I love it when the tables get turned on folks, especially store owners who I believe are out to take advantage of their customer. Whether it be through their own benign ignorance or an arrogant attempt to defraud, I've seen it all. But this time, let's just say they got beat to the punch! More precisely, they got SUCKER PUNCHED!
Rummaging through second hand stores and junk shops for treasure is one of my favorite pastimes. Yesterday, while out running errands with hubby, we decided to stop and visit a junk shop that we've driven by dozens of times but never saw open. It's located in a now rather desolate part of town and when I say it was full of junk - I mean just that! However, in the back of the store sat a punch bowl with 12 matching cups that made me stop dead in my tracks. I certainly didn't go out looking for a punch bowl and I defy anyone to recall a time when I ever said that I needed one but you'll see here exactly why I just couldn't leave it sit there.
First off, I knew it was pressed glass as opposed to the more desirable cut glass; novice collectors and merchants often confuse the two. The only thing was that I couldn't exactly date it but figured it was probably from somewhere around 1940. I fully expected it to be priced anywhere from $50.00 upwards so I was a bit taken aback to see the $20.00 price tag. I knew that it was seriously underpriced and that I was standing in front of a great bargain. I decided right then that I had to have it. I sized up the guy working in the store who looked like he couldn't wait for his next drink, and I surmised that I could get the bowl even cheaper. I offered $15.00. At first, he said yes then he said maybe then he said SURE! I gave him fourteen dollar bills and four quarters and it was a done deal!
And then I came home to look for something comparable on Ebay and I actually found the exact same bowl several times over. One auction had the punch bowl, 12 cups and a matching tray for $500.00. 
Another listing was with the bowl, 26 matching cups, 17 various other cups and a pedastal for $297.00 (marked down from $350.00). The last few listings offered the bowl, 12 cups and the matching tray for $278.00 while another had the bowl and just 15 cups for $129.00. The final auction was the only open bid starting at $75.00 with the bowl and tray alone.
Along the way, I learned the glass pattern is believed to be in what's called the "pinwheel and star" design possibly made by the Colony Glass Company from Indiana. The bowl itself weighs in at thirty pounds and is dated sometime between 1930-1940. The photos used here are from the aforementioned Ebay auctions. There appears to be a matching pedastal in a lone auction on Ebay for $40.00 and while I think it's worth it - I also think I could find it CHEAPER!
These are lovely pieces.
Posted by: Brandon | October 03, 2011 at 07:32 AM
My Man!
Posted by: Greg | October 03, 2011 at 10:06 AM
Why do I think I'll be seeing you on The Antique Roadshow soon?
Posted by: Curious | October 04, 2011 at 12:27 PM
"An educated consumer is our best buyer." Sy Sims, LOL. Good for you, brother. I had a reversal of such fortune once. I, too, used to like to scour and rummage through junk and "antique" stores. I once found a silver bowl. It must have been less that 20 bucks. I ended up giving it to a friend. He later told me he gave it to someone else who had it appraised. Turns out it was silverplate over copper, valued at...$3,000! C'est la vie, n'est pas!
Posted by: Thomas | October 09, 2011 at 01:48 PM
That should be n'est past?
Posted by: Thomas | October 09, 2011 at 01:50 PM