I've been in a buying frenzy now that my move-in date is imminent, shopping like crazy on eBay and dropping a few pennies on Etsy too. I'm starting to wind down, but I still have a few bids out. This is the fun part! Here are a few new things that will be making their way to the new modernist nest.
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Vintage Danish candleholders
Don't let the nice picture fool you.
They arrived loose in a shoe box,
without a speck of packing material...not even a little paper towel.
Luckily, they survived, but no thanks to the seller. |
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| 11" Scheurich bowl |
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| Set of Dansk candleholders |
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| Vintage handwoven wool wall hanging |
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| Vintage carved bird |
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| And a vintage folk art painted bird |
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| And an Oiva Toikka Willow Grouse like the one we sold in the store months ago, |
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Signed de Simone bottle
When I looked back at a post I did on Giovanni de Simone
several months ago,I realized that I had included a photo
of the very same bottle as an example of his work. |
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| Royal Haeger vases by Larry Laslo |
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| Scheurich vase |
And, yes, I'm so obsessive that I even have to have a spoon rest for my stove that I think is exactly right. Sad, I know...
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| Made in Italy, but probably new, from the looks of the stamp on the bottom |
Oh that is just too much fun. I see the bird theme continues. Bad sellers letting those iconic candle stick holders roll around like that. Actually, though, it is your lovely spoon rest I covet. I cannot wait to see your model perfect casita!
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm a little obsessed with birds. Somebody make me stop!
DeleteI'm still shocked that they just threw those candlesticks in a kid's shoebox and called it a day. I've been buying on eBay for years, and I've never encountered a seller that lazy or inconsiderate. I've seen slipshod packing occasionally, but I've never seen NO packing material at all. It's as if they were thinking, "I have your money. What do I care now?" It's really a miracle the candlesticks arrived in one piece. Just one hard knock and they could easily have snapped.
What an amazing collection of goodies, Dana, I love them all!! What a shame the seller of those beautiful candlesticks didn't worry about the state they'd arrive in. Luckily, my experience has been the opposite, I've been quite impressed with how things have been wrapped. I hope you don't experience that again.
ReplyDeleteI'm so taken with that orange and brown Scheurich bowl, it's so beautiful in a rustic 70s kind of way
I've been an eBay member since 2000, and over the years I've only encountered a handful of bad sellers. For the most part, people are conscientious and really make an effort to do the right thing. This seller simply didn't care.
DeleteI can't wait for the Scheurich bowl to arrive in the mail. I know it's going to look beautiful on my coffee table.
That's the kind of shopping list I like to see!
ReplyDeleteWell Dana I can't wait to visit!
I'm looking forward to seeing these beauties in their chosen place on the shelf sculpture and that wall hanging, love!
My cabinets will be finished today, and I'm hoping I can start moving in kitchen things tonight. The total move-in is only days away now, so you'll be able to visit very, very soon! :)
DeleteI'm with Pippa - that's my kind of shopping. Lovely pieces to make your new space a home. xx
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that I'm having a lot more fun doing this kind of shopping instead of shopping for grout and sheet rock!
DeleteI cannot believe the candleholder seller didn't even pack the items safely. Jeashhh! Some people really have issues! The fish hanging is SO cute, and they are smiling. =D Your right I love it!
ReplyDeleteSweet birdies too.
You buy the best decor ever!
I still can't believe it either. I emailed them last night and complained...and told them the only reason I didn't give them negative feedback is that the candleholders miraculously made it to me in one piece. I knew you'd like the fish. :)
DeleteOooh, all so carefully chosen! How exciting. You're going to have to show them all in situ as well. I'm dying to see it all. What a cool lady you are! (Shaking my head about the candlesticks.)
ReplyDeleteI have several pieces that I've been using that will throw some different colors in the mix, so it's not as matchy-matchy as it looks in this post. I can't wait to see it all together and share pictures with you! I've done the disbelieving head-shake so many times about the candleholders that I've almost worn out my neck. In my wildest imagination, I can't come up with an explanation for what they were thinking.
DeleteWould you have a place for a wee, brilliant blue piece? =D
ReplyDeleteThere's always room for one more brilliant piece! :)
DeleteIf you would send an email to me at kitchenelixers@gmail.com I would appreciate it! =)
DeleteOn the subject of eBay and Etsy shopping, I have really come to dislike eBay. I sell my modern on Etsy and had been wondering about moving some of the collector pieces that might not have as much appeal for the Etsy audience over to eBay, but then I sold some old childhood stuff on eBay and have had nothing but grief from buyers--mainly telling me they want smaller, lighter packages and oh can I lie to customs for them about the value of what they bought? I am a very careful packer after something broke on me in my early days as a seller and I don't take chances any more. I watched several videos of various ways to pack glass and though I don't typically double-box, nothing has broken since. I guess my question is: how do you balance the desire of some people to get something super cheaply with the desire of others who want to be ultra sure that it's safe.
ReplyDeleteWhen I sell on eBay, I pack in a way that I think will best protect the piece. I have never had anyone ask me to skimp on packing materials, but I would just say no if they did, because I feel fairly sure they'd leave negative feedback if the item arrived broken...or, at the very least, you'd have the hassle of their demanding a refund as a result of trying to save a few pennies.
DeleteIn the case of my candleholders, I doubt that a couple of pieces of bubble wrap or a few sheets of newspaper or paper towel would have significantly increased the cost of shipping, so I'm not sure why they thought throwing them in a box unprotected was a good idea.
Very nice, I can already see how complementary all those pieces are. Those birds are awesome.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe a seller sent those candlesticks sans any kind of padding material, it doesn't take a rocket scientist, does it?
Crazy, isn't it? That takes incompetence or just plain lack of concern to a new level.
DeleteWhat a beautiful colleciton of pieces. Really looking forward to seeing it all in place. Love those Dansk candle holders - I've never seen that style before. And I really love the tones you are using - earthy with a bit of orange for splash !
ReplyDeleteI fell in love with those Dansk candleholders the minute I saw them. I think they're a fairly new style, not vintage, but I haven't really researched them. If I remember correctly, the boxes had bar codes though. New or old, I think they're great!
DeleteYour new home is going to be beautiful Dana, I can't wait to see it finished and full of all your treasures. I especially like that Scheurich bowl and that gorgeous tapestry.
ReplyDeleteHere is a link to an amazing home that was posted on an Australian design blog this morning:
http://thedesignfiles.net/2013/02/melbourne-home-ada-leon-kagan/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheDesignFiles+%28The+Design+Files%29
A 50's home - in original condition, inside and out. I had to send it your way Dana, because I know you'll love it. I'm looking forward to reading your reaction x
That home completely blew me away. The floors, the built-in storage, the glass!!! But even more amazing is the condition it's in after all these years. It looks as beautiful as it must have looked in 1957. Ada must be an immaculate housekeeper. Wow. Just wow!
DeleteBright minds, I popped this house link on your FB page too! Glad you got to see it either way....it was sublime! :)
DeleteLove LOVE LOVE!!! Wish I lived a little closer to visit!
ReplyDeleteI'll share photos, so even though you live far away, you can have your own guided tour.
DeleteRemodeling is so FUN! These are all so you, Dana! Love the Danish Candleholders, the birds, and of course that dish or spoon rest in the last photo. Funny thing... I did a search for Poul Kjaerholm yesterday on google and that dish from your site came up in the search. Weird, huh? Maybe because it's so darn pretty! This is the exciting part for me. The gathering of pretties to decorate a new space. Have fun. I think we're all jealous!
ReplyDeleteThis is really the fun part for me too. I enjoyed the planning stage. The actual construction has become a bit tiresome. But shopping for all the things I want to decorate it is the part I love most.
DeleteInteresting about the dish. Can you send me a link?
Dana,
ReplyDeleteI too buy and sell on Ebay. There is no excuse for the type of packing the seller did for your candlesticks. In my mind that's just criminal! I also hate to leave negative feedback for anyone, but one trick I like is to leave positive feedback, but ding them in the comments. Doesn't hurt their numbers, but let's other potential buyers to be aware of the sellers practice(s). BTW, Dansk is always a great choice for decor...I've bought and sold many great vintage Quistgaard pieces. Cheers!
I considered doing that with positive or neutral feedback but decided to just email them. I didn't have the heart to leave negative since the items were in good condition. After I sent the email, I expected an explanation and an apology, at the very least...and possibly even a partial refund (which is what I would do to appease an angry customer), but I haven't heard a word from them. Now I'm considering going ahead with the comments. Like you said, potential buyers have a right to know.
DeleteI was giving him the benefit of the doubt, since it's possible that he got distracted and taped up the box without putting in packing material...or maybe one spouse put them in the box, assuming the other would add packing material before mailing. Those scenarios aren't likely...but possible. Since I haven't heard a word, though, it's looking more and more likely that the seller simply doesn't care.
As much as I would want to slam the seller for this moronic behavior, I would probably give them some time to respond. As much as we all share a sense of immediacy, not everyone is glued to our computers such as you or I. Life has a way of happening and I believe that most people want to make sure their buyers are happy. Usually I try to give the person a deadline to respond, either directly or overtly, indicating the action I am going to take once the deadline has passed. For example, I give buyers deadlines to pay and once the deadline has passed, I send them an email letting them know that I will report them as non-paying bidders by a certain time and date. If they don't respond, then they get reported.
DeleteWhy do sellers do that? Those candlesticks are awesome.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing the seller was only interested in getting my money...not making sure I was satisfied.
DeleteOh so fun! Enjoy every minute of it! Lovely choices and I am dying to see pictures of the new place.
ReplyDeleteI think the birds do add an element of playfulness, and I want it to be a happy place. I promise pictures soon!
DeleteWhat lovely pieces. De Simone vase especially. A new acquaintance to me.
ReplyDelete/Birgitte
The vase arrived yesterday, and it's even more beautiful than I expected. I was so excited when I opened it!
DeleteIs that great when something exceeds your expectations?
DeleteYes, and it was particularly gratifying to have two really great eBay experiences follow immediately on the heels of the transaction with the no-packing-materials seller. The items were gorgeous...and well protected for the trip to Texas.
Delete