As charitable organizations go, Goodwill has had some bad press mostly due to the high prices they charge for items that they receive free from donations and the very high salaries managers are paid. Years ago our eldest son told us about his lucrative trips to the Goodwill Bins. We until that day were only aware of the stores, which we had gone to if we needed an inexpensive vase to give away with a bouquet of flowers. Our son would look for items that he would then sell on EBay. It is a large warehouse that is filled with long rows of bins on wheels, each bin is waist high and about twenty feet long and filled with .......junk. Until one makes it a treasure. Pushing a shopping cart one loads items in and when finished pays by the pound. Every once in a while that treasure just lands in your hands. On a recent trip I found such a treasure........
 19th century Anglo/Indian bone & ebonised sword stick. |
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The carved bone was the bit that caught my eye from under the pile of junk on top of it. And as soon as I brought it to the surface, three other hands tried to claim it as well. With the look of death I shot round, sole ownership was restored.
There obviously is a fare amount of wear and tear on it. I perused a few auction sites and found one with the starting price of £250. GB
But even if I don't sell, it looks rather nice with my other walking sticks.
Good job.
ReplyDeleteThanks Joanne
DeleteThat is a handsome sword stick that has possibly had some adventures in defense of its owner.
ReplyDeleteHow such a relic ended up at a Goodwill Bins is intriguing let alone it's early history.
DeleteNever heard of Goodwill bins, but congratulations on your find, Doc! That is really neat!
ReplyDeleteHope you all have a blessed weekend.
Nore had I until our son told us about his many visits. We have done so well that he refers to us as "those Goodwill diggers."
DeleteIt's a shame that you will never be able to walk down the street with it without being arrested.
ReplyDeleteYou are right Tom and I will probably sell it soon as it makes my wife nervous when our grandchildren are here.
DeleteBut will the grandchildren need to know what it is, or that it separates into two pieces? Do they play with your other walking sticks?
DeleteMaybe you should go on the next Antiques Road Show and have it appraised. :-)
Score. I know people that buy at Goodwill and re-sell it in antique malls and booths. Here's a hint, the ones by the expensive communities get the best stuff, or so I've heard.
ReplyDeleteThere are two of five in our area that have been amazing.
DeleteLooks good!
ReplyDeleteI've been looking to buy one of those for years! Unfortunately they are now banned; maybe that's why it was ejected.
ReplyDelete