2011's Greatest Thrift Hits!

Here is the much awaited 11 Best Thrifts of 2011! Alright, let's be honest, much awaited by me. I had a really hard time narrowing down my finds. I do consider myself one lucky girl to have such a predicament.

Coming in at number 11 was this Paul Mccobb Planner Group side table manufactured by Winchendon. I never shared this with you in my Hunted:: Gathered segments because I had high hopes of refinishing it quickly. Well, we all know how that goes. This was my find during our Santa Rosa trip and it even has the rare donut shaped hardware.

For my longtime loyal followers, number 10 should come as no surprise. I was completely smitten by these feeders for people. Both found this year but on separate occasions.

Number 9 made it to the list due to its rarity and newness to my home. It was a good thrifting day where the thrift-gods were watching over me. It is a Russel Wright designed teapot for Yamato in the Theme Formal line of 1964. 

I had to include some of my favorite prints that I've amassed this year. Number 8 is by New Hampshire artist Calvin J. Libby.

This piece was done my David McCall Johnston for the 150th anniversary of Jules Verne's birth and is a series of four of which I own two.

I still can't get over the colors on this wall hanging which is why it is my number 6.

This mixed media piece tugs at my heartstrings and I don't think I'll ever part with it. The simplicity of the figures makes it all the more evocative.

I may be cheating a bit for this hit but there was no way I could separate my wooden toys. Since they fall within the same category, I am declaring them my number 4 find of the year.

This is also the first time I show this piece though I've alluded to it before. It is a Drexel Declaration China Cabinet that I found at the thrift. The boy and I rented a UHaul and brought this puppy home. It sits proudly in my dining area. It is missing one of the glass doors but apart from that, it's in great condition.

The pressure is building. Only two more to go...

You didn't think I would forget my Finn Juhl chair did you? I am so proud of this find, I even took it to a local woodworking school so that they could analyze the construction of it for a Chair Design course. One of the students jokingly asked if he could take a mallet to it to take it apart. I didn't say a word because my face said it all!

Finally, my biggest, though STILL unconfirmed find was this print by Arnold Newman. (Can you believe it Sixballoons?)I emailed the Arnold Newman archive and a local high-end photography gallery and did not hear a peep. I a friend of a friend who is a photography curator at the Getty and she referred me to a photographer that once worked for Newman and made some of his prints. When I contacted him he told me that he thought it was one of his prints, and if it was an older one it would command a higher price. He referred me to Commerce Graphics in New York because they handle the estate of Arnold Newman and he thought they would be better suited to answer my questions. I haven't heard a peep from them either. So even though I don't have a Certificate of Authenticity, I have received some confirmation on it and I just have to remain persistent. Now the hard part is making the decision to part with some of my greatest finds so that I can save some money for a bigger target (an Eichler!).

All in all, 2011 has been wonderful. I would love to hear how 2011 was for you. I've made my very first link collection and I hope you will join with your wrap up list for 2011!