New Arrivals: Just Listed! Shabby Roses China, Mechanical Postcard, Pop Up Valentines

Each week I have a favorite piece. I think this is it!

There are so many things to like about this cake plate.

Victorian pitcher. The lines and shape are elegant,

not to mention the lovely roses.

A very pretty two handled cake plate.

I like the background on this antique pop up Valentine, red instead of the usual white.

Printed in Germany.

I found this pretty plate in a little local antique shop.
Handpainted gold touches throughout.

A mechanical, folding, pop up postcard. This is the first I've seen like this.

This cup is so sweet! I usually see these with "Mother" or "Father" printed on them.

The "Mama" is so endearing!

Cowboy songs! Yeeeee haaaaaa!

Vintage style bling...I'm thinking holiday party!

Ask, Seek, Knock. I'm offering this piece free to anyone who asks for it.
(To go with the motto)
Glass inkwell ...comes with the shabby old pen and antique postcard.


Antique pop up Valentine from Germany.

George and Martha plates by Johnson Bros. England.

Kind of ironic, eh?

A little book on OLD French Furniture. . . of Louis XV

Great photos of some elegant pieces.

There are a few more items not shown here...you can check them out in my

Just Listed cateogry on BellaRosaAntiques.com

Thank you for stopping by! I enjoy finding new homes for the antiques I find.

Let me know if there is something you are looking for.

I'm linking to How Sweet the Sound for PINK SATURDAY!

Won't you join the rest of the crew to see what is new?

http://www.howsweetthesound.typepad.com

A Look Back at Vintage Glamour: Vanity Trays, Perfume Bottles, Makeup & More

In our travels, looking for great vintage pieces, we come across old vanity items.

Mirrored trays, compacts, perfume bottles, rouge and more.

I found a great article on a new magazine called Home & Antiques. They had a few pictures I really liked. This is one of them. I also borrowed the next two to show you some of the neat things you can find when hunting through old things.

I love the old graphics on these containers. How I'd like to try the "Flapper Curler!" I would of course, need to cut my hair short.

This image conjures up thoughts of the 1940's and the USO.

World Wars are not glamorous.

But these women, holding down the fort at home, were strong while still

holding onto their femininity. To quote the article from Home & Antiques:

"...wearing make-up wasn’t just a pleasure, it was part of a woman’s patriotic duty."

The images below are from my Bella Rosa Antiques shop in the "La Donna Bella" category. (The Beautiful Woman)

This vintage celluloid vanity set is from the same era if not a little earlier.

I love the vintage style of this mirrored plateau.

You won't find one of these Heather Rouge tins in today's drugstore. There is still makeup inside!

A lovely shade of red called "Geranium."

For the organized gal. A lipstick holder.
Sweet little bottle with a pretty scent.

A little bit of gay romance!

Isn't it funny how our language has changed?

Another lipstick holder... with a bit of aurora borealis bling!
Great vintage talc tin.

I often wonder who owned items like these. What were they

dealing with in life? Were they single gals, housewives, or career girls?

Pieces of the past which connect us to a vintage world of beauty and glamour.

While the look has changed our desire to sparkle and shine remains the same.

I hope you enjoyed today's journey back in time!

Falling for Pink

About this time of year the leaves start to change... and I start to cringe. I'm not a typical lover of fall. Why? Well, it means winter is coming and I'm defnitely not into cold weather. Bah-hum bug!

But this year I've decided to embrace fall... we've been enjoying pumpkin hunts, molasses cookies, butternut squash soup, the foliage. All kinds of fun things!

After all, it is so beautiful!

So today I'm sharing one of my latest finds with you. This pretty teacup and saucer is vibrant with a deeper pink and a little bit of fall coloring.

Have a super PINK Saturday be sure to stop on by to visit the pink party that goes on every week at How Sweet the Sound

SALE! 20% Off Our Best Vintage & Popular Jewelry

From now until the end of November, all of our fine jewelry is 20% off.

Christmas shopping, made easy!

You'll find stunning and creative artisan made pieces like the one above.


Or this beautiful mother of pearl and sterling silver ring...


Or this uniquely made rhinestone "Stanhope" cross"which if you hold it up to the light and look through the center circle, you can read the Lord's Prayer inside. Very beautiful, maybe there is someone special who could use some encouragement today?

The rest of our fine jewelry may be found here.

Enjoy the rest of the week! I am hoping to go antiquing this weekend (aren't I always?)
I also just returned from fixing up the antique booth hubby and I share...and lo and behold,

I found a couple of "new" treasures!

Can't wait to show them to you next week, along with whatever else I find this weekend.

I'll probably be back tomorrow for Pink Saturday... see you then!

New Arrivals and a SALE: All Fine Jewelry 20% OFF

This is just a sample of what I've listed this week.

I'm limping along after my computer crashed... so this post is going to be short and sweet!

Check out my latest finds after attending an auction this weekend... PLUS I've marked all FINE JEWELRY 20% Off. Not too early to start buying for Christmas.

Check it all out on BellaRosaAntiques.com

Have a BELLA day!

Computer Explosion

Computers and antiques. Such complete opposites of each other (well, unless you have an OLD one) but when you are in the business of selling the latter online then you need the former.

I've been running on a wing and a prayer since the Great Christmas Day Computer Crash of 2010...when I lost my entire address book and a lot of my hard drive files. Well, now the hard drive has really gone kerplunky. KERPLUNKY! Is that even a word? It has ceased to exist as my working team member, that's all I know. We have been pretty good about backing things up since the GCDCC '10 but I am trying to figure out whether to replace the hard drive or to buy a new computer. Currently I am using my laptop (I realize how blessed I am to have both.) The problem with relying on my laptop as a back up is....none of my usual photo editing programs, outlook express, and other handy items are on it.

So, this could work out well for my followers/customers. I might just have to have a sale this week instead of listing new items. Or maybe a combination of the two.

Stay tuned!

Do You Miss the ME Magazine?

Were you a fan of the Mary Engelbreit Home Companion magazine? I used to receive them and LOVED them. I still have all of my issues. They're full of vintage fun, creative ideas and great inspiration....and they really don't go out of style.

But the magazine stopped being published. :(

Today I received an email asking if we miss the magazine... if they get enough people to support the RETURN of Home Companion, it will be back!

I voted already. If you miss it too, here is your chance to say "I WANT IT BACK!"

And Happy Pink Saturday to a bunch of creative, inspirational pinkies. Enjoy your weekend!

Calling All China - Latest Listings Have Arrived!

Making a call on this phone is a lot of fun...the old rotary dial still works. The whole thing is as heavy as can be but has a great vintage look. !
This is a little heavy too but gosh I've looked high and low for one in my price range and I finally found one! A vintage plateau mirror/ perfume tray.

Pretty and vintage LEFTON china plates in the rose chintz pattern. Sweetly iced cake would look even more delicious served on these. Or how about that pumpkin / apple pie served at Thanksgiving? These vintage metal flower frogs may be prickly but they make great card holders!

Royal Austria china...dates to the early 1900's.
I used to think these were just funny looking tea cups until someone told me they were cream soups. Then I started collecting them. This one is marked Theodore Haviland, Limoges, France and was in my collection but now I've started collecting other things. It is part of the antique biz, I guess, to collect ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

There's more where these pieces came from, in fact I listed 16 items total yesterday. Check them out, here.

LENOX China: History & More

Today I'd like to write about a beautiful line of china, which has deep roots in America.

Lenox China.

This is a picture of it's founder, Walter Scott Lenox. Here was his vision for the company:

It is my will and desire that Lenox, Incorporated shall at all times manufacture the highest possible grades of porcelain, that the standard of excellence already attained shall ever be advanced..."
— Walter Scott Lenox
Since 1889 the vision of Walter Scott Lenox has guided the company he founded to set the highest standards for quality, artistry, and beauty. Today Lenox is among the world's oldest and most respected names in fine tableware and giftware — favored by presidents, displayed in museums, honored with awards, and enjoyed in homes across America. Come explore the story of Lenox as it grows from one man's conviction into the country's foremost maker of china, crystal and metal gifts.

Walter Scott Lenox was born in 1859 in the "Staffordshire of America": Trenton, N.J. Laced with transportation lines and located near sources of fuel and clay, the state capital became the country's leading ceramics center in the 19th century, with some 200 potteries. Little wonder young Walter was inspired to devote his life to creating porcelain that rivaled the best in the world.

Combining his talent for drawing and his fascination with clay, Lenox worked as a decorator and designer for several Trenton potteries beginning in 1875. Six years later he advanced to design director for Ott & Brewer, then Willets Manufacturing. Both firms produced a domestic version of Irish Belleek, the thin, cream-colored porcelain with a pearly glaze very much in vogue in Victorian times. Both firms eventually failed. The stage was set for Lenox to start his own business.

For more history, check out the rest on the Lenox company website, here.

I have always loved Lenox China. It's quality and beauty make it a favorite among many.

Here are a few pieces in my Collectibles category:

Gorgeous multi colored rooster...

And a pretty shell ring or pin dish.

Some of my favorite Lenox finds have been lamps. I had no idea they made lamps until we happened upon a pair of gorgeous white swan lamps several years ago. Exquisite! Then I found this pretty "ballet pink" and cream lamp in the antique mall where we have a booth.

This week we've aquired a couple more collectible pieces which I will be listing tomorrow evening if all goes as planned. Stay tuned!

Antiques On TV Part 2

This is a follow up to the post I did about Antiques making huge hits on television.

Kovels send out a weekly newsletter online and this article was a great way to add a "PART II" to my post.

Here it is below:

Reality TV Shows for Collectors September 2011

We recently mentioned the more than 20 antiques-related reality shows that are on television or coming soon. Here is the list (all times Eastern; check your local listings to confirm airtimes). Some of the shows may be on hiatus or canceled. Most popular, according to the ratings: "Antiques Roadshow" and "Pawn Stars."

ABC The Great Big American Auction, in production
A & E Storage Wars, Wednesdays 10 p.m.
BBC Antiques Roadshow UK, day varies, 11 p.m. (reruns)
Discovery American Treasures, Tuesdays, 7 p.m.
A Auction Kings, Tuesdays 10 p.m.
Oddities, Thursdays 10:30 p.m.
Fox Buried Treasure, Wednesdays 8 p.m.
HGTV Cash & Cari, Sundays 7:30 p.m.
Cash in the Attic, Wednesdays 8 p.m.
History American Pickers, Mondays 9 p.m.
American Restoration, Fridays 10 p.m.
Pawn Stars, Mondays 10 p.m.
Lifetime Picker Sisters, Tuesdays 10 p.m.

National
Geographic Auction Packed, Tuesdays 8 p.m.
NBC It's Worth What?! Tuesdays 8 p.m.
PBS Antiques Roadshow, Mondays 8 p.m. (check local listings)
History Detectives, Tuesdays 8 p.m. (check local listings)
Spike Auction Hunters, Tuesdays 10 p.m.
Syfy Hollywood Treasure, Wednesdays 10 p.m.
TLC Auctioneer$, Saturdays 10 p.m.

My Collection Obsession, in production

Tru TV Hardcore Pawn, Tuesdays 9 p.m.
Network TBD Antique Warriors, in production

The top rated shows are "Antiques Roadshow" and "Pawn Stars"

Those with a lot of time and a passion for antiques... have fun with your "pick" of the shows. Who knew antiques would become the celebrities?

Some of course, may have been cancelled already. We'll have to see which ones are really "worth"while!