Remember that "promising estate sale" that I mentioned in my last post? Well, Mr. Modtomic, his girlfriend, and I devised a plan, split up the potential spoils, and showed up super early so that we could stake our claim. We were all alone in line, so we were feeling pretty smug. Then after half an hour of waiting a fellow early-morning-riser came up and ripped a number off the pad on the front doorstep. Numbers?! There weren't supposed to be any numbers!
To our dismay, the estate sale company, Steve & Sheri, changed the rules at the last minute and put out numbers the night before. Of course, all the dealers had already taken their spot at the top and we were 7, 8, and 9. Dang! I'd printed the sheet in the late afternoon and the change wasn't on there, so it must have happened in the evening. Who does that?
After that fiasco, we decided to head on over to Denny's and drown our sorrows in savory breakfast meats, starches, and maple syrup. However, I remembered that I'd also printed off the info for a "retro flea market" that we'd wanted to see but didn't think we'd have a chance to get to due to the conflicting estate sale. Might as well check it out, right?
I'm glad we did, because that place was a treasure trove of MCM deals. It actually wasn't really what I'd call a flea market. It was more a mid-century modern cast-offs sale, where most things were a little dinged up, but there were plenty of goodies to be had at very reasonable prices.
The owners of Rocket Century, who put on the sale, were even kind enough to take Mr. Mod and I in and show us around their shop. It's always fun to meet people who share the same interests and wow! They've got quite a collection - everything from Adrian Pearsall coffee tables to Cold War propaganda posters can be had there. It's a veritable repository of mid-century modern collectables.
After Mr. Mod and I split, I headed back to the first sale, just to see if I could make a go of it. As expected, it didn't turn out well. Not only had the estate sale manager changed the rules at the last second, but one of the dealers had taken the first few numbers for himself in order to delay everyone else getting in behind him. I even overheard the manager and him whispering off to the side about where the items of interest were and how they were priced. What a crock! I know that dealers are repeat customers, but everyone should have to play by the same rules. If you can't stick to them, why even have them in the first place?
So I missed out on my set of Lane Acclaim step end tables and a coffee table, which was a big disappointment. I've already got a set, but they are covered in water marks from the previous owner and the finish is completely shot. Here was my chance to get some in what was described as "perfect condition", but a scandalous estate sale company and dealers blew it. Can you tell that I'm bitter about the experience? BECAUSE I AM.
Well, after that I decided to take my friend Jon, who needed some furniture for a new place of his own, along for a second go round at Rocket Century and ended up adding a few more items to my load (more on them later). Unfortunately, I left behind the gorgeous Jens Risom Sofa (which looked almost exactly like the one pictured below) that I'd been eyeing up the whole time. That thing was HOT, but it it looked like a cat/dog/some kind of vermin got ahold of it and it needed reupholstering. Hopefully some kind soul will take it in and give it the love and attention that it deserves.
source: Flickr - teawithamouse
With the van already bursting at the seams, Jon and I headed up to the Ron Paul rally at Lindenwood University, but on the way I stopped and for one last pick: these two Danish lounge chairs (first is mine, second is his).
Anyone have any idea who the manufacturer is? These things are pretty ubiquitous, so I haven't really put much time into learning how to identify them. The only one I know is Baumritter, but those are usually tagged, right?
So we've gone through the whole range of emotions here today. There was excitement, disbelief, disappointment, and joy. In the end, I'd spent some time with good friends, made a couple new ones, and brought home a huge haul to boot. Can't ask for anything more than that!
Speaking from a dealer's point of view, I agree completely that it's wrong to change the rules (or the merchandise) at the last minute. Most dealers in our area make sure they're the first in line when there's a really promising sale, even if they have to park in front of the place all night, and I say anyone who wants pieces badly enough to do that deserves them...whether they're dealers or homeowners. But what we've been experiencing lately is a different kind of last-minute rule change. Several times my SIL has gone to sales at ungodly hours to be first in line, only to find that the owner decided to keep the good pieces after the estate sale people cleaned them up...or the estate sale people sold things to friends before the sale started and didn't change the listing pictures. I have a friend who conducts estate sales, and she won't even sell to her family before the sale starts...which is how is should be. The playing field should be level. And shame on the dealer who took several numbers. Not fair!
ReplyDeleteSorry I got on my soapbox. I wrote nearly as much as you did...but that stuff really gets me riled up! LOL
ReplyDeleteThis type of thing does rile collectors like us up, doesn't it? I certainly don't mind dealers. They are simply trying to make a buck by providing a product/service to those who aren't willing to put in the work to get this stuff at a lower price. And it is HARD WORK. Not many people want to get up super early every weekend or spend all of their time combing thrift stores and Craigslist. What I do have a problem with is when they use their relationship with the estate sale companies to bend the rules and put everyone else at a disadvantage. And a pox on estate sale companies that let people in early or otherwise change the listing. It's false advertising and once they burn me I'm not likely to return to another one of their sales in the future.
DeleteHey there Nick! Just wanted to check out your blog and let you know it was great to meet you and your friend John at our crazy yard sale on Saturday at our Rocket Century Warehouse. I'm glad you found some cool Lane tables to give the right TLC to. As I'm sure you saw by the number of things in our warehouse, we were getting a little too overwhelmed with our projects, and needed the help of people like you and your friends to take them off our hands and give them the attention they deserve. If I jammered on like a loon who was sleep deprived and compensating by drinking too much coffee, that was because I was!
ReplyDeleteMichael and I are always excited to meet more people who get as geeked as we do about the hunt and find of cool modern vintage. All of the great people we saw and met on Saturday was part of what makes the work worthwhile.
I also want to say how nice it is to read your blog discussing the amount of work that goes into the hunt for these cool treasures. Although like you guys, we love that part too, it does take time, energy, and money to get that cool find from the start of the hunt, to the cleaning, fixing, and then the final finished product. As dealers we know there are plenty of people like you who collect for themselves and are willing to put the work in too. We always hope that estate dealers and auctioneers are conscious and careful to keep things fair at sales. It sucks the fun out for everyone when they don't.
I do know as a dealer, sometimes the estate dealers will do a pre-sale before they advertise to the public. The only catch is that as dealers, we are expected to pay top asking price unless there are multiple purchases being made.
We have gotten some great finds this way, but we have had to pay the higher price for them. If we don't like the prices we sometimes leave bids and take the chance it will sell. This also means you are making a second trip if you do get the item you want at your bid price. This is part of what we have to weigh out when it comes to our time and the cost of transporting it. Dealers have to be careful because often the time and driving expense doesn't make it worth going back, especially if the item needs a lot of work.
I think the season is on though and there should be a lot more sales popping up. We'll look forward to seeing some of your great finds on your blog, and perhaps we'll see you out there too. Have a great day!
Wow! Thanks Kristina. It was great meeting you all too. I thoroughly enjoyed speaking to you all and seeing your fab warehouse, so much so that I went for a second time around. Thanks for the good company and the great deals. If you ever have another yard sale, let me know and I'll be up there vying for the first spot in line. I'll make sure to send any fellow St. Louisans who are looking for a little retro your way as well.
DeleteMany collectors love to hate on the dealers, partly due to stuff like what happened at that estate sale, but I think that good potion of it is just because dealers tend to always get the good stuff first and they're a bit frustrated/jealous. However, they forget that in order to get the goods, you have to be willing and able to do all the legwork.
Hope you enjoy the blog. I'll be covering the items I got from your joint over the next few days, so keep your eyes peeled. Thanks again!
P.S. I put a link to your blog on our blog as well referencing you and Chris. You guys inspired me to blog again since I hadn't since December. Here's our blog link. http://rocketcentury1.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see more of your posts! Glad I was an inspiration.
DeleteShiesty!!! We've got a couple of estate sale companies out here in San Diego that I have learned to avoid- they do the pre-game sale with a few of their favorite dealers. And of course don't update the photos for the actual sale when all the good stuff sold a few days before the sale even started.
ReplyDeleteThat couch you passed up on is pretty amazing. I would have been tempted myself :)
I guess they just don't care because these are sought after items and plenty of people will come out to get them even if they've turned off others. On the other hand, I have met several estate sale managers who have been very accommodating, helpful, and stick to the rules. Those are the ones who will get my repeat business.
DeleteAnd yes, I'm still pining after that couch.
It definitely makes me super sad, especially when it comes to the dealers that couldn't care less about the style they just know that it can sell.
ReplyDeleteI just moved here from the east coast less than a year ago (I lived in Brooklyn and Philadelphia previously) and I couldn't believe it when I realized that I could get the kind of mid century stuff here for such a steal when it sells for even twice what dealers here sell on the east coast.
I've only gotten up early once to scope out an estate sale super early, and it was my first time dealing with numbers. I was really confused, and the people in front of me in line weren't exactly friendly. I asked mr modtomic about places to avoid, and the one that I had went to a few weeks ago was super overpriced for what they had. :(
The best deals I've gotten since I've been here is I scored a solo bill curry jax at the green shag for.... $3. And Gus at from vandeventer vintage sold me two danish lounges exactly like the second one in your photo for 60. They're sans cushions, so I have to sew them. But I still thought of it as a steal.
So yeah it's really really shitty that the dealers and some estate sale owners are douches here. But at least it's not the market of the East Coast. :)
Another St. Louisan? I'm going to compile a little review book of the local estate sale companies this year, so hopefully I can avoid situations like this in the future.
DeleteOh, and I'm super jealous of your jax find! I've been looking all over for one of those. Looks like I need to check out the Green Shag.
I recently found a chair like this, but the bottom weave is a bit different & it is clearly marked, "Furniture by Baumritter," which became Ethan Allen in 1965. I don't have the pictures up yet on my blog, but if you check maybe next week, you can compare yours with mine at:
ReplyDeleteTheVintageMagi.blogspot.com
Also, google furniture by baumritter or whatever combo you like. Of course, that doesn't mean that they are the manufacturer, but just a thought. Their logo is burned into the wood like an engraving, but I saw others online with metal plaque tags instead. Hoe this helps, Natalie.
Yeah, I've got a few Baumritter pieces and love them. They're generally of higher-quality than your average Danish-style lounge chair.
DeleteThese two don't have the same logo (or any for that matter), so I don't think they're Baumritter, but they certainly still could be. I'm not really an expert in Danish lounge manufacturers. There was just too many.
i own a chair identical to yours. its part of a set with a matching ottoman and sofa. i've had them for years and would love to find out the maker as well. really the first pieces that got me interested in the style. sadly the cushions and webbing are shot, but soon to be repaired. enjoying the reading and pictures!
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