Midsummer Gardens

07/25/2025

10/15/2023

Uff Da the Swedish Gospel Bear brings you this sweet as honey oldie:

“Blott en dag, ett ögonblick i sänder,
Vilken tröst vad än som kommer på!
Allt ju vilar i min Faders händer,
Skulle jag, som barn, väl ängslas då?

Han som bär för mig en Faders hjärta,
Giver ju åt varje nyfödd dag
Dess beskärda del av fröjd och smärta,
Möda, vila och behag.

Själv han är mig alla dagar nära,
För var särskild tid med särskild nåd.
Varje dags bekymmer vill han bära,
Han som heter både Kraft och Råd.

Att sin dyra egendom bevara,
Denna omsorg har han lagt på sig.
"Som din dag, så skall din kraft ock vara, "
Detta löfte gav han mig.

Hjälp mig då att vila tryggt och stilla
Blott vid dina löften, Herre kär,
Ej min tro och ej den tröst förspilla,
Som i ordet mig förvarad är.

Hjälp mig, Herre, att vad helst mig händer,
Taga ur din trogna fadershand
Blott en dag, ett ögonblick i sänder,
Tills jag nått det goda land”.

08/12/2023

This gorgeous vintage Meadowcraft ‘Rose Leaf’ Art Deco wrought iron patio table is STILL AVAILABLE! Measuring a generous 30” x 48” x 30” high with a brand new 1/4” thick tempered glass top. The sturdy tapering double legs at each corner allow for open leg room to accommodate six. Two at the ends and two on each side. It’s very generous for four. Built in Birmingham, Alabama, Meadowcraft’s Rose Leaf pattern closely resembles a pattern of the same name made by Salterini. The table skirt, corners under the glass, and spaces between the legs are adorned with elegantly hot bent iron tendrils and fanning rays, tipped with arrowhead-like rose leaves and iron circles. We suspect it entered the Meadowcraft line around 1954 after John Salterini’s passing, and based on dates and fabrics of drop in seats of the style. The table has been restored in Rustoleum’s elegant Satin Canyon Black. Timeless as a tuxedo and tails. Contact Midsummer Gardens to view and pick up!

06/08/2023

SOLD!!! The second of two beautiful Salterini Mt. Vernon oval table 5 piece patio sets, fully restored in Satin Canyon Black, a color with rich pewter gray purplish undertones that reflects the sky wonderfully. I call it a “live” black. The set originally came from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan - Auto Exec territory- and had a rough textured finish from poor painting jobs that required blasting and industrial gray primer plus some weld repairs to bring it up to par.

Cutting the oval template from sheet cardboard (from Grainger) was tedious. No two oval tables are exactly the same. I tried, as I had the Oval Willow at the same time. A process of tracing and cutting and trimming till it fit perfectly with a little wiggle room for the retaining tabs. Even then there is only one way for the oval glass to fit, up or down and end to end. As carefully as the ironmongers at Salterini’s shop could fit it to a jig, wrought iron is still a living thing.

The cardboard template was cut and edge polished by a big CNC table, tempered, without umbrella hole.

All four of the chairs in this case are side chairs, with three-toed feet. A late period Salterini detail. The X-backs are hot bent in a ribbon-like manner, showing off Salterini’s artistry. Anyone can snip straight iron but this required shaping while red hot and hammering flat. Just try that with anything but cooked Fettucini!!!

Three pointed Ivy leaves appear over a very long period of time all the way from the earliest Salterini patterns to the end-game Covington pieces. In my experience “Mt Vernon was likely the widest produced style shipped to retailers west of New York. The higher styles seem to predominate along the eastern seaboard. My guess is that retailers wanted something “safe”, that they wouldn’t hold past the end of season in inventory. Here are a bunch of photos before the glass was ready to pick up!

05/30/2023

SOLD!!! Finely woven vintage ceremonial basket measures 14” x 13” x 17” high. Stable base with loops on back. Delightfully displays crocheted afghans, throws, rolled guest towels. Seasonally I fill it with Caspari gift wrap. Warm patina. I wish I knew enough about vintage baskets to place who made it. Came in a collection of vintage baskets from all over the planet.

Pictures are in front of the fireplace mantle to give some idea of scale. It’s too refined to use as a hamper or toy bin, though I suppose you might fill it with plush toys in a Baby Nursery.

Local pickup in Glenview. If you really really need it shipped to you, message us with your address for a shipping quote.

Thanks!

11/27/2022

SOLD!!! Assortment of 54 Bachelor White Porcelain K***s looking for soulmates. You don’t need to have the projects for them yet…sometimes k***s just want to be alone.

Packaged and ready for shipping to wherever your white knobless workshop is located, in a box measuring 10-3/4” x 8” x 3-3/4” weighing 4 # 8 oz. That’s pretty hefty, so message me with your address and we’ll see if sending them fixed rate is more economical.

Thanks!

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***s

11/24/2022

SOLD!!! Really pretty handpainted candlestick, I just have the one, frosted handblown glass, accented with painted gold highlights.

Measures 7-1/4” high x 3-1/2” diameter weighs 7.6 oz. Takes a standard size 1-1/8” diameter taper.

Located in Glenview, it’s packed carefully and ready to ship to anywhere in a box measuring 13-1/4” x 6” x 6” weighing 1 # 2 oz. Message me with your address for an exact shipping cost, it could be more or less than the estimate.

Thanks!

Underline 155

11/21/2022

$3. Dakin 13” seated Gorilla in basically perfect used condition. Fur is fresh and clean. Sits securely. Some describe this as the 18” version, it’s a solid 13” high from head to seated bum! The arms spread out a full 24” for primal hugs.

Nose and eyes perfect. From a collection of furry friends adopted after the age of drooling and dragging around. It’s ready to become part of your plush animal Zoo!

Local pickup in Naples, FL. Packed and ready to ship north my hi to wherever your menagerie is located. Label says made in Korea.

Estimated shipping of $10.95 is based on retail ground shipping from SW Florida back to Chicago. The box weighs 1 # 4 oz and measures 8-3/4” x 11-1/4” x 6”. Message me with your address, shipping cost could be more or less.

Circle 50

11/16/2022

$3. Two Gorgeous Hardcover Christmas Idea Books compiled from the best of the best features of Southern Living Magazine for 2002 and 2006.

Published by Oxmoor House, in Like New Condition. The 2002 book still has its near mint condition dust jacket.

You’ll browse these coffee table books for ideas every Holiday Season. Southern Living’s recipes are scrumptious AND doable.

I’ve taken these two books down to Naples, Florida, where they are available for local pickup. They are packaged for shipping north by Media Mail in a box measuring 12” x 12” x 3-1/4” weighing 4 # 11 oz to wherever you are, for an estimated $7. Message me with your address for an exact quote. Your cost could be more or less.

I’ve attached a sampling of the colorful cover to cover pages.

Thanks!

*156

11/15/2022

SOLD!!! Sweet Extra virgin olive oil pitcher in perfect condition. This is the taller pitcher, imported from Ugento, Italy in a warm earthenware form that pours easily and can be corked with a regular wine bottle cork.

Measures 7-1/2” high x 4” diameter. Smells wonderfully nutty. I’ve cooked with it for 12 years now. So beautiful it stays out in the kitchen. The only flaw is you can’t see how much is left so always have plenty of your favorite EVOO in the pantry.

Makes a terrific still life on the tablescape with a platter of rustic bread and antipasti.

It’s carefully packed and ready to ship from Glenview in a box measuring 10” x 10” x 6-1/4” weighing 2 # 2 oz. Message me with your address before buying and I’ll update the ad with an accurate shipping cost for you. $11 is an estimate. Your cost could be more or less.

Thanks!

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