Shepton Mallet Flea Market Bargains – Part 3

It seems to have been so long since the last Shepton Mallet Flea Market but on Sunday it once again rumbled into the Bath & West Showground. As always, I headed down to search out some vintage bargains and this time I had definite ideas of things I wanted for my new house.

I’m chucking out my old 1920s style lounge mirror because the glue has been seeping through onto the glass and it looks horrible. Eughh, cheap nasty mirror must be gone! So, I was on the hunt for a lovely mid-century one as a replacement.  I will also have much more room in the new lounge so wanted to get my hands on a mid-century chair to go with my Cuba sofa from Retro Sofas and my bargain Laura Ashley armchair that I bought ex-display years ago.

Finds from Shepton Mallet Flea Market

Well, the day was gorgeous, beautiful weather, lovely and hot with hundreds of stalls both indoors and outside. However, instead of buying the two things I went for I ended up with this little stash. The telephone was a complete impulse buy, although I had always wanted a red one. It is a genuine 1972 GPO phone (just a little bit older than me then!) and has been fully converted for modern phone lines. I also got £10 knocked off of it so I only paid £45, which I think only happened because it was the end of the day, but it made me happy. I love it so much. I had to plug it in the minute I got home and test it out.

My new-to-me 1972 GPO telephone. Love that ringtone!

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Don’t you just love that sound?! It reminds me of my childhood and is so much better than the iPhone imitation ringtone. We had a black one exactly like this when I was very young but then we got the classic 70s beige and brown one to replace it. My parents were the height of 1970s coolness!

Finds from Shepton Mallet Flea Market

I also found these lovely Italian leather gauntlet gloves that have the most delicate edging to them. I’m a massive fan of vintage gloves and always wear leather ones in the winter. My old navy ones were getting a bit worn so when I spotted these I just had to have them. They were only £7, so what the hell!

Finds from Shepton Mallet Flea Market

Once I got home and had a good look at them I realised they have never been worn. There’s not a single mark on them and the leather hasn’t been stretched at all. When you put them on tiny fragments of the rougher interior come off on your skin.

Inside one glove I found these two labels. Unfortunately they give me no clue as to what age they are but I do love finding things like this tucked away. It always makes me think of the person who did it. Perhaps the gloves were a gift but the receiver didn’t like them so removed the tags and slipped them inside to make it look like they wore them. Who knows?

Finds from Shepton Mallet Flea Market

I couldn’t resist these seriously cute little deer brooch that was only £5.50. It’s marcasite on the body and has tiny red beads for its eyes. Whenever I go vintage shopping I am always on the look out for a brooch similar to this but in the shape of a poodle. I saw one at a vintage fair in Cheltenham a few years back and stupidly didn’t buy it. It has now become a complete obsession to find one exactly like it!

I had a thoroughly enjoyable day in the sun and it was just what I needed after a stressful week. But what made it even better was bumping into the lady who runs Curlie’s Vintage who I first met at Judy’s Vintage Fair in Bath. She had a stall at Shepton for the first time and is going to be at the Dig For Victory weekend at Lacock in a couple of weeks which I’m going to. She’ll think I’m stalking her!

Cate

Just a vintage gal suffering from the Golden Age syndrome. A lover of all things old, especially the 1930s, seamstress, crocheter, maker of hats and enjoys rummaging at flea markets.

6 Comments

  1. Sounds perfect! I’ll keep a lookout for a poodle for you then.Any particular colour?

  2. My mom has a set of two pink enamel poodle pins from the 50s. They were originally sweater pins with a detachable chain. I think if you look for sweater pins you might find more variety in a smaller pin size.

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