I have bought some beautiful silver pieces at garage sales. I look for the dirty tarnished things and usually get a good deal on it. Take it home and polish it up and I have some gorgeous pieces. I have been doing this for years and have added to my kids silver collections this way. I bought a framed painting in Milwaukee at a garage sale for $2.50 and searched the artists name on the internet and its a Dutch painter and an old old one. I had two of his paintings from that sale and gave one to my daughter who studied art and recognized his work.
I recently picked up a crystal covered cheese plate for $2 and it's real etched crystal. If you take your time and imagination with you its possible to find some real treasures.
The biggest goof I am still kicking myself over was in Milwaukee at a Goodwill store. I found an old boy doll dressed as a train engineer. It must have been in a collection cause it was immaculate. It was a brand I cant remember but a good doll maker. She wanted $4 and I tried to talk her down and the manager walked by and saw it and raised the price to $40 when she recognized the name on the neck.
I also bought a ring at a Firehouse rummage sale that needed cleaning. It is 14K gold with five rosey colored stones in a flower shape and a white stone in the center. Paid .50 for it. It turned out to be sapphires.
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