It’s summertime and this is the time of year when I’m on the lookout for unusual or interesting auction items for the yard. I don’t have enough room in my tiny back yard to add much of anything else, but I still enjoy the search.
Vintage farm implements tend to capture my eye because of their utilitarian nature. Someone somewhere at some point used them to dig up the earth for planting or to make the hard chores less taxing. Usually, they are encased in rust, forming a patina that adds to their beauty.
I’m always curious, too, about how to creatively incorporate these auction items into a back-yard ensemble. Most were made to be used in other ways, but that doesn’t mean they have to be burdened with that purpose for life. Most of the time I have no idea what an item is or what it was made for, so putting it to another use is like inventing it all over again.
I’ve assembled photos of some items from auctions that I believe could make a bold statement in the right yard. Tell me how you’d use some of them:
When I first saw this metal sundial, I expected it to start twirling. It is so artistic looking that it could pose as a piece of sculpture, but I believe it’s actually a universal ring sundial. I’ve seen other sundials at auction, but most were the flat round types.
This stone wheel for sharpening tools has its own tractor seat for comfort.
These stone planters are lovely with their carved sides.
Patio furniture is a common sight at auction.
The cultivator follows behind the plow, aerating the soil that the plow has dug up. The red handles make this one a stand out. It’s the second one I’ve seen at auction.
This yoke would look nice hanging flat on a fence or affixed upright to hold pots of flowers.
This chair with the round seat and back was simply lovely.
There were several sets of these oak chairs and tables on a ramp at an auction house, and they all looked to be new and unused. I wasn’t around when they sold, but I’m sure they went for much less than you’d pay retail.
