While Out Checking The Traps Yesterday I Managed To Snap Up Some Pretty Good Pieces. Plus It Was A Pretty Gorgeous Day For Driving 'Round. Status: Maybe A Big Score.

I know...more art glass.  But at least I can be assured that this one is hand made.  It has the "scar" on the bottom where it was broken loose after final shaping.  That, it was cheap and it's a really beautiful shape...how could I resist?  Plus I picked up a cool set of Quistgaard style candle holders and some beautiful watercolors by a local / yet widely known artist!

See?!  Ain't that just a fantastic handkerchief shaped piece of art glass?  Other than displaying in a

collection, I don't really know what the purpose of a bowl / vase like this is.  I guess you could toss

your change into it or maybe put some candy in it, but I just don't see that really happening much.  It's

just for the pretty.

Am I crazy or do these look like Dansk / Jens Quistgaard candle holders?  They aren't marked in any

way and are painted black but they are very heavy.  I've got other Dansk / Quistgaard candle holders

and they seem to be MADE of black metal as apposed to being painted.  Also these lack the rough

casting finish.  Still...they are of the style.

A couple of smalls is all fine and well, but this was the big find.  The cheap frames belie the true nature

of these watercolor paintings.  The subject matter is instantly recognizable by any true St. Louisan.  This

is the Riverfront circa late '60s.  The top painting is of the construction of the Poplar Street Bridge which

was completed in 1967.  Note the Steam Shovel!  Anybody else read that children's book: Mike

Mulligan and His Steam Shovel as a kid?  Below is a photo of what the Poplar Street Bridge looks like

today from roughly the same position.

The second watercolor is of the Robert E. Lee riverboat paddle wheeler facing north toward the Eads

bridge.  The Eads bridge was an engineering marvel in its day for being the longest bridge in the world

when it was completed.  There were many players in it's day lobbying against its construction that

resulted in the engineering feats and it's oddball entrance into the center of the city, but where there's a

will...and all that.  Below is a current photo of the same area from roughly the same vantage.

Sadly most of our beloved riverboats (S. S. Admiral - RIP) are now gone, replaced with gambling

casinos.  Bleh.  Anyway, these two watercolor paintings were painted by renown artist James

Godwin Scott who's works sell for thousands of dollars....new.  Now I don't have any idea what

this pair that I picked up at the thrift store might be worth...but I know it's gonna be more than the

thrift store price I paid!