Three auction lots you can make money on and why

OK, there are no guarantees, but if you buy these items right, they have great profit potential. I’ve screeened these items and they all have the following attributes:

• The starting bid is relatively low or there is none, and there is no reserve.
• The item is available for live online bidding.
• They are hot in at least some marketplaces. Often there’s money to be made by taking an item from one market simply placing it in another.

Here they are:

1) Art Deco style bronze and Ivory statue

Why: It starts at $50! It’s Bronze and Ivory. Nuff said.

2) Tiffany Stained Glass Window 

Why: Because it’s a  Square Chicago Tiffany Glass window panel and the bidding starts at $60

3) Original late 1800s lithographs w/ museum stamps.

Why: Bids start at $60 and the frames are worth more than that. 

All above listed items are offered via live online auctions by iCollector.com

Disclosure: The author is a paid consultant for iCollector.com.

Real antiques/fictitional scenarios 1

We are all too often concerned with the accuracy of information and provenance of antiques & collectibles, which in part, is why the industry comes off as stuffy to a lot of people.

To change things up a bit, I thought it might be fun to take a few antiques and put them fictional scenarios.

All photos courtesy of, and items shown can be found at: http:www.iCollector.com

Please note that these are real antiques in fictitional scenarios. At the present time these actual items are available via live auction at  iCollector.com unless you’re reading this after the auction has taken place. In that case it will be replaced by worthy contemporaries.

To find the items in this post, go to the Fall Estate Auction at iCollector.com

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True

Large Oak Coffee Table:Has pierced carved pillars, glass top with 1940s menu’s. Measures 39 1/2”x31”x24”.

 

This was used in the camp house of a future would be entreprenur and modified top by same. Table is earlier and more refined than the modification because it was swiped from entrepernuer’s mom for use in camp house. (Which technically was the back porch of mom’s) A great little stand, give it a more respectable home.

Circa 1900-1935.

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True

Cast Iron Western Yard Art Made from wagon wheel parts with a hanging caldron inside.Made from wagon wheel parts with a hanging caldron inside.

Fiction

This wonderful piece of yard art goes on the market much to the regret of it’s owner who has to get rid of it at the command of his wife. It seems she had a fear that hobo’s who roamed the area may set up camp around it and boil things her imagination would not let her ponder. It’s got spark doesn’t it?

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True

Antique Steamer Trunk Marked “PLT” On left side with Railway Express Agency label on right side. Appears to be in fair used condition. All original hardware.On left side with Railway Express Agency label on right side. Appears to be in fair used condition. All original hardware.

Fiction

This common looking steamer trunk was used to haul padded bottles of moonshine across long distances via stage coach deliveries during the prohibition. This practice made the drivers un-witting accomplices, and stagecoach bandits very happy. At least the ones who didn’t get caught in a drunken stupor.

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True

Seth Thomas Mantle Clock

This Seth Thomas mantle clock was in the home Eliza J. Herskinner whom it was rumoured had the uncanny practice of wearing ONLY the the same exact outfits that Seth Thomas wore. Weird.

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Truth

Northern Cheyenne Buffalo Hide Covered Saddle With hanging beadwork strip. Circa 1890-1920.Saddle With hanging beadwork strip. Circa 1890-1920.

This saddle was actually part of the trade agreement of Native Americans and settlers consumated. Rather than fictiional beads for land deal, it was actually supposed to be a pact stating that the “Indians” would share the territory with the white man. The saddle was a token of that permission given to white me to ride the lands and the beads were meant to be a representation of future trade prospects, but it just didn’t work out that way. A worthwhile piece of history to bid on!

Newsletter Sunday Feb 21st, 2010 Art from Muhammad Ali to Barre MA

 

First, my humble apologies for those of you who showed up at some of my live video auctions in the past 2 weeks only to look at a blank screen.There have been some scheduling problems, but I’m back on track with them. Now, if someone would have just stumbled across one of these auctions, it’s no big deal if they got a goose egg, no time lost.

But if you are one of my newsletter subscribers, and put a little time aside for one of these auctions, then you’ve been put out a bit, so here’s what I’m going to do. I have two auctions I’ll be scheduling on Monday and Tuesday evenings of next week.

If you’re on this news letter list, and you win the bid on either of those auctions, you get the item for FREE. That’s right, I’ll deduct 100% of the bid amount, and you pay only the shipping fees. In order to keep the bidding from going on indefinitely between two email list subscribers, the auctions will be timed.

On Monday night, I’ll be doing an auction on uStream.com and the first item of the auction will be include this give-a-way.

On Tuesday night, I’ll be hosting an auction on DealitLive.com and if the winning bidder is from this email list, they’ll receive the item for free as well, with only shipping fees due.
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Art from Muhammad Ali to Barre MA

I get a lot of requests for art appraisals at AuctionWally.com. Art is one of the most difficult types of collectibles to appraise due to so many factors, and I’ll often decline an online art appraisal if I cannot authenticate the piece from photos of it. I’ll conduct the appraisal if in fact the owner knows that it’s legitimate, but I’ll often enter a caveat in the appraisal that I’m basing the evaluation on assumptions.

Then there is the question of what the art is worth if it is legitimate, which of course is a very subjective question as well. Condition, period of the artist, whether or not the work is of their forte, the medium it’s on and many other factors come into play when value is assessed.

All this confusion may seem frustrating to some folks, but the fact is, it makes for a huge profit potential. If someone is going to make a windfall in the collecting world, it’s  usually with a piece of art. If there’s a “sleeper” at an auction it’s usually a piece of art. If there’s a rare treasure pulled out of a flea market or an antiques show, it’s very often a piece of art.

 

All of this is because of the factors I’ve mentioned above: art evaluation is tricky and confusing.

Let’s look at two current examples of artwork coming up for auction for an illustration of this theory:

The art of Muhammad Ali. That’s right, the famous boxer Muhammed Ali was also an artist. What is his work worth? Is it valuable for who he is, or can it stand alone? Many famous people in history dabbled in art, including Hitler, Churchill and others. It will be very interesting to see what this Ali Serigraph sells for in an upcoming auction at RoeGallery.com

The art in my Barre MA auctions: This is the type of auction where you’re likely to find those sleepers I mentioned earlier. Recently, I acquired about 1000 pieces of art from a retired antiques dealer. I have little idea of what is there. Really. There is just not enough time to research all of it. This week on Thursday evening, much of this art, along with antique books, porcelain, glass, other antiques and collectibles will go on the block to be sold at a rate of 2-3 items per minute.

Since this art will be sold without reserve, there will be treasures found, there will be items sold WELL under their perceived value.

Small country auctions such as the one I hold on Thursday evenings, can be a fantastic place to find diamonds in the rough in any area of collecting. If you’re not attending your local auction house auctions onoccasion, I can assure you, you are missing out!

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As with the live auctions, there has been a bit of a scheduling glitch with The AuctionWally Show episodes, and again, I hope to have that back on track soon.

That’s it for this week, I’ve gotta go, lots of stuff to catch up on!

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                                        The Prices Realized Directory

Check out the new entries.

 

At  www.AuctionWally.com/prices-realized you’ll find a 100% free prices realized directory, no registration required.

Prices-Realized Directory.
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                              Auction in Barre, Thursday- February 25th, 2010

 

This week we’ll feature art, antiques &  books  It will be a PACKED auction, you may want to get there early to assure a seat.

See more details on upcoming Thursday night auctions in Barre. 

 

 We are always looking to buy and consign good quality items for these sales. If you have something to sell, give me a call at 978-636-3101 or send an email to:

wkolenda@gmail.com

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                                           Looking for work?

  If you can answer “yes” to a few simple questions, you may be able to start making good money as an antiques appraiser. I have a one day seminar that will help qualified candidates start earning between $75 and $150 per hour as a Professional Personal Property Appraiser. Find out more here.

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                                               Ask an Auctioneer

If you have a question about antiques, collectibles or auctions,  email me at ask@auctionwally.com (a few good .jpg pics of any items is essential.)

 

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Do you or need the services of a Massachusetts Auctioneer?  Want to find out how auctions work, or need help with your auction business? If so, check out http://massauctioneer.info

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MarketMeTweet 

 

I know many of you are using Twitter to get the word out about your business as well as for social purposes. I’m involved with a set of tools that are available at MarketMeTweet.com that are phenomenal.

 

The one I use most is Tweetbrand which links back to your site with every Tweet you post, in a VERY, non-intrusive way. Are you aware, that Google is giving search value to Tweets?  It’s true. Tweets are now showing up in Google’s search, and when you use MarketMeTweet.com to help you with your Tweets, it’s like putting them on steroids!

                                                 The weekly contest:

  

This week’s contest question is, what is the pre-auction estimate range of the Muhammad Ali Serigraph mentioned in this newsletter. Hint: details are in the slide show price report.

 

The winner of the contest two weeks ago was Dede! Dede, you’re collectibles package is on the way. 

The first person to email me at wkolenda@gmail.com with the correct answer is the winner, it’s that easy. Now of course, I’ll need a way to get that package to the winner, so send your snail mail address along with your contest answers. The prize is a neat collectibles surprise envelope which includes things found in a recent estate purchase I made. Things likely to be in said envelope are vintage postcards, ephemera and who knows what?

There are a LOT of live auctions out there.

The best way I know of to search them is to use Auctionzip.com the largest live auction locator.

 

I’ve been using AuctionZip.com for years now, and I’m proud to have them as a sponsor.

 

In short, if you want to find auctions anywhere in the US, AuctionZip is an easy way to search online by zip code, the site is free to search and has a million uses within the auction business, such as:

 

• Find auctioneers
• See the prices realized section to find out the current value of items.
• Search for items coming up for sale
• Track which auctions specialize in specific genres
• Learn how to consign to auction houses

 

If you have an ecommerce business, in the antiques and collectibles genre, your link may be a perfect sponsor fit in this newsletter:

If’ you’d like to know more, please contact me at: wkolenda@gmail.com

 

                   

 

See the best collectibles video podcast at http://Collectiblescornertv.com
Tammy Kahn Fennell provides tips, interviews and news with a lot of fun.

 

 

Winter is here, and travel can be difficult. But that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on great auctions! Did you know that iCollector.com is an online portal into hundreds of auctions from live venues?

You can bid live and even contact the auction houses to see if you can send your quality consignment to be featured in an upcoming auction!

 

 

Antiques appraisal evening at the East Brookfield MA Library

 A good turnout of friendly people brought a pretty good haul of loot for me to appraise at the East Brookfield MA Library on November 12th, 2009.

Below are some of the items appraised, including a few I promised to do further research on.

The prices reflect my opinion on retail value for the items.

(If you’d like to talk to me about doing an appraisal event for you, or instructions on how to do one, email to: wkolenda@gmail dot com)

Jesse Copp Boston MA artist, turn of 19th century o/b painting.

$300-$500

 Cast Iron Doorstop - English, circa 1900 - 1920  $175 

Early 1800s New England sampler $1,200 -$1,400
I can’t remember holding an appraisal event without seeing
a good early sampler. Yet, they’re all amazing and unique!

An early Sheffield plate (most likely) tea box. The reason for
the caveat, is that this was only numbered but not touchmarked
and could be of a higher silver content that is not plated.
There is no evidence of base metal showing through.
Without testing, you couldn’t be sure. No test was done as of yet.

$375 Assuming it’s plated.

Made in Holland Delft polychrome 20th century porcelain unicorn.

Research shows this is a little scarcer than I’d oringinally thought.
$275-$325

Bottom of Deft Horse:

What are these? They resemble Heisey glass horse bookends
but are an inch and a half tall and have high polished ground
bottoms.

I’ll give a collectibles ephemera surprise package, bragging rights
and a link back to the website of the first person that can defninitively
prove what these are and who they are made by.
You must provide the web address or hardcopy page
number of your source.

Send answers to: wkolenda@ gmail dot com and your snail mail
address. Put glass horse heads in the subject line.

3rd annual antiques appraisal day - at the Overlook in Charlton MA

(If you’d like to talk to me about doing an appraisal event for you, or instructions on how to do one, email to: wkolenda@gmail dot com)

November 5th, 2009 brought me about another treasure hunt of sorts at the Overlook Masonic Center in Charlton MA.

Many more items showed up on this day, but here are the ones I wanted to do further research on and what I’ve found out.

Past Acting Masonic Master Jewel: Mininmum $500-$800, although this is dated on the front 1988 - it’s lineage goes back to 1933 with the an earlier awardee. 

The assumption was that this was gold plated, but no marks were found to indicate whether it was or if it were gold content of 10kt or above, nor did I find any brass showing through  plate.

This is truly one of the nicest Past Master’s Masonic Jewels I’ve seen if not thee, and could be unmarked gold. A test wasn’t done on the premises.

If further research shows it to be any kt gold, I’ll revise this appraisal.

 

1763-1774 Stiegel glass- $375-$475

 1813s sampler: English: Spiritual motto: $1,200-$1,600

This is a gorgeous Black Walnut Veneer Edwardian Bedroom suite
including Chest and bed. The chest has a rose marble top in excellent condition

The bed is a full size width, but a bit shorted than a modern bed I was told.
I only had a picture of this to view.

I appraised the set at $3,500-$5000 as it’s in pure period form.

The owners assured me they’d sell it for quite a bit less than that. It’s for sale, if anyone has an inquiry, let me know.

Footboard:

Karmen 20x10, hand made, 100% wool rug: from Iran 1950-58 Purchased 30 years ago for $5000 is for sale by folks who attendend this event. (I saw the original bill of sale) They’ve asked me to field serious inquiries for the rug, and have indicated that they are highly motivated to sell. If you’re such a person, email me at wkolenda at gmail.com and please put Karmen rug in the subject line.

The rug I’m told, is in excellent, almost new condition.

A big THANK YOU to Donna Scherer, Dave Delano and the rest of the Overlook team for seeing that things went off without a hitch!  I can’t wait until next year.