Thrift shops are one of the few remaining spaces where shopping is still fun.
Think about it: The inventory is totally random and changes daily, things appear from all over the world, and the antique and brand-new mix together in a big wonderful jumble.
And the best part? When you find a bargain, it just might be a really big bargain.
Recently, while strolling the aisles of my favorite local Goodwill store, I stumbled across a palm-sized paperweight made by Orient and Flume Art Glass. The rich colors, iridescent details and masterful hand-blown glasswork caught my attention immediately.
With the help of the Google Lens app, I was able to find similar pieces across the web and confirm the faintly etched signature and date of 1974.
I bought it for $2.99.
Orient and Flume is still around today. The studio started in 1972 in Chico, California. Like Google, it started in a garage — or, more accurately, the carriage house of a Victorian-era home between Orient Street and Flume Street.
Today, the company occupies a larger space in Chico, and its work can be found in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Corning Museum of Glass.
Who would have guessed that little paperweight had such a noble background?
I resold it on eBay for $115 within a few weeks of buying it.
Then, I promptly found another. Longtime thrift shoppers know this phenomenon well — a vein of similar objects appear at a thrift store over a period of days or weeks.
It’s usually due to overwhelmed heirs cleaning out the home of a deceased family member who was an avid collector of beautiful things. It’s a bittersweet part of the resale business and makes rescuing and rehoming these objects all the more satisfying.
Orient and Flume also makes decorative glass jars, perfume bottles, vases and sculptures. Each is a striking work of artistry featuring layers of colored glass, unique feathering techniques and incredible details.
Look for a maker’s mark etched on the underside of the piece.
Typically, the mark reads “Orient & Flume” and includes the month and year of manufacture. Some pieces also retain a sticker label with a stylized “O.F.” logo.
The resale world loves Orient and Flume.
On eBay, this angelfish paperweight recently sold for $429, and this 10-inch-tall flowering tree vase sold for $249.98.
Prices are even hotter on Etsy. This stunning nesting eagle paperweight designed by acclaimed glass artist Lubomir Richter is listed for $664.20 — which is a sale price.
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