Trade Secrets
A lady came into the store this morning before we were actually open ("the door just opened!" Obviously, we'll have to keep that one closed until 10 am...) and asked me about some glass she has...I don't know how many times I've done personal research for people since I started this job (unsolicited, mind you), but it's got me to a point where I'm a little flabbergasted at the lack of insight people have regarding the finding of what something is worth.
Some time ago, I did some digging, not exactly research, just finding some things a friend wanted. I had told this friend that "if it exists, I'll find it." And I did...in fact, I was able to find so much of what he wanted he told me to stop!
So yeah, I'm good at finding things. But mostly only because I've been doing it for years. But frankly, it's not all that hard. So, I've decided to give away some information, that might help you do your own dang research.
Ex 1:
A few days ago, one of the construction guys brought in a Native American "tomahawk" and beaded knife sheath; it was "for a friend." He wanted me to research it to find out what it is and how much it might be worth. So I did. The result was that it's not, in fact, a tomahawk (and why people will insist on calling any Native American weapon a tomahawk is beyond me...tomahawks are edged weapons, 'kay? 'Kay), it's a war club/hammer. Based on the information that came with it, it was found in Colorado near Boulder. Some research shows that the Arapaho were in that area from 1861 - so it's likely Arapaho. It was found by a man who died in 1947, so it has to be older than that. The Arapaho lands were sold to Whites after 1901, so it's got to be older than that.
So, final analysis: it is (most likely) an Arapaho war club circa 1861-1901. Now, what would something like that sell for? It's actually not easy to come by prices for authentic antique Native American pieces because there are laws about such things. But your best bet, is to Google what you've got and see what comes up.
And, basically, that's how you find the price for anything...seriously, before you come to someone like me, or an appraiser, try a little research for yourself, it's not that hard and it won't cost you anything since you're already paying for the internet, anyway.
Okay, so what if you have no idea, at all, about what you've got?
Ex 2:
The lady who came in this morning asked about some glass her mother had had. All she knew about it was that it was bought at a garage sale in the 1960's. She described the color and type, and I told her it sounds like Carnival or Depression glass.
So, what is Carnival or Depression glass and where do you get info on it? Well, both glasses were made during the early part of the 20th Century, and both are pressed, not blown. The way to distinguish between the two is by the sheen; Carnival glass has been treated with chemicals that produce an iridescence on the surface (if you've ever looked at old Carnival glass you might find some where the iridescence has actually come off so the surface looks patchy). Depression glass is simply machine-produced glass made during the 1920's and 1930's. It is often colored and patterned, but not iridescent.
So where can you learn more about your glass? The best source I have come across for Carnival glass is David Doty's Carnival Glass Website. As for Depression glass, there are not a lot of really great sites (like Doty's) that give you loads of information, but there is one site that might help. Suziemax is a site that has info on a variety of different vintage and antique topics. You can find her Depression glass section here.
What does this all mean? This all means that you can research your own stuff. All it takes is a little bit of information. What information? The piece you're researching. Look at it, see if it has any identifying marks. Find out as much information as you can from its previous owner. If you find it in a thrift store for dirt cheap, and have no earthly clue what it might be, try Googling whatever it looks like.
Say you have a piece of glassware and it's red and it's a vase...Google red glass vase, do an image search, and pick out the one that looks like yours. Same deal with anything you have. As far as prices go; obviously, an item is only worth what the market will support. If you price your piece at $100, and you don't sell it, then it's not worth $100. You can only charge someone what they're will to pay. If your prices are too high you will never sell anything. So shop around on the internet to places like eBay, Etsy, Ruby Lane, Bonanza, Black Market Antiques, or any other site that sells the kind of thing you have, and look at the prices that other people are charging.
Remember: In the internet age, someone will very likely be able to find what you have for cheaper, so don't mark your stuff up too much, or they will simply shop someone cheaper.
Some time ago, I did some digging, not exactly research, just finding some things a friend wanted. I had told this friend that "if it exists, I'll find it." And I did...in fact, I was able to find so much of what he wanted he told me to stop!
So yeah, I'm good at finding things. But mostly only because I've been doing it for years. But frankly, it's not all that hard. So, I've decided to give away some information, that might help you do your own dang research.
Ex 1:
A few days ago, one of the construction guys brought in a Native American "tomahawk" and beaded knife sheath; it was "for a friend." He wanted me to research it to find out what it is and how much it might be worth. So I did. The result was that it's not, in fact, a tomahawk (and why people will insist on calling any Native American weapon a tomahawk is beyond me...tomahawks are edged weapons, 'kay? 'Kay), it's a war club/hammer. Based on the information that came with it, it was found in Colorado near Boulder. Some research shows that the Arapaho were in that area from 1861 - so it's likely Arapaho. It was found by a man who died in 1947, so it has to be older than that. The Arapaho lands were sold to Whites after 1901, so it's got to be older than that.
BELOW: Not the actual piece I researched, but this is almost identical. Again, not a tomahawk.
So, final analysis: it is (most likely) an Arapaho war club circa 1861-1901. Now, what would something like that sell for? It's actually not easy to come by prices for authentic antique Native American pieces because there are laws about such things. But your best bet, is to Google what you've got and see what comes up.
And, basically, that's how you find the price for anything...seriously, before you come to someone like me, or an appraiser, try a little research for yourself, it's not that hard and it won't cost you anything since you're already paying for the internet, anyway.
Okay, so what if you have no idea, at all, about what you've got?
Ex 2:
The lady who came in this morning asked about some glass her mother had had. All she knew about it was that it was bought at a garage sale in the 1960's. She described the color and type, and I told her it sounds like Carnival or Depression glass.
So, what is Carnival or Depression glass and where do you get info on it? Well, both glasses were made during the early part of the 20th Century, and both are pressed, not blown. The way to distinguish between the two is by the sheen; Carnival glass has been treated with chemicals that produce an iridescence on the surface (if you've ever looked at old Carnival glass you might find some where the iridescence has actually come off so the surface looks patchy). Depression glass is simply machine-produced glass made during the 1920's and 1930's. It is often colored and patterned, but not iridescent.
So where can you learn more about your glass? The best source I have come across for Carnival glass is David Doty's Carnival Glass Website. As for Depression glass, there are not a lot of really great sites (like Doty's) that give you loads of information, but there is one site that might help. Suziemax is a site that has info on a variety of different vintage and antique topics. You can find her Depression glass section here.
BELOW: Depression glass vase (left), and Carnival glass candlestick (right). It's a little difficult to get the full effect of the Carnival glass in this photo, but it is iridescent.
What does this all mean? This all means that you can research your own stuff. All it takes is a little bit of information. What information? The piece you're researching. Look at it, see if it has any identifying marks. Find out as much information as you can from its previous owner. If you find it in a thrift store for dirt cheap, and have no earthly clue what it might be, try Googling whatever it looks like.
Say you have a piece of glassware and it's red and it's a vase...Google red glass vase, do an image search, and pick out the one that looks like yours. Same deal with anything you have. As far as prices go; obviously, an item is only worth what the market will support. If you price your piece at $100, and you don't sell it, then it's not worth $100. You can only charge someone what they're will to pay. If your prices are too high you will never sell anything. So shop around on the internet to places like eBay, Etsy, Ruby Lane, Bonanza, Black Market Antiques, or any other site that sells the kind of thing you have, and look at the prices that other people are charging.
Remember: In the internet age, someone will very likely be able to find what you have for cheaper, so don't mark your stuff up too much, or they will simply shop someone cheaper.
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