Well, well, well...! York Race Course Car Boot Sale returned to action on Saturday 8th August, for the first time this year after a very long lockdown. If you are into antiques, curios, collectibles or just like a bargain, then this boot sale is an absolute must. I'm going to stick my neck out here and say it's one of the best in the UK, if not, THE best!
So this week's blog is about the return of this wonderful weekly event and for those of you you who haven't visited before, it will be a little taster of what you can expect if you're planning to. I should point you in the direction of their Facebook page where they post regular updates. Simply type @yorkcarboot into your Facebook search bar to be taken straight there.
**DISCLAIMER** - Some of the images used in this blog were taken before the Covid-19 pandemic. Rest assured, I took every precaution when attending on Saturday, wearing a mask and gloves at all times, despite it being a sweltering 29 degrees!
So, here we go. Welcome one and all to this magical mystery tour of York Race Course Car Boot Sale! It's been a long lockdown for many and going without this boot sale, in particular, has been very tough. But alas, the bells rang out for Christmas Day, or so it felt, and I trundled off to York Race Course with a skip in my step!
As I ascended up and over the brow of the hill it was clear it was going to be a big one! Extended over two enormous fields and with cars queuing around the block, York Boot Sale was back with a bang.
My skip quickly transformed into a speed walk and before I knew it, I was in through the gates and rummaging.
This boot sale is a mix of members of the public selling their unwanted goods and antiques dealers selling professionally. Either way, there's always plenty of fun and, needless to say, haggling. I always remember the phrase I used to hear muttered at least 100 times a day when I worked at an antiques centre - "I watch Bargain Hunt, I know how it works...!"
From cutlery to clothing, furniture to 19th century mechanical douches, you'll find whatever you're looking for here! In my defence, I didn't realise it was a douche that I bought, but, to be fair, I did need one after the boot sale, so everyone's a winner!
To quickly get that horrible image out of your minds, I did find this charming little vintage tinplate wind-up skier, which was added to my website and sold very quickly. The douche isn't for sale though, that's staying with me...!
My search for treasures continued for another five hours...! No refreshment break, no toilet break, just pure concentration...
I was seeing so many interesting items but from previous experiences or you could say traumas, I now have a rule. If it doesn't fit in my pocket, I don't buy it...! One particular incident a few years back involved a very very heavy vintage shop cash register, which I carried from one side of York to the other, eventually having to call on my friend Katherine to assist me. I still have nightmares about that register...!! But we've all been there, huh...?!
Nevertheless, my next find wasn't far away. Second only to the douche as my most unusual find of the day was this Antique French “La Bretonne” Wood, Metal, Mother Of Pearl + Bone Snuff Box.
It has metal ends and a metal ship and star inlay, it has mother of pearl inlay which appears to depict the ocean. The lid is made of bone and it has a metal lip which is engraved with the wording “LA BRETONNE”, which translated to English means “The Breton”, meaning someone from Brittany. Age wise.., I think it could be late Georgian / early Victorian.
And then I struck gold... well... Whitby Jet actually! These three pieces were very sweet finds. First was this beautifully carved antique Victorian Whitby Jet pendant depicting a bunch of grapes. This was added to our website but, again, sold instantly.
Then this very sweet antique chrome and Whitby Jet caddy spoon. I think it may be from the 1920’s / 30’s because of the chrome. A charming item with lovely carved “Whitby” text to the Whitby Jet handle.
And then there was this sweet little antique Victorian Whitby Jet cross pendant. They say "good things come in small packages" and that couldn't be more true in this case.
I was on a roll and hadn't even been into the second field yet! And I told you that you could find absolutely anything! Just look at these...!!
But then I saw these happy chaps...
And this dapper chap...
Which led me to this...
I negotiated a deal on this beautiful ornate antique novelty sliding silver plated double stamp case marked J.F.A 26.8.12. It has a very satisfying sliding mechanism and to this day, will still serve a purpose!
So that, Ladies and Gentlemen, was the first York Car Boot Sale of the year, post lockdown, and I'm sure you'll agree, it really is a magical mystery tour of the weird, the wonderful and the very useful, in the case of the douche, anyway! I hope you've enjoyed this mini tour and that this will tempt you into a visit yourselves. It really is the most well organised of events and you will always find what you're looking for...or what you didn't know you were looking for!
That's it for this week. So until next time, stay safe and keep buying those antiques!
Stephen
Owner Source Vintage
Shop from Source Vintage here