Where Antiques
Originate and How You Can Find Them.
by Michael Temple
It's important to understand
where antiques originate. Many antique buyers make the mistake of mis-understanding
the process by which antique
items are found. Many collectors and dealers waste valuable time searching in
places where they believe that these items are in
great abundance. But a true understanding of where antiques originate seems to
have eluded many well meaning antique dealers and collectors.
It's elementary Watson!
If you want to find fresh-to-the-market antiques and collectibles, you need to
go where they are in great abundance, and where they originate! Antiques do not
orginate at auctions, or at flea markets, or at antique shows. Antiques
originate in people's homes. This is a fundamental truth for 99% of all antiques
that you will ever see.
Another truth that many people overlook.
The other simple fact, is that most antiques that you are most likely to get a
great deal on reside in the homes of people who are older. Young people do not,
as a general rule have antiques in the abundance that older people do. Why?
Because older people came from a generation that saved everything, and you will
find that a majority of the time they have kept it all! From the 1950's toys in
the closet to the old toaster that was just too good to throw away, older folks
still have most of everything they ever owned.
Where will you spend your "prime-time?"
Knowing these two fundamental truths about where antiques originate, begs a big
question. Knowing that antiques originate in people's homes, and that antiques
are most likely to reside in older people's homes, where will you be attempting
to spend a majority of your prime time? It tooks me years to understand the
following principles.
1. To buy more fresh antiques you have to see more antiques.
2. To see more antiques, you must look at more household accumulations on a
consistant basis.
3. To accomplish this, you simply must get into more people's homes where the
antiques originate.
Knowing and understanding these principles will put you light years ahead of
your competition! Believe me, I know antique dealers and collectors, and most of
them find their antiques through one of only 5 methods. They find them through
garage / estate sales, auctions, "goodwill" type stores, flea markets and
"pickers".
Knowing and understand the above principles will help you to focus on where you
will find the most antiques...in people's homes.
If you want to be incredibly successful, you have to go where the antiques
originate. It's time to focus on that and only that! That focus will take you
farther than you ever thought possible!
Michael Temple is a retired
auctioneer, speaker and author of the report, "6 Costly Mistakes Antique Buyers
and Sellers Make...and How to Avoid Them!" You can own a copy by asking for it.
Send your request to:
freetips@antiquepowerdealer.com
The Most
Powerful Attribute in Antiques and Collectibles.
by Michael Temple
What can increase your sales
volume and make you more productive day in and day out?
You've probably heard this three word statement that seperates those who wish
they could do better,from those who
really do.
Knowledge is power!
This three word statement is more than just a great philosophy. The more
knowledge you have about antiques, the higher the increase in your overall
profitability...as long as you use that knowledge. Knowledge can literally make
or break your antique business.
Here's a difficult lesson that was taught to a high-minded museum by a shrewd,
savvy antique buyer with knowledge.
I love this story! It vividly illustrates the difference between knowing and
being in the dark about antiques and their value. I was browing in an antique
shop a number of years ago, when I struck up a conversation with the owner. We
talked about incredible finds that we had stumbled across over the years. Her
story topped anything that I had ever done...hands down!
It all started when she attended the last day of a weekend sale at a local
museum. It seems that the museum was desiring to remodel, and they were
attempting to raise needed funds by selling off some antiques that had been
found in the carriage barn that stood on the property. Obviously, she was not
expecting to see anything spectacular because she assumed that the sale would be
"cherry-picked".
And then it happened!
While walking through the sale, she discovered a large painting with a faded
gold frame. Something about the painting looked strangely familiar, and she
thought to herself, "I've seen that in a history book somewhere."
She quickly ran to her vehicle and poured over several large painting
identification books that she had brought with her from her personal library.
After taking 10 minutes to research, she was almost positive that this painting
was a rare item indeed. She went back inside, and with a few minutes left in the
sale, she wrote a personal check for $125. and loaded it into her station wagon.
Life took a sudden and drastic turn...for the better!
Upon arriving home, she began to dig deeper with her research tools. She "burned
the midnight oil", and as morning broke, her heart was beating faster as she
came to the realization that this painting was something very special.
The next morning, after more phone calls and cross-checking, she gingerly loaded
the painting and took it to a temperature controlled vault in the same city
where she urchased it. This $125. painting later sold for several million
dollars at a major auction house, and this woman's financial future was changed
in dramatic fashion literally overnight.
The museum curator was appalled, overwhelmed and completely flabbergasted!
Imagine that you are the curator of this museum, and you placed the $125. price
tag on this million dollar painting! This tag sale had been held to raise money
for projects around the museum. If the curator had only possessed the knowledge
to even "check it out", the outcome could have been far more positive for the
establishment that he represented!
Knowledge and research made all the difference.
Aside from the curator, think of all the antique dealers, collectors and
enthusiasts that had toured this weekend-long tag sale. Here was an item that
could change their entire lives financially, and they walked right on by. any
one of them could have sold the painting, banked the money, and just "fiddled"
around with antiques instead of trying to make a living from them. And the
difference was knowledge!
How to get antique knowledge.
With the advent of the Internet, research is easier to do, and the knowledge is
much easier to come by. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands of sites
that are dedicated to various collectibles, art and antiques.
Visiting the library all day, once a month can be one of the best ways to
increase your knowledge of antique items. The library is still one of the most
untapped resources for gaining expertise on a variety of antique subjects. Talk
to the librarian, ask questions, and dig! The human mind is like a sponge, and
someday you may need what you are learning today.
A methodical approach toward research and gaining knowledge can pay huge
dividends in your antique world. It's the secret that can make a huge impact in
the buying decisions that you make!
Michael Temple is a retired
auctioneer, speaker and author of the report, "6 Costly Mistakes Antique Buyers
and Sellers Make...and How to Avoid Them!" You can own a copy by asking for it.
Send your request to:
freetips@antiquepowerdealer.com
American Antique
Art Early Folk.
by Saurya Ghosal
Collecting valued American
antique folk art is a simple thing today with the amount of available items and
often sale by people who dont have an idea of the real value of these beautiful
artifacts. Serious collectors of American antique art will never miss the charm
of quilts, chests, embroidery on silk, earthenware, glassware, silver and steel
vessels, wood-crafts, sewing boxes, furniture, portraits, dolls, and sculptures
from 17th to 19th century. American antique art is the creativity of
exceptionally talented but unknown folk, who add value to the rich antiquities
of early America.
While looking for earthenware,
one will come across vessels with marks made by the maker of the vessel, with
the date and location of production which adds to the value of that antique
piece. Find out the vessels with plenty of decoration and glazing as they are
the highly valued antiques. Dealing with earthenware and stoneware experts keep
in mind that imperfection also adds value to the wares. It doesnt mean they
always look for imperfection. But care to have a perfect knowledge on the trends
and value of the production of early American folk in the antique market.
Early American folk have left a
treasure in the form of picture embroidery on fine quilt. It takes skill to
identify the value of pictures imprinted using fine thread on fine silk. Such
antiques preserved well are highly valued in antique markets round the world. A
serious collector of American antique art have to reach the right kind of
articles, at the right place, at the first place if possible, but as it is not
viable for everyone they should find a truthful guide to locate the artifacts he
would love to cherish.
It is hidden treasure in the
unmatched skills of early folks. They might not have advertised their products
on a grand scale. But it does not mean the value of antiques produced by the
folks is less. There are successful people who have made a good fortune from the
antiques of the American antiques. Usually auctioned and sold at a fraction of
the original value, it is a great opportunity for careful observers who are
armed with the knowledge of real art and historic value of such antiques from
early unknown folks from America.
The historic value of American
folk art antiques is no less. These antiques strike a chord with the people who
love history and is a keen follower of the life and lifestyle of people lived on
the land a century or two ago.
Investing in American antique art
is not a costly affair. Today there is a huge market for American antique art
produced by wandering and less known folks. To identify the real value antiques
needs help from a professional guide with an eye for detail and a vast knowledge
about the value of the American antique art. There is a myriad of selection
available, but not falling prey into hands of bogus claimers and maintaining a
close contact with experts in the field is ideal for beginners who would like to
pursue collecting American antique art for a hobby or for doing business.
Saurya Ghosal for
http://www.affordableantique.com
Read more about Antiques
http://www.affordableantique.com/invest-in-antique.html Copyright 2005
http://www.affordableantique.com
Three Tips On
Starting Your Antique Collection.
by Dakota Caudilla
Tip 1: Understanding antiques
In strict antique-speak, an
antique is any collectable item that is seventy to one-hundred years old. Newer
items can also be quite valuable; if you know how to pick them. In all
instances, a collectible item has value if someone, somewhere, wants to buy it.
Just remember: "One mans trash is another mans treasure".
You may already know what you
want to start collecting, but finding your antique niche means doing the
relevant research first. For every item--furniture, clothing, books, or other
odd collectibles--there is a general code of understanding as to their value in
dollars. In order to be a successful antique collector you need to learn about
the era in which you item was made, and what this means about its value.
Tip 2: Understanding the antique
market
Whether you are interested in
building a collection of Victorian furniture or vintage baby clothing one of the
best places to start is the Internet. Use the search engine of your choice to
begin researching your antique niche from the comfort of your own home.
Or you may like to log onto eBay:
eBay offers a great atmosphere to get a feel for what is valuable, what isnt and
how much things are selling for. In eBay search for something like "antique" and
"silver" or "leather" and see what the search brings up. Watch a few of these
items for a few days. Note the price, item details, or use the eBay interface to
ask questions about the piece you are watching: age, condition, previous owner,
etc.
Once you get an idea of what is
on offer, how people buy and how much people are willing to pay for an item, you
may like to head off to markets, antique stores and shows where you can engage
other enthusiasts or shop owners into discussion.
Tip 3: Determining what to
collect
Choosing your antique niche is
more about what interests you; it also depends on how deep your pockets are. Try
to budget a certain amount of your income per month to see how much you can
spend. Also, ask yourself how quickly you want to start building your antique
collection. If you have lots to spend you may choose to locate items in mint
condition. If you have less to spend you may go after items in less than mint
condition. Its always best to research before you buy. In all cases, try to
learn as much as you can about the certain type of collectible or antique: where
it comes from, the style or era, and even, the maker or artist or designer. Be
it silverware or clothing or furniture or paintings, the more you know about the
items you choose to collect the better youll be able to judge its value.
Otherwise youll just have to take other peoples word for it.
Dakota Caudilla, journalist, and
website builder Dakota Caudilla lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of
http://www.antiques-shows.net on
which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.
How to Find
Antique Collectibles.
by Monique Hawkins
Are you an antique collector? Are
you a serious collector that is looking for a specific antique such as a certain
piece of furniture, a unique car, or perhaps a specific antique painting that
suits your taste? If so, then you know it is not always an easy task to find the
items you are looking for, especially if you don't know where to look.
Maybe you just love to shop for
different antiques on a smaller scale. This could include collectible items such
as toys and figurines. There are many different types of antique art that can be
purchased and even a wide variety of antique books may be found. The key is to
know where to find all of the great items that are out there.
Finding your antiques
So the question that many
collectors have is just where to find the good stuff anyway? The thing that
makes being an antique collector different is that you can't just go to the
store and buy the item you want, no matter how much money you have. It can
literally be an Easter egg hunt to try to find the treasures you seek.
When you are shopping for antique
collectibles but do not have a specific item in mind or if you do not plan to
spend a large amount of money, then a flea market is a great place to shop.
However, if it is a specific item you are looking for, then many sites on the
Internet can provide you with the location of these items. For instance, if you
are looking for an automatic musical instrument, then MBSI is an organization
that can provide you with many of these antiques. Several of these musical
instruments may be viewed, bought or traded by its members at the conventions
that are held. There are also many advertisements on the organization?s site
that list antiques that people sell all over the country.
Another great organization that
can supply you with automatic musical instruments is AMICA. This site can stun
its visitors with their elegant antique player pianos. Organizations such as
these can provide you with information on dealers both locally and from around
the world. There are also many organizations that let you subscribe to lists
that will tell you when they have sales and auctions for antiques.
Looking Online
There are many places online
where you can look for antiques. The great thing about the internet is that it
brings a much larger world straight to you. GoAntiques.com is a site that can
help you locate a specific item by pinpointing precisely where you should look.
If the item is being sold in more than one place, they can give you this
information, allowing you the opportunity to find the best price available for
the antique of your choice.
Anteq.com is another useful site.
This company caters to antique collectors, antique dealers, and antique malls of
the world. Anteq.com is committed to meeting the needs of the antiques &
collectibles community by providing professional software and support.
eBay is yet another popular place
to look online for antique collectibles. There are people from all over the
world buying, selling, and trading collectibles and antiques on eBay. Some of
the best deals out there can be found on eBay. Another great thing about finding
your collectibles online is the wonderful and wider selection than you would
find at a local show or sale. If you do not have a specific item in mind but are
looking in certain categories such as, books, paintings, or coins, online sites
such as eBay is a terrific place to look for these types of antiques. Antique
jewelry and dishes are also a big hit with collectors and can be found on this
site. It is one of the fastest and easiest ways to shop for collectibles.
Joining Clubs and Groups
You might also want to check to
see if your local town or city has an antique collector's club or group that you
can join. This would be a way for you to meet other people who share your
passion and who can guide you to some of the best places to find what you are
looking for. If none can be found in your town, why not start one yourself?
Antique collecting is a passion
for many people. Finding the right collectibles may not always be easy. However,
with perseverance and patience, you will be sure to find that perfect antique
collectible you have been seeking.
Copyright 2005 Monique Hawkins
Monique Hawkins is the owner of
the online music box store, "Monique's Music Box" located at
http://www.my-music-box.com.
She also posts a "What You Never Knew About Music" blog at
http://whatyouneverknewaboutmusic.blogspot.com.
Article Source:
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