German Cobalt Blue Wine Dispenser

We’ve not been able to find a lot about this piece – a German stoneware wine cask/dispenser in Cobalt blue and white. We did find a similar piece on an auction site. CLICK HERE to view it.

Words from Martin Luther on the end of the Cobalt blue and white German wine cask/dispenser.

Thanks to Edel Patterson, owner of Edel’s Bridal Shop here in Havre de Grace, we are able to give you the translation on this beautiful wine dispenser/cask.

Iss, was gar ist.
Trink, was klar ist.
Sprich, was wahr ist.
Lieb, was rar ist.

In English, it translates as follows and is from Martin Luther:

Eat what is done.
Drink what is clear.
Speak what is true.
Love what is rare.

More detail of the gnomes and design on this German cobalt blue and white stoneware wine cask/dispnser

This piece recently arrived at Bahoukas and it’s truly exquisite!

While we’re discussing wine casks/dispensers, have you ever wondered who might have the World’s Largest Wine Barrel?

World’s Largest Wine Barrel

Well, wonder no more… within the cellars of the Heidelberg Castle in German, is the Heidelberg Tun:

The Heidelberg Tun (German: Großes Fass), or Great Heidelberg Tun, is an extremely large wine vat contained within the cellars of Heidelberg Castle. There have been four such barrels in the history of Heidelberg. In 1751, the year of its construction, the present one had a capacity of 221,726 litres (58,574 U.S. gallons). Due to the drying of the wood its current capacity is 219,000 litres (57,854 U.S. gallons). One hundred and thirty oak trees were reputedly used in its construction. It has only rarely been used as a wine barrel, and in fact presently enjoys more use as a tourist attraction, and also as a dance floor since one was constructed on top of the tun.

from Wikipedia

Heidelberg Tun

Located in the cellars of the Heidelberg Castle is this mammoth wine barrel. Check out the size of the people around it and the stairway to the right that takes you up to the top landing. WOW!

Now that we’ve piqued your interest. Stop in and see the beautiful stoneware wine cask. And, of course, we’re watchin’ for ya!

Like to Sew?

Well, maybe you don’t like to sew. But these thread cabinets could easily be upcycled for any unique project you might have.

DID YOU KNOW THREAD SPOOLS WERE ONCE RECYCLED?

It was not until about 1800 that manufactured cotton thread was available to the hand sewers in the United States and Europe. Before that, textiles were sewn with silk or linen thread, and rarely homespun cotton or wool thread. At first, they were sold in hanks as some yarns still are. Thread came on wooden spools beginning about 1820. Like our beverage bottles, the spools could be returned for a deposit, to be refilled. In the mid-19th century, during the Industrial Revolution, textile manufacturing processes were some of the first to be modernized including the manufacture of cotton sewing thread.

from Post-Journal
Beautiful 1800s vintage sewing thread display case at Bahoukas Antiques.

What Ideas Might You Have?

Maybe you collect small items and the drawers would be perfect to store them and pull them out for display. Or possibly, you love notepaper and cards. These drawers might be perfect for keeping your collection. OR!!! Possibly a perfect place to store sheets of wrapping paper or even your artwork!

Love More History of Threads?

Photo from ScienceHistory.org showing a man working at DuPont's nylon production plant in Wilmington, DE, 1938
Images from DuPont’s nylon production plant in Wilmington, Delaware, 1938 (clockwise from top left). Mike McCall pours nylon chips into a hopper; the chips will be melted, measured out and filtered before being spun into filament. An unidentified worker oversees the operation of a draw twister, which twists polymer fibers into thread. Violet Grenda inspects skeins of nylon yarn.
Joseph X. Labovsky Collection, Science History Institute

DuPont in Wilmington, DE in the 1940s manufactured fully synthetic nylon thread. During WWII it was very difficult for women to get hosiery because they were made from silk thread, imported from Japan. DuPont worked to create a substitute that we know as ‘nylon stockings.’ If I remember correctly, the late Phil Barker, a former mayor of Havre de Grace, first worked at DuPont. He started out just cleaning, working up to ‘doffing’ – removing empty spools from the machines.

Of course, you probably have a very unique idea for using one or both of these beautiful 1800s sewing thread cabinets. Let us know how YOU might use them! Yes, we’re here and we’re watchin’ for ya!

Planning a Wedding?

Looking for wedding decorating ideas?

How often do you think of your local antique shop for great ideas for wedding decor. Does the bride and/or groom collect something special that may be used in the decorations? Maybe you’re looking for unique serving dishes or goblets.

fun and funny collectible wedding toppers at Bahoukas in Havre de Grace
Fun and Funny Wedding Topper Collectibles

Or consider ‘insulators’ for table decor:

Insulators at Bahoukas, let us help you start your collection
A variety of insulators

Here is a tea light holder made from a green glass insulator and a rusty bed spring. The two together have a great industrial  look that is really unique.

from pickledbarrel.com
from pickledbarrel.com - a beautiful example of creating a candle holder for wedding decor from an old glass insulator.
An old insulator and a rusty bed spring upcycled to a candle holder – easy wedding decor (or holidays)
Green and other shades of oil lamps at Bahoukas Antiques in Havre de Grace

Other Wedding Decor Ideas

We have oil lamps of all shapes, colors, and sizes to add to centerpieces or highlight a particular area of your wedding reception.

Don’t forget that we also have vases of all shapes and sizes.

We have an array of glass ware …

pink depression glass
Pink Depression Glass – just a small sampling

Perfect for the bride’s table, special guests, or everyone, we have a wonderful variety of glassware you may enjoy incorporating in your wedding decor. Special cake platters, serving dishes, full sets of dishware, are available.

GIFT IDEAS

Don’t forget the our “Collection of Collections’ offers some pretty unique gift ideas for the bride and groom, or from the bride and groom. And don’t forget the children! Be creative if you have children in the wedding party.

Think out of the box for your wedding!

from bahoukas

And don’t forget, we’re here to help you find the perfect items. Yep, we’re excited for your big day and we’ll be watchin’ for ya!

Bottles, Bottles, Bottles

It’s been a while since we’ve shared our variety of bottle collections. An old bottle is a great way to upcycle – use to keep pens, show off a small bouquet or a single flower, or just add to a windowsill with a sprig of ivy. Check out just a few of our collections in the store.

Milk Bottles

scores of collectible milk bottles at Bahoukas Antique Mall in Havre de Grace
A great collection of milk bottles
Close up of a few collectible milk bottles at Bahoukas
Milk Bottle Sampler

Medicine Bottles

Do you love flowers? Well, our collection of bottles can give you beautiful cut flower containers. Consider these for a bud face or simple flower:

Shades of blue and clear glass bottles - beautiful on a window sill - Bahoukas in Havre de Grace
pharmaceutical bottles

CLICK ON OUR BOTTLES category (on the right side of our page) to see more complete posts about our many bottles available.

Vintage Bottles

vintage bottles including torpedo, igloo ink, blob top, crown top, and a clay Weiss Beer bottle - all available at Bahoukas Antiques in Havre de Grace, MD
Unique vintage bottles

Whether you have a windowsill filled with tiny bottles or a cabinet filled with your collection, we encourage you to stop into Bahoukas Antique Mall to see if one – or a dozen – might add to your collection or to your decor!

Absolutely, we will be watchin’ for ya!

Unique decor found at Bahoukas

If you’ve not yet visited our store, you’re missing out on over 9,000 sq. ft. of browsing adventure! Even more fun is the fact that you just never know what you’ll find. Here are a couple of examples of the thousands of wonderful and whimsical items to add a bit of accent to your decor!

TRIVIA QUESTION: What year did the Lava Lamp turn 50? (answer at end of article)

Metal, balancing whale

This delightful piece would make a great interest focus in your living room or absolutely delight a young child for their room.

The Mesmerizing Lava Lamp

At a certain moment in the late 1960s, the lava lamp came to symbolize all things countercultural and psychedelic—although, as you might expect, those who basked in its lurid glow sometimes had trouble recalling exactly why. It’s like asking, “Why did we like Jackson Pollock?” says Wavy Gravy, the longtime peace activist and Grateful Dead sidekick. “Because it was amazing! It causes synapses in your brain to loosen up.”

from Smithsonian Magazine

Our Lava Lamp is 27″ tall and yes, it does work, although it takes a very long time to warm up. Curious as to how they’re made? Check out THIS LINK.

In the meantime, enjoy this trip back in time!

Of course, we have thousands of items from antique classics to modern-day whimsy. Stop in soon and see what you might discover. Yep, we’ll be watchin’ for ya!

Answer: 2013

Beautiful Roseville Donatello

You have to see these Donatello pieces by Roseville to appreciate them.

Donatello pieces by Roseville Pottery, c. 1920s - bowls, pottery basket, candle holder - these and more available at Bahoukas.
A few pieces from our latest collection, Roseville Donatello.

In 1908 Harry Rhead succeeded his brother as Art Director. In an era where hand-decorated wares were becoming unpopular and unprofitable, Harry began in earnest to create less labor-intensive lines. He was responsible for the creation of the famous Donatello line, which was produced for at least ten years. They sold over 100 shapes of Donatello and the line made the Roseville Pottery successful and profitable.

from Roseville Art website
3 bowls - Roseville Donatello pottery - c. 1920s at Bahoukas
Donatello Bowls by Roseville Pottery

The Roseville Pottery was incorporated in Roseville, Ohio in 1892. Not only is its history long and well-received, its lines carry great value to collectors even to this day.

As with all other American pottery companies, cheaper imports from Japan undermined their sales. Constantly struggling to survive, Roseville Pottery limped along until 1954, when they sold the company along with all designs and plants to New England Ceramics Company who then sold it to Franklin Potteries of Franklin, WV. In 1954, all production of Roseville Pottery stopped. Even to this day vintage Roseville Pottery is collected by thousands of people world-wide. Prices have undergone wild swings over the years, and some patterns fall into and out of style with collectors. But with a solid history and thousands of different shapes, Roseville Pottery is certain to be collected for many decades to come.

from Roseville Art website

Beautiful Roseville Donatello pieces available at Bahoukas Antiques!

Beautiful pieces of Roseville Donatello - bowl, flower frog, candle holders
Beautiful Donatello by Roseville bowl, flower frog, candle holders

These pieces are outstanding! Stop by and view them for yourself. Beautiful pieces of Roseville Pottery from around the 1920s. And yes, we’ll be watchin’ for you!

Pickle? Ferment? Or just decorate?

Stoneware Crocks have many uses…

Stoneware Crocks and Jugs available at Bahoukas

The word “pickle” comes from a Dutch word ‘pekel’ or northern German ‘pókel’ meaning “salt” or “brine,” two components that are essential in the pickling process. Pickling in America is largely synonymous with the act of submerging cucumbers (or other fruits or vegetables) into a salty brine or acidic solution along with various spices to create an environment where no unhealthy bacteria can survive and your vegetable is preserved.

from Almanac.com

Stoneware crocks were used for pickling and fermenting foods for centuries! The process also gives you an easy and effortless way to make probiotic-rich fermented foods a part of your life. And if you remember pickles or sauerkraut from your grandmother’s pantry, you probably remember the flavor being much more complex and tasty than those you buy in a jar today.

Historically, the process of pickling was a necessity and an invaluable way to preserve foods for sailors and travelers. It provided families with food through the colder months.

from Almanac.com

If you’re interested in an easy-to-read introduction to pickling/fermenting, CLICK HERE for a great blog post and answers to the many questions you might have. And one more site that may be of interest in choosing and caring for a crock, CLICK HERE.

More stoneware crocks and jugs available at Bahoukas Antique Mall

But maybe you just love, love, love these old crocks and jugs. Visit this page for photos of great ways to decorate with crock pots – 36 ways, in fact.

Maybe you’ve found a container that you’d like to make it ‘look’ like an old crock. Here’s a great do-it-yourself solution.

CLICK HERE

Here are the before and after photos…

So, as you can see, we have the crocks and jugs. You can decide which ones you like and how you might use them. Stop in soon and choose your favorites. Yep, we’ll be watchin’ for ya!

While the boss was away…

the wife would play!

Well, that’s not exactly how it works. While George visited family in Montana, Barbara put her ‘shoulder to the wheel’ and began to clean and organize. The following photos don’t do the items justice (glassware is a bit challenging):

pink depression glass

Betty (one of our steady ‘volunteers’) wanted a bit of ‘pink’ near the counter. The above pink depression glass is much more beautiful when you stop by the shop to see it. We also had a great suggestion from one of our ‘regulars’ – the pink depression glass is stunning on a navy blue tablecloth!

beautiful leaded and art glass

These wonderful shades of green are absolutely stunning. There are some amazing pieces that are waiting for you! Just one could add a dash of class to your holiday decor.

glass serving trays and more

These glass plates can be used to serve nearly everything from delectable chocolates to a vegetable and dip. Wonderful macarons from Les Petits Bisous would be perfect!

Covered serving dishes and other items for your holiday decor
plus some mixers to help in the preparation.

The white covered serving dishes above would make a great dish for those yummy and much anticipated holiday dishes – mashed potatoes or a green bean casserole. YUM! There are many fine items throughout the shop to add a bit of eye appeal to your holiday festivities. Add your favorite recipes to fill the dishes and you’ll have some very happy family and visitors.

Stop by and see how many items have been brought to life with the elbow grease and determination of Barbara. She loves showing off the great collections at Bahoukas Antique Mall. of course, there’s no end to this task. So we encourage you to stop in frequently as more items are cleaned, shined, organized and readied for your holidays!

Be sure to stop by and say “hi” to George. Of course, we’ll be watchin’ for ya.

Ship Models at Bahoukas

Come by and peek in our front window. We have a beautiful display of model ships at Bahoukas Antique Mall.

Sailing ships and more…

No matter what you’re looking for, we have some fine ship models available.
Another view from inside the window.
Someone’s collection would love one of these ship models.

These ship models are just a taste of what we have in our store. We have some very LARGE models as well. Love ships? Stop in and see if we have the perfect model to add to your own decor or possibly to give as a gift. Of course, we’ll be watchin’ for ya!

Yes, we have ‘critters’

Well, we’re not the Farm Fair but …

This little piggy … is CAST IRON

We have some wonderful critters to decorate your home or even your office! This piggy bank is cast iron and probably at least a foot long. What a great way to keep that door open and let the cool breeze in while having a great place to put all that loose change!

Mary had a little lamb… and so did Bahoukas!
Lifesize kitty cat … don’t you just love it!

The lamb, geese, and cat are ceramic. But oh, so cute! Surely there’s a special little space that one or two would work perfectly!

The dog is cast iron. We have a wide variety of cast iron pieces for shelf or floor, as well as some doorstoppers.

The cast iron heron is perfecting for our area. But, then again, anyone who loves herons will find the perfect spot for it. Have a water view from your home? This would be a wonderful addition to your decor. Wish you had a water view? This wonderful statue could help remind you of the joy you feel when you’re near the water.

Just a sampling of the fun items you’ll find at Bahoukas Antique Mall & Beer MuZeum in Havre de Grace, MD. Stop in and discover a perfect collectible from the ‘Collector of Collections.’ Yep, we’ll be watchin’ for ya!

Collecting Food Tins

These days, people of means tend to dismiss canned or “processed” food as something people without access to fresh food eat. But in the late 1800s, food in tins was highly desirable. It was considered much more sanitary, and therefore healthier, than food offered in bins or barrels. That’s when branding became particularly important; customers learned they could expect a certain level of quality from, say, Kellogg’s.

from Collectors Weekly

We find it interesting that history really does come full circle. Folks again find fresh food in bins and barrels – especially if organic – to be preferable to canned or frozen. Ah yes, the circle of life.

We wrote about this a couple of years ago. But we still have a wonderful variety of vintage and collectible tins. Whether you like the advertising on them, or just old tins, we probably have a couple you’d like to add to your decor or collection.

Very collectible tins at Bahoukas Antique Mall

Yes, you’ll notice a few others that are NOT food tins (like the Gulf oil tin). Stop by and say ‘hi’ while you browse the shop. Yessireeee… we’ll be watchin’ for ya!

Victorian Washbowl Set

3 pc Victorian Washbowl Set (Partial set)

Whether you love it just because they’re beautifully painted pieces or you love Victorian, this partial Victorian Washbowl Set is gorgeous.

They can add to your decor, or would be beautiful to display your garden flowers. You could even store your pencil/pen collection or those fancy little drink stirrers in them. You decide!

Stop by and see them today at Bahoukas Antique Mall.

Of course, we’ll be watchin’ for ya and George loves to share his “Collection of Collections!” See you soon!

Wednesday Surprise #13

Bust of David, a Camel, and a Decorative Pitcher

Bust of David available at Bahoukas Antiques

Sitting high on a shelf, we discovered this bust of David. Possibly there’s a shelf in your home or office that’s perfect for this piece.

Our wood carved camel is another beautiful and unusual piece available in our shop. Maybe it would be perfect for your collection?

This chalk, decorative pitcher is beautiful. Do you have a special spot in your home or office for this unique piece?

You know that there are many items tucked up high on a shelf or maybe in a box. We encourage you to stop in to Bahoukas Antique Mall to discover a perfect collectible for your home or office – or maybe as a gift. Yep, we’re here and we’ll be watchin’ for ya!

Collectibles and Flowers…

a perfect combination

Create a setting with a few flowers and an old pitcher.

Then sit down and enjoy…

A tiny pitcher with a sprig of tiny flowers makes a wonderful collectible arrangement.

Now you can sit down and begin your novel…

Inspiration…

Noticing these shelves with a mix and match of old vases and pitchers are what inspired this post. With summer fast approaching, flowers from your garden or picked while walking a country path make a wonderful arrangement in an old, collectible vase.

What collections do you have?

A simple bouquet of flowers from your garden and “VOILA!” – a perfect bit of summer on your table, bookshelf, or window sill.

This beautiful swan vase looks absolutely stunning with these flowers.

Stop in to Bahoukas Antique Mall today. You’ll find a dizzying array of collectibles to display your summer flowers. Pitchers, bowls, glass jars, vases, and so much more are waiting for you to choose a couple to take home! And of course, we’ll be watchin’ for ya!

Wednesday Surprise #10

Pianos!?!?

Do you have a player piano? We have the music rolls!

Well… not exactly!

Looking for unusual, and often forgotten, items, we found these up on a shelf. We have quite a selection of old Player Piano Music Rolls.

First, let me explain what a player piano is. According to Wikipedia:

player piano (also known as pianola) is a self-playing piano, containing a pneumatic or electro-mechanical mechanism that operates the piano action via pre-programmed music recorded on perforated paper, or in rare instances, metallic rolls, with more modern implementations using MIDI. The rise of the player piano grew with the rise of the mass-produced piano for the home in the late 19th and early 20th century.[1] Sales peaked in 1924, then declined as the improvement in phonograph recordings due to electrical recording methods developed in the mid-1920s. The advent of electrical amplification in home music reproduction via radio in the same period helped cause their eventual decline in popularity, and the stock market crash of 1929 virtually wiped out production.

WIKIPEDIA
How a player piano works

Now we’ll add a video to actually show you how it works. The first minute or so shows it before it’s fully repaired. About half-way through, you can see and hear it working. Pretty cool, huh?

So, what DO we do with these piano rolls?

Well, if you don’t have a player piano, you might want to consider a craft or two where these would be amazing. If you search Pinterest, you’ll find hundreds of ways to incorporate these rolls.

On the other hand, are you an artist who loves working with paper? Then you may already see a dozen uses. I’m wondering if those folks who sculpt using old books might find these of interest. Hmmmm….

CLICK HERE for just one blog post I found that’s pretty interesting. There are lots more.

If you’re still trying to picture using these rolls in a craft, view this blog post we found.

from twopurplecouches.com

Of course, now that you realize how beautiful these piano player rolls really are, you might want to stop in and grab a couple for yourself. Want a dozen or more, or even all of them, talk to George for a deal. Yep, we’ll be watchin’ for ya!

Wednesday Surprise Box #9

Pennants!

Come peek in our Box of Pennants – hey, you never know what you’ll find.

Besides looking for your favorite college, sports team, or vacation spot, pennants also offer a fun way to add a bit of your character and flair to your decorating. Attached is a great post that gives some really fun ideas.

Enjoy the ideas from Studio McGee

https://www.studio-mcgee.com/studioblog/2017/7/6/pennants

Click on the link if it doesn’t open. Then stop in and visit us at Bahoukas Antique Mall and Beer MuZeum. You never know what ‘surprises’ you’ll discover. And yep, we’ re always watchin’ for ya!

Vintage Easter

…a few beautiful items for the collector in you

vintage Easter items including vintage paper

We have a few very special vintage collectibles that you might want to add to a collection…

Easter Eggs and Little Lamps

Here we have a couple glass/porcelain eggs and lamb decorations. Collectible and so cute!

Decorative Eggs Come in all Sizes

These very collectible decorative eggs might just be the perfect addition to a very special Easter basket or a unique Easter decoration.

So come on in and see if one or two of these wonderful vintage Easter collectibles is perfect for your celebration. Yep, you know we’ll be watchin’ for ya!

Spring brings summer fabrics!

Need an iron?

Irons from this century

These irons might look familiar to you. Well, maybe to your mom and dad. Electric irons make your cotton clothes look sharp and pressed!

Although clothes made of ‘permanently pressed’ fabrics made needing an iron less necessary, there are still folks who like ‘that perfect crease.’

quite hard to date these slickers, sleekstones’, slickenstones, in german language, glättstein gniedelstein, gniddelstein, grindstein
these glass iron smoothers are believed to have served as a pressing iron. The earliest linen smoothers date from the Viking to the Middle Ages, and the latest were made in the 18th century.

from Roman Glass Makers

Do you know what this is? Is what they call a linen-smoother made from very slick stone. They were used from the days of the Vikings through the Middle Ages and into the 18th century. Who would have guessed!

The forebears to modern electric irons, these flat irons are often triangular or come to a point to make it easier to iron around buttons. The heft of a sad iron would help it hold heat, as well as to press the fabric flat. To protect fabric and surfaces from singeing, sad irons often came with metal trivets to rest on, and these are often-beautiful, intricate, and collectible examples of metalwork that were made in a myriad of designs.

The earliest metal flat irons were forged by blacksmiths in the Middle Ages. These were heated on an open fire or a stove, and the metal handles had to be grasped with a thick potholder, rag, or glove. Women had to be careful not to track soot or ash on the clothing they were ironing.

from Collectors Weekly
flat irons often filled with hot coals or heated on a coal or wood stovetop

Of course, they can be cleaned up and used as a bookend, a doorstop, or just a unique item for your decor that is most certain to be a ‘conversation piece!’

Stop in today and check these out (even if you have no intention of ironing your summer clothes)! We’ll be watchin’ for ya!

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