 |
 Very Rare and Different Antique Swedish Wedding Trunk Superb Condition $1,150.00 Time Remaining: 28d 13h 44m Buy It Now for only: $1,150.00 |
 Superb Pair of Antique Arm Chairs French Louis XV Upholstered $3,850.00 Time Remaining: 1d 6h 22m |
 SUPERB ANTIQUE 8 DRAWER WOODEN DOVETAILED COUNTERTOP CABINET STORAGE CHEST $325.00 Time Remaining: 1d 5h 22m Buy It Now for only: $325.00 |
 SUPERB ANTIQUE FRENCH METAL TOLEWARE CANDLE LANTERN LAMP Handle Hanging Hook $77.42 Time Remaining: 23d 58m Buy It Now for only: $77.42 |
 Superb Antique Hall Tree Coat Rack Louis XVI Style French Walnut Carved $3,650.00 Time Remaining: 1d 6h 22m |
 Superb Antique Handcarved Walnut Armchair GREAT Condition $175.00 Time Remaining: 17d 16h 43m Buy It Now for only: $175.00 |
 SUPERB LARGE ART NOUVEAU STYLE STYLISED LADY PHOTOGRAPH FRAME ARTS AND CRAFTS $41.07 Time Remaining: 8d 57m Buy It Now for only: $41.07 |
 Superb Antique Vintage Art Deco Wardrobe Burlington NC Pick Up Only $50.00 Time Remaining: 17h 40m Buy It Now for only: $55.00 |
 SUPERB LARGE ANTIQUE CARVED WOODEN HORSE HEAD INDIAN CARVING $55.29 Time Remaining: 6d 3h 18m Buy It Now for only: $55.29 |
 A SUPERB PIERCED METAL HANGING LANTERN ANTIQUE MIDDLE EASTERN MOROCCAN STYLE $371.37 Time Remaining: 3d 3h 12m Buy It Now for only: $371.37 |
 SUPERB ANTIQUE 19C HINKS NO2 DOUBLE BURNER AND CUT GLASS SWING LAMP RESERVOIR $63.20 Time Remaining: 5d 9h 15m |
 SUPERB LARGE ANTIQUE GOTHIC REVIVAL BRASS CANDLESTICK CHURCH ALTER CANDLESTICK $101.12 Time Remaining: 15d 4h 35m Buy It Now for only: $101.12 |
 Superb antique Victorian marble column oil lamp $867.58 Time Remaining: 1d 10h 38m Buy It Now for only: $867.58 |
 Superb Antique Mahogany Inlaid Apprentice Piece Chest Of Drawers $31.59 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 5d 8h 18m |
 SUPERB LARGE ANTIQUE CARVED WOODEN HORSE HEAD INDIAN CARVING $55.29 Time Remaining: 6d 3h 15m Buy It Now for only: $55.29 |
 SUPERB LARGE ANTIQUE CARVED WOODEN HORSE HEAD INDIAN CARVING $55.29 Time Remaining: 6d 3h 16m Buy It Now for only: $55.29 |
 SUPERB ANTIQUE ART NOUVEAU IRIDESCENT LOETZ GLASS OIL LAMP 1900 $47.25 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 7d 8h 14m |
 Superb pair of antique Victorian opaline overlay glass oil lamp with org shades $3,160.60 Time Remaining: 15d 15h 2m Buy It Now for only: $3,160.60 |
 Superb Pair Antique Hand Carved Tables with Marquetry Fabulous Worksmanship $375.00 Time Remaining: 22d 15h 37m Buy It Now for only: $375.00 |
 Superb Antique Early 19th C Swedish Inlaid Secretary Desk NR $2,750.00 Time Remaining: 3d 17h 30m Buy It Now for only: $3,500.00 |
 Superb Antique English Regency Rosewood Canterbury c 1850 Exc Cdn $2,200.00 Time Remaining: 13d 17h 5m Buy It Now for only: $2,200.00 |
 SUPERB LARGE ART NOUVEAU STYLE STYLISED LADY PHOTOGRAPH FRAME ARTS AND CRAFTS $41.07 Time Remaining: 8d 2h 43m Buy It Now for only: $41.07 |
 Mar Superb Antique Chest 19th Century Camphor Bronze $1,950.00 Time Remaining: 1d 12h 57m |
 Superb Antique 18C French Country Armoire or Linen Press $5,500.00 Time Remaining: 24d 5h 6m Buy It Now for only: $5,500.00 |
 A SUPERB ANTIQUE VICTORIAN SHS VASELINE GLASS ONYX COLUMN OIL LAMP $750.64 Time Remaining: 27d 3h 1m Buy It Now for only: $750.64 |
 Superb Large Antique Fret Cut Mahogany Regency Mirror c 1830 $1.58 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 5d 3h 30m |
 Superb Antique 18th C Gustavian Swedish Empire Secretary Desk NR $8,500.00 Time Remaining: 24d 3h 7m Buy It Now for only: $8,500.00 |
 Superb Antique Hall Tree Coat Rack Louis XVI Style French Walnut Carved $3,650.00 Time Remaining: 7d 9h 32m Buy It Now for only: $3,650.00 |
 SUPERB Early Antique GUSTAV STICKLEY Rare Stand ff601 $2,250.00 Time Remaining: 4d 17h 1m |
 Superb Pair of Antique Arm Chairs French Louis XV Upholstered $3,850.00 Time Remaining: 1d 9h 28m Buy It Now for only: $3,850.00 |
 SUPERB ANTIQUE PERSIAN KIRMAN RUG MADE INTO AN OTTOMAN W SILK TASSELS $450.00 Time Remaining: 25d 6h 40m Buy It Now for only: $450.00 |
 SUPERB Antique LJG STICKLEY Large Drop Front Desk MISSION Oak w1327 $2,200.00 Time Remaining: 4d 17h 15m |
 Superb Antique Charles X Inlaid Work Table NR $665.00 Time Remaining: 21d 16h 56m Buy It Now for only: $665.00 |
 A SUPERB ANTIQUE VICTORIAN SHS VASELINE GLASS ONYX COLUMN OIL LAMP $782.25 Time Remaining: 22d 3h 30m Buy It Now for only: $782.25 |
 SUPERB Antique GUSTAV STICKLEY Drop Front Desk f9584 $3,150.00 Time Remaining: 4d 18h 7m |
 Superb Antique American 19th Cent Victorian Era Rosewood Parlor Table $6,495.00 Time Remaining: 17d 16h 23m Buy It Now for only: $6,495.00 |
 Superb Antique Austrian Biedermeier Secretary Desk c1820 NR $5,250.00 Time Remaining: 26d 7h 16m Buy It Now for only: $5,250.00 |
 SUPERB Antique MACEY Barrister Bookcase MISSION Oak Stickley Era w1623 $1,200.00 Time Remaining: 4d 16h 14m |
 Superb Antique Biedermeier Ebonized Bucket Wine Cooler c 1830 Rare Piece $1,800.00 Time Remaining: 13d 12h 47m Buy It Now for only: $1,800.00 |
 Superb Antique Marquetry Inlaid Italian Work Table NR $840.00 Time Remaining: 21d 17h 10m Buy It Now for only: $840.00 |
 SUPERB Antique GUSTAV STICKLEY Morris Chair ff584 $4,900.00 Time Remaining: 5d 10h 53m |
 ANTIQUE CONVERTIBLE HIGH CHAIR STROLLER VICTORIAN SUPERB CONDITION $250.00 Time Remaining: 3d 9h 26m Buy It Now for only: $250.00 |
 Superb Inlaid Antique Dutch Marquetry Tilt Top Tea Table c 1850 $1,600.00 Time Remaining: 1d 13h 33m Buy It Now for only: $1,600.00 |
 SUPERB Antique STICKLEY BROTHERS Morris Chair MISSION Oak w2 $2,475.00 Time Remaining: 5d 10h 56m |
 Superb Antique Biedemeier Satinwood Secretarie Writing Desk $14,000.00 Time Remaining: 27d 5h 13m Buy It Now for only: $14,000.00 |
 Superb Pair Huge Antique Carved Italian Renaissance Chairs Scalamandre Luca Red $2,040.00 Time Remaining: 26d 7h 46m Buy It Now for only: $2,040.00 |
 SUPERB Antique HUNTZINGER Victorian Mahogany Settee with Original Leather $690.00 Time Remaining: 5d 12h 5m |
 A SUPERB ANTIQUE VENETIAN WROUGHT IRON BLOWN AMBER GLASS HANGING LANTERN $472.51 Time Remaining: 28d 4h 8m Buy It Now for only: $472.51 |
 A SUPERB ANTIQUE VICTORIAN BRASS COLUMN OIL LAMP WITH ORIGINAL ETCHED GLOBE $624.22 Time Remaining: 17d 7h Buy It Now for only: $624.22 |
 SUPERB Antique Carved EMPIRE Butlers Desk f9473 $875.00 Time Remaining: 5d 12h 7m |
 SUPERB QUALITY HUGE ANTIQUE COFFEE TABLE 19C TALIAN CARVED FIGURES $3,250.00 Time Remaining: 14d 20h 40m Buy It Now for only: $3,250.00 |
 SUPERB ANTIQUE EMPIRE MARBLE TOP TABLE $1,100.00 Time Remaining: 24d 5h 48m Buy It Now for only: $1,100.00 |
 SUPERB Antique QUARTER SAWN OAK Large Sideboard f9527 $1,690.00 Time Remaining: 5d 12h 10m |
 SUPERB ANTIQUE 19TH C FRENCH LOUIS XIII HUNT SOFA SETTEE CHAIR BENCH $3,750.00 Time Remaining: 2d 1h 35m Buy It Now for only: $3,750.00 |
 Antique Victorian Oil Lamp With Huge Cranberry Glass Shade Superb Condition $782.25 Time Remaining: 22d 23h 56m Buy It Now for only: $782.25 |
 SUPERB Antique ARTS CRAFTS Bookcase Limbert MISSION Oak Stickley Era w1242 $2,750.00 Time Remaining: 5d 13h 8m |
 Antique Pine Superb Kitchen Dining Table Four 4 Seater Square with Cabriole Legs $1,256.34 Time Remaining: 28d 9h 17m Buy It Now for only: $1,256.34 |
 SUPERB CARVED ANTIQUE FRENCH GOTHIC CREDENZA DISPLAY CABINET $4,750.00 Time Remaining: 29d 17h 33m Buy It Now for only: $4,750.00 |
 SUPERB Antique CHARLES STICKLEY Even Arm Settle MISSION Oak ff45 $4,250.00 Time Remaining: 5d 12h 8m |
 SUPERB PAIR OF ANTIQUE 19C FRENCH NIGHT STANDS MARQUETRY MARBLE TOP SIGNED $2,250.00 Time Remaining: 6d 18h 39m Buy It Now for only: $2,250.00 |
 Antique Pine Large Kitchen Dining Table 6 8 Seater Superb Condition $1,501.29 Time Remaining: 8d 4h 9m Buy It Now for only: $1,501.29 |
 SUPERB Antique LJG STICKLEY Paddle Arm Morris Chair MISSION Oak w259 $4,950.00 Time Remaining: 5d 12h 17m |
 SUPERB ANTIQUE UNIQUE VICTORIAN IRON CANOPY BED ART DECO $875.00 Time Remaining: 26d 4h 55m Buy It Now for only: $875.00 |
Superb Antique
How Best to Begin Buying Antiques in Auction or From Dealers
About Becoming An Antique Collector
Before buying anything; make a point of studying books and catalogues (even old ones) on your subject, then attend a few auctions, be sure to inspect your choice of antiques on the viewing days before the auction, always allow enough time to visit and explore the main dealers' stock, both before and after any auction sales. This way you will gradually be able to assess what quality items are available and the prices being currently asked. Make a point of chatting to dealers, or well-known collectors, about what has happened after an auction. Not always, but sometimes one can gain quite a lot of useful guidance about particular pieces, what to look out for and importantly about the general feelings about any record breaking prices.
After an auction it can be possible sometimes to find that a dealer might have a similar quality piece, or even a better one, for much less than has just been paid! A note of caution here, sometimes a really silly price is paid in the auction room, simply because two determined people badly wanted that piece. In such a case of course, that value has to be discounted to a certain extent. It is this sort of information that should be sought (in my earlier suggestion of chatting at the end of the auction).
Buying Guidance
The best advice for anyone tempted to collect any antiques would be, first, to study your choice of subject and attend auctions, meet and talk to the dealers, handle and see as many pieces as possible. Do not rush in to buy because unfortunately trying to collect, in any specialised antique area, it often takes many years to acquire the necessary expertise, without which, very costly mistakes can be made. Once you feel more confident you should then be prepared to commission a well-known specialist dealer to bid for you. You would have to expect to pay at least 10% (of the bid price) for this service. But this can be well worth paying, as you will not only benefit from his knowledge and guidance, you will also stop him bidding against you!
Only another collector can fully appreciate that overpowering urge, that comes over one, on finding a treasure really wanted. It is the closest feeling to that of love at first sight. I have been told that one’s pupils tend to enlarge, and this is one of the signs that dealers watch out for, and as collectors, of course, we always try desperately to camouflage our interest.
Auctions
Strange things certainly do happen at auction! If there is only one spectacular piece amongst some fairly good items, there is a good chance of picking up a bargain, both just before and just after, the really super piece. Before, the main buyers are often holding back hoping they can be in with a chance with their maximum bid, so they tend to stop bidding as high as they might have done in normal circumstances. Immediately after, because everyone is discussing what has just been paid, especially if a record price was reached, all this can be going on whilst another piece slips through and is sold.
There are also items known as ‘sleepers' and often these are pieces that are sold at bargain prices, just because no one present required it, or for some reason it was overlooked.
Attending a poor auction (this is one with only one or two good items in it, amongst a lot of junk) can be advantageous, if there is a fine example to be had. Quite a number of buyers feel they cannot afford the time in attending such a poor auction. Sadly this does not happen so much now.
Sometimes too, but not often, a piece is wrongly described. Then one can, if lucky, really find a bargain. Once we bought a jade snuff bottle that is so remarkably well hollowed and such a flawless piece of stone, that it was in fact sold wrongly catalogued as glass! We had to buy it from a well-known dealer (preferring to pay him a good profit, rather than keep bidding it up against him) in the end it wasn’t cheap – but it is one of the finest we have ever seen!
We no longer believe much in trying to find bargains, as we have found that the most expensive, but finest examples, over time, are often by far the best buys! We have worried about having paid too much on several occasions. They were very rare, superb examples, but still we worried. Yet these are now the treasures that have proved to be the most wonderful bargains of all!
Beyond Value
Lastly, there is one important factor that has not been mentioned, as it is so impossible to measure! That is the value of the pleasure one enjoys from participating, as a collector, in such a fascinating hobby as collecting antiques is hard to describe.
You also meet such interesting people from all over the world, for there is an immediate bond amongst fellow collectors, except when met at the beginning of an auction!
Then there is the intrigue of the hunt and the excitement at every new addition that only another collector can fully appreciate. Life is so enriched, I do believe that such hobbies are vital, and so many people who have hardly any outside interests, beyond their world of work, have no idea of just how much fun they are missing!
About the Author
John N. Cohen A past director of Jacey Cinemas Ltd. Later the proprietor of a design & photographic studio, now a director of Jacey Homes Ltd., a property development company. Interests and Hobbies: A top international award winning photographer who also became a well known Asian antiques collector and an enthusiast of Jensen British classic cars. Other interests are skiing and Salsa dancing.
For John’s other interests please have a look at: - http://www.jncohen.net
The author has been a very keen collector for many years in helping to create ‘The Cohen collection’. http://www.jncohen.net/Cohen_collection/index.htm
To see other articles, with photographs, please use the following link:
http://www.jncohen.net/antiques/articles.htm
How do I remove these odors?
My aunt has a 1950's dinette set with a ceramic top table and six thick vinyl covered chairs that is in superb condition. She wants me to put it in my antique shop. I'd be proud to have it there, as it is an absolutely gorgeous set, but it smells. She's had it stored in a basement for decades, and it reeks. She cleaned it with several different cleaners. I don't think it is the vinyl that smells. I think it is the padding inside the chairs that has acquired this odor. How do I get rid of it? I don't want to tear the chairs apart, as I am afraid of damaging them. What else can I do?
I have only found Febreze to be useful on fabric. The vinyl does not absorb it, so spraying fresheners on it is a waste of time. The baking soda is good, but I'm not sure how it would penetrate the vinyl.
The humidity is the culprit so I would advise you to get a couple boxes of baking soda and sprinkle the chairs with it if they are covered with vinyl do this with the chairs upside down and try to keep the furniture in a well ventilated room for a while and occasionally spray some Lysol to neutralize the odour.,
Superb Antique French Clock Set by Japy Freres