Learning about the Antique Treasures you own is not only fun, but can make you money!
The True Life Blood of the Antiques Trade
Dealer to Dealer Sales, Life blood of the Antiques Trade.
With out Dealer to Dealer sales the Antiques and Collectibles Business would fold.
It's not much talked about, but everyone is aware of it. In my end of the business it's absolutely vital, I have to buy cheap enough to resell to another Dealer who can mark it up and resell it to another dealer, in my view few items actually end up in collectors hands. Of course that's not a wholly accurate statement, but it does get to the point, that your more likely to sell to another dealer than to Jane Public.
Reasons being, dealer are out looking to buy every day, all week, the Public Buys when it falls in love with something or they have a need for an object. Very Hit and miss. Yes there are more Janes than Dealers, but dealers buy cold, wind or rain. Not just for Jimmys Birthday.
Dealers have the ready funds to purchase when they find what they want. They can buy it today rather than "Think it Over".
Dealers have the "Need" to fill their shelves, Electronic or other wise, they must have inventory. Some may call this the "Bigger Fool Theory" and I'm sure in some cases it is. Many items on the shelves of the "Higher End Shops" came from humbler shops, perhaps to be sold to another Dealer, to put in yet another shop.
I've seen the revolving door some items seem to get stuck in. Going from Estate Sale to Auction House to Dealer Back to the Auction House, round and round she goes.
Other Items move up the food chain, from Yard Sale to Picker to Dealer to Dealer.
Every Item I've sold on Ebay was bought by Dealers. Much of our view point comes where in that food chain, we find our selves.
I've seen no loss of interest at the Live Local Auction, Prices are lower in some categories, while other categories have stayed somewhat firm, but the population of the Auction Room has remained high, certainly there are no fewer participants than in past years. The vast majority of these folks being Dealers, of some sort.
Dealer to Dealer Sales are the Life Blood of the Trade, so far we seem to be holding our own, as long as we are not afraid to buy, we can weather this storm.
So it's important to know who our customers are, Dealers or End Users?
I was to when I first got into the trade, that if I could sell to other Dealers, I'd have no troubles in this business, that's turned out to be very true.
Cameo Habille of a 1920's Flapper Girl with Cigarette
Brook asked about her Cameo and that question set off a now life long love of Cameos.
See the process at http://auctionwally.ning.com
Researching your Collectibles and Antiques
I've been kickin around Antique Shops and Auctions a long time now, read up on the Price Guides for FUN, faithfully follow Antiques Road Show, and I still know nothing about much of anything!
So how do you go about getting information about an item you have no clue about? How can you find it's value, it's history?In the Olden Days, I would go through 30 Price Guides, ask my Store Mates, Ask anyone who might have an Idea.
Today we have Google! We also have thousands of Experts who are happy to share the knowledge they have with anyone who can find them!
Lets face it there are some items you may never Identify, they carry no Makers Marks, no pattern, and many times no indication as to what it even is!
1st thing of course is there a MAKERS MARK? TradeMark? Copy Right? Or even better a Patent Number or Pat.Pen. Date.
Google has a Patent Number Look Up! YES I KNOW WOW! I JUST FOUND IT! Put your Number in and bingo all the Info that's fit to print on that item!
http://www.google.com/patents?hl=en
Many times you just can't tell what a who a Makers Mark is. You have a symbol, some initials, a few numbers, some chicken scratches.
I'm putting a list of Research Links together, so you wont have to look as hard as I did! LOL
But there are many sites that have archived Hundreds of thousands of Makers Marks, from Dinnerware and Pottery, to Silver Smiths. Sometimes it takes a while to find the mark you need, it's really a HUNT, but I can guide you in the right direction... I hope. Google is a wonderful resource.
Don't forget that Google will let you Search Images too.
So if you know you have a Roseville Vase but not sure what pattern Google up Roseville Vase in the Image Search and Look until you find your pattern then click the image, go to the site and see if more information is available. Umm yes it takes time, sometimes a lot of time, but you learn a lot too!
This is why it's important to Web Sellers with blogs, to give each Image used a Name and Tag them well! I found Auctionwally using Google Image Search! Wasn't even looking for Wally, but a Picture he had( and Named right )was close to what I was looking for, and clicked the Picture and the rest is Antique History!
1 Photo with information that Google could use helped me Find this WEBSITE!
Can't find what your looking for using the keywords you have been using? Try mixing them up. change the order of words, try similar words, Sometimes, you have to "Drill Down" to the info you need.
Example: Brooks cameo
Brook came looking for information on her Beautiful Cameo. Knowing absolutely nothing about cameos, it was a challenge for me.
1st I Googled "cameos" one of the 1st sites was About dot Com. Not much help but they did have other links to other sites and those where helpful!
I wanted to find out about Flapper Girl cameos and Smokers to boot. I Googled Image Searched "Flapper Girl Cameo" Thousands of Images came up and I looked and looked and looked... then I noticed that many of the images came from the same site, I learned a TON about Cameos, met a World Renown Expert on cameos. Before too long I could make some better calls about Brooks Cameo. pleased to say I was right on about it.... and it lead me to find 2 more friends I've met on line, a Book, and a never ending love of Cameos!
MORE Later
