Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Reader Submissions! Ain't They Grand? Good Thing Too, Cuz I Had Nothin Today For Realz. Status: Bullet Dodged.

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Blog reader John (the AtomicHipster) shot me a note a few days ago wondering if I might be able to help him with Identification or any other information about this fantastic pole lamp.  I gave it a shot but couldn't find anything worth reporting...so, our hope is that the super smart Modtomic readership might be able to shed some light on the lamp. Sorry, had to be done.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

I Found This Awesome Pull Down Saucer Light Fixture A Few Weeks Ago Languishing In A Belleville Thrift Store. Status: Saved.

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Ain't she a beaut.?  Like a city in Montana!  Can ya believe somebody didn't want this anymore?  At least they had the good sense to donate it to a thrift store.  That's were our story begins.  The St. Francis Thrift Shop in Belleville Il.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Nothing So Exciting As A Finn Juhl Dumpster Find Today (See Yesterdays Post!). Nope, Just A Quick Coffee Table Cleanup. Status: Subtle Before And After.

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This is the coffee table that I picked up (craigslist) before work last week.  The one where the seller was carrying out the coral vinyl barstools (thoroughly cleaned the vinyl last night...look Sweet!).  Even though the seller had wiped it down to knock off the dust it was still pretty dirty.  Enter Murphy Oil Soap and Howard's Restore-A-Finish.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

One Of My Hobbies Is Trying To ID Vintage Modern Furniture And Whatnot. I Like To Think I'm Pretty Good At It But Really, I Just Don't Mind Spending Too Much Time Trying! Status: And Sometimes I Get Lucky.

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The VERY FIRST e-mail I received from the new "Inquiries and IDs" e-mail address (above and to the right) was from a couple who I met at an estate sale last year.  They had bought a good size Kent Coffey buffet and I offered to help them get it home since I had room in Frank and they weren't too far away.   We all became fast acquaintances and they recently acquired a really neat chair and wondered if I might be able to help them ID it.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Picked Up A Coffee Table The Other Day And Scored A Nice Little Bonus Of Three Adorable Barstools! Status: Available Soon (Just Gotta Clean 'Em Up!).

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All I showed up for was a simple coffee table (since I get so many e-mails asking for them) but the seller was dragging these out of the basement when I pulled up.  "Whoa whoa whoa!  Whatcha gonna do with those!"

Friday, February 24, 2012

I Took A Poll At The Last Estate Sale I Attended And The Results Were Illuminating. Status: Wow...Pun Much?

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Ok...so I didn't "Take" the poll so much as "Buy" the poll...and well the "poll" was actually a Pole Lamp.  Thus the "Illumination".  Gawd...was that as bad as it sounds?  Too bad.  Here, I am King....King of bad Punville!  Step inside and let's take a closer look at this beauty!

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Jere Birds For $50 Anyone? No, Not Anyone...Apparently Everyone....And No One. Status: Don't YOU Wanna Know!.

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I'm sure at least a few local readers must have seen this ad on craigslist yesterday before the "seller" pulled it down.  Wanna know why you didn't get it?

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Oh No! What Does Mr. M Have On Tap For Today? How 'Bout Estate Sale Smalls / Sundries? Status: Ain't Surprised Bowling Ball Man Just Too Cute?

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Actually I just plopped this Bowling Ball (the Girlfriends new personal ball [omg...she grabs like 5 diff. balls at the bowling alley]) on this Bullet Planter Stand and this "expression" of surprise appeared!  Of course I had to shoot it.  Look inside to see more various goodies culled last weekend.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

'Memba That "Slavic Modern" Danish Style Armchair From Sunday? I Got The Howards Restore-A-Finish For It Today. Status: Better, Much Better.

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Four screws, take 'em out and the whole chair brakes down into it's flat components!  Makes it easy to ship and easy to clean and refinish.  And that...the cleaning and refinishing part, not the shipping part...is exactly what I got done today.

Monday, February 20, 2012

Fellow Blogger "The Nomads" Over At She Finds Retro Contacted Me About A Strange "Brasilia" Table. Status: Mystery....Solved?


So since I put out the e-mail address to hit me with any crazy furniture ID inquiries you might have I've gotten quite a few!  I'm not always going to be able to figure things out but if I have the time, believe me, I'm gonna give it a solid shot.  She Finds Retro blogger challenged me (not through e-mail but via the comments on a posting a few days ago) to find out more about this table that she is convinced is a Broyhill Brasilia piece.  Well, I got news for ya....

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Ya Know...We're Gonna Have To Start Calling These Yugoslavian Modern Chairs. Status: Estate Sale Garage Rescue.

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Much like the tables I featured earlier (BTW, Illuminate is picking those up today), this fine example of Yugoslavian craftsmanship was covered....COVERED...in dust, dirt and cobwebs.  Again, I was too embarrassed to even photograph it in that state.  It was gross just having it in the back of Frank.  But, of course, not so gross I would leave it behind!

Saturday, February 18, 2012

So Check This Craigslist Ad Out. Eames Lounge - $1400. Scam? Status: I Want It I Want It I Want It!

Sorry, no pic.  I don't generally use other peoples pictures here and I don't have a picture of an Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman to present here as a tease.  But there is a genuine Eames / Miller Lounge Chair and Ottoman on the Springfield Il. (about a hundred mile drive from here). craigslist.  It took me a while but I caved and shot them an e-mail.

Picked Up Another Lovely "Chocolate" Lamp At An Estate Sale This Weekend. 'Cuz Chocolate's Better When....There's More. Status: Doubled.

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Check it out!  The lamp in the background was pilfered from an estate sale long, long ago in West County and the New lamp in the foreground was snatched up at an estate sale this weekend in Belleville Il. which could be kinda considered East County!

Friday, February 17, 2012

I'm Here! I'm Here! I Know I'm A Little Late. But I Got A Nice Little Before And After Bassett Furniture Livingroom Table Set! Status: Lacking Sleep!

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So sorry we missed each other this morning!  I had a tough night last night and had planned to get up real early this morning.  I just didn't have the wear with all to get a post up last night after work.  Sometimes it just bees that way.  But I hope ya like this posting.  Went to an estate sale this morning and brought home a rough pair of Bassett Furniture livingroom tables.  Then cleaned them up for ya!

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Sometimes The Girlfriend Gets In On The C-List Scavenging Too. She Snatched This Swirly Globe Light A While Back. Status: Wants To Be Lit!

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We got so much cool stuff that just sits around gathering dust that it's embarrassing!  As I recall the Girlfriend spotted this on C-list and asked me what I thought.  It looked like a good deal to me so I said she should go for it!  She did.  We got it.  We actually used it for a while when we were down in Tower Grove East (South City, St. Louis).  But now, it's just been sittin' there....juuuust sittin' there.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

While I Was At Work Today I Got An E-mail From Mr. Modtomic Reader "Johnny!". He Needed An ID On This Great Bentwood Chair And I Was Glad To Help. Status: But That's Not All!

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Right, Johnny! (you might recognize him through his comments here on the blog) sent me a couple photos this afternoon while I was at work hoping I might be able to identify this really nice chair he had.  I recognized it right away!  Kodawood!  I don't have any information on who designed it or anything but these are very popular chairs and are highly sought after.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

As Promised: South County Antique Mall - A Quick "Tour". Status: Delivered.

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I knew I'd find it!  This is the Herman Miller / Eames table that I failed to get a picture of at the shoe store "estate" sale last week.  Ahhhh...my work is done.  What?  You wanna see more?  It isn't enough that I drove to the complete other side of St. Louis to get this picture?  Well...there was some other interesting items at the South County Antique Mall...I realize that acronyms out to SCAM but I assure you that the mall is not!

Monday, February 13, 2012

We Took A Quick Trip To The South County Antique Mall This Afternoon. Found A Pair Of Under Appreciated Vintage Modern Lovelies. Status: Love When That Happens!

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No, they aren't Knoll and definitely not original Groupo Australs but they are still great vintage modern knock offs (of which there are ba-zillions) of the Hardoy Butterfly Chair.  Stuck in a booth way in the back hidden behind a bunch of utterly incongruous antique mall fare, they were the bargain of the week.  Happy as a clam was I to free up a good amount of booth space for the seller!  Why am I writing like Yoda?

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Got Out This Afternoon And Did A Little Shoppin' With The Girlfriend...Even Though It IS Cold And I GOT A Cold! Status: Brought Home BOXES Of Stuff!

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...Three boxes of stuff to be exact.  Shoes, that is.  Spotted the Vans (I'm a child of the '80s, Vans are the coolest, hands down) and decided to pickup two pair since they were closeouts at $30 each pair.  Needed some cushy, comfy trainers for work since I'm on my feet ALL day, walk to places downtown to get my dinner and never use the elevators.  I hate coming home with achy feet so I splurged on the Adidas (also very cool. See: Run DMC) which were also closeout but still about $15 more than a single pair of the Vans.  "Shoes?", you say. "When did this become a clothing horse blog?!"

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Holy Crap. I Forgot To Title This Post! Hmmmm...Looky, Mod Art! Status: I Was Ill, Swear.

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These four pieces weren't recent finds.  I've had them for years.  Funny looking back now how I can see the phases of availability of various styles at the thrift stores.  I hardly ever see this style anymore, which sucks...cuz it's one of my favorites!  Maybe I'll stop being so lazy and try my hand at making my own pieces inspired by this style.

Friday, February 10, 2012

C. Miller Pottery Circa 1957. When I Found The First I Wondered If I Had Scored Big. By The Time I Found The Second I Realized I Had Not. Status: Loved None The Less.

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These coffee warmer carafes by C. Miller (1957) are so utterly representative of the late '50s!  Slightly atomic, sorta kitschy, imminently useful and totally beautiful!  Oh wait...I forgot easily collectible...'cuz they ain't worth the millions of dollars I had hoped!

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Another Compilation Of Chair Posts. It's Stupid How Many Chairs I've "Gone Through"! Status: The Next Ten

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Awe...those of you who are new to Mr. Modtomic's blog may not recognize Kennedy.  He was our kitty for many years (more so in the Girlfriends case as he was around before I was) and we had to let him go to the big catnip field in the sky last year.  It's still a little heart wrenching to see pictures of him unexpectedly.  He was the best cat ever.  But even so, the Girlfriend is chompin' at the bit lately to get another.  So that this chair is up next, with Kennedy posing rather proudly, is kind of a coincidence!

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Only A Few Times In One's "Picking" Adventures Does A Fella Come Across An Acquisition Such As This. Status: A Little Stunned.

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Earlier this week (last weekend actually) Nickarmadillo of Mid-Century Midwest snapped up a great Herman Miller slat bench for next to nothing (even with over offering / paying).  I have to say I was a little bummed as I too had fired off an e-mail after seeing the ad (and also over offered) and realized the seller had no idea what they were selling.  Well...Sunday brought blue skies again as these popped up on the list while I was poking around on my phone sittin' in the Mr. Chair.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

This Will Be Our Third Lamp / Table In The Modtomic Ranch. Where Oh Where Shall I Ever Find Room For It? Status: Ridiculous Bargain!

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We brought this slinky little number home from the Green Shag Market yesterday.  The funny thing is that it was in a booth that had absolutely nothing else like this in it!  Let me put it this way...we had to excavate the lamp from a baker's dozen Hummels that were displayed on the glass table.  But it was bought sans lampshade.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Green Shag. What Image Does That Conjure Up? Take A Stroll Through The Green Shag Market And That Image Will Be A Smile In The Mirror! Status: New Venue In Town.

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Everybody ready for another Shop Tour? It's not really a shop as much as an antique mall, but it's a good one. It's one that seems to try and cater to the vintage modern collector. Bully for us!!!

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Looks Like George (Comments, Yesterday) Sussed Out That This Is A Herman Miller "Chicklet" Sofa Tout De Suite! Did I Make It THAT Easy? Status: Needs A Good Cleaning.

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Is that a sexy back side or what? Please disregard the dollies.  It was misting all day today and I wanted to get some natural light pictures of this beauty designed by Ray Wilkes, but I didn't want to put it on the wet driveway.  It's just so Pop Art cool!  I've got to figure out a place to put this in the house that shows off this angle, don't ya think?

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Friday Morning Estate (???) Sale. Picked Up A Little And Left Some For Others. Status: Different / Good.

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I hit one of the strangest "estate" sales this morning before work.  It wasn't so much an estate sale as much as a business cleanout, but I still managed to do pretty good and so did a few others.  I picked up one Big score but passed on a Herman Miller / Eames Segment Base conference or dining table that a fella who came in after me snatched up.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Yesterday I Visited The Value Village Just Down The Street. This Sunbeam T20B Was All I Brought Home. Status: Bright And Shiny!

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Yep, another Sunbeam Automatic toaster!  I know, I know...I already got lots of these.  I just can't help myself.  They're just too pretty and I can't believe all toasters today aren't as advanced as these.  Just drop your bread in and walk away...no lever to push down.  Did I mention it's automatic?!

Thursday, February 2, 2012

So You Demand A Danish Modern Look But You Have A Hankerin' To Play Some Honky Tonk Piano? Better Get To Value Village Quick! Status: You're Covered.

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Mr. Modtomic can't really play the piano to well but he can play a little by ear. But this piano might be too far gone to be a "playing" piano anymore. It might just be a good "looking at" piano if it makes it out of this Value Village at 770 N Us Highway 67 Florissant, MO 63031.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Yesterday's Post Made Me Think About How Many Chairs That Have Made An Appearance Here. Let's Look Back! Status: It's A Lot...And That's Being "Chair"itable.

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This chair was not only the first chair to be featured here at Mr. Modtomic...it was the first post EVER!  I'm creating this post as I write so I don't even know how many chairs I have featured and I don't know how many I'll review in this particular post.  Click through to find out how many made it!