Thrift Share Monday - Edith Heath

Over a week ago I noticed an ad on Craigslist mentioning a sale from the estate of Edith Heath of Heath Ceramics. I wasn't sure if it was the real thing as it sounded too good to be true. I emailed Heath Ceramics to verify that this sale was indeed from the estate of Edith Heath. They returned my email confirming that the sale was real. I next emailed the store owner of Modern i Shop where the sale was to be held in San Anselmo to inquire about prices. I asked if they were going to be estate sale prices or high end gallery. The owner replied and said "estate" sale prices. With my research complete, I planned my Thursday based around this sale.

Dave was in Minnesota so I asked a friend to look after Cerys so that I only had to manage one child. Generally Keiran is the better shopper. He's interested in everything, very chatty, everyone seems to like him and he's helpful overall. Cerys at this time just wants to read every second of the day.

We left Santa Rosa around 10am and arrived in San Anselmo just before 11 a.m. with the sale set to open at 1 p.m. We found a place to park the car where we could park for 4 hours. We grabbed a snack, my empty box and made our way to the front of the store. I wasn't sure whether to expect a long line or not.

 

We were the first ones there. We luckily had the window to look at although they had blocked off the rest of the store with brown wrapping paper.

Most people that walked by the shop would look at Keiran, me and a man who was also in line early, Steve. He was in the area from San Diego and is part owner of this fabulous website Objects USA.

The amazing woman behind Heath Ceramics.

Keiran after waiting patiently for 2 hours. He and I passed the time by chatting, practicing math facts, playing thumb war and picking out our favorite pottery pieces in the window.

The front of Modern i Shop.

I can't imagine a better job than what this sign describes. I'll take the shop, location (right on main street) and the sign.

At 1 p.m. the doors opened and Keiran was the first to walk through. The shop was very small and it was filled to the brim with plates, mugs, bowls and sculptures. I grabbed Keiran's hand and asked him to stick very close to me. With so many people in the store it made it very difficult to maneuver through especially with an 8 year old boy in tow. As you can see in this photo the prices were indeed higher than this thrift girl was going to pay.

The prices may have been estate sale prices, but none that I have ever seen before. I was rather disappointed to find $60 plates and $150 bowls.

From a life experience point of view, it was fascinating. Some of the pieces in the sale came from Edith Heath's home. The books for sale were her books that lined her bookshelves.

The thing about any sale, is that you never know if it's going to be worth your time or not. This sale was not worth my time as a ReSeller, but I'm still glad that we went. I could have done without waiting for two hours but again, we couldn't know. I attempted to find as much information about the sale before going.

The only Heath purchases I made were these five plates for $10.00 each. And the minute we arrived home I had buyers remorse. Yet how could I go to a Heath sale and not buy any Heath? In hindsight though I would have left these behind.

 

My find of the entire day was this paper mache figure by Gemma Taccogna. Cathy of California has written a beautiful post about her shortly after Gemma passed away. My friend Jacki introduced me to Gemma's art and I remember the two of us sitting in front of her computer looking at auctions on ebay of her work. Buying this piece for $15 made the entire journey and wait worth it. Edith Heath had this piece in her own home. Did it sit on her mantel? Did you look at it and find inspiration? This is what makes it priceless to me. 

What did you find this weekend? Pop on over to Southern Hospitality to see what others have found too after adding your link to Thrift Share Monday. 

Comments

[Van]

The plates and art are beautiful, let go of the buyer's remorse. You'll enjoy it all for years to come.

This weekend on the way back from a cruise I passed a lot of flea markets and thrift stores I couldn't stop at while driving home from Orlando with a friend in tow. Bah!

[Jeanie]

Oh, how disappointing. We have similar experiences here with Estate Sales - waaay too high priced for us thrifty people, especially if we want to re-sell anything. We've pretty much sworn them off (sigh). Love the little doll, though. Definitely worth the trip for that.

[Apryl]

definitly too rich for my blood but I love the little figure she is very inspiring to look at. I went to the big antiques center in Matlock and bought some vintage red buttons and assorted buttons, a vintage zip, dress patter (for wrapping dolls in) all for only a few £... nothing collectable but something to craft with so I'm quite happy.

we went to the carboot yesterday and H bought a few toys and I bought a damaged Roy Rogers kids book for 50p for art/cards and M fancies framing one of the pages for his office.

[DogsMom]

As you say, altho the prices were high, the experience was worth your time. You DID do your homework. I wonder what "high end gallery" pricing would hvae been like. You must continue this story.
Were there people scavenging up goodies as if they were finding treasure or did everyone do more looking than buying?
What seemed to be most popular - dishes or decorative pottery or...???
Did you overhear any interesting conversations?

I hope you rewarded Keiran for being such a great shopping companion and helper on this trip. That had to take a lot of patience for someone that age.

[Barbara]

Such a shame about the high prices. I guess you wouldn't have found the beautiful papier mache figure though if you hadn't gone. What great company your boy was too. Well done Keiran.

[Angela]

That's a great story. What a difference travelling and waiting make you you LOVE what you do, right?

[Angela]

That should have read "WHEN you love what you do"

[Vicki K]

Did the items seem to be selling? Selena I love your process and research and that you share it with us.

Keiran is adorable.

[Into Vintage]

Your posts are always so interesting and thanks for the link to Cathy of California - always nice to learn of a new blog. Lately I've been checking back with estate sale companies after their sales to see if they are still selling and often they are, at very reduced prices.

Your Keiran sounds like the perfect shopping companion! :-)

[Nancy]

So fun to meet you and Keiran there at the sale! I love the figurine you got! How special! I only bought 2 dinnerplates - just practical stuff, but my friend found a block print and a beautiful hardcover Modern American Painting book.
See you at the next one!

[Queen of Fifty Cents]

Oh, the buyer's remorse, I know it well! I own a plate that I actually paid ten bucks for many years ago, and sometimes I still look at it and wonder what I was thinking. But I've had it over twenty five years now, it still looks like new though we use it all the time, and the pattern is beautiful. I probably got my money's worth--and so will you.

[Diann @ The Thrifty Groove]

Oh, how disappointing. but, you never know how a sale will be until you go. Sometimes we hit pay dirt but, lately it seems the prices are just out of this world. But, it sounds like you had fun just looking around.

[Joy]

Oh! How I was rooting for you to be awash in a thriftily-priced Heath sea of lovliness! Ah, well. Your wonderful, well-educated eye did find that most personal link to the artist! You're right...priceless! How funny to go for Edith Heath & end up with Gemma Taccogna! To me it sounds like you & Keiran squeezed everything fun out of your experience possible! Congratulations!

ps Would more knowledge of vintage Heath designs made those prices easier to swallow? Perhaps, the pieces were so unique in that sense? Just a thought.

[Selena Cate]

I did do some research on the highest selling Heath items on eBay that morning and actually while we waited in line. I even had a little card with pattern names, colors and the price it sold in my pocke. I must say that most of the Heath I found unattractive. Some had gold and silver tones on them that I had never seen before. Perhaps someone collects them but they dont seem to appear too much on eBay. The turquoise plates can be a good seller though which is partly why I was drawn to them. I wished I had known more but as Mike from American Pickers would say, There wasnt too much meat left on the bone at those prices. Ironically I actually did very well the next day at the MCM sale. I found a George Nelson Clock that is quite rare and a whole host of other things. As far as the weekend in general went, I found many valuable items. As far as the Heath sale, Im just going to consider it as a fun experience for Keiran and I.
xoxo Selena

[Shara]

When I saw the ad last week I knew it was going to be overpriced due to the length of the sale and location (Marin). I too am not a huge fan + there doesn't seem to be much of a resale market...but obviously tons of people like it--'cause there were others in line waiting with you. We all like what we like, I guess.

I want to see your clock!

[Sandy]

I just haven't been thrifting much since you were here, Selena! :)

[Angie of EismanDesign]

Ah, too bad about the prices. I know that feeling.
But amazing just the same to get to see Heath pottery and to have had a reason to learn more about it!

[deborah]

let go of the remorse. the plates are yours and lovely too:) love the anticipation of what i might find each time i go a-junkin'.

[Guusje]

Were the books any good or were they overpriced too? Some sales are like that. Chalk it up to another tick in the "frog' column. After about 10 ticks you earn a Prince!

[Selena Cate]

The books were very reasonable. They were $5 each. But they were worthless in regards to ReSelling. I think the goods ones might have been pulled before the sale. I did buy one book that was signed by the artist. They were interesting though but quite worn.
xoxo Selena

[Teresa Raines]

It might have been a bust, but how interesting! The pieces you did purchase are very nice. Were those buttons or beads on the strings for $150? I sure like the turquoise colored ones.

[Robin]

I don't go to a lot of estate sales so don't know much about prices. But I do want to point out that this was not an estate sale with lots of Heath, it was Edith Heath's estate sale with lots of Heath. Many of the items are one-off experiments that she may have made herself and won't be seen anywhere else.

[Selena Cate]

That is a good point Robin. I think that is why I mentioned how much I enjoyed the experience of the sale. In a way it was a glimpse into the artist behind Edith Heath. Im incredibly frugal when it comes to buying many things so the prices didnt fit into my budget but I certainly appreciated the beauty of the different ceramic pieces, especially because so many were unique. And as I mentioned in the post, it is the Gemma piece that is priceless to me just knowing that Edith owned it. The Gemma figure now sits in my office and inspires me when I write or create. xoxo Selena

[Melissa]

Its always a bummer when your expectations aren't met. At least you got more of a museum experience and you enjoyed it too.

[Paul Jimenez]

I am married to Edith Heaths sister's
(Ann kellog's) grandaughter G kellog" may I ask you if you would be willing to sell any of the item's you bought at the estate sale?