Antique Values

debodun

debodun

SF VIP
Location
way upstate in New York, USA
I inherited a house full of my mother's "collections" (i.e. much vintage glassware and china, artwork, furniture, etc.). When I ask on antique Websites for appraisals, I am more often than not told to go to eBay to get values, especially to look under "sold" prices. I found eBay not very useful as sold prices vary widely for the same item. It seems nobody wants to appraise antiques anymore. Why is it everyone's "goto" antique site for values?
 

EBAY or Craigslist are probably the best, and easiest, way to find out what something is worth at any given time. If you have something of high value, you could probably take it to an antique dealer, and get their opinion....but there will probably be some charges involved. Unfortunately, the market for antiques is slowing down, and fewer people have any cash to "invest", and many are spending any excess they may have on more apps for their cell phones. I sell a few items on EBAY, from time to time, but I usually have to pick my timing just right to get a decent price. If there are a bunch of people trying to sell similar items, you can bet that the prices will be low....the basic rules of Supply and Demand.
 
There are a lot of different ways to value/appraise antiques-no matter what it's going to be time consuming and involve some research. Unless it's an extremely valuable item that has recently sold at auction or something like a rare coin it's hard to set a specific price because, as you've seen, prices can vary widely for the same item.

If you have a knowledgeable antique dealer in your area you could have them do an appraisal or estimate. Otherwise antique mall sites, Ebay sold items, antique values books, price guides, etc. Keep in mind that unless it is a written appraisal, a dealer will do an estimate, but not much else. Books, Ebay and price guides reflect a point in time price, and are just that-guides. What I've done when looking at online sites like Ebay is to throw out the highest and lowest price, and then average the rest.

If you're planning to sell a dealer expect an offer somewhere around 1/4 to 1/2 of what they expect to sell the item for. Retail pricing can vary-auctions can go for a lot less than retail store or antique mall prices. Some antiques aren't moving well, but others are doing quite well. Barbershop items, certain radios, industrial and vintage furniture are just a few that I've recently seen moving quite well. As with most things, price dictates how fast or slow it may move.
 

An easy way to do some self evaluation of antiques,
is to check the makers marks on the base of things
and then ask Google.

You will find some good information that way, you will
need to check in the USA and in the UK.

Mike.
 
Good luck with the antiques. I "inherited" my mom's antique furniture (she's still living, by the way) and kept it for years, but finally just didn't have any room for it. The stuff was beautiful oak but just didn't have good luck getting any value out of it. I had to end up giving the huge 150 year old pump organ away. I talked to a guy in Georgia who has what he called a "pump organ orphanage"; he said he had 138 of them in his barn and couldn't even give them away. I finally realized that people my age are all downsizing at the same time and getting rid of all the heavy old oak furniture, the "kids" today don't want them (my daughter and granddaughter made it abundantly clear that they wouldn't be interested), and anybody who wants that stuff already has all they need. I was able to find some good homes for some of it with family and friends.
 
In the last 20 years, it seems people have moved away from collecting just for the sake of it. Most folks nowadays want practical items. My aunt, who lives 10 miles form me, once invited me to her house when she was having a garage sale, to try to sell things I could pack in my car. She does a hand-over-fist business, but sells things like office & school supplies, personal care products and household consumables (dish detergent, air freshener, etc.). After all that work of packing my car, driving there, unpacking and setting up, I sold a scarf for 25¢, then had to pack my car, drive home, unpack and bring everything back in the house. I can do better just setting up in my own front yard. A few weeks ago, I stopped at a local auction house when they were having a sale. Only four people were sitting in the audience! Like you said, jujube, older folks are downsizing and young people aren't interested in antiques which they just see as "old junk".
 
I used to love collectibles and antiques, mainly because we didn't have it around when I was young. I found old stuff fascinating. I now prefer minimalistic light clean lines without all the ornateness, plus its easier to keep clean.

Sadly, most of the antique shops in my area have closed down as the decorators are no longer buying it. I think maybe young people prefer modern designs because antiques might represent the old fashioned traditional conservative values of their parents. I still love art deco for its modern look as well as colored glassware.
 
Music to my eyes! Beautiful ! I love depression glass, but every piece I've every had got broken (by me or my cats). I think 60s retro glass pieces are collector's items right now. I love the dark blue - it would go well in a white room. Anything simple and modern looking is very desirable. We have a huge antique market here on the lakeshore where sellers have booths that do quite well in the summer tourist season.
 
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