you're searching for that perfect thing that may or more not be at the sale. It could be just around this corner, or that corner, or it could be in someone else's hands right at this very moment.
Having something to hunt for at a flea market or garage sale makes it less like shopping and more like gambling. So more fun.
This year I was looking for a midcentury modern chair and ottoman. I saw one 2 years ago at the fall show but I didn't buy it. And now I regret it. I saw another chair and ottoman in the window of a store in downtown Hamilton 2 years ago. I didn't buy it. And now I regret it. So I swore this year I was finding a classic midcentury chair and ottoman and I was BUYING them.
The first thing I saw upon wandering through the gates was this.
And it went downhill from there.
This, by the way, is the form of a classic egg chair by Danish furniture designer Arne Jacobsen. A truly iconic piece. And home to a mischief of mice at one point apparently.
The day started with me trying to casually walk the aisles but about 20 minutes into the show I grabbed Pink Tool belt and told her I couldn't do this anymore, I had to run to the booth that always has the midcentury furniture before someone else bought my chair. The chair I knew had to be there. The Papa Bear Chair. Behold the image of one I've had saved to my computer for years.
But when we got to the spot the Midcentury Modern booth had been year after year, the Papa Bear chair wasn't there.
This was.
This weird doll thing that looks like it needs an exorcism was sitting where my chair should have been.
The whole booth was GONE. Gone. Gone girl.
So I was sad and I felt like going right back into my groundhog hole but I still took pictures of things along the way for you to enjoy. Plus I ate french fries. So there's that. Please enjoy.
I loved this painting. At $450 should have bought it. This will be the thing I regret not buying next year.
Olden day bundle buggy.
Carpets. All of them were your typical blue and red except for this beautiful PINK one.
Notice everyone wearing coats, sweaters and long pants.
Vintage Corningware etc.
Metal tin. Yup. Just a cute, dirty metal tin.
Jadeite. Some old, some new, so you'd better know your stuff before you buy.
Silvery trophy and leather bound books. This is another thing I keep wishing I'd bought. I keep looking back at this photo wondering why I didn't check the price of the trophy and books.
I blame it on a severe Midcentury mental breakdown.
Vintage Louis Vuitton purses.
The hotdog head man who is there every year.
He never wins my business. My business always goes to the potato.
Considering this is the biggest antique show in Canada it's always interesting to see how many American things are there.
Bottle drying rack. Or hat.
Copper pots. They weighed a TON which is a good thing in a copper pot.
I spent the rest of the show looking for the horse.
Midcentury stuff. But not the kind of midcentury stuff I'm lookin' for. Although that chair would look great somewhere.
Just a bunch of stuff.
Mugs. (In case you thought they were not mugs)
Flow Blue has always been a favourite of mine. It's transferware that is blurred during the firing process. On purpose. Love it but it's expensive.
Hats!
Found the horse! No, wait ...
Probably one of the greatest things at the show was a big basket of Roy Rogers toy guns. More Americana.
Stacking luggage.
O.K. here we go ... my FAVOURITE thing at the whole show.
Are you ready?
Are you curious?
What do you think it's going to be?
It's a ginormous PICNIC BASKET!
For Downton Abbey-style picnics.
It was in perfect condition, was really reasonably priced and gleaming. Really the only reason I didn't buy it was because my lady's maid is a cat, and she could never lift this. Plus there's the issue of finding a meadow.
There was some pewter at the show but not as much as I was hoping for. By next year I predict there will be more of it.
Minnow bucket. For keeping one's minnows. Again, an American item.
Internal mannequin with part of his guts and penis missing.
Acupuncture chart. For those days when you want a really great adventure.
Ah HA. Moose Crossing. We are in Canada.
So I didn't buy a chair, I ate a bunch of french fries and ran into a few Art of Doing Stuff readers. On Friday I'll tell you what I brought home with me, how much it cost and what the hell it is.
Therese
Nice dream chair and ottoman! Coincidentally I know where you can get one of those - I just got this on FB yesterday. Pity it's in Australia!https://www.facebook.com/grandfathers.axe/photos/a.10151410526107854.1073741835.89320527853/10152798383897854/?type=1
Karen
Wow! I've never seen one that's a channel back before. Nice. ~ karen!
Kathleen
That picnic basket... I want it. How can I have "byers remorse" for not buying it when I wasn't even there? I really, REALLY want it!
*sniff. snivel*
I also really liked the luggage. (the yellowy / checked stack)
No I don't!
I just really, really, REALLY want the picnic basket!
Aspasia
Okay, well, I know where I'll be next year (at the Christie's show, drooling over the jadeite table). That is a great picnic basket. Incidentally, I have the exact same luggage (just the smaller one) in the picture with the, uh, cage chair thing. Now I'm wondering whether it's actually worth something...
Ardith
Oh, goody, no one here seems interested in the taxidermy goat with two sets of horns. I don't know why, but I want it. If only I wasn't writing this note from Texas. Cheers, Ardith
Heather Howard
Headed to Brimfield show in July...... You going? That should be an adventure. Went 15 years ago when I was preggers and didn't know it. Maybe this time I won't pass out HA!
Would have totally bought the picnic basket for here in the Texas hill country!!! Been looking for one!
Karen
Oh, I'd LOVE to go to Brimfield! But no. :( I won't be. ~ karen!
Leslie Fleury
Do you think you could grab the moose crossing sign for me? There have been two separate instances of a moose in our yard in the past two weeks! And no, he didn't call it - lol
Karen
Hahahah! I can't remember how to do a moose call, which is very sad for me. I'm such a city slicker the only thing I can call are chickens. Tell that husband of yours that moose are prettier than they are tasty and he should just leave them alone! ~ karen
Grammy
I think Karen bought the acupuncture wall chart. She should have. And I predict we're going to hear her lamenting for years to come because she didn't buy that painting she liked -- it's a beautiful painting and a good deal.
I hope whoever took home that picnic basket uses it! That is just the most beautiful thing in the world. I have a regular picnic basket outfitted with heavy plastic utensils and plates and cups, and my grandson and I still think it's some kind of wonderful to take it to the park for lunch.
ellen
Not Corning Ware but Pyrex - I almost fell off my chair drooling over it.
Evlayn
Now I don't have to say it! Vintage Pyrex - a serous weakness of mine.
Karen
Pyrex was invented by and is made by Corning Evlayn. I'm using the words interchangeably even though technically they aren't exactly the same thing. ~ karen!
Ruth
Love the picnic basket.
That lady in the 'hats photo' giving you the side-eye though..... hmmm.
Karen
LOL. Someone else mentioned that. I didn't even notice. I just run around taking shots and ignore pretty much everyone and everything. ~ karen!
Elen @ Elen G
Okay. I wanted to eat the picture of those fries.
I have quite a few pieces of Flow Blue, only I didn't realize what it was. I just knew it was old. Very old. Wanna barter? :-D
Karen
Sure. I'll continue to give you highly entertaining posts for the low, low cost of nothing in exchange for the plates for the low, low cost of nothing, lol. Just kidding. I dooooo love Flow Blue. Send me a pic if you're ever thinking of getting rid! ~ karen!
Elen @ Elen G
Hahahaha. And, yes, I am considering finding a loving home for it. I will gather some pics and think on it. Cheers!
jainegayer
I adore the pink carpet. But those french fries are making me drool!
Etta
Should have bought the picnic hamper....just sayin' .
SarahP
I've been waiting for your Christie's post. I couldn't imagine you'd miss the show. I loved that picnic basket too. If the jar lids hadn't been cracked, I may have thought about it.
Jody
I love going to Christie's Antique Show. I always get something or five. This year the quirky item I bought was a diary--the old 5 year diary with the lock that never works. It starts in 1953 and the 14 year old girl writing it, from Cheektowaga, is delightful. It is so sweet. With the wonders of the internet I may be able to find her and ask if she wants her diary back. It makes me wonder how the diary ever ended up at an antique sale.
Sally
I always love this post! It looks like another great year. I look forward to seeiing what you hauled home.
Cathy
Dang, girl, you have great restraint. I'd have snatched the picnic basket up in a hot minute; and a bunch
of the jadeite. And copper. And some of the frames.
So, do you guys ever get warm weather? Longer than 3 weeks? I just don't know how you do it.
I have a hard time with Central Ohio winter as it is....
Karen
Hey Cathy! I actually think it's much hotter here for the summer than in central Ohio, lol. People automatically assume all of Canada is freezing cold. We just had a weird cold day which happens around this time. All this week it's supposed to be around 29-32 celsius though which is between 85 and 90 fahrenheit (although yesterday and the day before felt more like fall). And chances are the 80-90 degree weather will continue until the middle or end of August. And it's HUMID. So it's oppressive heat. Which I happen to love. :) That's a fairly typical summer for Southern Ontario. It's a bit different for my friends in central and Eastern Canada though. They don't have as long or as hot a summer. ~ karen!
Amanda
I love the picnic basket. I've always wanted one!
Anti Kate
That umbrella, next to the wine sign! Ack! I would have been all over it. I wonder if you are being sneaky, and nonchalantly showed us what you got, but glossed over it. You wouldn't do that, would you?
Catherine Vosper
Thanks for sharing, great pictures, I so much enjoy your blog!
Rachel
This is my favorite post every year.