The Best Demon Clown Pottery I Could Find

About twice a year John and I trek over to Mount Dora to check out Renninger's "Extravaganza," a massive antique festival that almost defies description. It's like an outdoor flea market, except with old stuff, fair food, and over a hundred acres worth of shopping, which brings in sellers and buyers from all over the country.

Even if you're not into antiques, this thing is worth a visit. It's like exploring the junk-filled attic of Warehouse 13 in there, you guys, and you never know what you're going to see around the next corner.

Walking in from the car. This is one tiny back corner; the tents stretch out in all directions and go on seemingly forever.

Heading in through one of the many gates. A weekend pass is $15, or wait 'til Sunday and pay just $4.

One of my favorite games here is Find The Creepy, and lemme tell ya, that's a game that never gets old. (pun intended)

Demon Clown Pottery. For serving people's souls, I guess.

 

He wants a hug. 

Also your soul.

And I believe at the same booth:

A post shared by Jen Yates (@epbot) on Jan 19, 2018 at 2:02pm PST

 

NOPE NOPE NOPE

Funnily enough when I posted that vid on Instagram people seemed evenly split between "KILL IT WITH FIRE" and "Oooh, that'd look great in my guest room!" Which just goes to show: some of you are nuts, and this is why we're friends.

I took pictures of more than just creepy things, of course, because some of this stuff is Just Plain Cool.

Come, let's meander:

These lamps are whisper-screaming BioShock: Infinite to me, and if I didn't already have two sets too many in the garage I'd have tried to bring them home. Wouldn't they look gorgeous with black shades with metallic gold lining inside? Hnnnng.

Another temptation:

John and I stood staring at this and mentally searching our house for free wall space for about 3 minutes. Ultimately we agreed we had no spot for it, but DANG that is one cool photograph. Plus it had the curved glass I love so much in old frames.

Arg, writing these up is giving me reverse buyer's remorse, gang. Quick, let's look at something I definitely DO NOT WANT:


You know, like a casket. A wicker "cooling casket," according to the seller, who also claimed it would make a "great conversation piece." Uh. HUH.

Finding things like that does make Renninger's - or any antique shop - feel like an interactive history lesson. I've found so many baffling tools and whatsits, and it's fun guessing  - and then learning - what they're all for.

It's also surreal to see some of the most gorgeous, museum-quality furniture just sitting out in the dirt:

 

Obviously pieces like these are going to cost a pretty penny, but there are just as many booths and tables with cheap, fun junk to root through:

I'm always checking out the old toys. 

 Let's all stop, drop, and drool over these gorgeous drug store apothecary bottles:

And check this out: someone's old Disneyland snapshots!

Yay Jungle Cruise!

This next one is the definition of Creepy Cool:

That skeleton is a bottle; the head is on the cork. It came with 4 of those little skull cups beside it. It also cost a couple hundred dollars, which just goes to show you can't let the displays at Renninger's fool you.

Now these are just plain creepy:

o.0

Here's a fun find: a 1960's lipstick pack, still in the box:

That packaging! Even through the grime it had great colors.

Here's another look at what we're walking around in, btw:

Talk about a lovely way to shop. Right now the weather's a balmy 70 degrees, too: heaven.

Aha, here comes another near-buy - this mechanical skeleton bank is cast iron and TOO FUN:

Here's John demonstrating:

A quick Google search told us it's a new reproduction, though, and one you can buy online for less than the seller was asking. (Thank goodness for smart phones, am I right?) You can get it on Amazon for less than $40, so I'll be watching for a sale: I definitely need to add this to a Honeydukes display for next year's Potter Party!

This next seller had stacks and stacks of original vintage posters - mostly advertisements, but also maps and art - and they were all huge (three feet high) and gorgeous. This Red Cross one is so pretty it hurts:

So, so lovely.

More art: this wall hanging is like our airship we got here a few years ago, lightweight and with really neat metallic colors:

John was already negotiating to bring it home, but again, our lack of wall space got in the way. Plus it's not terribly steampunk, is it? I mean, we could make it work, but... eh, always better to err on the side of NOT spending more money, right? (You get a front row seat to the Jen Convincing Herself It's OK She Didn't Buy Anything show. Popcorn, anyone?)

And still MORE art, this time done in the traditional NOPENOPENOPE style:

Seriously, it was broad daylight and I got chills just looking at this from 20 feet away. [shudder]

Although, now that I'm looking at it from the safety of my desktop, I'm getting a real Odo-from-Deep-Space-9 vibe. Just me?

More cool stuff, a complete antique diving suit:

And look at the case for this engraved silver box:

Woooow.

They just don't make cool cases like this anymore. We saw so many perfectly-fitted, velvet-lined cases for everything from microscopes to booze bottles - and have you ever SEEN an antique ring box? All the grabby hands - all of them.

More atmosphere shots:

Renninger's has more breakables-per-square-inch - all on flimsy card tables and plastic tubs -  than anyplace in the state. It's terrifying.

I should note I didn't photograph the really fancy looking booths (there were a few), because I was getting a definite "no pictures" vibe from some of them, and I didn't want to ask. 

There was only one time I got in trouble for bringing out my phone: a stained glass booth, where everything cost multiple thousands. Still not sure WHY photos bother some sellers, but I'm no rebel, ha. I did a little googling, though, and I can tell you the light I was going to photograph looked something like this:

Cool bats!

This nifty piece has a compass in the top and 3 dials around the sides: a clock, barometer, and... something else I don't remember:

I love stuff like this. Super steampunky, elegant, unique - the perfect display piece.

But no, I didn't buy it. Seriously, I deserve a cupcake after all this self-control. (John?)

And now, for all your baby-stroller-with-a-giant-rabbit-head-on-it needs:

And speaking of stuff you wonder will ever sell:

What do you do with an antique wheelchair? 

But again, so fascinating; I've never seen one outside of a TV or movie screen before.

John's making me leave out the really bad stuff, which I guess is a good call - I don't want anyone mistaking my pictures for endorsement in any way - but I will say there are plenty of horrors to be had at an antique fair. Not only that, it's a two-part horror: 1) that the thing ever existed, and 2) that someone today might want to OWN that thing.

John and I had an interesting conversation about that, in fact: about the difference in keeping something in a museum as a cautionary education vs keeping something in a home for decoration. This isn't really the place to get into that, of course, but thought I'd mention it. Just some food for thought.

On a cheerier note, John and I were transfixed by the sound of this wooden phonograph:

This was maybe the most dangerous item for John. He turned to me and said, "We should buy that." Haha, such a kidder. I hope.

Right, I'll end with one more near-purchase, though happily you can find a lot of these on Ebay starting around $35, so I'm not TOO sad we passed it by:

It's called a Jefferson clock, and the hands seem to float in midair because the actual glass rotates in the middle. Isn't that awesome?? Yep, I may be making another saved search on Ebay soon.

Now, I know what you're thinking: "Jen, are you really telling us you didn't buy ANYTHING?" Well never fear, concerned minion! I *did* buy a little something: a broken Donald Duck tin toy:

He's missing his feet, but if you wind him up, his... tail?... still spins around. (The tail is a white rubber piece.) I have no idea how old he is - Ebay was a bust - but for less than ten bucks I'm happy anyway. I am curious what he looked like new, though, so if any of you know anything or have pics, let me know!

Hope you guys had fun visiting Renninger's with me! This weekend John and I are off to the Celebration of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando, so hope to see some of you locals there. And for the rest of you: oh yes, there WILL be pictures. MAGICAL PICTURES. Awww yeeeeeah.