Tuesday, August 30, 2022

Being a Savvy Chinoiserie Shopper

Amanda Lindroth


I fell in love with this vignette from Amanda Lindroth's wonderful book Island Hopping. I was obsessed with the pineapple and had assumed it was an antique that I could never find.

Imagine my surprise when I found that it is from Two's Company and available. I bought one recently and it is a favorite piece in my home. Amanda added white fronds to the pineapple vase. 

Click on each of the links to the pineapple. Seriously.


Two's Company White Pineapple Decorative Vase


Two's Company White Pineapple Decorative Vase


Quite a price difference. When you find something on a website you like, always Google it and see the best price out there. In my experience, it is most often Amazon, and sometimes Walmart and Target. Do not deal with online "businesses" you have never heard of where the price is too good to be true. They are generally scams! Don't assume the credit card company or PayPal will bail you out. Be a smart and savvy shopper.

Here is another great example - this Two's Company parrot pair. Click on both captions.


Stunning Lush Green Chinoiserie Parrot Bird Paradise Mantle Pair


And the exact same ones - 


Two's Company Set of Two Tropical Green Parrot Sculptures


Wow! So always price shop  - the differences can be astounding like these.

On the subject of Amanda Lindroth, her book should be in your interior design library and it has been re-released with new material.



Island Hopping by Amanda Lindroth


And she is having a Labor Day Tag Sale with an extra 30% off tag sale items with the discount taken in your cart. I just bought this wicker pineapple I have wanted since it came out. The original price was $190 and it is $63.00 on the tag sale. The additional 30% off shows up in your cart.


Wicker Pineapple


Wicker Pineapple



Shop the entire Tag Sale here for lots of great deals on her collection that I love.

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16 comments:

  1. Wow! That is pretty incredible. Two's Company isn't a company that I am familiar with but I love all the new resources you are introducing me too. Thank you. Keep the inspiration flowing. :D

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    1. Two's Company is fantastic - excellent quality. Thanks for following.

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  2. Beth, Thank you for the wonderful information. I just cannot believe the price differences and really appreciate your insight!

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  3. I love the pineapple vase. What an incredible price difference thank you for the information! I also have her Island Hopping book, which I love--bought at your suggestion.

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  4. Hi, Beth! I'm a big eBay buyer and have scored some really wonderful purchases over the years. The eBay seller with the green parrots listing above has been scamming buyers for years (not me, thank goodness). Interestingly, his/her feedback contains only one negative entry, and that being from a buyer who paid a few hundred dollars for a pair of items. When the items arrived, the buyer found a $15 price sticker inside each one. Buyer beware, as there are a LOT of dishonest people out there. Listen to your gut instinct--if it seems to good to be true, it usually is.

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    1. OMG, Kathie. That is bad! I wonder how she is able to continue selling on eBay. I have never made a transaction through them, as I just don't feel 100% safe. Thanks for sharing.

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    2. I have had hundreds of eBay transactions, and very few problems. I love eBay. Surprised by this seller's ratings though.

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  5. That vignette of Amanda's is just beautiful, and I purchased her book after I read about it on your blog. I love it. The first thing that caught my eye in that picture was the pineapple. Thanks so much for revealing the source, Beth.

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  6. You’re the shopping queen! Thanks once again for an incredible tip. I bought an Amanda Lindroth pagoda for a birthday gift for my best friend who will now wonder if I spent $400. I so love your steals. Keep ‘em coming!

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    1. Lucky friend - she will love it. My wicker pineapple arrived today.

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  7. The difference in price on the pineapples is the cheaper one is made of resin and the Macy's one is made of porcelain. Worth the extra price.

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    1. Sorry - you are wrong. If you had bothered to read the Macy's description more carefully it is cold cast porcelain, which, despite the name, is not porcelain at all, but RESIN. There is only one version of this pineapple.

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  8. I almost thought the Macy's one was porcelain as well - and it would have been quite lovely in porcelain. Terms like "cold cast porcelain" seem to have been invented just to mislead potential buyers. This issue is present among bronze sculpture recasts which are categorized as "cold cast bronze". Bronze is always hot cast, as it is molten when it is poured into the mold. Like you said, always read the fine print.

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