Top 5 Thrift Store Holy Grails

 I think everyone who is a vintage collector/hoarder/whatever you want to call it has a list in the back of their head of Holy Grails. It can either be those items that were bid out from under you (by like fifty cents!), or things that you will never ever find in the local antique store, or things that are outrageously out of your budget. I'm always hoping I'll stumble on that one store or vendor that has no idea what they actually have- it hasn't happened yet. Hell, even Goodwill has brought in people who know what they're looking at (and it's terrible! Argh!). Here are my top five Holy Grails that I'm desperately hoping to find in pristine condition at the Bins one day untouched by old soda and other general grossness that is the Bins. 

Raggy Doodle Paratrooper Doll

SycamoreVintage

 These WWII era dolls are ADORABLE and I've been taunted by them ever since I saw one in person at a trendy antique store here in Portland for $150. Obviously, as the one I posted here is about 85% less than that, that's a bit extreme especially since it wasn't in good condition and didn't have it's parachute. They come up on eBay pretty often in varying degrees of condition and I almost got one for super cheap, but was over bid by fifty cents in the last three second of the auction that I was hiding in the backroom trying to get while at work. There are other versions I've seen called Pat the Paratrooper, but they aren't as nice as the Raggy Doodles I've seen.

Jack and Bobby Kennedy Swivel Charm

eBay

eBay

Another one I almost got, but figured it was pretty common and let it go- jokes on me, because I've never seen another for under $30. There are ones with just JFK and the "ask not" quote that I see every once in a while but the JF/RFK seem to be a lot harder to come by. 

1920s Pig Lipstick Holder

eBay

It's a pig, and then you pull of the head and it's a lipstick! What the hell is even going on here, I'll never know, but I want it so desperately. These things are always super expensive, though I missed out on one recently that ended up just going for $15. Damn!

  

Boudoir Dolls

eBay

These things are super amazing and super spooky at the same time. Popular in the 1920s, they are quite large in size (usually over two feet long) with spindly arms and legs that could be made out of felt, plastic or composite material. I keep hoping that I'll find one in the piles of dolls at a Goodwill somewhere! In good condition, they are pretty expensive, but bits and peices of them, or ones with cracked faces come up for semi-reasonable prices from time to time. I keep thinking I should just get the head, arms and legs separately, since I could easily make the body and clothes. 

Biba. Anything Biba.

omgthatdress

Holiest of Holy Grails because I will never find it ever in the entirety of my life. Ever.