Some Treasures from Dayboro Day Antiques & Collectables Fair

Last Sunday, I went down to the Dayboro Day Antiques & Collectables Fair. It's only on once a year and although fairly small, I usually find something nice there to add to my collections. I only did a quick visit this time as I wanted to get back home in time to go to church. I did manage, however, to get there well before the 8.30am start and was actually about the third person through the door. Never been that early to any fair before.

At the fair I found six treasures which I very happily brought home with me. Below are a few teaser photos of what I found. Some of these items will be featured in more detail in future posts.

My first purchase was the most unusual and also my favourite find of the day. I bought it from Kate, the owner of one of my favourite, small, antiques shop, "Tikki Boo", at Clontarf. Kate always has something interesting for me in her shop and her prices are also quite reasonable. This time I bought a sewing box (?) made from some old Laurel Kerosene tins, most likely during the Great Depression. A great piece of Australian history. I plan to do a special article in the near future devoted entirely to this most ingenious item.

Next I found an early card game called "CHOOK CHOOK". Apart from some water stains on the outside of the box, it looks as though it has never been used. This game probably dates from the 1930s. 

The next stall belonged to another two favourite dealers of mine, Ash & David. I very seldom pass their stalls without buying something and this Sunday was no exception. They had a very nice hand forged branding iron in a 'fleur de lis' or crown design. A little dearer than I usually pay for a branding iron but the design was worth the extra. One day I will do a special post on all of my branding irons. I just want to fire them up first and brand a piece of wood to see how they all turn out.

Ash & David also had a nice child's trio in a Noah's Ark design which I just had to have to add to my juvenalia collection. This probably dates from the 1950s / 60s and was made by "SYDNEY BRITISH ANCHOR ENGLAND".

The last things that I bought were from a stall owner who usually always has some interesting things at good prices. I have bought a few things from him over the years including my very first piece of Australian domestic pottery, a Diana trough vase. This time I found six Warning signs (4 aluminium and 2 steel) and an old galvanised bucket. I think the signs have probably come from some high tension power line towers as they warn of the dangers of climbing such towers. I wasn't really after this type of sign but how could I refuse when he only wanted $2 each. I intend to hang one or two of them up and then use the rest to make some signs of my own. There is no way that I could have even bought sheets of aluminium or steel this cheaply.

Not sure where I will use the bucket yet but I know it will look great somewhere in my garden.

Overall a very worthwhile visit. Came home with some nice treasures and caught up with a few friends. Looking forward to next year's fair.

Still More Mulga

I wasn't actually planning to buy more mulga wood items but they just seem to keep popping up out of nowhere. I had decided that if I were to buy anymore, they would have to be in excellent condition and very reasonably priced. You would think that this would limit what I would find, but no it didn't. I have found pieces of mulga in excellent condition at both of the last two collectables events that I have attended. The prices were reasonable so they had to come home with me to be added to my growing collection of mulga wood.

The first items are a pair of small vases. I found these on a stall at the Banyo Swap Meet just over a week ago. It actually turns out that the stall holders had been next door neighbours of ours, probably 25 to 30 years ago. It's a small world, isn't it. This swap meet is only the second such event that I have ever attended and I must confess that I think I could easily get hooked on them. Although they are primarily put on to cater to the car enthusiast (this one was put on by the EJ & EH Holden Car Club), they do have a lot of collectables for sale as well. You seem to be more likely to get a bargain at these swap meets than at a designated "Antiques and Collectables" fair. The next swap meet I plan to attend will be the "Caboolture Swap Meet Show & Shine" on Saturday the 22nd of June at the Caboolture Show Grounds. This is just up the road from me so I should be able to easily make the 7.00am start. Just hope it isn't too cold. The low entry fee to most swap meets is also another added attraction. Most seem to only cost $3 to get in.

The pair of vases are labelled "AUSTRALIAN MULGA SOUTHERN SERIES". I hadn't encountered this brand before so I was happy to add this new brand to my collection.

The pair of "SOUTHERN SERIES" vases (just over 15cm high)
Photographed using flash.

Other side of the vases
Using flash again to bring out the rich reds of the mulga wood.

Underside of each vase showing the "AUSTRALIAN MULGA SOUTHERN SERIES" brand stickers

Same two vases using natural light only.
Notice the differences in the turning of each vase especially around the top rims.
No two pieces of mulga wood are ever the same.

Other side of the vases photographed in natural light.

Much browner in colour.

The next item of mulga wood was found last weekend at the Caloundra Antique & Collectables Show. When I first saw it I didn't even know what it was. I asked the dealer and he thought it may have been for holding rings on a ladies dressing table. It didn't look feminine enough to me for this purpose. I now believe it may be a desk tidy for something like pins or paperclips. Maybe someone can help me here to identify its actual purpose. This piece was obviously originally bought as a souvenir as it has "From Ulladulla" in gold lettering on it. Coincidentally, this piece is also labelled "AUSTRALIAN MULGA SOUTHERN SERIES". 

Small souvenir pin? dish with raised centre.
7 - 8cm in diameter

Souvenir  pin dish "From Ulladulla"

Underside of pin dish showing the "AUSTRALIAN MULGA SOUTHERN SERIES" brand sticker

When I concluded my last post on mulga wood I asked the question of "Will I buy any more mulga wood?". Well the answer has clearly proven to be yes but I am now definitely only looking for those special pieces in great condition.