Needless to say, I have bought a lot of things second hand. It sure makes it easier when you spend all of your weekdays and many of your weekends inside a secondhand store. LOL. But even though I own a home consignments store, and have so for 20 years, I struggled with this question: What’s the best thing I ever bought second hand?
The Contenders For Best Thing I Ever Bought Second Hand
Vintage Santa’s are one of my loves. I’ve collected them most of my life after my Mom gifted me my great grandmothers Santa, when I was in my 20’s. So there are a few in my collection that I had to really think about for my best secondhand thing. Like the McCoy cookie jar bank, above, that was all of $2 at a yard sale. But nope. No winner there.
As I’ve told you, my kids call me a furniture nerd. I love old furniture so-much-so that on a historic house tour in my town of Wickford, RI last year I actually got goosebumps when the owner told me I could touch their Townsend breakfast table. I know what you’re thinking: weirdo. But what I do for a living is kind of starting to make sense, right? But in all the years and with all the furniture I’ve purchased, the answer is not there either.
The scores came to mind too. Like the time I bought 12 Waterford, Lismore wines in a shop in Pennsylvania for $12. Yup! A buck a stem and still not the best hing I ever bought second hand. And it isn’t a jewelry item, despite the fact that I wear the above sterling and amethyst pin nearly every week. By the way, it was $5. LOL
It’s not even my precious Sunbonnet Sue, hand-made quilt that I gave myself for my birthday after years of pining for one… so what is it?
The Best Thing I Ever Bought Second Hand
The best thing that I ever bought second hand is something that really touches my heart. It fits into the score category ($20 at The Brimfield Antiques Show). But it is neither something I’ve long-collector or a piece of furniture for the nerd. It’s not even something I was hoping to have, at least not until I found it. So what is it? It’s the picture above. It’s a monotype by Rhode Island painter Joan T. Boghossian, entitled “Splash.” It reminds my when my kids were small, spending summers at the beaches in Narragansett. It’s over my fireplace in the living room. And it makes me happy to see it – every day. It’s the best thing that I ever bough second hand.
How about you? Feel like sharing the best thing you ever bought second hand? Email me with a picture and I may use it in a future blog. You can reach me at consignmentslimited@gmail.com. Think someone you know might like this article? click the links below to share via email or Facebook:
Still up for some reading? Check out some of my previous blogs on collecting: Salt and Pepper Shaker Collecting and Items Worth Collecting From Thrift and Consignment
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