The iron horse (below) languished at the bottom of the ocean off the Jersey shore until
it was discovered, along with many other small treasures, by a deep-sea-diving antique
dealer. Its charm is so great that I have never wanted to part with it.























The iron horse (below) languished at the bottom of the ocean off the Jersey shore until
it was discovered, along with many other small treasures, by a deep-sea-diving antique
dealer. Its charm is so great that I have never wanted to part with it.
Last week, while Ken and Ned tore apart my space in the Hudson Supermarket
(www.hudsonsupermarket.com), I, who am so easily bored, wished for something
interesting to do while I waited for my turn : to put it all back together again.
I looked around, sighing, till I spied patina. I love patina. Endlessly fascinating,
patina, with its layers, textures and colors, never lets me down. Here are some of the
patina-rich objects which were moving this way and that in my booth….
Above, a rusting farm thing, posing as a sunflower and an appealing tear in a canvas-
covered trunk. I guess this kind of beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And since, in this
instance, I am the beholder and I am alone, no one can dispute my claim.
Layers of paint on a diminutive (6″ x 6″) radiator cover and more farm things. Sometimes
I wonder what I would sell if it weren’t for farms and factories.
Above, left, is my favorite thing from July Brimfield, a zinc cupboard (no, not a fridge!)
from a defunct silver manufacturing company in Pittsburgh. The photo (below, left) is a
close up of the round industrial table in the photo (above, right). Hard-packed sludge…
ya gotta love it. (I am alone, no one can dispute me!)
I have a passion for these roof drain caps (above, right). The shape, the color, the wire.
Apparently, not everyone shares my enjoyment, as these sturdy little gems were usually
tossed in the garbage, making them difficult to find. My pickers in Pennsylvania, who have
the most discerning taste, had this nice bunch of 15 in their barn.
Linen-covered French books (above) all in a row. Pretty toppers for a rustic work table.
I used them in my last blog to display my Vichy baskets. Today, when I was taking more
Vichy photos, I wished the books had been safe at home, instead of in Hudson where they
were at risk of being sold! I know that I have to let people buy my stuff. But, I don’t have
to like it.
Big cabana pins and a vane with peeling layers of old paint. I have hundreds of pins in both
Hudson and Bournebrook. The staff in both centers say that all day long they hear the
swoosh, swoosh, swoosh of the pins being pushed back and forth as customers look for the
one with a favorite number. Grain sacks, of course, are central to any discussion (of mine!)
about patina with their many weaves and beautiful old repairs.
Time spent admiring patina is never wasted.