One of the better estate sales of the year (so far) took place today in Rock Hill, MO and runs all weekend as well. And thankfully for me, the bulk of this person's vast, meticulously curated collection focused on something that I've been a rabid collector of for years as well: 1904 St. Louis World's Fair items. Arriving within the first hour of doors opening proved very rewarding, as every room was packed full of World's Fair related things: books, photos, paperweights and ephemera, gilded dish ware, pins, posters, etc. I actually had my eye set on a few things I had spotted the night before while scouring the estate sale website photos, and to my luck, (and despite the large shuffling crowd), I excitedly scored these few gems I wanted most. First, this lovely bronze sculpture of a nouveau nymph standing on a lily pad base with a giant butterfly spreading its wings at her feet. On her shoulder she holds a large vase, which appears to have been converted into possibly an incense burner area (or I suppose you could also place a candle on top as well), --and whatever else was originally at the very top here now seems to have been lost forever. It might have even been a lamp. From every angle though, this awesome antique is full of superb, shapely curves and detail, and a small plaque just below the butterfly's head notes that this piece did in fact come from the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. I also acquired a small aluminum tip tray containing another attractive nouveau maiden, complete with a racy little Adam and Eve poem, no less-- as well as two Yale Coffee book marks (featuring more Victorian era vixens), that were given away at the Steinwender-Stoffregen Coffee Co. booth during the fair. There was still so much to see and dig through at the estate sale, I may go back tomorrow...
