Before next Saturday’s yard sale, I want to record a few of the things that will be on the tables that have had their place in my story.
THE UGLY HAT BOWL
A purchase at the MIT Student Glass Sale early in my career at ye Instytytte, 1990 or 1991. Edged in pink, its color could be described as chartreuse, electric yellow, or snot, depending on a) your mood, or b) your devotion to Christian Bérard. Obviously I was attracted to its resemblance to a hat.
I have actually served lunch for four out of this bowl at the office. Fill the middle with whole fruit, and balance sandwiches around the wide but uneven rim!
TIFFANY DOLPHIN BOWL
At the other end of the spectrum, we find this 6” diameter Tiffany and Co. dolphin bowl, complete with sticker (but not with the famous blue box). I’m at a loss where I got it at the moment — it was not a trinket from my days at the Ballet — but I may have received it at a hotel opening or something like that.
PIERCED POTTERY BOWL
Mother gave me this for Christmas sometime in the 1990s, and it’s a beautiful example of the kind of things she liked: not fancy-looking but good quality. Sometimes Mother would comment about having grown up in a “Touch Me Not” household, because her parents had Nice Things like crystal and cloisonné. What Mother didn’t quite realize was that her household was also “Touch Me Not ,” but most of her things were things you might find at the craft fair: wooden fruit in wooden bowls, stone eggs, burlap and waxed paper flowers, etc.
She said it was for potpourri, but I always found that it flaked out of those leaf-shaped holes. (Also, how many mothers can give their sons potpourri dishes for Christmas and still be praying they meet the right girl?) It’s a nice piece for plums or grapes, or candies, or trinkets.
GOLD CHINA CUP, SAUCER, AND PLATE
From my eBay period in the mis ‘00’s. I was quite a magpie then (and now, I admit). I’ve loved having these, but I have things that capture my fancy more subtly now. :-)