Hello lovely friends. One of the goodies I carted back home from our road trip was a new/old piece of wall art. When I saw it down in the basement of the Antique Emporium in Deadwood, South Dakota, I thought it was the top to an antique folding card table. It has tin on the back side and what looked like places to attach legs on the corners.
A New/Old Piece of Wall Art
The nice gentleman walking around said it was actually a floor piece to an antique stove. He said the tin side was actually the top. Wood burning stoves would sit with the wood slats down and the tin side up to protect the floors from heat and embers. I was totally wrong about the piece but still love the warm color of the wood, the company stamp, the size and price!
After researching (my attention span is short) I barely found out anything. Wabash Screen Door Company was established in Wabash, Indiana, in 1884. They moved to Rhinelander, Wisconsin in 1891. That plant was destroyed by fire in 1901 which made them move to Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1902. Besides screen doors, Wabash also manufactured windows, stove boards, and washboards. The plant closed in the early 1960’s and everything was moved to the Memphis plant but eventually closed down altogether.
It was only $30 bucks!
My new/old piece doesn’t have a date on it but since I only paid $30 for it and on eBay they are selling from $75-150, I’m thrilled. Not that I care though, I don’t plan on getting rid of it. That will be up to my kids someday. Which means it will most likely end up in a clearance priced garage sale. Hopefully, some young person will come along and see it’s beauty and snatch it up.
Anyway, when I first picked it up, it was dirty, very dark in one corner and the junk store had the price on the front with a permanent marker. After some light sanding and cleaning with only water, it looks much better and ready to be the star of our summer mantel in the living room. I may go over it with some wood oil in a week or so but for now I like the dull sheen.
To hang it up, the Mister drilled a hole in the tin (I know, that hurts the value but again, I don’t care) and added a hanger. I seriously love how it looks on the mantel.
I strayed from my own advice!
If you’re wondering why there’s only 3 glass bottles of clipped stems with this fabulous new/old sign, it’s because I had a wild hare. Instead of the odd number guidelines, I’m going all 9th grade and breaking the rules. Yep, that was pretty much the only year I broke rules. Except for speeding. That’s a rule I can’t seem to follow. 😉
Well what do you think of my new/old piece of wall art? Was this a unique buy or would you have left it in the basement? Did you have one of these pieces when you were younger? Do you know anything else about the Wabash Co.? I’d love to hear about it!
Cindy, you lucky girl. That wood/tin sign is an awesome find. Has character and a story and a great price. Looks great on your fireplace.
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Thanks Carol. I love the color. Looks good with my wood floors.
What a great find and your display is fabulous. Don’t you love it when the plan in your head works out in reality!
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LOL. Thank you Nancy. I rarely have a plan in my head though. Usually plans take me way longer to pull together. 😬
I love it! Wish I could have gone with you to the Antique store in Deadwood. I am sure there a lot of great finds.
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It was a fantastic store Melinda. We all found goodies! Although, that was when found out we were supposed to have checked out of the house. LOL
Cindy I love it and the history is cool but I don’t necessarily care if things are worth. If they speak to my heart and I love them t h.g.h ey come home.
You sound like you had a wonderful trip.
Cindy
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We did have a wonderful trip. I’m like that too Cindy. These passed couple of years, I’ve started reminding myself that if I don’t have a place for it, do not get it!
I think it was a great buy! I love it. Hugs,
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Thank you Sandi. Each time I walk by I like it even more. ❤️
I love the look! I would have never thought of hanging it up as a piece of art. That’s such a unique idea! It looks great!
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Yay Karen! I’m glad you saw a new idea today. It looks small up there but it’s 30” x 30”!
It’s fabulous! I love it. It’s perfect for above your fireplace. thanks
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Thanks Mary! I used to really dislike the color of my wood floors. They seemed out of date to me. Well since it’s expensive to have them refinished, I’m embracing them and trying to find warmer colors to work. The new/old piece works perfectly. 🙂
I love it! I’m looking for a large (wider than taller) pice that I can hang over my kitchen cabinets. The ceilings are very tall and I would like to find something like your purchase with that great patina to fill that area. I think you did good!!!
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Have you thought of using an old wood pallet and stenciling something you like on it? Maybe that would work until you find that perfect piece?! Good luck on your hunt. I seem to never find what I want when looking for something specific. Hope it just falls at your feet and is a great price! Thanks for the visit today Mary. ❤️
I think you did good, i love old pieces and old wood pieces are really neat!
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I think the same way Marlene but they are hard to come by these days. A lot like ironstone, I can hardly find that around here.
I absolutely love the piece, where you placed it on your mantel AND I love your floors! You have done a fabulous job of incorporating the floors with your furniture and special finds! Maybe it’s because I’m over-the-hill and always loved Country Style decorating in its day! I love the new “Farmhouse-style” which enables us old-timers to still love our antiques and special pieces with newer furniture and lighter wall colors! Thank you for sharing!!
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My pleasure Pam! I love the new farmhouse style mixed with us old country lovers too. Makes me feel as though I’m hip and on trend. 😂. Not that that would make me change anything if I weren’t. LOL
Cindy, wow what a great find! The price was just the icing on the cake! I love the whole look of your mantle.
Your room is so cozy and fabulous!
Smiles, alice
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Awe. Thank you Alice. That is so sweet of you to say. Happy Summer!
I’m in Australia at the moment! So it’s winter! 😉. I really enjoy your posts!
Smiles, alice
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Oh wow, I want to be in Australia! So glad you enjoy my posts. That makes my whole month. ❤️. Enjoy your winter weather. 😀
The final piece looks great! It looked cool in the store too. 😏.
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Thank you Kaye Lynn, my sort of cousin from another mother. 😂. That was a fun memorable trip.
Love it!! Unique pieces like that are so much more fun than something you find around town.
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Very true Stacey. Especially what you find in chain stores. I am a sucker for the unique buys.
What a lovely piece . Looks great on your stunning fireplace.
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Thanks Shirley. We like the stone going all the way up to the ceiling but could use a bigger mantel. I’ll get one up there someday.
That is so you! A great piece, a great price and a great story. I’m sure you will find out more, long before it’s sold at that discount garage sale. Hopefully it won’t go up in flames, as you often threaten will happen to my junque. 😋
Don’t fret about that heavy foot on the gas. Hereditary traits are difficult to alter.
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Ain’t that the truth Mommy Dearest. Now you’ll have to guess if I’m talking about the speeding or the fire! LOL.
Love, LOVE! I love hanging unique pieces as art! And this one is stellar. What a great find. As for the value of a piece, that can change over time as trends come and go, so I pay no attention…. I place the value on something by how much I love it! Also since you only have 3 bottles on the mantel, does that count as the odd? I don’t count the art, I count what’s on the mantel….. so apparently I’ve been breaking the rules for years. Because hey, our house our rules! However you count it, I count is as one beautiful space!
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Thank you Crystal! I’ve always counted everything on the mantel, including the art piece but I like your rule of “Our house, our rules”! So glad you visited and commented today.
Great find! I have it’s twin hanging in my kitchen…and I was born and still live in Mpls;) I got it out of my parents barn years ago and had to do a little digging to figure out what it was, too. I sanded it up a bit and gave both sides a couple layers of satin poly. If my house catches on fire, it’ll be one of the things I’m lugging out, along with the green chicken feeder I have hanging under it. My sweet vignette gets a little different style with each season! It’s perfect plain, or gussied up! You’re gonna love this!
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Oh my golly Lora! I am so excited to hear you have a twin and found it in your parents barn! I’m looking forward to using it in different places in the house. I’ll have to stalk your IG feed or blog to see pictures of it. 🙂