Ohmega Salvage

This week, our favorite new item in the shop is this medieval themed Cal Art Tile.  It features knights and castles and jousting! Cal Art Tile was made in Richmond, California (just down the street from us) from 1923 until 1956.  We removed this mantel from a home here in Berkeley.  You can see the original schematic for the mantel below. Here's what it looked like when we removed it!

Steve Smith, general manager of Ohmega Salvage , explains the history behind San Francisco's longest continually operating architectural salvage company.

In our last shipment of architectural salvage from France , we received a few of these glazed porcelain flower pieces.   Each of these "everlasting bouquets" used to decorate a cemetery plot, some dating back to as long ago as the early 1900's.

This week we got in two of these beautiful vintage Toledo Scales. If you didn't want to use these for their intended purpose (deli counter, butcher shop), they would make really cool accent pieces or shelves! Toledo Scale - Honest Weight!

I've often thought about buying a set like this and just storing it in my basement until I can find a bathroom to install it in.  The color is just that beautiful!  Seafoam Green Deco Corner Tub from Ohmega Salvage This corner tub is in excellent condition and although it didn't come in as a matched set, we've acquired a wall sink that goes with it perfectly and rumor is that there's a toilet on the way! Seafoam Green Wall Sink from Ohmega Salvage

 These lithograph stones were used by the Sevres porcelain company in the late 19th and early 20th century to create patterns for their fine porcelain dinnerware.  French Lithograph Stones from Sevres Porcelain Co. This is a very fine quality limestone, quarried from ancient stone quarries in either Belgium or Germany.  Lithograph Stone, detail Lithograph Stone with circle pattern and monograms How do people use these stones today?  We have people use them as garden accentts or elements of architectural detail.  We also have artists like bookbinders and printmakers who use them as tools for engraving and leather tooling.  How would you use them?

A lot of customers come into us saying, "I need a door!"  While we like to help our customers as much as possible, we need a bit more information than that.  If you find yourself in need of a door, in order to help both you and us, you will need the following information: Width, height, and thickness of the door needed (in inches). Are you looking for a door made of all wood, partial glass, full glass? Do you need this as an interior or exterior door? If you are looking for an exterior door, will it swing inside or out? Are you looking for a painted door or natural wood? Most of the doors we carry are no longer in the jamb, but occasionally we get a door that comes complete with the jamb.  Are looking for only a door, or do you need a complete set-up? If you are putting the door into an existing jamb, you will need to find out if the jamb is hinged on the right or the left side.  We determine this method the same as used in architectural drawings which are by ...