One of the questions I get asked most is where do you find your stuff? Here are the top four places where most of Maddenda’s pieces come from.
Facebook Marketplace
One of the first places I look for pieces is Facebook Marketplace. As a vendor that sells pieces I need to find items at a good price and Facebook Marketplace is full of unique, undervalued items. My all time favorite find had to be this Flos 2097/30 suspension chandelier. I paid $700 for it but new ones retail for 4-5K. It was one of those pieces that I couldn’t get rid of and that I kept and hung over my dining table.
Vintage Flos 2097/30 suspension chandelier
I make it a practice to scroll through Marketplace each day to see what the new listings are. When I see something I like I save it (even if I’m not sure if I’m going to get it or not); this helps build an algorithm that will feed me relevant pieces in my feed. When I save the items I save them in Collections according to geography in Edmonton, so if I do decide to get it I can easily find the pieces that are located close to one another.
2. Auctions
Auctions are another great place to find unique, undervalued items. I have purchased items from local auctions like Artefact Auctions in Calgary, Alberta. My favourite site to browse auction items though is Live Auctioneers. You can search auctions by geography, date or category. There aren’t a lot of Canadian auctions listed on the site but I have purchased some items from an auction in Quebec including a beautiful mid century wall hanging and Mexican malachite box. For international auctions, some of them will ship to Canada so if you want an item badly enough you can often reach out and ask about their shipping policies and costs in advance of the auction.
A striking mid century modern Mexican decorative box, handcrafted in the distinct style of the renowned Taxco artisan workshops (such as Los Castillo and Salvador Teran). Dating from the mid 20th century (c. 1950s-1960s), the brass box showcases primitivist metalwork blended with vibrant mineral inlay. The inside of the box is wood lined. Unsigned, stamped Hecho en Mexico.
This box works effortlessly as a statement catchall, centerpiece, or decorative accent on a coffee table or sideboard.
Embrace tactile storytelling with this mid century modern Danish 1960s (c. expo 67) woven textile art piece featuring stylized, elongated silhouetted figures. Rendered in deep earth tones against a neutral woven linen-and-jute background, the composition evokes mid-century Brutalist and folk art influences. Suspended from a slender wooden dowel with hand-tied rope loops and finished with subtle fringe along the bottom edge.
Style: Mid-Century Modern / Primitive Brutalist
Materials: Natural Linen/Jute Fiber, Wood Dowel
Condition: Great vintage condition with minor age-appropriate wear to fibers.
3. Markets
I have to admit I haven’t gone to many local markets, but it is one of my favourite things to do when I travel. I spend a good amount of time in southern California throughout the year. Palm Springs is well known to be a mecca for modern design and so when I’m there I try to go to the Palm Springs Vintage Market. If you are ever looking for one-of-a-kind art prints then this is a great place to find them. There is one vendor who goes around to deceased artist estate sales in Los Angeles, buys their prints and then sells them at the Palm Springs Vintage Market. I was able to pick up pieces from Samuel Clayberger and James Osorio from him. Some other markets I’ve visited on my travels and would recommend are:
Rose Bowl Flea Market (Pasadena, California)
Alfie’s Antique Market (London, UK)
Villeneuve-Les-Avignon Flea Market, Avignon, France
L’Isle sur-la-Sorgue, Provence, France
4. Other Vendors
While scoring a major deal when shopping from other vintage or antique vendors can be tricky, sometimes the temptation is simply irresistible. In Edmonton, I love perusing the curated stalls at the Old Strathcona Antique Market, Rocky Mountain Antique Mall, Vintage District, and Dom Deco. Small towns off the beaten path are also goldmines for hidden gems. I frequently pop into One Man’s Treasure in Stony Plain, Alberta, and I almost never walk out empty-handed.
Where do you like to find your treasures? Drop a comment below or tag Maddenda on Instagram to share your best thrifted finds!
