How to Buy or Sell — Rugs

Everyone knows that oriental rugs have value, but it is almost impossible to determine the value unless you are a rug expert. If you inherit a large, old oriental, have it appraised by a rug dealer or sold through an auction gallery. Never ask a rug dealer to “make an offer.” If you were in […]

How to Buy or Sell — Clothing and Accessories

There are old clothes and there are vintage clothes. Styles change so quickly, that today, clothes 10 years old or more can be considered vintage. Anything that is wearable, in good condition, with no permanent stains or damaged fabric can be sold. The silly hats of the 1940s, the bowling shirts and Hawaiian prints of […]

How to Buy or Sell — Wicker, Rattan and Basketry

WICKER, RATTAN & BASKETRY All baskets, from Indian and Nantucket baskets to Chinese sewing baskets, are popular. The price is determined by quality, design, maker, variety, and condition. Miniatures under two inches high and very large baskets always command premium prices. Amateurs have a hard time pricing baskets. New African, Chinese, Filipino, South American, Korean, […]

How to Buy or Sell — Mirrors and Picture Frames

An antique mirror consists of a frame and the silvered glass. The value is higher if both parts are original. Unfortunately, old mirrors often lose some of the backing and the reflective qualities are diminished. It is possible to “resilver” the old glass or to replace the glass entirely if you do not wish to […]

How to Buy or Sell — Architectural Antiques

The tops of stone pillars, pieces of carved wooden fretwork, doors, windows, stair railings, exterior tiles, wooden flooring, paneling, and other pieces of buildings are now bought and sold in the antiques market. Many of these items are large, heavy, and difficult to move, but there are specialists who deal in “architectural antiques.” Sometimes they […]

How to Buy or Sell — Western Artifacts, Cowboys and Indians

Anything representative of the Old West is very easily sold. Spurs, saddles, photographs, carvings, furniture, snowshoes, even Stetson hats and old boots sell well. All Indian-made pieces are in demand, both old and new. This includes blankets, rugs, beadwork, pottery, dolls, baskets, jewelry, clothing, and special crafts like quill work. There are a few restrictions […]

How to Buy or Sell — Folk Art

There is an ongoing argument among experts over what is folk art. For the purposes of this website, folk art is whatever is called folk art by some experts. It may have been made in the eighteenth, nineteenth, or twentieth century. It may be naive art by an untrained artist, an old advertising figure, or […]

How to Buy or Sell — Design

Collecting “design”— furniture, lighting, glass, and ceramics from the 20th and 21st centuries — has become very popular in the last few years. Many national commercials, television shows, and movies are using these types of furnishings in their sets which has increased the awareness of this period and has also significantly increased their desirability. Important […]

How to Buy or Sell — Clocks and Watches

According to some collectors, a home without a ticking clock has no heart. Clocks that work always sell well. It does not seem to matter if they are old, new, Art Deco, or an eighteenth-century carriage clock. One problem with pricing clocks is that two clocks that look the same to a novice may look […]

How to Buy or Sell — Smoking Collectibles

Tobacco is still a popular collecting area even though there are fewer people smoking cigarettes. Anything that has a picture of tobacco or things that are related to tobacco, such as full, unopened packs of old brands of cigarettes or cigarette holders has a market. Labels, ads, ashtrays, tobacco cards, felts, tins, pipes, tags, chewing […]