|
daryle-lambert
Member Since: 11/23/2007 3:49:08 PM
Last Seen: 5/29/2008 2:21:30 PM

About Me
I have been in the Antique business for over forty five years. Now I am sharing this knowledge in my book "31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques and Collectibles. www.31corp.com. Learn and Invest in Paintings and Antiques for fun and profit.
Age: 67
Gender: M
Location: Chicago
|
|
|
Posted 5/29/2008 2:21:37 PM
I will no longer be posting my blog on this site but it can be viewed each day at - www.31corp.com
Thursday, May 29, 2008 How To Sell Your Antique, Collectible & Fine Art Items To Quickly Turn Your Money
I received an email from Michael B., a member of the 31 Club, thanking me for all the information provided by the blog, however, he asked for more information on selling the items purchased. But Well, Michael B., your request is my honor to answer.
Selling is the last piece of the puzzle to fall into place. However, it is the one part of the puzzle that requires the least amount of time and research. You might be surprised by that statement. I am often asked, “I know I can buy the item, but what’s my guarantee I can sell it?” When I’m asked that, I tell them they’re on the wrong side of the dog. Why?
When you buy any antique, collectible or piece of fine art following the rules for buying I wrote about in 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, customers will be lined up at your door. I don’t say this to minimize the importance of selling, rather to stress the importance of buying. If an items is purchased right, according to the criteria I’ve set up in my book, selling doesn’t become a big issue. I can tell you in just a few paragraphs how to sell. But, making good buys is something you’ll be learning for the rest of your life and is the far more important component. With that said, let’s set some rules for selling so we can get the biggest bang for our buck.
Working From a Collectors List is Essential For Your Success
If you’ve sold items before and haven’t kept a list of who you’ve sold to and what they bought or what they buy, begin assembling this Collectors List now.
When you attend local auctions and house sales, notice who purchases rare items or shows an interest in rare and collectible items. Engage them in conversation and introduce yourself. Remember, I’ve said in the past that this business is about relationships. When you take the time to learn about other people, you’ll be able to add them to your list of collectors. This is so important, because this list will provide you the best market for selling your items you’ll ever find, and it will be right at your fingertips. Private Sales between you and a collector is the ideal way to sell your items, however, it you might not know someone for every item you come across. Then, you’ll need to consider other means of selling.
An Auction House List Helps Make You Make Knowledeable
Note what auction companies set high records and keep a list of those companies. One of the things I do is cut out articles from AntiqueWeek, Maine Antique Digest, and Antique Trader about items that have set high records, making a note of the auction company who made the sale. I then put it in a clip file that my 9-year-old son, Joshua helps to maintain. This way, if I come across a similar item, this company will be a possible place to consider selling through.
The Necessity of Trade Subscriptions
Antique Week, Maine Antique Digest and Antique Trader all carry articles about auction results, so I’d get a subscription. I follow auction results of some of the larger specialty auction houses like Treadway Galleries, Rago Arts & Auction Center & Cincinnati Art Galleries for pottery and glass. Find the specialty auction houses for the items that interest you, as well. I also start a file on Doll Auctions, Toy Auctions and so on. This way, I won't have to search long for the right place to sell my items.
Deciding Where to Sell Your Antique & Collectible Item
If you don’t have a collector on your list for your particular item, you can research collectors on the Internet and contact them. If you don’t come up with a collector for your piece, now deciding where to sell your item requires you ask this question: Is this item rare enough to place it in a standard auction, a specialty auction house, or something like eBay.
Major auction houses today are only looking for an item $20,000 and over. So, where does your item fall? With these houses charging 25 % commission and as high as 25 % buyers premium, before you go this route your item had better be very special. If you are fortunate enough to find an item in this price range, specialty auction houses are very appealing.
For example, I found the Rookwood lamp recently, and had to decide where I’d sell it. I decided it would go to the Cincinnati Art Galleries for their November auction because I know they have set all the auction records on Rookwood pieces. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s Blog. We’ll be studying other ways to profit from all our hard work.
More and more members are sending in their stories to me, and I will publish them as fast as I can. If you haven’t sent in yours, why not do that today?
Join with like-minded 31 Club Members and put a turbo charge on your antique & collectible treasure hunting skills. Get FREE Mentoring. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to make high profits and continue to grow your money buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles.
My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership.
The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.
WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT!
Today's Links:
31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles Insider Secrets to Sucessfully Working in Antique, Collectible and Fine Art Markets
Trade Magazines:
Antique Trader Antique Trade Gazette (U.K.) Antique Week Maine Antique Digest
Posted by Daryle Lambert at 9:46 AM 0 comments Links to this post Labels: 31 Club, antique business, antiques, buying and selling antiques and collectibles for profit, Daryle Lambert, home business in antiques Wednesday, May 28, 2008
(0) Comments
|
|
Posted 5/26/2008 8:03:03 PM
Monday, May 26, 2008 Antiques & Collectibles - 31 Club Memorial Day Blog
I have never been as proud to be an American in all my life as I was this weekend. I attended a small church service in Calhoun, Kentucky where they honored our Veterans this Memorial Day Weekend.
Slacks with sharp creases and starched shirts decorated with ribbons and medals was the dress of the day. Flags were held proudly as they were presented, and America The Beautiful and the National Anthem were sung by people who had tears streaming down their cheek. Great love of their country was the unifying thread that bound together men and women in their eighties with others in their twenties. Not one asked for a single thing for themselves, rather prayed that under God, this Country would return to what God intended for it to be. This image will be etched in my mind and heart for the rest of my days.
I remember those times when people were proud of our Country and had the love of God in their hearts. Where have these days gone? How have we strayed so far? Our political leaders seem more interested in party affiliation than the good of the county.
To see and know what has made this country great, you must return to rural America. I am saddened to have returned home and turn on the television, only to see the disharmony that is prevailing in this country that so many have given their lives for.
My hope is that this little community we are in the process of creating through the 31 Club, will stand proud for what our forefathers held so dear. Yes, we are going to learn together about how to provide for ourselves, but I'm hopeful we won't forget our fellowman.
I am asking you to start looking for items that show our Country in a different light. Let’s see if we can find posters that show the pride that all citizens of this Country had at one time. How about books and paintings showing people helping others in times of need. You will probably have more ideas than I about what these items can be. I know you are asking if there be a market for them. The answer to that is yes, because we will create a market in our market place.
Remember, just one year ago everyone was saying that there would never be another collector, but we said they were wrong. They said this business was of the past, and we said it’s the greatest business in the world today.
We’ve shared with you that in every category of this business, records are being set at auction. I no longer see all the negative articles written nor hear the doom and gloom that prevailed just one year ago. Yes, the message of the 31 Club is being heard loud and clear, so now I’m asking you to extend this positive attitude even a step further. Let’s include our pride in America into our plan.
GOD BLESS THE U.S.A.
Join with like-minded 31 Club Members and put a turbo charge on your antique & collectible treasure hunting skills. Get FREE Mentoring. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to make high profits and continue to grow your money buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles.
My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership.
The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.
WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT!
Posted by Daryle Lambert at 10:32 AM 0 comments Links to this post Labels: 31 Club, antiques and collectibles, Daryle Lambert
(0) Comments
|
|
Posted 5/17/2008 1:34:58 PM
Saturday, May 17, 2008 Antique Business: Getting Leads for Antique Treasure
How many people have you told this week you’re in the Antique, Fine Art and Collectibles business? If that number isn't 25 or more, what are you waiting for? This is your future. Auctions and house sales are wonderful places to find treasure, but they don't compare with a lead from a personal contact.
I’ve had people call me five years after my first contact with them. Because I was still in business, they felt I could be trusted. There is no better feeling in the world when your phone rings and the person on the other end of the line says something like, ”Hello Daryle, I’m Jane. Anne said that I should call you, because I have some things to sell you might be interested in.” There’s a couple things going on in receiving this call. First you have a great friend in Anne. Second, Jane now trusts you because of Anne. This type of relationship will be where your true success will come from.
I just received a large box in the mail from a person I’ve done business with before, and you won't believe this. It was stuffed full with Indian artifacts. These included three Kachina's, two Apache arrows, six or eight pieces of bead work, two pieces of pottery (one a black on black pot), and some very nice coins including fifteen 1922 D pennies in near mint condition. So why did he send them to me? He trusted me. They were sent without discussing any price, knowing that I would be fair with him and know the value of these items. NO COMPETITION and NO TRAVEL TIME TO EVALUATE THE ITEMS. What could be better than this? So look for these in the future in our marketplace.
The best advertising you will ever have, is when you tell someone that you are in this business. And it’s free. You won't be getting that dreaded invoice in the mail. How many times have I had to pay a bill for advertising that was over $200 or and I didn't get a single response, let alone make enough money to pay for the ad. If you tell 1,000 people a year that you’re in the Antique and Fine Art business, it could easily be worth over $100,000 a year to you. Now that is something to think about.
People today are very leery of Antique Dealers in general, so if you can build a reputation for being honest, and have others recommend you, this will sit you at the head of the class in this field. People are looking for trustworthy people in their time of need. They might be retiring, have an estate to settle, have children entering college, or simply want to reduce their debt. There are so many wolves in sheep’s clothing out there in the world today, and this is when you can be the trustworthy person that they're looking for. So don’t forget we operate by the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
I hope a box full of treasures comes to you in the mail sometime soon, however it will only arrive if you tell others you are in the business. Make sure you go through all your boxes of business cards and have to order more. Set a daily goal for yourself. Will you tell 2 people, 10 people or 15 people a day. How many people do you want to have told by the end of the week? Does your mailman know you are in the business? Does your doctor? When your cable guy comes to make a repair, will he know what business you’re in? How about all the parents at your son’s baseball game? Do they know? Make certain each person you speak with gets your card. Do this consistently, and one day you just might get a box of treasure delivered to your own front door.
Join with like-minded 31 Club Members and put a turbo charge on your treasure hunting skills. Get FREE Mentoring. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to make high profits and continue to grow your money buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.
Posted by Daryle Lambert at 9:14 AM Labels: antique blog, antique business, buying and selling antiques and collectibles, Daryle Lambert, growing your antique business, Indian Artifacts, Kachinas, learn about antiques
(0) Comments
|
|
Posted 5/16/2008 5:06:13 PM
Friday, May 16, 2008 Antique Clothing Chests - and Other Inside Tips
This Connecticut Chest on Chest, circa 1790, sold for $18,000 at Hood Auction. We are all very individual in our tastes when it comes to decorating our homes. Some like formal, some like casual, and there is a chest for anyone’s taste. For most of my life, I preferred Queen Anne style but now, I'm more into early America. Regardless of style, the one thing that most catches my is quality. Beautiful wood crafted by a true artist certainly gets my attention.
We talked about blanket chests, sugar chests and today we’ll continue with clothes chests, which we’re most familiar with. These beauties can be very valuable under certain circumstances. Here’s an example of what I’m talking about:
A gentleman brought a chest to the Antique Road Show inquiring of its value. He told the director that when he purchased the piece, it had been painted in an ugly red paint, but he had it stripped and refinished. When the director asked him if he wanted the good news or bad news first, he opted for the good news first, and the news was that his piece was worth about $35,000. The owner was thrilled. He asked how there could be bad news. But, there was. And the bad news? By stripping the original red paint finish, he had washed away $100,000.
This is a lesson we must not forget. It’s best to buy each piece as it is, at the value it is in the condition it is in presently. Never stray from this rule. Yes, you might be able to make a piece prettier, but in doing so, you risk reducing the true collector value. Always let your new buyer make the decisions on what he want to do to improve what you’ve sold him.
There are many styles of chests you can run across. The federal style, with its straight lines, appeals to me. Your taste might be more toward Chippendale or Empire style. The true antiques in these styles can be very expensive. You might be expected to pay from $10,000 to $500,000 for a bow front mahogany or a birds eye maple chest. If you’re not familiar with styles in chests or furniture, nor the appeal of various woods, I believe the best way to learn about furniture and its styles is by first studying books. There are many books to choose from, and you might even spend some time in the library studying. Then, find a shop that carries a variety of high quality antique furniture and take a look at these items close up. You’ll find the shop owner will probably be more than happy to answer questions and help with your education.
I once bought a very nice three drawer walnut chest for $500. It had all the original hardware and had a patina that was true to its age. I got a little excited, and priced the chest at a little over $2,000. It sold immediately. This was another time I wish I had waited and allowed myself more time to research before selling. I would’ve made a lot more money. So, please take some time to research your piece as best as you can, and don’t be shy about calling in an expert or two or three. I am sure you can tell that what I share with you has been learned by making some of the very mistakes I warn you of.
Hepplewhite, Queen Anne, Sheraton are also styles that will add beauty to any room. When you are on the hunt, never be distracted by price. If the price asked seems too rich for your blood, that’s the moment go and do your research. Yes, you might lose the piece, but being safe rather than sorry is always the right decision. If you return, and it is gone, it probably wasn’t meant to be at this time. Remember, the best decisions we make are based on knowledge.
If you find a piece of furniture that fits all the rules, buy the piece and have the sales person put a “sold” tag on it immediately and continue your hunt. If you stop to secure the piece or take it to your car, the other fabulous treasure waiting for you in the next room might be missed.
There is a pot of gold waiting for you, if the right chest comes your way. But, remember, it will more than likely require waiting for several months for it to be sold at the proper auction. For special pieces, the wait will be well worth it.
Join with like-minded 31 Club Members and put a turbo charge on your treasure hunting skills. Get FREE Mentoring. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to make high profits and continue to grow your money buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.
Posted by Daryle Lambert at 1:02 PM Labels: 31 Club, antique chests, clothing chests, Daryle Lambert, Insider Tips on Antiques, learn about antiques, learn to buy and sell antiques
(0) Comments
|
|
Posted 5/15/2008 9:24:51 PM
Thursday, May 15, 2008 Buying Fine Art and Antiques from Auctions & Estate Sales - Four Presumptions Not to Make
What a great radio show I had with Auctionwally. I have been answering the phone ever since. In this increasingly more difficult economy, people are beginning to listen more closely to what we are saying, and discovering it makes great sense and might be a solution for their financial dilemmas.
Our Member, William called the show, and I was so glad to hear from him. He is eager to be the winner of the 31 Club race to the million dollars. We speak with one another often on the phone or by e-mail, and he is learning at a very quick pace. Being a newcomer to this industry, he wasn’t sure how long it would take to master the skills for success. But, he simply went out, on perhaps, his first treasure hunting venture and promptly purchased a painting for $40. We’ve discovered it has a retail value of $3,500. Not bad for a newbie.
This is exactly why I make every effort to preview the paintings before I go to an auction or even a house sale if I am able. I can learn more about it and make an offer or bid based on knowledge. I truly believe that it is in the area of paintings that you can find the one treasure that can change the way you are living. So often, I’ve found that sellers do not have the resources to truly evaluate a painting. This can apply to individual sellers or auction houses. If they don’t subscribe to an art service, but only depend on book guides like “Davenports”, they may come no where near the true value of the painting they’re trying to sell.
Let’s go to the call I got yesterday from our member, Cecil R. and use this as an example to see how this kind of thing plays out. A friend of Cecil’s, who knew he had an interest in paintings, called him to tell him about two Charles Partridge Adams paintings up for sale through an auction house in Owensboro, Kentucky. In the Davenport’s guide, Adams is listed, but the price for his works are moderate. When we went to a service like Ask Art, we found that within the last month or so, a small oil on canvas of his sold for $12,000.
So, now you’ve got two paintings by Charles Partridge Adams listed in the local paper, and I’m fairly certain they were listed in the Antique Trader as well. Wouldn’t it seem like everyone, including their aunt and uncle, would know these were being sold and would surely show up and outbid a newbie? Well, everyone must’ve stayed away thinking that these fine paintings would surely sell for more money than they were willing to spend, especially with the market for paintings being so strong. Yes, indeed, everybody stayed home, and this opened the door for Cecil, to snatch those two paintings for (drumroll………………………) $700 apiece!!! Cecil might just have made himself about $18,500 -- conservatively.
With that example, let me stress a couple of things. First, Don’t presume that just because a painting is listed in an estate sale ad or an auction ad, that it’s priced just right.
Second, consider that the name of the artist, alone, might keep many buyers away. Buyers will often stay away when they’ve had a “rational” conversation with themselves that goes something like this: “Since it was listed in the ad, everyone and their uncle will now know it’s for sale. So, they’ll be plenty of interested and capable buyers lined up to buy. They will all bid the painting up beyond my reach, so I’ll just stay home and not waste my time. In that way, I’ll save on gasoline and be able to sit on the couch and watch TV today, since it’s raining anyway.
Third, never presume that you know what is going to happen at a sale, whether auction or estate sale or house sale. You might be right, but – what if you’re not? What if you’re completely wrong, and you never even bothered to step foot out of the house?
Fourth, before you decide not to go at all, take my experience into your mind before you decide. You see, I have found that even when I’ve gone for a particular piece and it’s been bid up or priced higher than I’m willing to pay, I have usually stumbled upon other treasures that I would have missed, had I decided to stay home.
Your success will be based upon the number of items you have the opportunity to buy. So if you don't get out of the house to buy, your chances of success are very limited. Get out of that house. Your treasures are awaiting you.
Join with like-minded 31 Club Members and put a turbo charge on your treasure hunting skills. Get FREE Mentoring. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to make high profits and continue to grow your money buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.
Posted by Daryle Lambert at 9:56 AM 0 comments Links to this post Labels: 31 Club, auctions, Buying Paintings, Daryle Lambert, estate sales, How to Buy Paintings, learn about investing in art
(0) Comments
|
|
Posted 5/13/2008 7:20:19 PM
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 Antique Furniture Part II - Arts & Crafts Furniture and Modern Design Furniture
Charles and Ray Eames LCW, red aniline-dyed molded birch plywood chair in excellent condition, signed with foil Herman Miller label, sold for $2,000 at Treadway Galleries, May 4, 2008
Yesterday, I shared about European and Early American chairs, but if I was starting to take an interest in furniture today, it would be in the Arts and Crafts Furniture and the Modern Design pieces. This is where the trend is, and that is where we want to be.
Arts and Crafts is already well into the trend, but I think there is still a lot to go. Names like Stickley, Frank Lloyd Wright and Limbert are going to grace our homes for a long time. The young collectors seem to be drawn to this style, so don't try to fight a trend.
Places to find out more about the Arts and Crafts design era is to view catalogs from Rago Arts and Auction and Treadway Galleries. These two houses seem to be the trendsetters for the Arts and Crafts market. There you will find true values for the chairs and other furniture and objects of art that were produced during this period. They have some of the finest art pottery pieces of this time period, as well. If you get a chance to visit one of their auctions, you’ll get an education that is well worth the time. Buying a few of their back catalogs to use as a source of reference will be a superb addition to your library. Study their websites. They list their sales and even the results of their sales. What a great way to become educated at no cost.
Most of the items that bring the big bucks are made of oak and have a rather straight, minimalistic design, but you can find ones made of mahogany and birdseye maple. These can have a branded mark or cellophane label. Often the cellophane labels are missing, and so unscrupulous people have even reproduced these labels and placed them on items that are nowhere like the items they claim to be.
The area that I am least familiar with is the Modern 20th Century Design Movement. However, when I look at some of the Wright Auction catalogs, I know that it is time for me to step up to the plate and get an education in this area. This market seems to be lead by certain designers and you must know their names and designs. If you do the rewards will be tremendous.
Modern 20th Century Design are those objects of art, lighting, and furniture from about 1920 through the present time, and they continue to be a hot commodity in the collectibles world, especially for the younger generation who grew up during the time period of these great designers.
A lady whose home I went to shared a story about the time she and her husband started house keeping in the 50”s. Today, she was ready to change the way she was living and a friend suggested she call Wright Auctions to get an idea of the values of the items she was tired of. The auction house representative came, and she could see the excitement in their eyes. They hauled off furniture she would have gladly sold for a few thousand dollars. Later, after their auction, she received a check for well over $100,000 from Wright. Now that would be what I consider finding a treasure, even if I had owned it all the time.
Furniture, lighting, and art objects from the top designers of this time have been copied, often rather badly, but it is the designer pieces of this time that are considered works of art, commanding top prices in today’s marketplace. No one has changed the world of Modern Design Furniture and Objects of Art as much as Wright Auction House.
In 2000, founders Richard Wright and his wife, Julie Thoma Wright opened the doors of their auction business, specializing in items from this period. Their business creativity drastically changed the face of business in this area of the market. Julie Thomas Wright, we are sorry to say, has recently passed away, but it was her visionary ideas for this business that propelled this company forward to become today’s standard for Modern Design Collectibles. Today, Wright Auctions is known internationally as the spot to go for the best of these designer items.
This area of Antiques and Collectibles can be the turning point in your career as a buyer and seller. To really make some serious money, spend time studying the Modern movement. Call Wright Auction and ask how to get up to date in your knowledge of this movement. They will be glad to share with you because they want new people to appreciate modern design and this is where they make their money. Call them at 1-312-563-0020, and they might even have a few old catalogs to share with you.
For those who are following my book and have joined the 31 Club, dealing in these more rare and valuable items is the direction we move toward, step-by-step. You might still be working the lower end steps at the moment, but when you stick with it, continuing to complete each step, soon enough you will find yourself in the position to be buying rare and high end items. Knowledge about these designer items will expand the areas in which you can trade.
Most of my readers know, as a rule, I don’t deal in antique furniture. I’m not much interested in dealing with bulky items that require more than myself to transport, nor do I want to keep the kind of storage space furniture requires. But, I must say, in this case, I’m seriously considering making an exception for some of these fine pieces and the prices they can bring in.
Prices for items by well known designers and artists like Vladimir Kagan, George Nakashima, Ponti, and Paul Evans, can bring in amounts of $40,000 to well over $150,000. You might not recognize these names right now, but I hope you will in the future. If you ran across any of these items in a house sale right now, I doubt you would recognize them, and you’d be passing on a find that could make a big difference in your life.
Tomorrow I'll continue to examine the furniture market. This study should take at least the rest of this week, but you should be picking up ideas for future study. One way is to get a great cup of coffee at your local book store and browse their selections on furniture. I promise that you will be engaged in conversation quickly with someone who is doing the same thing.
Find out more about our step-by-step program to enable you to work in the more rare and valuable items in the Antique, Art, & Collectible Markets here.
Join with like-minded 31 Club Members and put a turbo charge on your treasure hunting skills. Get FREE Mentoring. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to make high profits and continue to grow your money buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.
Take a look at our Gallery of Fine Art Paintings by Listed Artists, here.
Today's Links:
Treadway Galleries
Rago Arts & Auction Center
Wright Auction House
Article on Wright and Modern Design from Men's Vogue
Article on Wright from Chicago Magazine
Posted by Daryle Lambert at 7:38 AM Labels: 31 Club, antiques, antiques blog, Daryle Lambert, Eames, learn about antiques and collectibles, Stickley, vintage modern design furniture 0 comments: Post a Comment
Links to this post Create a Link
Older Post Home Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom) About Me Daryle Lambert Northfield, IL, United States I've been collecting and dealing in antiques & collectibles for over 40 years. I've helped people assemble their own private art collections and am Author of "31 Steps to your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles." I wrote this book to help others by demystifying the industry, and showing how to grow personal wealth from it by having a strategic plan, using sound and proven financial principles. My book is available here. This daily blog is an educational component for my wealth building club, The 31 Club, based upon the principles found in my book. The 31 Club began shortly after the book was released. I received many e-mails and phone calls from readers urging me to start a club. So, I did. Today, I can safely say we are the industry's only wealth building club. Many have associated wealth building with stocks, bonds and real estate, but --Wow! You should see how money can accumulate when you're investing in antiques, fine art, and collectibles according to the plan I've written about. I don't believe your banker or stock broker can find you these kind of results. Come join us! View my complete profile BlogCatalog Jiglu Autotag widget Tags for this page will be available very soon. See all topics Get Jiglu for your site Subscribe Now: poweredby
Blogger"s Choice Blog Archive ▼ 2008 (134) ▼ May (13) Antique Furniture Part II - Arts & Crafts Furnitur... Antique Furniture - Not For Me, Maybe For You Civil War Collectibles Part II Civil War Collectibles/Memorabilia Know Your Customer -- The Collector and The Advanc... How to Pay for Your Travel with Antiques, Collecti... Antiques & Collectibles: 31 Club on the Radio wit... American Art Pottery - Walrath Antiques Looking Too Good Mean Caution Necessary b... Estate Sale Treasures – You Don’t Have to be First... Antique Garden Furnishings - Money Grows in the Ba... Finding Antique Treasures News of Economic Downturn Finally Hits Mainstream ... ► April (30) Rose Medallion Porcelain - An Antique Chinese Impo... Antique Majolica - Know It by Sight and Win Big McCoy Pottery Teaches 31 Club Member the Power of ... Orrefors Glass Resale Jewelry - Everything that Sparkles isn't a ... Animated Art - Drawings and Cels Antique Soda Shop Items Have Stong Values Today Ungraded Silver Coin is Still a Sell Napkin Rings to Dream About Key Rings and Keychains - Who's Going to Take the ... Antique Bookmarks Carnival Glass part II Flow Blue China - The Error that Made Money Carnival Glass, Virus Caution & Club Updates Collectible Knives - Big Boy Toys Buying and Selling Skillfully in Today's Antique, ... Automobile Collectibles and Memorabilia is a Hot M... Daryle Lambert Blog: Valuable & Collectible Paper... Daryle Lambert: 31 Club Newbie Scores Big with Art... Pilkington Tile and Pottery Co. - A Hidden Value Daryle Lambert Blog: Unexpected House and Estate ... Daryle Lambert Blog: Changing and Cycling Markets... Daryle Lambert: When is the Right Time to Sell Arlington Park Antique Show Finds 31 Club Antiques & Collectible Club is Growing Daryle Lambert: Run Across Any Stamp Collections?... Box Lots at Auctions, Garage Sales & Estate Sales Early's Spring Art Glass Auction Might Prove The T... Stoneware Jugs Can Pad Your Pockets Ironstone Can Be Easy Money ► March (31) Treasure Under the Table in Yellow Ware Vaseline Glass - Secret Test Will You Find Diamonds or Rubies at Estate Sales? Tobacco Collectibles Spell Money Vintage Sunglasses Can Prepare You for Summer Beanie Who? Beanie Babies May be Back. Ebay Still Fighting Hard in the Wrong Direction ► February (29) ► January (31) ► 2007 (152) ► December (31) ► November (30) ► October (31) ► September (28) ► August (32)
(0) Comments
|
|
Posted 5/12/2008 8:48:43 PM
Monday, May 12, 2008 Antique Furniture - Not For Me, Maybe For You
American country bamboo Windsor arm chair c1800. Offered at One of A Kind Antiques for $385 ***Remember to Tune In to DARYLE on Auctionwally's BLOGTALK RADIO TONIGHT 8PM EST***
Call In With Your Questions
I have intentionally not written on furniture, because my general rule is that if it is larger than a bread box it is to large for me. You see at 66, I don't think that I still have the desire to break my back hauling large pieces of furniture. However this isn't fair to you, if you’re interested in furniture, and so because of this, I’ll do a series on furniture anyway.
The best way to approach these items is by breaking them out into groups. So knowing this I think that I will start with Chairs. It would take weeks to share with you all that is needed to become the expert on this subject but I will try to give you the preliminary facts to get you started.
First, it is a matter of knowing what the true collector is looking for in chairs. Does he collect Modern, Arts and Crafts, Early American or 18th and 19th century European pieces? The material for each of these can give you a start as to their value. Then the workmanship, the designer and the company can place a huge premium on the items you find.
You will usually find that the older European chairs you find will exhibit wonderful carvings and detail. These need to be authenticated by an expert, because any restoration or replacement of piece can change the value tremendously. The dovetailing and the shape of the legs can define what period a chair is from. Before taking on these chairs, be sure to study as many books on their construction and shape as you can. Don't be fooled by reproductions and this is where depending on the experts comes into play.
Early American is where you can really increase your profits, if you are knowledgeable enough to spot the true antique pieces. The real value comes if there is a tag or mark on the chair that you find so that it can be identified as a pieces produced by a certain craftsman. These can usually be found on the bottom of the chair seat. The experts can tell where a chair was produced by the materials used in their construction because most furniture was product with native lumber. So if the chair was made with wood that wasn't grown naturally in that area, it is more than likely that it wasn't made there.
Like the European chairs, the Early American ones must be in untouched condition, nothing added or nothing taken away. Early American chairs have been written about the most. People like to use them in their homes and collectors have a high interest in them. But, know that most of the Early American chairs have also been reproduced.
A short time ago, a chair was sold here in Chicago at an auction house that originally estimated it to go between $4,000-$6,000. It amazed everyone when it was hammered at $22,000. Shortly thereafter, the buyer sold it again in New York. Are you ready for this? He sold it for over two million dollars. Many early examples sell for $100,000 - $500,000.
There is a lot to say about chairs, and I will continue tomorrow on other types.
Join with like-minded 31 Club Members and put a turbo charge on your treasure hunting skills. Get FREE Mentoring. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to make high profits and continue to grow your money buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.
Take a look at our Gallery of Fine Art Paintings by Listed Artists, here.
Posted by Daryle Lambert at 7:08 AM 0 comments Links to this post Labels: 31 Club, Antique Furniture, Daryle Lambert, learn-about-antiques
(0) Comments
|
|
Posted 5/6/2008 7:59:28 PM
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 American Art Pottery - Walrath
Example of Walrath Pottery valued in the thousands of dollars.
This past weekend, I saw Rosville and Weller pottery well overpriced and wondered how anyone could turn a profit if they purchased these pieces at those prices. This seems to be the norm today, and the reason why so many dealers are having a hard time selling their inventory. At the Arlington Show I attended last month, it seemed to me that items such as Grueby, Newcomb and Rookwood were priced out of sight. I wonder if perhaps these pieces are being purchased by dealers at prices too inflated for today’s markets.
The secondary market should set the prices for us to use as a guide when we purchase, and if we find pieces priced even beyond that, where can we hope to go with them? Yes, the best are bringing record prices, but that isn't so when it comes to the medium or lower priced items.
A new name that might bring you great returns, should you find a piece is Frederick Walrath. Walrath was an exceptional potter and his work is coveted by the most serious collectors of American Art Pottery. Walreth died in 1920, and his better vases can easily command five figures and his less serious pieces will bring in the hundreds. The pieces I’ll be discussing are the ones he produced in Rochester, New York, however he did work at one time for the Newcomb Pottery Company of New Orleans.
His work is marked Walrath Pottery” with a mark that looks like a cross bow between the two words. This is the kind of item that most people will pass, or have very little knowledge of what its true value should be. When you find a special piece of Walrath, this is the time to be patient and check all your connections before pricing it on the market. Here is where you can really compound your investment. While others are struggling to break even on the more known pieces like Roseville, Weller and Van Briggle, you will have your money ready for those special pieces of Walrath when the opportunity presents itself. Patience will be your guide to success.
This weekend was a prefect example of what I am talking about. Thinking I was going to buy several items at a sale I attended, my plan wasn't fulfilled. I made a pass at several items that would have been good buys at the price I offered, but my offer wasn’t a deal maker. I only purchased one piece from this sale, keeping my other funds in my pocket for another day.
I knew the Rookwood lamp at this sale was exceptional, and I knew I had to own it. But, even as sure as I was that I’d found my treasure for the week, I called a good friend in Cincinnati to confirm my judgment. He assured me that the lamp was a fantastic buy. In my judgment, this piece is very special and should go to auction for the best results. Remember, we aren't in a hurry because the compounding of our funds will create wealth for us, not the quantity of pieces we buy and sell. So add Walrath Pottery to your growing list of things to watch for. By now, if you have followed my blog, that list should contain several items that could change your prospective of this business.
Join with like-minded 31 Club Members and put a turbo charge on your treasure hunting skills. Get FREE Mentoring. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to make high profits and continue to grow your money buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.
Take a look at our Gallery of Fine Art Paintings by Listed Artists, here.
Posted by Daryle Lambert at 8:12 AM 0 comments Links to this post Labels: 31 Club, American-Art-Pottery, antique business, Daryle Lambert, how to buy antiques, How to make money in antiques, learn about antiques, Rookwood, Walrath-Pottery
(0) Comments
|
|
Posted 5/5/2008 3:54:36 PM
Monday, May 5, 2008 Antiques Looking Too Good Mean Caution Necessary before Buying
After a period of dedicated time spent working on our 31 Club website and attending to other club business, it was a great treat to be able to get back in the game this past weekend.
After church on Sunday, I spent part of the day with Cindy and Marsha back at the estate sale I went to on Saturday, but I ended up with as much money in my pocket as when I began the day. However, with the Saturday’s purchase of the Rookwood lamp, I have to confess that it was a pretty good weekend.
I’ve noticed that there are items entering the market that are just too good, and I want to warn you about some of them, as well as the reason you need to be very careful. At this weekend’s estate sale, there was a Cushman Scooter that had been customized by converting it into an ice cream vendor cart-scooter, similar to the old bicycle-vendor carts. Was it a vintage? It appeared in mint condition in every detail, even down to the Cushman emblems. However, upon further inspection, several clues didn’t add up. I could see the work that had been done on it. No doubt the skeleton and the engine were old, but I have doubts about the rest of the cart. Why?
First, it was held together by Phillips head screws. These type of screws were not available when this piece was originally made. Second, the heads of the nuts that were used to bolt the bumpers and other attachments were not old. I continued to inspect and came to the conclusion that most of this piece was newly fabricated and therefore, had very little antique value. However, this didn’t deter the seller from asking $10,000 for the cart.
Remember, when you are buying something for its antique value, the more of the original condition that has been maintained, the better the piece and the higher the value will be when it’s sold. Any alteration will take away value. If the piece is over-restored, it becomes a novelty item, not an antique. And novelty items are less valuable.
This becomes very important in other areas such as antique banks. If you find an antique bank in mint condition, with the paint as fresh as it had been done yesterday, it’s most likely a reproduction. Older paint will have a patina on it that will look soft and mellowed, while new paint will appear start and harsh. An old bank could also have been restored by repainting, and if that’s the case, its value can be reduced up to 75%.
When you find anything that should have antique value, leave it as found and buy it accordingly. My rule is that if I can't wash off the dirt with water and a mild detergent then I let the new buyer decide. In this way, the buyer will decide if he or she wants to take the chance of fully devaluing the item. New is new, and even if the con artists have come up with some of the most ingenious ways to age certain pieces, there are still telltale signs that will give them away. Any time you have a question regarding these matters, be sure to contact me either by email or phone. Happy Hunting.
P. S. Please comment on the website changes we are making. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. --- Daryle
Join with like-minded 31 Club Members and put a turbo charge on your treasure hunting skills. Get FREE Mentoring. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to make high profits and continue to grow your money buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.
Take a look at our Gallery of Fine Art Paintings by Listed Artists, here.
Posted by Daryle Lambert at 8:41 AM 0 comments Links to this post Labels: 31 Club, antiques, buying and selling antiques and collectibles for profit, Daryle Lambert, education in antiques, estate-sales, making money with antiques, selling antiques on the internet
(0) Comments
|
|
Posted 5/4/2008 8:09:15 PM
Sunday, May 4, 2008 Estate Sale Treasures – You Don’t Have to be First to Find While I’ve enjoyed writing about the great treasures our readers have reported to us, today I’d like to share my experience yesterday. I think it well serve you well.
Yesterday was a time for catching up for me. There were emails to send, books to ship and general paper work to do. However, one of our 31 Club members asked if I’d be willing to join her at an estate sale. I agreed to meet her later in the afternoon. Now, knowing I’d need to be in home in time to watch the Kentucky Derby, I put my efforts at catching up in overdrive so I could pack everything into my time schedule.
I called our member about 1:30 and was surprised to hear she was already at the sale. I was thinking to myself (often a dangerous thing to do) that if there were treasure at this sale for me, it would probably be all gone by now, but I’d still go to help our member.
I met our member at the front door of the house, and once I got to the sale, I immediately recognized the person conducting the sale. I asked if she thought there was anything still here for me. To my surprise she said, “Yes, the Georg Jensen silver.” We headed immediately to the dining room to check it out. When I picked up a knife where the price tag was taped, my eyes almost dropped out of their sockets. Believe it or not, they wanted $10,500 for the set. I couldn’t get away from the table fast enough, but while my mind was spinning, I decided I’d offer $2,000 if I was going to make an offer.
But that was only the first room, so we preceded to the living room where it was hard to miss a Steinway Baby Grand -- with a price tag of $25,000. About this time I was asking myself what could possibly be here for me. But, I continued on. I knew very little about the modern artwork that decorated the walls, and these pieces had hefty price tags as well. Asian artifacts were intermingled through out the house, and again, I was at a loss without any of my books in this category. I sat down on the living room couch to collect my thoughts when my eyes landed on a very large lamp. My mind wouldn’t allow me to believe I was looking at a treasure that every other dealer and shopped had overlooked. After all, it was later in the afternoon and most people would have figured all the real treasures were gone by now.
I raised my self up from the sofa, as if I was in slow motion and walked toward the lamp. The closer I came the more difficult it was to breathe. Unbelievable! There on the end table was a Rookwood vellum scenic vase made into a lamp, and the vase itself was over fifteen inches tall.
My hands began to tremble as I turned the tag to examine the price. $1,800. I knew this had to be mine. My mind started racing as I figured out at what price this might become mine. I’ve bought from these people many times before, and usually at half the price, but I knew that with this lamp, I couldn’t take a chance. I stepped up to the plate and offered $1,200. She refused, and told me I could leave a bid. I informed her that I didn’t do that, because I was here to buy. She was firm about leaving a bid, so I returned home very quickly to do some research. (My house was only five minutes away.) Let me tell you, after a little research, I broke every speed zone getting back there, just hoping the lamp was still there.
I entered the house with my wife and son with me this time. My wife went to look at the items in the dining room, while I worked up the courage to peek into the living room to see if the lamp was still there. It was. But now, I had to see if there was one of those little red tags on it, showing it had been sold. No red tag, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
We finally settled on $1,500, which was a much higher percentage of the asking price than I usually pay, but for this piece, there was no question on what I was going to do. So, what’s the value? Between $4,500 and $5,000.
Tomorrow I am going back to the sale because there were several other item that I want to make offers on but at less than 50% of their asking price. There are Royal Doulton mugs, listed prints, figurines, and glass objects that could pay for the lamp, if I am able to purchase at my price. Not bad for a day when I wasn't even intending to go out. Better Late than never, and by the way, Big Brown may be the next Triple Crown Winner. What a great looking horse.
Today’s Photo shows a set of 1945-1951 Georg Jensen sterling silver designed by Johan Rhode, Jensen's most influential of all his designers. The pattern is the very popular "Acorn" pattern, and is offered at Leopard Antiques for $3,350. Photo from Leopardantiques.com
Join with like-minded 31 Club Members and put a turbo charge on your treasure hunting skills. Get FREE Mentoring. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to make high profits and continue to grow your money buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.
Take a look at our Gallery of Fine Art Paintings by Listed Artists, here.
Posted by Daryle Lambert at 10:01 AM 0 comments Links to this post Labels: 31 Club, antiques blog, Daryle Lambert, estate sales, georg Jensen, how to buy antiques, learn about antiques, Rookwood
(0) Comments
|
|
Posted 5/3/2008 9:37:24 AM
Saturday, May 3, 2008 Antique Garden Furnishings - Money Grows in the Backyard
Antique Garden Furnishings: Pair of Lead Figures of Pan, the Greek God of the Woods, offered for $8,500 at Aileenminor.com
Who would have ever thought to check the backyard before going into the house at an estate sale? But after reading this blog, I'll wager you'll consider it. The only time I recall prices catching my attention for Garden Furnishings was at some of the Red Barron Auctions in Atlanta, Georgia where there were huge fountains, statues, and urns large enough for a person to hide inside. These furnishings were usually so large, you would have had to own a mansion to use them. Prices were also large, with some items going as high as $250,000 or more. But, naturally, there are much smaller items to be found other than the grand pieces from these great estates of yesteryear.
Garden furnishings have been popular for centuries. I can still see those beautiful gardens in the old movies about the Roman days. Gardens have been the property of the wealthy in Europe for thousands of years. In this country, Since we began to duplicate the lifestyles of the Europeans, the ladies of the South have had formal gardens. If you close your eyes for a moment, you’ll be able to image a Southern Belle, dressed in that large hoop dress with a very stylish hat and parasol walking among a formal garden of her plantation. These images bring back a completely different style than we experience today.
“Snap out of it Daryle, and stop that dreaming,” I just told myself. So it’s to get back to the real world and back to treasure hunting and making money, because there's some serious money to be made today in Antique Garden Furnishings.
At an estate sale, when you enter the back yard and take a seat on that cast iron bench to scan the property, make sure that bench isn’t a Fern shaped 19th Century 59-1/2 inches long valued at $3,500.
What should you be looking for in that yard? How about a bronze figure like a little boy and girl reading a book by M. Geiss, valued $4,000 or more. Your eyes might then settle upon a cast iron fountain, decorated with birds and leaves. In today’s market, this fountaint might bring $15.000 to $20,000. Urns were always a great part of the beautiful gardens, so how about an 1880’s cast iron urn featuring angels for a mere $25,000. Other items are hitching posts, sun dials, birdbaths, boot scrapers, objects of art, and architectural elements like finials and wall brackets. My, oh my, there certainly are wonderful things besides flowers in a garden. Do some of your own research on the Internet and see what you learn today.
One of my friends told me the story of a sale he attended and after going through the entire house, he completely struck out. That was, until he was leaving and noticed two large green urns on the porch. He returned to the house and asked if the urns were for sale. I guess he caught them off guard, because they told him, “Well, I guess you could have them for $50." He quickly paid the price, and rushed out, needing some oxygen in the worst way. Like lightening, he managed to get those items into the car. You see, on the bottom, incised twice, was the word “Teco”. Need I say more?
Join 31 Club today. Can you get FREE MENTORING in the Antiques, Collectibles and Fine Art Markets anywhere else but here?
You'll learn Inside the Industry Secrets. We'll teach you how to make high profits and learn to grow your money buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles with the strategized plan found in my 220 page book,31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles. It's FREE with your membership.
Visit our Main Page Here
Posted by Daryle Lambert at 8:25 AM 0 comments Links to this post Labels: 31 Club, antique birdbaths, Antique garden furnishings, best antiques blog, daryle-lambert, How to make money in antiques, learn about antiques, make money with antiques and collectibles
(0) Comments
|
|
Posted 5/2/2008 4:18:24 PM
Friday, May 2, 2008 Finding Antique Treasures
“What should I watch for, Daryle?”
That’s the question more and more people ask me everyday. What you should watch for while you’re out treasure hunting is whatever is priced cheap enough for you to double your money or more. When I leave the house, I’m an explorer looking for the chest of gold and jewels. When I find a chest, I won’t know what’s inside it, but I’m hopeful it will be filled with treasures.
Once I open the treasure chest, I might find my treasure comes in the form of an oyster plate, as it did for our member, Marsha. Cecil’s treasure was a painting. You can be assured, as they left the house, they had no idea what treasure was in store for them that day. How many ship wrecks did Mel Fisher search for before he found the Atocha? I understand he was just about broke when he found that ship and all its treasure. Now his story will go down in history, not to mention the great wealth he accumulated. So don’t quit before finding the mother load.
How many 49ers would have struck it rich if they’d only stayed another month? Your journey might be like the young man in Florida I wrote about in my book, whose purchase of a $25 painting changed his life when it sold for over $675,000. Or maybe your journey will be more like mine, where over the years, I’ve had several huge scores, but the accumulation of many average or a little above average finds have proven to be the secret to my success. Even the turtle crossed the finish line, and I have known many of these turtles in the Antique and Collectible field. If you stay the course, your fortune will be made one way or the other.
In the meantime, it’s Friday and have you prepared for the weekend? Do you know the sales you’ll be attending? Are they garage sales, estate sales or auctions? Have you passed out enough cards and spoken to plenty of people each week that you’ve now been called out to the fertile field of someone’s home?
It’ll be coming up upon a year that I’ve been blogging. I haven’t missed a day. You should have a fairly healthy list of items etched into your mind along with some sensible business insight, now, to put to good use when you enter the door of your destination. I hope it will be just like opening that treasure chest. Maybe it will be a piece of Rookwood or Grueby pottery. Maybe a Rene Lalique or a Tiffany. Perhaps a prized western painting, a special baseball card or comic book that hasn’t been touched since the 1950’s. These items could change your life, and I can guarantee you that your chances of finding one them is far greater than winning the lottery.
Please be patient as our site undergoes reconstruction. Cindy, Jeremy, Chris and Clarke are working hard and more dedicated to your success than you can possibly imagine. As the weather warms up and sales spring up everywhere, I’ll be waiting to hear from you about your treasures found.
Stay ahead of the times and get there before the crowd. Join 31 Club today. Can you get FREE MENTORING anywhere else but here?
Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Make high profits and learn to grow your money buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles with the strategized plan found in my 220 page book,31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles. It's FREE with your membership.
Visit our Main Page Here
Posted by Daryle Lambert at 7:47 AM Labels: 31 Club, antique club, antiques, collecting antiques, daryle-lambert, how to find antiques, learn about antiques and collectibles, selling antiques for profit 0 comments: Post a Comment
Links to this post Create a Link
Older Post Home Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
(0) Comments
|
|
Posted 5/1/2008 2:36:08 PM
Thursday May 1, 2008 News of Economic Downturn Finally Hits Mainstream Media
Yesterday, Cindy sent me an America Online story link that came up as a featured AOL News story. “People Sell Belongings to Make Ends Meet,” was the AOL story in which Associated Press writer, Anne D’Innocenzio states, “Struggling with mounting debt and rising prices, faced with the toughest economic times since the early 1990s, Americans are selling prized possessions online and at flea markets at alarming rates.” I scratched my head and said, "Hmmmmm."
Later in the day, Kovels’ Komments Newsletter showed up in my mailbox. While the Kovels’ are not part of the mainstream press, they are a recognized authority in our industry, and in their newsletter, they acknowledged “The economic downturn has created new sources for antiques and collectibles.” I scratched my head and said, “Hmmmmm.”
Yesterday was April 30th. Didn’t I post a story back on April 18th about the economic downturn and its likely effect on the Antique & Collectible industry as well as its effect on family life? Yes, I did. It's titled, “Inflationary Times Good for Antique Dealers, Collectors and Families,” and it’s been all over the Internet. Could it be I was ahead of the mainstream call?
Then, Cindy reminded me that we made economic commentary on our April 15th Blog when I stated (and I’m quoting myself here) “Timing is everything, and right now the time is right to be buying at bargain prices. At times like these, when people are stricken with fear, and the market fluctuates, we’ll be able to make our best purchases.” I also wrote in that same article, “It is likely that those who feel weary with our economy will likely sell their better items.” Hmmmmmm.
I’m flattered that others would follow our lead and be in agreement that these are going to be some hard times for people. Yet, at the same time, it will be the best of times for people in the Antiques & Collectibles Industry. The signs of it have already emerged, and Cindy is busy putting together a 31 Club Newsletter that will soon go out to our members about this very topic. If your 31 Club can continue to stay ahead of the pack, then we'll able to fill our coffers before others get started, won’t we?
Today, I’ve decided to post my April 18th article, with its link, as today’s Blog entry:
Inflationary Times Good for Antique Dealers, Collectors and Families Daryle Lambert
With news of inflation heading in an upward direction in energy and food, is anyone really at all surprised? My family has been feeling it for almost a year now. When the newscasters give us the latest figures, do they truly believe we need them to announce it to us? We all go to the grocery store and the gas station and can put two and two together. We know there’s inflation, but this period of time might be just what's needed to revitalize our families, as well as the Antique and Collectible Markets.
When money is tight, families will likely spend more time together cleaning out their houses of unwanted junk, and be especially on the lookout for items that might be of value. We’ll probably see an increase in the number of garage sales and an increase in items coming up for sale at auction houses. Isn't this just what we need? I believe this period of time will be like a child going into a candy store. There will be all sorts of candy for us to choose from, and the knowledgeable antique dealer will always spot the best. Our goal at the 31 Club is to make our members one of the best. For those of us who want to make money selling antiques, collectibles and fine art, the time couldn't be better. The weather is improving, and soon the kids will be out of school. Be sure to include them in your treasure hunting plans because all the children that I've run across enjoy going to sales. Often my children have pointed me in the direction of some real treasures.
Aside from these upcoming hard times being good for those of us in the antiques industry, I believe it will be a good time for family. When a family’s gasoline bill out paces their mortgage payment, it makes sense people will be spending more time in their homes with family and friends rather than running all over the country looking for fun, dining and entertainment. We’re likely to go through a period of nesting, as the cost of going out for a simple hamburger will likely cost more than some are willing to spend. Eating at home may become a necessity rather than a chore. Driving around the block a couple of times just to clear our heads could cost you big on gas, so we just might have to head down to the basement and begin working at that workbench we forgot we owned in order to clear our heads. Maybe at that workbench, we’ll be able to construct a toy for our kids, or teach our children something about building.
Days of reading together, cooking together, enjoying family meals while discussing the day’s events, watching educational television and family shows together might just be a great remedy for what seems to ail us. We might even find that walking together after dinner and getting to know our neighbors could bring us amazing joy. Imagine that!
Rather than finding it necessary to continually looking for entertainment outside the home, the hike in prices can produce interest in family events and the sharing of common interests again and again. Like Collecting. Collecting is likely to become more popular, and from this interest, groups will be formed and deeper relationships forged.
Parents might even participate with their children, once again, in hobbies such as stamp and coin collecting. Some of my greatest joys are now coming from talking with my nine-year-old son about Show Globes, Foreign Coins, Webkinz and Nascar. This is a great way for us to spend a quality afternoon or weekend. Many people were writing off the Antique and Collectible business, concerned that there were no new collectors, and that the youngsters had no interest in anything that didn’t scream high tech. But, this tightening of the family budget may produce the next crop of antique and art collectors.
If this sounds like what goes on in the town of Mayberry, and Andy and Aunt Bea might be stopping over momentarily with a delicious out-of-the-oven apple pie to share with you,would that really be all so bad?
I truly believe that in addition to being good for the Antique and Collectible Business, the hard times ahead can be good for our families. By staying home and working together, money is saved and a real sense of joy and pleasure will return to our homes once more. No longer will we have to settle for the artificial pleasure that the world had convinced us we couldn't live without.
These times seem to be returning, not by choice, but out of necessity. These changes in our lifestyle may leave us with withdrawal symptoms for a while, but in truth, it might be just what we need to get our sanity back. When we do, I’m guessing we’ll feel like we’ve found heaven on earth. When you get off a spinning merry-go-round, it’s often very difficult to keep your balance. But once we keep our feet planted firmly for awhile, it sure is going to feel great. What a great time this can be to reflect upon, and see through clear eyes, what a wonderful and magnificent world God created. And just maybe we'll find some good antiques, too.
Stay ahead of the times and get there before the crowd. Join 31 Club today. Can you get FREE MENTORING anywhere else but here?
Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Make high profits and learn to grow your money buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles with the strategized plan found in my 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles. It's FREE with your membership.
LINKS:
Daryle's Article Inflationary Times Good for Antique Dealers, Collectors and Families
AOL Article People Sell Belongings to Make Ends Meet
We buy quality paintings, glass, pottery & porcelain-singles or collections. Contact us at 847.784.8544 or email us here.
Copyright 2008 - 31 Inc. - All rights reserved.
(0) Comments
|
|
Posted 4/29/2008 12:59:16 PM
Antique Majolica - Know It by Sight and Win Big Antique George Jones Majolica Butterfly Cheese Keeper with very slight damage sold on eBay April 27, 2008 for $4,500.
This wonderful colorful pottery known as “majolica” has been reproduced time and time again since the 14th century. As a kid I was always interested in watching films where the ground in great cities of the world were excavated, and the archaeologists uncovered wonderful vases and pots. Many of these had interesting designs, but it was the colors that caught my eye.
Majolica is produced by covering the body of a piece with an opaque, tin enamel, hiding the color of the clay. Whenever a Majolica dealer is set up at an antique show, I can’t pass their booth without stopping in.
Today’s Majolica Collectors have a wide range of items to choose from, so there is plenty of opportunity to form a rather substantial collection. My daughter, Dana, just became interested in these wares, and when Marsha found the oyster plate that I just wrote about yesterday, I remembered Dana’s interest. You see the oyster plate is Majolica.
But we are first in the business to make money, then, if we make some good buys and sells, we just might find ourselves being able to form our own collections from the good trades we've made. I told you once that when you follow my lead, you will know where the money is made. So, I’m telling you today, majolica is an area where you can still make some serious money. But you need to be on the inside track and know the secrets.
Many people are afraid to invest in Majolica for a couple of reasons. First, so much of the Majolica is unmarked. Second, it’s still being produced today and they might not know a vintage or antique piece from a current one. This fear keeps many people from investing in it and gives us a tremendous advantage if we seize the opportunity. Once you see the real thing, you won’t be fooled after that.
A book that I’d like for you to purchase, and it’s perfectly fine to buy it “used,” is The Collector's Encyclopedia of Majolica. (There's links to any of the books I mention at the end of the Blog). This is an older book, but its price makes it a great value compared to the other majolica book prices. Another fabulous book, though pricier, is Majolica: A Complete History and Illustrated Survey. Cindy says Abesbooks has a better buy on this today. These are single, used copies so they go quickly.
It’s also a good idea to get up close to some of these items, so next time there is an Antique Show in your area, make every effort to get there. In fact, I can’t stress enough the importance of attending Antique Shows. You’ll get a close up view of some of the finest examples of most of the items I write about. Nothing replaces a real encounter with an authentic piece.
I said that most majolica wasn't marked but there is still a lot of it that is marked. For example, one of the best known names in majolica ware is George Jones. If you come across his pieces, just shout “WOW.” Most people would recognize his pieces if they ran across them. Here’s why: There might be an English registry mark on it. His mark might be as simple as a very small circle with a “J” that passes through the C. Two other English companies you might recognize are Minton and Wedgewood. These companies produced majolica wares.
Here are just a few examples of values in marked majolica: George Jones Game Pie Dish – Fox crouching near dead bird – Jones 1875 – 11 inches - $8000. Garden Seat – Birds and Floral – Jones 18 inches - $15,000. I think you’re getting the idea. The wonderful thing about majolica is that there are always willing buyers, yet there are so few people who really know the better pieces.
I’m waiting for Marsha to call me because I might even have a bigger surprise in store for her. The oyster plate she picked up might be George Jones
Join with like-minded 31 Club Members and put a turbo charge on your treasure hunting skills. Get FREE Mentoring. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to make high profits and continue to grow your money buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.
Books:
Collector's Encyclopedia of Majolica At Abesbooks (BEST VALUE) At Amazon
Majolica: A Complete History and Illustrated Survey At Abesbooks (BEST VALUE) At Amazon
George Jones Ceramics: 1861-1951 by Robert E. Cluett At Abesbooks At Amazon
Link: Majolica International Society - History of Majolica
*** 31 Club Official Website ***
For more information, visit my web site at http://www.31corp.com.
We buy quality paintings, glass, pottery & porcelain-singles or collections. Contact us at 847.784.8544 or email us here.
Copyright 2008 - 31 Inc. - All rights reserved.
(0) Comments
|
|
Posted 4/28/2008 10:06:39 PM
McCoy Pottery Teaches 31 Club Member the Power of Showing Up Vintage McCoy Pottery Vase with Leaves recently sold on eBay for $43.99. There were 7 bids. It does my heart good when I see something I have taught come true with my own eyes. In this case, finding treasure where other people dare not to trod makes a great subject for today’s blog.
Two days ago, Marsha, a 31 Club Member, called and asked if I would go with her to see some pottery that someone had placed a classified ad about. The vision of Teco, Grueby and Newcomb began dancing through my head. I could see that one special piece just waiting for us. Instead, Marsha told me the ad in the paper said 100 pieces of McCoy pottery, a lower end pottery, and the asking price was $500. Needless to say, my balloon was deflated rather quickly, but I agreed to go with her if she would pick me up.
She arrived within the hour, and we began our journey together. When we arrived at the location, I perked up when I saw it was familiar to me. I had attended many calls from this particular neighborhood, and most of them had been very profitable.
We were greeted warmly and invited in. McCoy Pottery was everywhere and the better pieces McCoy produced dominated every room of this gentleman’s home. In the basement there were over a hundred pieces of McCoy, perhaps ten pieces of Shawnee Pottery, and one oyster plate. These were the items he was interested in selling.
He told us what some of the better pieces would bring on eBay, and he was correct. This man knew his pottery. When I calculated the total, I could see the overall value could easily bring about $2,000. He knew this, too, but said he simply didn’t want to bother with them. He was so right on the money that I felt strange in asking if he would take less than the $500 he was asking -- but you know my rule. Thankfully, he supplied the courage for me when he mentioned that he hadn’t had any other visitors. I offered him $400. What a fantastic gentleman. He said if we agreed to take them all, he’d let them go for $400. Marsha had herself a deal.
Marsha and I headed back to the car to get some packing materials, and I asked her what she thought the profit on the pieces would be after she had sold them all. “Maybe a thousand dollars,” she said. I asked her how she arrived at that figure. “I think I should get a least $10 a piece for them, don’t you think?” I didn’t want her to get too excited, so I told her that with the Shawnee piece, it will probably be closer to $20 a piece. She was thrilled. Then I asked her, “What about the oyster plate?” She asked me what I meant. “The oyster plate will bring you more than you paid for all the other pieces,” I told her. She looked like a deer in the head lights. I can’t wait to see her final total after selling them all.
The ad for this pottery was in a public paper, but no one answered it. Why? I’ll take an educated guess and say that people saw the word “McCoy” and figured it wasn’t worth much. That was my initial response. Boy, were they wrong. This is an example of what I meant when I’ve told you never miss an opportunity to visit someone’s house. Many times when I’ve gone on a call, I didn’t end up purchasing the items I went to see, but walked out with some of the greatest treasures I have ever purchased. When you go on a call where there is no competition, you can your time looking, and this is where your skills and knowledge come into play. You see, I immediately spotted the oyster plate and knew that we were going to make the deal.
It took Marsha a couple of trips to pack up all the items, but she got them all. I wish her well in selling them and advancing up the 31 Steps.
Join with like-minded 31 Club Members and put a turbo charge on your treasure hunting skills. Get FREE Mentoring. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to make high profits and continue to grow your money buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.
Visit our Website, here.>
For more information, visit my web site at http://www.31corp.com.
We buy quality paintings, glass, pottery & porcelain-singles or collections. Contact us at 847.784.8544 or email us here.
Copyright 2008 - 31 Inc. - All rights reserved.
(0) Comments
|
|
Posted 4/27/2008 9:28:48 PM
Daryle Lambert – The Glass I Passed
Have you ever assumed you knew something to find out how mistaken you were later? This doesn't happen to me often but it did in the last few months. I figured that I was somewhat knowledgeable on most good glass that had been produced in the last hundred years however this proved to be false. Orrefors was a name that I was familiar with but had always thought that it was to contemporary for me. How I was wrong.
The Orrefors company was founded in 1898 in the province of Samaaland Sweden. It was fortunate to have some of the best glass masters to be found anywhere and they produced marvelous bowl and vases. Some of the best know artist to work at the Orrefors company were Edvard Hald, Vicke Lindstrand and Nils Landberg. There never has been finer glass workers than these artist. Most of the finer pieces are signed Orrefors and a name of the artist or his initials.
I don't have a current book on Orrefors but after writing this blog you can be assured that I will find one if it has been printed. I did find some information on the company in my book Victor Arwas “ Glass Art Nouveau to Art Deco” and this proved helpful. You must be asking yourself why did this particular company catch Daryle's eye? The easy and quick answer to that question is the price that Orrefors better pieces bring in the market place. This is just the kind of item that we are searching for. Ones that few people know much about and when you find the right piece the rewards can be substantial.
Just a few of the prices from Kovel's Price Guide to give you a little taste of what's out there. Vicke Lindstrand did a vase featuring a shark killer , this was a nude man diving carrying a knife, it is only 12 ˝ inches tall and if you found it today the value could approach $15,000 and perhaps more. Two other vases are listed, one showing a Pearl Diver and the other an Oriental Princess they both list at over $4000. This isn't bad considering they both are only 8 inches tall.
The company is still producing glass and that is where I got confused. The modern pieces bring very little money usually but these aren't the ones we are searching for. You should differently do your home work on this fantastic glass.
There is a wonderful lesson to be learned here. You should never judge all things about a particular subject with the limited knowledge that you have gained until you have done a complete study of it. I broke this rule. You see I have seen hundreds if not thousands of pieces of Orrefors and usually it has been extremely cheap so therefore I assumed it all was. Boy what a mistake I have been making. But the worse thing about this is how much money have I walked away from?
(0) Comments
|
|
Posted 4/26/2008 4:09:42 PM
Daryle's Daily Blog: Resale Jewelry - Everything that Sparkles isn't a Diamond Uncut Diamond, the Sierra Leonean Giant Sefadu, was found in 1970 weighing in at 620 carats. Photo from BBC News
Last week, I had the opportunity to buy some nice resale jewelry, some for trade and a few pieces for my wife. There is wonderful money to be made from jewelry, but jewelry is perhaps the greatest risk you will encounter is in this field. You must have an iron will when buying jewelry. I have never been offered great items at reasonable prices, so there has to be a lot of negotiating before you find a bargain. Since you likely aren’t a gemologist, you will be guessing as to size, color, and quality of the stones mounted in that ring, broach or necklace. Even if the piece comes with an appraisal, be skeptical. These can be easily made.
The content of the metal mounting is one thing that helps to reassure you of quality. If it is 24 carat gold, there is a much better chance the stones are real, and the same can be said about a platinum mounting. Once you get down to 10 carat gold, these pieces might very well have artificial or semi precious stones.
The rule I use goes like this: I know what the gold or platinum is worth, and usually the offer I make is never more than twice the price I can get for the metal in the mounting. This way, I seldom get hurt, and often I end up with a bargain. Jewelry is one area that you should never feel guilty about your offer. To give you an example of what I'm talking about, I was once offered a tennis bracelet by a woman who showed me the receipt from when she bought it. She paid $3,500. Knowing the gold was worth close to $600, I offered her that, and she accepted it. To this day I don’t know what it’s worth, because I gave it to my wife. However, I do feel safe in saying that at today’s metals prices, I could at least double my money should I decide to sell it.
I’ve previously written a Blog about my friend Warner, who purchased a 24K designer gold watch for $200. One of the reasons he was able to do this was because it didn’t say 24K, but instead had a mark from France that indicated this was 24K gold. Today, this watch might bring as much as $10,000.
My grandfather was originally from Cuba, and when he came to this country he worked for the L & N Railroad all his life. Once when he was traveling though Kentucky, he stopped at our house, and before he left, he handed my mother three large stones that looked like common rocks. He told her they were diamonds. My mother stashed these away in a safe place for many years.
After my Grandfather’s death, my Dad suggested they check out whether or not these rocks were really diamonds. Louisville was the only city large enough to get this information, so off they went.
They shared the story with a store manager in Louisville and asked if they would be willing to cut the largest stone they could from one of the rocks. The store manager agreed to do that, so they left the rocks in his possession and returned home.
They soon received a letter stating that the diamond had been cut, so they returned to Louisville to a very suspicious and inquisitive greeting. Two men started to question my parents about the rocks, but after a lengthy period of time informed them that yes, the rocks were indeed diamonds, probably from Arkansas. The rock they were able to cut turned out to be about the size of a nickel, perhaps larger on its crown.
The manager handed them the bill for the work they’d done and told my folks that if they would allow the shop to keep the cuttings from this rock, they wouldn’t have to pay for the work. Being young and not having to pay out any money sounded like a good idea to them, so a deal was struck. They took their stone and other rocks home. There is a sad chapter to this story, however. Over the many years and numerous moves, the other two rocks were lost. Boy, would I like to speak to my Grandfather and get the full story about where these stones came from and how they ended up in his possession.
The reason that I share this story with you is to state that everything that sparkles may not be a diamond, but everything that doesn’t sparkle may be a diamond in the rough.
Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members and put a turbo charge on your treasure hunting skills. Get FREE Mentoring. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to make high profits and continue to grow your money buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.
Visit our Website, here.> For more information, visit my web site at http://www.31corp.com.
We buy quality paintings, glass, pottery & porcelain-singles or collections. Contact us at 847.784.8544 or email us here.
Copyright 2008 - 31 Inc. - All rights reserved.
(0) Comments
|
|
Posted 4/25/2008 11:18:31 AM
Daryle's Daily Blog: Animated Art - Drawings and Cels Mickey Mouse Colour Reference Drawing. Photo from Wonderful World Art Gallery. Images ©Walt Disney Co.
It was a Saturday afternoon, back in the days of my youth, and I can still remember handing over my ten cents to the man behind the glass window, then getting a ticket to the greatest afternoon ever. I waltzed right through the theater doors and up to the refreshment stand and handed over my nickel for a Coke. If I was plush with money, I splurged on a five cent bag of popcorn. Scurrying on over to the room where the best afternoon ever would take place, I found a seat in the middle, about halfway back. There I sat, eagerly await the beginning of a Disney film, and I knew that real soon, the characters would be dancing before my eyes across the silver screen.
I must have seen all the Disney Cartoon Movies. I particularly remember Peter Pan flying through the air and Donald Duck chasing the children while his uncle threw his money around. What could’ve been better than that? I didn’t know I was poor. In fact, when I was able to attend the movies, I thought I was King.
In the heyday of the cartoon movie, there were hundreds of artists producing drawings and cels for movie producers, and the people who worked at the studios would often take these drawings and cels home by the handful, thinking they would some day be very valuable. Well, they were right. Today I wish some of my relatives would have worked for Disney and brought me home a hundred or so of these cels and drawings.
Drawings and Cels from the classic films can bring in the tens of thousands of dollars today. I don’t know the record high, and if anyone else does please let me know, but I’m guessing it would have to be in the hundreds of thousands.
Pieces from the 50’s or earlier will bring the greatest reward. I don’t think I have to tell you to be on the look out for these animated drawings, but be careful. There are drawings and cels being produced today by machine, and these have little value. There were several cartoon producers, but the greatest producer of these films was the Walt Disney Studios.
Let’s take a look at how the older cels were made. First, the artist would sketch the drawings and then these were photographed on to celluloid. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of these celluloid “pages” called “cels” for each feature length film. Each movement a character made had to be drawn, so that when they were put in sequence, you could see the action. This was a lengthy process, and even in the early days, it was an expensive process. Both the drawings and the cels are in great demand today.
The great thing about this merchandise is that most people wouldn't know a machine made piece from an original. This is where you come in. Find a place where you can familiarize yourself with the originals, and when the time comes to find the treasure that others miss, you’ll have the knowledge to recognize it. If you’re on vacation in a large city, look for galleries that specialize in Animated Art, and don’t leave until you ask every question you can think of and have received an answer you can understand. This knowledge can mean big bucks to you in the future. Believe it or not, some of the best pieces I’ve ever bought were from auctions where everyone in attendance thought these items were new.
How things have certainly changed since the time I paid my five cents for a movie. At the age of nine or ten, I picked up cola bottles and sold them as a way to pay for a special day at the movies. I walked to the movie house because my folks didn't even own a car until I was twelve. I don't think it even occurred to me to even ask for money to see a movie, not to mention a ride to the movie house.
Movies were a real treat back then, while today, my 9-year-old son has numerous discs he can just pop in the television and have a movie whenever he wants one. Yes, I think people my age yearn for those olden days, the days when things seemed to have more value. Maybe this is one of the problems today -- a lack of appreciation. Sitting there in that theater and watching a feature movie and a couple of cartoons made my afternoon one of the most memorable days of the year for me. I wonder what makes our kids' days memorable.
Be sure to check the links below to get a look at some Animation Art and further your education. But before you do that, join us here at the 31 Club today. The membership fee is ridiculously low right now, because we're building up our Club. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members and put a turbo charge on your treasure hunting skills. Get FREE Mentoring. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to make high profits and continue to grow your money buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.
Visit our Website, here.
Link:
http://animationartgallery.com/
For more information, visit my web site at http://www.31corp.com.
We buy quality paintings, glass, pottery & porcelain-singles or collections. Contact us at 847.784.8544 or email us here.
Copyright 2008 - 31 Inc. - All rights reserved.
(0) Comments
|
|
Posted 4/23/2008 9:13:25 AM
Daryle's Daily Blog: Ungraded Silver Coin is Still a Sell Now is the time to sell ungraded coin. Photo from Fox Valley Coins.
This week, when I took Joshua to a coin store to look around, I couldn't believe my eyes. There must have been six or eight employees working behind the counter plus twenty-five or thirty customers. I asked to speak to the manager. An extremely nice gentleman approached me and asked how he could help. “Is it okay to keep my little dog Bella with me if I hold her,” I asked him. He didn’t have a problem with that, and I was relieved she wouldn’t have to spend the hour in the car while Josh and I looked around. But what I really wanted to know was what all these people were doing here. He told me they were all either buying for their collection or selling their silver or gold. Just to give you an idea of the bedlam in the store, there were three people behind the counter just separating the coins that had no value to collectors and would be sold just for their metal content and then, there was a line waiting for their services.
Let me state this again: This is the time to sell your silver. With oil going through the roof, silver can't break out. It peaked at about $20 plus and now has settled in a trough between $16 and $18. This is when the value of silver should be setting the world on fire, but it isn't. Sell, Sell, Sell ungraded silver. I am betting my reputation on this.
I did gain a different perspective on collectible grade coins while I was there. This movement in the price of metal might have been what the market needed to attract new collectors in the coin market. If this is true, then investment coins may be something worth looking into. Remember that the rare and unusual coins will be the ones that can make you the money, not the coins that aren’t worth grading. Gold coins with low mintage are the coins I would recommend. If you are able to find them ungraded but in fine condition, there might be the opportunity to profit from the grading. This means sending them of to a company that will grade each coin against one that is in mint or proof condition. This is exactly what our member, Cecil, did and it proved to be the treasure that took him several steps in his race to the million dollars. However, you might remember he incurred the theft at the mall where he was displaying some of his coins, and this was a small set back for him. Be safe when you are dealing in rare coins, and it is best if you are a little secretive as well. I know that doesn’t sound like me, but in this case, it is better to be safe than sorry.
On another note, I was thinking back just eight months ago to when we were just beginning to formulate the plans for what is becoming one of the most successful clubs around, and I am astonished. Daily, I am getting calls from all across the country, and people are starting to realize just what being a member of the 31 Club can mean to them.
Today one of our members wanted to know how to sell some Indian Katina's, and while we where talking, he mentioned several other items that he might sell. Hopefully, we can help him and also save him money in the process. Another gentleman wanted to talk about some items that were coming up for bid at auction and about what price would be good to buy them at if he had the opportunity. Another member called wanting to know whether a piece was a print or a painting, and I had the pleasure to explain to her how one could tell the difference.
Your calls bring me great satisfaction. When the idea of the club started, it was about giving back for what God has given me. I believe this is being accomplished, and so does our staff. We are growing, and I am so thankful. It couldn’t have happened without you. Please be patient with the reconstruction of the site, because as I see what Jeremy and Cindy are doing, I know that it is all going to be worth it.
Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members and put a turbo charge on your treasure hunting skills. Get FREE Mentoring. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to make high profits and continue to grow your money buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.
Visit our Website, here.> For more information, visit my web site at http://www.31corp.com.
We buy quality paintings, glass, pottery & porcelain-singles or collections. Contact us at 847.784.8544 or email us here.
Copyright 2008 - 31 Inc. - All rights reserved.
(0) Comments
|
|
Posted 4/21/2008 5:24:47 PM
Daryle's Daily Blog: Key Rings and Keychains - Who's Going to Take the Bait? This Vintage Pan Am Logo Keychain Sold on eBay for $61.
During the time that my friend Warner and I worked together buying and selling antiques, the Lotton Glass Club was formed, initially through Warner’s hard work, and this Club has become one of the most successful ones on the net. Over the weekend, an idea came to me about another great club. A Key Ring Collecting Club. So, I tried to find out if a club like this existed. I couldn’t find one. Do you realize that there were over 6,000 Key Rings for sale on eBay. This doesn’t include the 16,000 completed auctions for key rings. This looks like something that has the potential to be a great business.
There is all kinds of information on the internet about starting clubs, and if I could help in forming this kind of club, I would certainly want to volunteer.
Collectible Key Rings and Keychains has all the elements necessary to become one of the most collected of all the items I am familiar with. Their prices run from fifty cents to well over a thousand dollars. By not being larger than a bread box, key rings and key chains meet my rule for collecting and dealing. The variety in key rings is without limits. Sports, Cars, Animals, Fashion, and on and on. They can be gold, silver, plastic, wood, leather or almost anything you can imagine.
Who will grab the bait first? What a great business this could become. You might start by picking up several Key Rings and selling them on eBay to get a feel for them. Quite frankly, I’m stunned this hasn’t already happened. If you find that a club is already formed, please pass it on to me.
Things that ultimately become serious collectibles are items that most people never thought would be collected – like Key Rings. And, there are thousands of great ideas, but they are only great ideas if they’re acted upon. If I desired to make this my full time occupation, I truly believe it could be very financially rewarding.
Warner and I first started his club with a few of his friends. Then, they told everyone they knew about this fabulous Lotton Glass. The same thing can be done with Key Rings, if someone was willing to band together and start the club. I believe it can mushroom into a truly rewarding experience. I can even see where this could start you on the race to the million dollars.
A Key Ring Club would have collectors of all ages, and this would add to the fun. Who’s going to take the ball and run with it?
On another note, I just discovered that we are close to the top in rank on Amazon. I have asked you to pass the word, and it seems you have. Thank You! Keep spreading the word while your staff at the 31 Club makes every effort to make this a fun and profitable experience for all.
Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members and put a turbo charge on your treasure hunting skills. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to make high profits and continue to grow your money buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.
Visit our Website, here.> For more information, visit my web site at http://www.31corp.com.
We buy quality paintings, glass, pottery & porcelain-singles or collections. Contact us at 847.784.8544 or email us here.
Copyright 2008 - 31 Inc. - All rights reserved.
(0) Comments
|
|
Posted 4/21/2008 5:24:26 PM
Daryle's Daily Blog: Key Rings and Keychains - Who's Going to Take the Bait? This Vintage Pan Am Logo Keychain Sold on eBay for $61.
During the time that my friend Warner and I worked together buying and selling antiques, the Lotton Glass Club was formed, initially through Warner’s hard work, and this Club has become one of the most successful ones on the net. Over the weekend, an idea came to me about another great club. A Key Ring Collecting Club. So, I tried to find out if a club like this existed. I couldn’t find one. Do you realize that there were over 6,000 Key Rings for sale on eBay. This doesn’t include the 16,000 completed auctions for key rings. This looks like something that has the potential to be a great business.
There is all kinds of information on the internet about starting clubs, and if I could help in forming this kind of club, I would certainly want to volunteer.
Collectible Key Rings and Keychains has all the elements necessary to become one of the most collected of all the items I am familiar with. Their prices run from fifty cents to well over a thousand dollars. By not being larger than a bread box, key rings and key chains meet my rule for collecting and dealing. The variety in key rings is without limits. Sports, Cars, Animals, Fashion, and on and on. They can be gold, silver, plastic, wood, leather or almost anything you can imagine.
Who will grab the bait first? What a great business this could become. You might start by picking up several Key Rings and selling them on eBay to get a feel for them. Quite frankly, I’m stunned this hasn’t already happened. If you find that a club is already formed, please pass it on to me.
Things that ultimately become serious collectibles are items that most people never thought would be collected – like Key Rings. And, there are thousands of great ideas, but they are only great ideas if they’re acted upon. If I desired to make this my full time occupation, I truly believe it could be very financially rewarding.
Warner and I first started his club with a few of his friends. Then, they told everyone they knew about this fabulous Lotton Glass. The same thing can be done with Key Rings, if someone was willing to band together and start the club. I believe it can mushroom into a truly rewarding experience. I can even see where this could start you on the race to the million dollars.
A Key Ring Club would have collectors of all ages, and this would add to the fun. Who’s going to take the ball and run with it?
On another note, I just discovered that we are close to the top in rank on Amazon. I have asked you to pass the word, and it seems you have. Thank You! Keep spreading the word while your staff at the 31 Club makes every effort to make this a fun and profitable experience for all.
Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members and put a turbo charge on your treasure hunting skills. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to make high profits and continue to grow your money buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.
Visit our Website, here.> For more information, visit my web site at http://www.31corp.com.
We buy quality paintings, glass, pottery & porcelain-singles or collections. Contact us at 847.784.8544 or email us here.
Copyright 2008 - 31 Inc. - All rights reserved.
(0) Comments
|
|
Posted 4/21/2008 5:23:58 PM
(0) Comments
|
|
Posted 4/15/2008 3:54:26 PM
Buying and Selling Skillfully in Today's Antique, Collectible & Art Markets Cecil's Carnival Horse Medallion Bowl currently available on eBay. It previously had 23 bids but did not reach the reserve price.
Timing is everything, and right now the time is right to be buying at bargain prices. At times like these, when people are stricken with fear, we'll be able to make our best purchases. Barry Bond’s last home run ball just sold for under $400,000. What a bargain, considering the record setting ball brought over $1,000,000. The one who bought Bond’s ball in this cautious market will be smiling all the way to the bank in a very short period of time.
Our 31 Club Member, Cecil, listed a Carnival Glass Bowl and it did not meet its reserve although it was a rare pattern with horse heads. It should have found a buyer. He also has a Weller vase listed presently for $2,700 which might be worth $4,000 to $5,000. This is the time to make money by knowing what is worth the money and what isn’t.
When negotiating on price with a seller, you can back down on price now by saying the market is soft, knowing that the best is still the best and will bring top dollar regardless of the times. Yes, the market is fluctuating, but that is what we need to be successful. A constant market eventually works against us. If the market is stagnant, the seller will want too much and the buyers will want to wait for a better price.
Over the next few months, you should be able to complete several steps in your race to the millions, because out of fear, people will likely to be selling their better items. You’ll be able to buy at prices that can make you fat and sassy. Buy where there is little interest, and then sell in the right selling venue.
In my book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, I spoke about taking time to consider where to sell each item. In our marketplace today, this will be a very important decision to make. Remember, where you sell your items can likely make the difference in the level of profit you’ll see. Sell at places that specialize in what you are offering. Rookwood might bring a huge price at the Cincinnati Art Galleries Auction, but you might find it priced reasonably during these times in Texas. California Art might be bringing record prices in California, but what kind of prices would it get in Kentucky? So, keep your eyes out for items that seem out of place. You might be able to cash in on this. The 31 Gang did this very thing when we spent $240 to purchase a Harvey Joiner painting that hadn’t sold at auction from an east coast auction house. We later sold it at an Indiana auction house close to the Kentucky border for about $3,700. Why there? Harvey Joiner is one of the most collected artists in Kentucky.
Ebay might not be the best place to sell at the present time. The problem with eBay is that it is very impersonal, while an auction house can have the feel of being a part of the family. In hard times, that is often what we search for. Early’s Auction is an auction house that doesn’t do online auctions. They had their spring art glass sale this past weekend, and I understand prices were very firm. Considering that almost all plane traffic to Cincinnati was cancelled, they still had excellent results. Now when you consider they don’t do online auctions, this makes their sales success even that much greater.
This is the time to know your markets, act on them, and carefully consider the selling platform that might get you the biggest bang. When you do that the big money will come your way. Remember, collectors are a special breed, and they often won't buy a piece from a shop at almost any price. But let them get involved in bidding at an auction who represents what they collect, and it often seems the sky’s the limit. In the Antique Trader, Antique Weekly and The Maine Antique Digest, you will find a list of specialty auctions. If you have items that fit theircategorizes, do yourself a favor and list them there.
Buy, Buy, Buy. This may be the chance that won't come along for the next ten years. In these markets is when the easy money is made. Jjust be sure you have the knowledge to take advantage of it.
Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members. Turbo charge your treasure hunting. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to build a bank account to last a lifetime, buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.
Visit our Website, here.
Posted by Daryle Lambert at 7:41 AM 0 comments Links to this post Labels: 31 Club, advice on antiques, barry bonds, buying and selling antiques and collectibles for profit, Carnival Horse head, Daryle Lambert, learn about antiques and collectibles, Weller Vase
(0) Comments
|
|
Posted 4/14/2008 5:06:16 PM
Daryle Lambert Blog: Automobile Collectibles and Memorabilia is a Hot Market
René Lalique Mascot / Hood Ornament, "Spirit of the Wind" #1147 recently sold on eBay for $1,625.
While you are out there finding all those great license plates I talked about in our blog the other day, be sure to keep your antenna up for other collectible automobile items. There isn’t a larger group of collectors than the car enthusiasts, with the exception of sports collectors.
My neighbor,”Miss Susan,” as my son Joshua calls her, has been writing about this very subject for many years. In fact, she has a website called Women With Wheels, and I hope she will be a frequent guest writer on our blog in the future. The 31 Club may be involved with her in a joint venture in the near future, and I hope you will be hearing more about that. Listening to her has taught me that the number of items collected by the car enthusiast is almost unlimited.
I have known about the special hood ornaments sought after by collectors for a long time, and the value of these can be tens of thousands of dollars. If you go to eBay’s Complete Sales list and do a search, you will find Lalique ornaments of a nude sold for over $$2200, and one in the shape of an Indian face for $2000.
Let’s look at some other items to keep your eye out for. Tin Signs from the car factories, especially automobiles that are no longer manufactured are prized, as well as hub caps, gasoline station tin signs, and pieces from famous race cars such as fenders grilles and hoods are also collected. Oil and gas cans, replacement parts for older cars and auto industry paper collectibles also have a place on this list. Antique gas pumps are a great collector item, and the glass globes from these antique gas pumps are collectible. This is only a partial list, and truthfully, it would take many blogs to cover them all.
Paper collectibles has been something that Miss Susan has been selling for years. Some of the most collectible items are the owners manuals for special models. These can bring in some fancy money if they are for the right car. Also, dealer signs and advertisements often catch the collectors fancy. Magazine ads are also serious collectibles.
I have been a car enthusiast since I was a teenager, and while still in high school, can remember meeting a man at an auto show in Indiana who had driven his Cord to the show from Kansas City wanting to sell it. It was the model with the huge supercharger pipes and retractable head lights. He was asking only $1,800 for it, and I almost died when I had to tell him I just didn’t have the money for it. My love of the automobile has continued even till this date. I have owned a MG-TD, supercharged Corvette and several Mercedes, however my favorites have always been what I call my “junkers.” I’m still searching for a 1953 Super 88 Oldsmobile. If you want to make a true friend for life, just tell me where I can find one of these. This is the car I drove in high school, and most people wouldn’t believe the stories it could tell.
Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members. Turbo charge your treasure hunting. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to build a bank account to last a lifetime, buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.
Visit our Website, here.
Posted by Daryle Lambert at 8:21 AM 0 comments Links to this post Labels: 31 Club, antique automobiles, antique gas pump, antiques, automobile collectibles, automobile memorabilia, collectible hub caps, Lalique Hood Ornament, vintage auto parts, vintage automobiles
(0) Comments
|
|
Posted 4/8/2008 6:45:59 PM
Daryle Lambert: When is the Right Time to Sell
Whenever you make a great buy, how much profit should you hold out for? No one can tell you the answer to that question on every purchase, but I can give you some suggestions.
It has been over a year since I started working with a person to sell two Andy Warhol prints: a Howdy Doody and a Witch. About that time it looked like they were pretty much sold, the party wanted to raise the asking price. Since they belonged to that person, they had every right to do it, but was it wise?
Let's examine the facts. When we first offered these, the bid price was $20,000 for the Howdy and $15,000 for the Witch. I suggested that we price them at $27,000 and $22,000. You see, the market was going up, and it wasn't time to sell them at the bid. It wasn't long before I got a call saying that the prices on the prints were going up more, and we should raise the price on them. Tell me something new. So we raised them to $28,500 for the one and $35,000 for the other. The Witch traded places with the Howdy, and surpassed it in price. This price increase in prints was caused by auction prices for some of Warhol's paintings, such as the Cars that sold for $71,000,000. This had very little to do with the prints, however, and I was sure that their prices would start to decline in a short period of time..
Thinking that the market was being artificially raised, my suggestion was to sell them at the next offer. That was when I received a call from California from a gentleman that offered almost $40,000 for the Witch, which I gleefully presented to t |
|