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A New/Old Piece of Wall Art

An antique sign for a new summer mantel by countyroad407.com #antiquesign #manteldecor #summermantelidea #mantelartwork #mantelideas #countyroad407
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Hello lovely friends.  One of the goodies I carted back home from our road trip was a new/old piece of wall art.  When I saw it down in the basement of the Antique Emporium in Deadwood, South Dakota, I thought it was the top to an antique folding card table.  It has tin on the back side and what looked like places to attach legs on the corners.

A New/Old Piece of Wall Art

An antique sign for a new summer mantel by countyroad407.com #antiquesign #manteldecor #summermantelidea #mantelartwork #mantelideas #countyroad407

The nice gentleman walking around said it was actually a floor piece to an antique stove.  He said the tin side was actually the top.  Wood burning stoves would sit with the wood slats down and the tin side up to protect the floors from heat and embers.  I was totally wrong about the piece but still love the warm color of the wood, the company stamp, the size and price!

 An antique sign for a new summer mantel by countyroad407.com #antiquesign #manteldecor #summermantelidea #mantelartwork #mantelideas #countyroad407

After researching (my attention span is short) I barely found out anything.  Wabash Screen Door Company was established in Wabash, Indiana, in 1884.  They moved to Rhinelander, Wisconsin in 1891.  That plant was destroyed by fire in 1901 which made them move to Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1902.  Besides screen doors, Wabash also manufactured windows, stove boards, and washboards.  The plant closed in the early 1960’s and everything was moved to the Memphis plant but eventually closed down altogether.

It was only $30 bucks!

My new/old piece doesn’t have a date on it but since I only paid $30 for it and on eBay they are selling from $75-150, I’m thrilled.  Not that I care though, I don’t plan on getting rid of it.  That will be up to my kids someday.  Which means it will most likely end up in a clearance priced garage sale.  Hopefully, some young person will come along and see it’s beauty and snatch it up.

An antique sign for a new summer mantel by countyroad407.com #antiquesign #manteldecor #summermantelidea #mantelartwork #mantelideas #countyroad407

Anyway, when I first picked it up, it was dirty, very dark in one corner and the junk store had the price on the front with a permanent marker.  After some light sanding and cleaning with only water, it looks much better and ready to be the star of our summer mantel in the living room.  I may go over it with some wood oil in a week or so but for now I like the dull sheen.

An antique sign for a new summer mantel by countyroad407.com #antiquesign #manteldecor #summermantelidea #mantelartwork #mantelideas #countyroad407

To hang it up, the Mister drilled a hole in the tin (I know, that hurts the value but again, I don’t care) and added a hanger.  I seriously love how it looks on the mantel.

An antique sign for a new summer mantel by countyroad407.com #antiquesign #manteldecor #summermantelidea #mantelartwork #mantelideas #countyroad407

I strayed from my own advice!

If you’re wondering why there’s only 3 glass bottles of clipped stems with this fabulous new/old sign, it’s because I had a wild hare.  Instead of the odd number guidelines, I’m going all 9th grade and breaking the rules.  Yep, that was pretty much the only year I broke rules.  Except for speeding.  That’s a rule I can’t seem to follow.  😉

Well what do you think of my new/old piece of wall art?  Was this a unique buy or would you have left it in the basement?  Did you have one of these pieces when you were younger?  Do you know anything else about the Wabash Co.?  I’d love to hear about it!

Happy Decorating Friends!

36 Comments

  1. July 14, 2019 / 7:17 am

    Cindy, you lucky girl. That wood/tin sign is an awesome find. Has character and a story and a great price. Looks great on your fireplace.

    • July 14, 2019 / 10:34 am

      Thanks Carol. I love the color. Looks good with my wood floors.

  2. Nancy Bailey
    July 14, 2019 / 7:59 am

    What a great find and your display is fabulous. Don’t you love it when the plan in your head works out in reality!

    • July 14, 2019 / 10:37 am

      LOL. Thank you Nancy. I rarely have a plan in my head though. Usually plans take me way longer to pull together. 😬

  3. Melinda Sherrouse
    July 14, 2019 / 8:19 am

    I love it! Wish I could have gone with you to the Antique store in Deadwood. I am sure there a lot of great finds.

    • July 14, 2019 / 10:40 am

      It was a fantastic store Melinda. We all found goodies! Although, that was when found out we were supposed to have checked out of the house. LOL

  4. July 14, 2019 / 8:31 am

    Cindy I love it and the history is cool but I don’t necessarily care if things are worth. If they speak to my heart and I love them t h.g.h ey come home.

    You sound like you had a wonderful trip.

    Cindy

    • July 14, 2019 / 10:44 am

      We did have a wonderful trip. I’m like that too Cindy. These passed couple of years, I’ve started reminding myself that if I don’t have a place for it, do not get it!

  5. Sandi
    July 14, 2019 / 9:22 am

    I think it was a great buy! I love it. Hugs,

    • July 14, 2019 / 10:45 am

      Thank you Sandi. Each time I walk by I like it even more. ❤️

  6. Karen
    July 14, 2019 / 9:24 am

    I love the look! I would have never thought of hanging it up as a piece of art. That’s such a unique idea! It looks great!

    • July 14, 2019 / 10:47 am

      Yay Karen! I’m glad you saw a new idea today. It looks small up there but it’s 30” x 30”!

  7. mary scott
    July 14, 2019 / 9:26 am

    It’s fabulous! I love it. It’s perfect for above your fireplace. thanks

    • July 14, 2019 / 10:49 am

      Thanks Mary! I used to really dislike the color of my wood floors. They seemed out of date to me. Well since it’s expensive to have them refinished, I’m embracing them and trying to find warmer colors to work. The new/old piece works perfectly. 🙂

  8. Mary
    July 14, 2019 / 10:19 am

    I love it! I’m looking for a large (wider than taller) pice that I can hang over my kitchen cabinets. The ceilings are very tall and I would like to find something like your purchase with that great patina to fill that area. I think you did good!!!

    • July 14, 2019 / 10:55 am

      Have you thought of using an old wood pallet and stenciling something you like on it? Maybe that would work until you find that perfect piece?! Good luck on your hunt. I seem to never find what I want when looking for something specific. Hope it just falls at your feet and is a great price! Thanks for the visit today Mary. ❤️

  9. Marlene Stephenson
    July 14, 2019 / 2:56 pm

    I think you did good, i love old pieces and old wood pieces are really neat!

    • July 14, 2019 / 4:13 pm

      I think the same way Marlene but they are hard to come by these days. A lot like ironstone, I can hardly find that around here.

  10. Pam
    July 14, 2019 / 6:02 pm

    I absolutely love the piece, where you placed it on your mantel AND I love your floors! You have done a fabulous job of incorporating the floors with your furniture and special finds! Maybe it’s because I’m over-the-hill and always loved Country Style decorating in its day! I love the new “Farmhouse-style” which enables us old-timers to still love our antiques and special pieces with newer furniture and lighter wall colors! Thank you for sharing!!

    • July 14, 2019 / 6:17 pm

      My pleasure Pam! I love the new farmhouse style mixed with us old country lovers too. Makes me feel as though I’m hip and on trend. 😂. Not that that would make me change anything if I weren’t. LOL

  11. Alice Hanson
    July 14, 2019 / 6:29 pm

    Cindy, wow what a great find! The price was just the icing on the cake! I love the whole look of your mantle.
    Your room is so cozy and fabulous!
    Smiles, alice

    • July 14, 2019 / 9:24 pm

      Awe. Thank you Alice. That is so sweet of you to say. Happy Summer!

      • Alice Hanson
        July 15, 2019 / 3:27 am

        I’m in Australia at the moment! So it’s winter! 😉. I really enjoy your posts!
        Smiles, alice

        • July 15, 2019 / 8:56 am

          Oh wow, I want to be in Australia! So glad you enjoy my posts. That makes my whole month. ❤️. Enjoy your winter weather. 😀

  12. Kaye Lynn
    July 14, 2019 / 8:05 pm

    The final piece looks great! It looked cool in the store too. 😏.

    • July 14, 2019 / 9:25 pm

      Thank you Kaye Lynn, my sort of cousin from another mother. 😂. That was a fun memorable trip.

  13. Stacey Keeling
    July 14, 2019 / 8:34 pm

    Love it!! Unique pieces like that are so much more fun than something you find around town.

    • July 14, 2019 / 9:28 pm

      Very true Stacey. Especially what you find in chain stores. I am a sucker for the unique buys.

  14. Shirley
    July 15, 2019 / 4:15 pm

    What a lovely piece . Looks great on your stunning fireplace.

    • July 15, 2019 / 4:18 pm

      Thanks Shirley. We like the stone going all the way up to the ceiling but could use a bigger mantel. I’ll get one up there someday.

  15. Jean
    July 15, 2019 / 6:56 pm

    That is so you! A great piece, a great price and a great story. I’m sure you will find out more, long before it’s sold at that discount garage sale. Hopefully it won’t go up in flames, as you often threaten will happen to my junque. 😋
    Don’t fret about that heavy foot on the gas. Hereditary traits are difficult to alter.

    • July 15, 2019 / 8:07 pm

      Ain’t that the truth Mommy Dearest. Now you’ll have to guess if I’m talking about the speeding or the fire! LOL.

  16. July 17, 2019 / 11:02 am

    Love, LOVE! I love hanging unique pieces as art! And this one is stellar. What a great find. As for the value of a piece, that can change over time as trends come and go, so I pay no attention…. I place the value on something by how much I love it! Also since you only have 3 bottles on the mantel, does that count as the odd? I don’t count the art, I count what’s on the mantel….. so apparently I’ve been breaking the rules for years. Because hey, our house our rules! However you count it, I count is as one beautiful space!

    • July 17, 2019 / 12:39 pm

      Thank you Crystal! I’ve always counted everything on the mantel, including the art piece but I like your rule of “Our house, our rules”! So glad you visited and commented today.

  17. July 23, 2019 / 1:13 pm

    Great find! I have it’s twin hanging in my kitchen…and I was born and still live in Mpls;) I got it out of my parents barn years ago and had to do a little digging to figure out what it was, too. I sanded it up a bit and gave both sides a couple layers of satin poly. If my house catches on fire, it’ll be one of the things I’m lugging out, along with the green chicken feeder I have hanging under it. My sweet vignette gets a little different style with each season! It’s perfect plain, or gussied up! You’re gonna love this!

    • July 23, 2019 / 1:59 pm

      Oh my golly Lora! I am so excited to hear you have a twin and found it in your parents barn! I’m looking forward to using it in different places in the house. I’ll have to stalk your IG feed or blog to see pictures of it. 🙂

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