Friday, February 21, 2014

Antiques Shopping on the Square

We are fortunate to have a great downtown with adorable boutiques and antique shops. They are fun to peruse on a Saturday, seems I always find something I need. Like this little end table. When I saw it in the store I thought, "Oh, that would be perfect for my son's room." 


Then after closer inspection I thought, "I don't think so. This one's mine--all mine." It is a darling Perfect Sewing Cabinet that still has some of the original yarns and thread it came with. I wish I knew what was in the tray as it is driving me crazy wondering what those pegs are for. To hold a pair of scissors in place maybe?


The cabinet was made by The Caswell-Runyan Co. in Huntington, Indiana, which was in operation between 1907 and 1956.


It has clearly been painted and the knobs changed as it would have looked more like the one below originally, but I am okay with the changes. It is a great little table. I bet they sold lots of these.



In the same shop we happened to also stumble upon a china cabinet that screamed, "I belong in your dining room." I had to agree with it so the guys dragged it home for me. It fits perfectly into its new space as if it were always here.


I am finally starting to feel like I am gaining on the no storage space issue of living in an old house. Yet I wonder, is having four pie safes and two china cabinets excessive?

11 comments:

Karen Anne said...

Is there something interesting under that tray?

Pegs - for scissors? measuring tapes? thimbles? Baffled at the odd spacing...

I tried looking up the patent, but gave up.

Christine said...

The tray just opens up to the drawer below it.

Karen Anne said...

I did find the patent, but it doesn't say what the pegs are for.

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/D116985.pdf

Christine said...

From all my googling it seems they made several different styles and must have continued to make them for a good long time. Of course, none of it explains what the pegs were for.

Florida Farm Girl said...

Not excessive at all, dear girl. Not at all. Looks like you're about to get just the right number. Those are both gorgeous pieces.

Elaine said...

What a charming little table!! 4 piesafes are definitely o.k. You have a big house.

I'm gonna tell Mom! said...

You found some real treasures! One of my favorite things to do is browse antiques shops. I am always inspired.
kim

Lynda said...

Definitely not excessive when they fit the spaces so perfectly!!! I really like both of them.

Penny said...

Way cute and very functional. It's a win-win!

Tombstone Livestock said...

Good score on the sewing cabinet, I agree that the pegs look like the perfect shape to hold thimbles but don't get the odd spacing. One can never have too many pie safes, lol.

Random Progress; AS Needed said...

I just picked up one of these in a more original condition. My tray does not have pegs and does not look like it is missing pegs. Maybe it was an add on by the person who painted your's?