End of August...you know what THAT means!

     The calm before the storm.  That is always the feeling that we merchants have the week before Street Fair.  Yes, dear reader, the annual end-of-summer tradition looms before us this coming weekend. 

     For the first time since 1980, we will be watching the world go by from the west side of the street.  We will be open Friday likely from 11:00 until about 5:00.   We realize that parking will quickly fill up, as Glassell will be blocked off from midnight on Thursday.  So if you are coming to shop Friday, know that your competition for available spots goes up exponentially.  Saturday we plan to also be open from 11-5, unless the band in front sends us packing.   We would love to see you if you are coming to the Street Fair, but call ahead to confirm we’re still open.  Sunday we will be closed.

      

   A GOOD TIME HAD BY ALL,  On Sunday August 15^th,  thirty three loyal A & P patrons gathered at the lovely PJ’s Abbey in Old Towne Orange for a wonderful afternoon of lunch, conversation, and learning about American Silver.

    After our lunch, Mom got us off to a great start by sharing with us how an antique powder box

 started her off to a lifetime, (and career) of collecting and selling antiques.

Bonnie shares her first silver antique. 

    She started her story with an anecdote about her early days as a Los Angeles Police Woman.  Working at the Lincoln Heights Jail, she recounted how there was a Trustee, (one of several inmates who was ‘trusted’ to provide labor for certain tasks around the jail) who shined shoes for loose change.  She noticed a certain little glass jar with a metal lid.   Knowing he was incarcerated, she asked, “Gee…where did you get that little jar?”  He was using it to hold the tips he had garnered.  He explained that there had been a house next to the jail which had been recently torn down.  He had been involved in its demolition, and had found it in the attic.  He kept it.  “You can have it, if you want!”  She went to the vending machine, bought him a pack of cigarettes, and traded him those very cigarettes for a Victorian era cut glass powder box with sterling silver lid from some forgotten lady’s vanity table.  The lid was manufactured by Unger Brothers, one of the premiere silver manufacturers of silver of the Art Nouveau era.

    The Silver Seminar continued as we looked at the source of early American silver, (melted down coins of Spanish, English and French origin), the method of manufacture, the influence of the Industrial Revolution on style and market, and the 1859 silver strike in Nevada as a source for new wealth and raw materials for Victorian era silver.

       Above is a view of some of the eye-candy we brought in as visual aids.  From left is a LOVE-ly water urn, manufactured by the Meriden Silver Company, courtesy of dear customer Deb Bui, a long time collector, and now friend.  In center is a circa 1890’s or ‘80’s tea kettle on stand, a Victorian centerpiece/epergne, and silver-plated  water pitcher sitting on a lovely English  oval footed gallery tea-waiter.  Long time customers the Mc Carthy’s were sitting nearby and when it was pointed out that the monogram on the tray included an “Mc” for the last name, they knew they had found the perfect tray for their tea set at home!  A generous size, it will now be treasured at a home that has long cared for silver.  To the right is a lovely champagne cooler, doubling as a vase with a bouquet of flowers gathered from the Thursday afternoon Farmer’s Market near the Plaza.  It reminds me of the opulent floral arrangements we had for our At Home events at Bullock’s when I worked in the Dining Circle of the Santa Ana store.  (Don’t fall in love with the champagne cooler…it found a home this past Saturday as a wedding present for a young couple.  What a great gift!)

    What’s next on the A & P horizon?  Vacation looms ahead for this writer!  I will be in Corning, New York attending the Carder Steuben Collector’s Club Symposium during the later part of the month.  The week of September 21^st-25^th we may be keeping shorter hours as Mom keeps the home fires burning, but will work in a little fun of her own.  Please call her at the shop (714) 997-1370 to confirm she will be there before you come shopping that week.  Also, we will be CLOSED Wednesday September 15^th to attend the 100^th anniversary celebration of Los Angeles Police Women at the luncheon of the Legendary Ladies at the LAPD Academy in Los Angeles.  We apologize for missing you, but hope to catch you another day soon!