Antique Shopping in Missouri Wine Country.

Cafe Bella, Agusta,Missouri where we had lunch.

We saw this shop across the street from Cafe Bella while we having lunch.

This is a beautiful shop.It covers a whole block and is full to the rafters.

There was a large selection of hand painted china. a favorite of mine.

    Last Friday, my friend Nancy and I went on an antique shopping adventure. Nancy has a shop, nine miles up the road in Louisiana,Mo. We run off together, every now and then and take a day and do serious antique shopping. I had a call about a private estate sale, of a former antique dealer friend of mine. So I asked Nancy if she would like to go with me and see what they had.  The sale was only a few miles from an area in Missouri, known as wine country. The little town of Agusta,Mo. has several  wineries that are well known world wide.Many of the wineries are  top award winning and  are considered  choice  wines by many critics. I counted at least 5 wineries with in a few miles of the main road. I don't drink wine, I think it taste nasty, so I for one, could not tell you if there were good or not. I had no interest in the wineries except to soak in there beauty and charm and take a few pictures for this blog post. So after we checked out the estate sale, made our purchases and  packed and loaded them up, off we went to  Missouri Wine Country. It was a beautiful, blue sky day and a warm 102 degree  in the shade. I think we were the only people in the whole town. Some shops were open and we managed to find the two antique shops that were in the town  and had  a nice lunch. We ate at a small little restaurant called, "Bella's." It was in an old brick historic building.Rather plain inside, put clean and the main thing, it was cool and the food was good. We both had the chicken salad. The waitress said it was there best seller. It  had nice chunks of fresh chicken, dried cranberries, bacon, celery,pecans and onions.It was really good and served along side it was slaw ,made of purple and green cabbage and apples.A generous helping of home made chips finished it off. I had fresh brewed sweet  ice tea and boy did it taste good after being out in that heat. All the time we were eating we were looking  out the window  at this most interesting shop right across the street. So needless to say we had a kinda hurry up lunch so we could get at our shopping.

Vintage cloths and hats.

Beautiful silk flowers.

A fun wacky-do sofa.

I wish I had a rope so I could  drag this statue home  with me behind Nancy's truck. Isn't she beautiful?

Agusta ,Missouri visitors center.

This wonderful old mansion was for sale. Of course, I wanted it.

   That shop is owned by another long time dealer friend of mine. I had not been there, but knew it would be fun and nice as  she always does such a good job. In the past ,I used to do a lot of antique shows, in and about St.Louis and Ruth, the shop owner, did them as well. We just missed Ruth, so that was a little disappointing.I was hopping to say hello and give her a hug. She had two sweet ladies working in the shop and they both went all out to make us welcome and help us with our purchases. The good thing about this shop ,was that the air conditioner was really doing a great job. This shop is a combination of old, vintage and new. Has a little something for everyone. Lots of fun vintage hats and cloths displayed and mingled among the other goodies. There was really fine antiques mixed in with 20's retro and one never knew what might be around the next corner.  Beautiful silk flowers and fun containers, also finished off the look of this shop.Like in most retail antique shops, dealers are given a slight discount, so that helps make it affordable for resale. I find a lot of my mercandise this way. I hardly have the time nor patients for auctions or  yard sales .  I found a few items that I think were priced well enough that I can resale them in my shop. At least, I hope I can. Nancy found a wonderful Victorian art glass brides basket  and I am sure she was taking it home for her own collection.
    After we left there we were directed down the street to  the only other antique shop in town.We saw lots of sweet buildings on the way. Nancy was driving and I was hanging out the window taking pictures for the blog. Every house and shop in the town had a sign that said, "Bed and Breakfast." I guess the little town would be busy on weekends as it is only about 50 miles from St.Louis. I am sure a lot of people venture out to taste the wine and have a romantic get away. Besides the wineries,cafes, the two antique shops, and many B and B's. I did not see one other business any where in the town.It is a 17 mile drive to the main highway and I am not sure how far after that before any stores for food shopping. I think it is even more isolated than here in Clarksville where I live. We only have to go 9 miles for food and gas.
   The second shop was not as great as the first. The air conditioner was not doing a good job and I was starting to doubt my freshness. I kinda just sat in a chair while Nancy looked around. One thing that did  catch    my attention was a glass case full of pearls. It was a true sight to behold. I am sure they were faux, but so much fun and so many strands. We left there and headed home. I spotted a little place with a sign that said ice cream. We stopped and got a cone, which seemed to melt faster than we could eat it. Home we went with all our treasures. I was greeted at home with many jumps and kisses from my Sissy Girl. She stayed in the shop while I was gone. Her Uncle Bruce, the town dog walker came by and gave her two outings. She seemed to manage just fine.

B and b sign's were everywhere. Even above the grain elevator.?

The second shop.

Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Grape vines were everywhere. I did not seem to get a lot of pictures of them.

     I hope you enjoy my antique shopping adventure. If you are interested in any thing I found ,just give me an email. cottrellprissy@aol.com -  or call 573- 242 -9688. I have everything priced and would be glad to wrap it and ship it. I am in the shop most days, 10 to 5, Missouri time. I wish you could come by and see the shop and take a tour of, My Old Historic House. I will leave the lights on and Sissy Dog will always meet you with a jump and a kiss.

This beautiful estate , that we went past on the way home,was a show stopper.

I bought this wonderful piano scarf. It is one of the prettiest I have seen. Silk.

I bought these bronze candlebra at the estate sale

This English silver meat dome came home with me and is for sale now in my shop. Richard's Great Stuff. Call if you are interested. Only $200.00

The workmanship on this cloth is wonderful.

Perfect condition. For sale in my shop now  for $125.00 

I did not buy these, but thought you bloggers would like to see them. Beaded hand bags from the late 1800's, early 1900's.

One of the many B and B's. in Agusta, Missouri. 

This beautiful wash bowl and pitcher set came home with me and is for sale now in my shop for $95.00.

I bought this 3-d Jasper ware plaque at the estate sale.

Hand painted vases from the state sale. They are for sale also.

Antique print of a beautiful lady and cherubs from the estate sale. Wouldn't you just love to buy it? It is for sale. Call or email. 573 242 9688  cottrellprissy@aol.com

My favorite purchase. A Fritz and Floyd Pig tureen. Ain't it special. Now for sale in my shop. Only $85.00 plus shipping.

Any owl collectors out there? This one is one of two that I got at the estate sale. Both are from Italy.

Just love this little set, hand painted in Italy.
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SOLD TO A  HAPPY AND SMART BLOGGER!
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Lots of Hand Painted plates from the estate sale. These are Royal Viennia and are for sale now in my shop. 573 242 9688.

A special ending of the day, ICE CREAM!

Sissy was in her chair at the shop waiting for me when I finally made it home. Thanks to Uncle Bruce, Clarksville's dog walker, she was just fine. 

Silence of the Lambs!

  Sometimes I think I am a 62 year old child, who plays with his toys, loves his dog and often forgets what day it is or what has to be done next. A lot of adults have toys. Mine just happen to be a little different than most, they are Antiques.Where a lot of men have  fancy cars, guns,bikes and other weird contraptions, I have antiques. I dream about them, long for them, hunt for them and do what ever I can to get them. I like to refer to antique shopping as a sport,but, we antique hunters, use money, instead of a gun and bullets.And we both come home with trophies. The point where you find that one special thing, is a very big  high, and to me, that is the kill, and that is what it is all about. And to say, I only paid so-in-so, is like saying, I  got it with one shot. If you go deer hunting, you can only do it in season, whereas, antiques are always in season. The limit on deer is 1 or2, on antiques there are no limits,well, there is, if the money runs out. I usually put a limit on my shopping quests. I only pay so much for this and so much for that. I think it makes it more fun to hunt, when there is a price on the head. But, I have to admit, I have often broken the rules and paid way to much. Being in these golden retirement years of my life and with an economy that has falling completely apart, antique hunting  has not been as fun as it once was. I still get to buy mercandise for the shop, and once in awhile, a little something-something, just happens to go home with me.

Sweet little black boy!

Most of the time, my sheep, live on the Kitchen mantle.

Both of these are German Meissen. Love the quality for the porcelain and details.

Doesn't this Staffordshire Sheep look like he is smiling?

Little Shepard Girl.

   One of my favorite things to hunt are sheep. Don't ask me why? I am not one of those collectors that buys any sheep statue they see. I try and be more picky and only buy a really beautiful one,or a really old one. I  really love the English Staffordshire ones and the German Meissen, are my very favorite. Some would say, what 's the difference? Well, a lot. If you put one of each together, you will soon see. I guess sheep or lambs have been long time collectable, as factories  have been making them for centuries. The English Staffordshire factories made  them with a soft paste porcelain, as early as 1820's.. They were more country looking. A little simple, almost crude.Some seemed to have a smile on there face. The Germany  Meissen company made fine porcelain ones, as early as 1790's.  They were beautiful, great details and yummy! I love to play with my sheep, like a kid with his toys. I rearrange them, move them for place to place and often use them on the dining table along with a flower centerpiece. For some reason or other, I love them under the Christmas Tree. I guess it reminds me of the Shepards with there flocks, from the Bible.
    I thought it would be fun to do a Blog Post about my sheep. Most of the time they live on the mantle in the kitchen. As I got into this project, I also thought it would be fun to add some photos of real sheep. Well it was only 102 degrees hot, yesterday, here in the country, but I got in the car and drove out to the farm to take some photos. I had to leave Ms. Sissy home, as it was way to hot for her to be out side.  On the way to the farm, I had to stop and take some photos of the tree lined road, looked  like something out of a movie. Finally, I made it to the farm and went out to take the pictures of the real sheep. The poor things, they had been shaved, not near as cute as my statues, they were hot, and the flies were terrible. I couldn't stand it. Went and got  the farmer, complained that they needed water and fly spray. He assured me they were fine. Well, all I could think about was that movie, Silence of the Lambs, where Jodie Foster said, make them stop. Make them stop. Baaaaaa Baaaaa.So I got in the car and came home and turned the air down  for Ms. Sissy Dog. I would do with out, but,  for her, I have air.I just can not stand to see poor animals  suffer. I wanted to bring all those sheep  home with me, and give them some water. Well, any how, now that I have ranted and raved,Here's the sheep blog.

I thought this section of Highway W. in Missouri looked like something out of  a movie .

Sheep dog on duty.

Poor little babies. They were so hot. Baaaaaaa!Baaaaaaaaa!

    I wish you all could come by some day for a tour of, My Old Historic House ,and see all the beauty we have here in Missouri. I never seem to stop finding something wonderful to look at.  I will leave the lights on and Sissy Dog will meet you with a jump and a kiss.
             HAPPY HUNTING!
     

The Sheep n the back is English, Staffordshire. The one in the front is German, Meissen.

I love this Staffordshire sheep in the old dome with flowers. Kinda reminds me of all the Clotche people on the blogs.

The iron Porch Rails at, My Old Historic house, with a lamb.

Word for today. Determination: Firm, fixed intention to achieve.