Antique treasure

So here we are in 2016 the Year of the Monkey. As promised I want to share a discovery we actually made ten years ago at Obachan's when we initially cleared out things, but are just now rediscovering it again. Perhaps some of you have already worked out from this first photo what it is.... without scrolling down!

As you can imagine it was covered in dust, but we gave it a wipe over to reveal this beauty!

Obachan's Fuji Janome treadle sewing machine. Made around the 1950's....we think.

Don't you just love all the intricate detail?

We haven't tried to get it working yet, but it's in pretty good condition. While its not worth a fortune by any means, we just love it for its artistic beauty. My idea is that when we fold the machine down under the folding table, we will use it as a desk. I just love having dual purpose items.

Can you see that the smaller metal plate under the large one has been mounted upside down?Anyone know why? It reads, "MADE IN DEMOCRATIC JAPAN" Japanese people are known for perfection, so it seems odd that they would do this without thinking.

Look at the detail on the face plate....just beautiful.

Back side of the machine and again more detail imprinted into the hand wheel.

The wrought iron base, which I didn't have time to clean well. I look forward to giving it a good wipe over again and maybe a paint or maybe not. Not everything needs a lick of paint. Sometimes just left natural is the best way to respect a piece.

Can you remember being a young child and seeing something new or in this case old that you had never seen before, but it was a new discovery? Little did Obanchan know that many years later her great-granddaughter would be sitting at her sewing machine in wonder.