The Washerwoman

Wednesday 18 September 2013

Treasure hunting!


Many customers ask where we find all our stock?  I often reply that it seems to find us! I am not being flippant as it does appear to happen that way. For example, the last time we were in France  a chance conversation led us to purchase a whole lot of lovely unworn old shop stock....


A shop had closed down and for some unknown reason the stock remained there untouched....


Still with the labels attached...


On another trip we heard about an auction in a chateau


All sorts of bits and bobs glinting at us through the gloom.....



These amazing traditional French hats have cleaned up rather well haven't they?


At times there is even a story attached. This pretty lace blouse belonged to the Opera singer Bianca Donadio at the end of the 19th century. The lady who sold it to us told us the story of this famous singer.


Now patiently waiting on a coathanger for The Vintage Bazaar in Hartley Wintney on September 21st.


How often does one buy a hat with the previous owner seen wearing it at her wartime wedding in 1941? I was delighted to be able to purchase both the hat and the photograph. The hat is not in pristine condition, but with a little bit of love it could be worn again.



More lovely recent finds....modelled by Flossie, my 1940s French shop mannequin, I bet she could tell some stories!

8 comments:

ted and bunny said...

that's lovely!

LeeAnn at Mrs Black's said...

I agree that items seem to find us, it seems as if they want to be discovered again. I love that you got the photo, and the hat! It's great. Minerva x

elegancemaison said...

A really lovely post Liz, thank you.

It can be difficult to answer that question. I often suspect that people think we all go to some big "Vintage Warehouse" rather than spending weeks, days, hours and many petrol miles on the road searching out treasures for them. Not to mention the cleaning, repairing and restoring to make it acceptable to modern demands. Cx

primrosesattic said...

You are lucky. I love all the hats they are so pretty.
Rosezeeta.

KC'sCourt! said...

Wow! you are so lucky! Gorgeous photos - love the hats and the vintage wedding photo.
Julie xxxxxxxx

the vanilla squirrel said...

how amazing to have the hat and the photo!!!...and i love the story of the opera singer's lace blouse....beautiful...somehow the history makes it more beautiful! you always find the most wonderful things and the most wonderful things clearly find you too X

nilly said...

You are SO lucky to be in such a kindly & gentle world - we sweat blood & tears to get our hands on stock at our cut-throat end of the business!

BusyLizzie said...

Thank you all for your kind comments. I do know what you mean Nilly, it isn't always like that..I am just going through a "lucky phase" - back to the cut and thrust in the Winter months no doubt!!