Festivo candleholder for 3 euros! Thrifter Sini makes incredible glass finds: “I’m willing to put in the time”

My thrifting hobby began... in the fall of 2021 when I inherited a yellow Grapponia bottle by Riihimäen Lasi from my grandparents. While researching its history, I became interested in Finnish glass and realized it might be worth hunting for at flea markets.

At the moment, I’m on the hunt for... Pentik’s Halla series dinner plates, Pihlajanmarja and Juolukka wall plates from Arabia’s Botanica collection, a stool to match my grandmother’s vanity, and Arabia’s Pomona jam jars.

I manage to make good finds... because I’m willing to spend time rummaging through flea markets. I can even sniff out treasures in places others skip without a second glance. I also collect information constantly by reading up on the topic and following other thrift enthusiasts or groups on social media. That way, I know how to spot items not everyone sees as valuable.

At flea markets... I’ll look for just about anything these days. I might pick up art glass or ceramics, tableware, books, home textiles, or furniture. The only thing I avoid at flea markets is cosmetics.

Sometimes I also pick up... gifts. I bought my mother some discontinued pieces from Pentik’s Mansikka series.

I’ve ended up with too many... small dishes or bowls. It’s easy to find uses for them—some might hold jewelry, while others could hold chocolates. I’m starting to have quite a collection of these little dishes.

I comb through flea markets whenever... other people don’t. In my opinion, crowded weekends are the worst time to find bargains. On a beautiful hot day, I like to head to the flea market to spot some treasures.

If only someday I could find... Kaj Franck’s Pokaali piece.

“I found Helena Tynell’s 6663 art glass vase for 10 euros. I only figured out at home what it was, and it turned out the spots are usually gold. This white-spotted one is a rarity!”

“This Kumela pitcher is one of my favorites for its incredible color and design. It cost me only 5 euros.”

“Iittala’s Juhla-Festivo candleholder is a great example of why you should check every corner of a flea market. I found it in a quiet basement, covered in soot, for just 3 euros.”

“Oiva Toikka’s OT1461 art glass vase was a 10-euro impulse buy. It’s a valuable piece, which makes it one of my favorite finds.”

“These Yves Saint Laurent earrings are my best flea market find. I discovered them for 4 euros in a small thrift room attached to a local store.”