Florida - It's not everyday that one thinks of a ratty old pair of track sneakers as being worth as much as a house, but that's exactly what happened at a Sotheby's auction in New York recently. Falling just under the hammer near $500,000, a pair of (used) Nike track shoes designed by company co-founder Bill Bowerman, set a whopping new record for everyday footwear to be sold at a public auction. While there was obviously some "fiscal" provenance attached to the sale, as the shoes were associated with Mr. Bowerman, industry insiders were nevertheless stunned by the massive amount paid by a collector in Canada, who planned on displaying the shoes in his car museum outside of Toronto. Less than four years prior, an almost identical pair of the waffle-iron sneakers sold on eBay for just over $11,000, which at the time also came as a shock to many textile collectors. However, moving from eBay into the big leagues of Sotheby's in such a short a period of time is a clear indicatotor of just how popular this form of vintage collectible has become. Twenty-four year old Matt Dixon, a young antique dealer in England, who's been collecting for years wasn't that surprised when he heard the news. "Anything with a big name, a designer name, anything that's got any real heritage and credentials is always going to be sought after because it'll always have value." While this sentiment is often true of most top quality antique and vintage items, it's rarely been applied to everyday footwear in the same manner. Matt says he thinks of sneakers as an investment, just like all his other antiques. "Buying things like these trainers, there's no doubt they will go up in value again in another 10-15 years' time when they come back on sale." For older dealers, the new footwear trend (and prices) can be hard to fathom at times. Gordon White, a long-time textile dealer and picker from New York, says he heard about the trend from his son a couple years ago, when he traded a pair of old Converse basketball shoes for a hundred-dollar gift card to a colleague at a restaurant where they both worked. "I was simply flabbergasted," said White, "They didn't even have laces in them!" Since that time White says he's gone on to collecting vintage footwear full-time. "I've added this to my storefront display in a big way," says White, who concedes that his son's good business sense has been responsible for a huge uptick in the stores' overall sales. "Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that something so smelly and dirty could be worth so much, but I guess that just proves that old dogs can still be taught a trick or two." Robert Franks, one of the founders of Kick Game, a British company that specializes in rare and vintage footwear, says he thinks that most people simply aren't aware of how big the market really is for this kind of enterprise. "The secondary selling industry for trainers is massive - it's like watches and wine - and is the largest unregulated market in the world." Franks says that when a well-known company releases a limited-edition shoe, they'll often try to buy the entire lot in anticipation of strong short-term and long-term appreciation. "It's just gone berserk in the last few years. People end up camping outside shops just to get their hands on these shoes because they know as soon as they walk out of the shop with them, they are worth potentially three or four times the original price." For others in the antique and vintage industry, coming on board with the new footwear revolution has taken some time. "I bought two pairs of loafers for my husband who didn't like them," says Jessica Alford, a regular on Etsy who shops almost exclusively in textiles, "but when I examined them closely, they turned out to be rare Gucci's, which I later sold for ten times what I'd paid." Alford admits she doesn't always win on the deal, but that she's getting much better at spying what will sell and what won't. For those dealers still contemplating whether or not to jump into the burgeoning vintage and collectible shoe market, Noah Wunsch, Sotheby’s Global Head of eCommerce, probably summed it up best when asked about the auction houses' premiere sneaker sale, "This was our first trainer auction, and the incredible results are a sure sign that the market is growing, and that collectors are taking notice of trainers as objects of design. It's worthwhile checking to see if you've got any rare pairs stashed away." That's certainly some sage advice for us here at the Institute also, as we're pretty sure there are likely to be more than a few people around the world sitting on a small fortune in a shoe-box tucked away in the back of their closet. - AIA Staff Writers NOTE: For readers seeking more information about the Asheford Institute Of Antiques distance-learning program on professional-level appraising, the study of antiques, collectibles, vintage and mid-century modern items, please click here to visit the school's Home Page. Should you have additional questions about the Asheford program, you can also write to the school at: [email protected] or call the Registrar's Office toll-free at: 1-877-444-4508 Toronto - For antique and vintage dealers, auction sales can be a great way to build up stock. Whether you prefer the rush of the traditional live auction or buying online from home, there’s a sale to suit everyone. Whatever the environment, auctions are exciting and fast moving, while for some, the idea of bidding at auctions can even be a tad intimidating. But the method, whether live or online, follows the same general principles, and once you get to know the basics, you’ll realize that it’s a straightforward and profitable way of buying and selling goods. For those looking to get into the world of auction buying, here are some tips to make the auction experience a rewarding one. Get to Know the Auctioneers To start, get to know auctioneers in your area. Attend a few in person or log on during an online auction to see how things are done. Buying and selling processes can vary across auction houses, so it’s important to get to know how different companies work. Know What You’re Buying Once you’ve sourced a good auction and registered to bid, it’s a good idea to attend the preview or examine the online catalogue ahead of time. This will give you an opportunity to do a bit of research and assess the value of the items before bidding starts. If you’re unable to attend a live auction, there may be an opportunity to leave an absentee bid. Online auctions offer an opportunity to place max bids ahead of time as well. Set Your Limits It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of the auction process. Setting a limit ahead of time, and sticking to it will guarantee you don’t spend more than you can afford. Once the live bidding starts, things move quickly, so it’s important to follow along and listen carefully. The traditional process is for the auctioneer to call out the lot number and a brief description of the item and the opening bid amount. Once that amount is met, the price increments move up until the bidding stops and the item is sold to the highest bidder. In online auctions, however, there is often a ‘soft close’ on lots. As an item is coming to a close and there is a last minute bid, a few more minutes will be added to the clock to allow for more bids. Watch For Other Dealers Research is great, but sometimes you might not be able to find the answer you're looking for even online. However, if you think you've found something of value, but are unsure as to what to bid, look around for other individuals who appear to be interested in similar items as yourself. If it's the same small group popping up their auction paddles whenever you do, chances are you've found the dealers. Contrary to popular belief, most antique dealers welcome interaction with other dealers, and will often work with them to help identify items and share knowledge. While encouraging other dealers to refrain from bidding on an item is not allowed, and may be seen as collusion, expressing your particular interest in an item is not. Research Payment Terms Get to know the payment terms. Is there a buyer’s premium (auction house’s fee)? Are there reserve prices placed on items (the minimum price the seller is willing to accept)? It’s important to factor in all of these costs including any additional costs for repairs, transportation, and even your time. Pick-Up & Delivery Make sure to check pick-up details for online auctions. Often items need to be picked up during a short window of time on a particular day. Some places may ship items, but this would be another cost to be factored into your overall budget. If you're planning on buying larger items, make sure they can fit into your vehicle. If not, consider renting a small trailer (if you have a hitch), or a moving van. But remember, you'll need to factor in these costs as a portion of your overall auction spend. By simply adding these few simple tips to your outing, it's likely you'll have a more positive and profitable auction experience. Martha Norton, AIA, PACC, is an honors Asheford graduate, decorative arts freelance writer, and a curator/dealer of fine antique and vintage pieces in Waterloo, Ontario, who can be found tending to her space at Mercury Antique and Vintage most days. NOTE: For readers seeking more information about the Asheford Institute Of Antiques distance-learning program on professional-level appraising, the study of antiques, collectibles, vintage and mid-century modern items, please click here to visit the school's Home Page. Should you have additional questions about the Asheford program, you can also write to the school at: [email protected] or call the Registrar's Office toll-free at: 1-877-444-4508 Florida - For some, blending may be the new curated, but for many it's likely to be just another term being thrown into the confusing mix of choices when it comes to operating an antiques and decorative arts business. Over the past twenty years, many dealers in antiques have morphed their operations and storefronts from traditional wares and locations into online venues and mid-century themes. However, as we wrote about last month, these lines are now beginning to blur as some of the more common modernist motifs are beginning to recede in favor of a more 'antiquated' look. In our second-part of this series, we're examining the role "vintage" items are now playing when it comes to some antique dealers stock and how it's affecting their bottom line. From the very beginning of the slide in traditional antiques, back in the early nineteen-nineties, it was clear to many in the industry that something would eventually need to replace it. Both New York and London were at the epicenter of the shift as top dealers dropped in numbers by over 70%, according to Clinton Howell, a New York-based dealer in English furniture and the president of CINOA and the Art & Antiques Dealers League. However, by the turn of the new millennium, younger entrants into the decorative arts market saw the interest in early modernist themes and began popping up storefronts in hip and upcoming spaces - often in underdeveloped and underappreciated urban neighborhoods. Not to be outdone, older more established antique dealers started to notice the trend, and soon began to follow the pattern by hunting for the odd and unusual top-of-the-line mid-century piece to add to their own inventory. As the mid-century movement took off, so did sales for those who had adapted to the new trend. However, for those dealers who didn't fully embrace the modernist attitude, a new and less expensive theme began to emerge; vintage. While initially used as a catchphrase to encompass everything that wasn't antique, the term eventually began to take on a life of its own, often representing decade specific pieces that were usually emblematic of a particular time and style. Antique dealers who latched onto the burgeoning trend were often handsomely rewarded for their foresight. Jason Avery, an antiques dealer from San Diego, is unapologetic about blending his inventories. When he started his business in the late 1990's, he was selling primarily Mission furniture, but quickly realized the trend seemed to have worn-out its welcome, and began hunting for kitschy stuff that was inexpensive, but resonated with a younger crowd. "I noticed some Arborite tables at a garage sale," said Avery. "I brought them home, thought they looked good with our darker wood pieces, and managed to sell both." Avery describes those first blended sales of vintage and antique wood pieces like a light going off. "It just worked," he said. "I've been adding vintage themed stuff to our overall inventory ever since. People really seem to like the contrast, and will often buy an antique piece as an accompaniment to their vintage purchase just because they like how they look together." For others like Sherry and Nick Wilson who run an antique and vintage co-op in Idaho, blending was the key to their success. When they took over the old "antique mall" in Sherry's hometown, dealers were struggling with late Victorian items and country themed furniture from the nineteen-thirties. "It wasn't all bad," says Sherry, who had previously worked in a 'cool' consignment shop in Chicago, "its just that it needed some updating and rebranding." With the help of her husband, they were able to convince most of the vendors to start upcycling vintage and retro finds into their existing inventory. "We told them to use the wood pieces to showcase some of the vintage items," says Nick, "and it worked - they started selling not only the newer stuff but also some of the older inventory that had been sitting for months." Both the Wilson's caution that this approach may not work for everyone, as Sherry points to the fact that her previous place of employment in Chicago was strictly mid-century themed, which she initially tried to bring to the co-op. "It just didn't work," said Sherry, "We tried, but folks weren't willing to pay the high prices for the latest trend, so we moved to vintage and retro and have never looked back." For many other dealers in the market it would seem that the run to blend more vintage and retro items into one's inventory may now be the new normal, or as one sartorially inclined dealer put it, "It's now become the antique dealer's new black." J. Hobson (AIA), is a former honors graduate of the Asheford Institute and a freelance writer who specializes in business trends in today's antique and vintage marketplaces. She comes by her experience honestly, having operated one of the southeasts largest antique malls for over ten years before moving onto her own business in San Antonio's upscale La Cantera district. NOTE: For readers seeking more information about the Asheford Institute Of Antiques distance-learning program on professional-level appraising, the study of antiques, collectibles, vintage and mid-century modern items, please click here to visit the school's Home Page. Should you have additional questions about the Asheford program, you can also write to the school at: [email protected] or call the Registrar's Office toll-free at: 1-877-444-4508 Florida - It's often been said that "Success is the ability to adapt to change," and while this statement is probably as ancient as the wind itself, it's likely to resonate more strongly today for those in the decorative arts business than it ever has before. As antique dealers and vintage store owners combine and begin morphing into one, it's become not only an age-old mantra with currency for the modern world, but a necessary mindset for those hoping to succeed in this rapidly evolving industry. Less than twenty-five years ago, the role of the traditional antiques dealer appeared to be set in stone. Antiques were antiques, and everything else was simply collectibles, memorabilia, or used furniture. Then, in what seemed like an overnight glacial-shift of decorative arts interests, traditional antiques fell out of favor, and everything else suddenly became vintage, retro, and popular. Since that time, there has been a softening and blurring of the lines, as some antiques have bounced back, and some vintage items have been upcycled and recreated to more closely emulate their older cousins. The Steampunk and Industrial look came about as a neo-Victorian revival against much of the mid-century-modern motifs from the first part of the century. However, it's only recently that the phenomena of a full-scale reactionary change to the overall modernist look has begun to take place within the decorative arts community as a whole. For many in the industry, it was simply a creeper effect more than anything else, says Carey Doleman, an interior designer and vintage store owner from Miami's South Beach area. "We've always been big on vibrant colors here, but a lot of clients have been coming in recently looking for more earthy and woodsy tones in their furniture." Doleman says that prior to this people wanted chalk paints and vintage furniture completely upcycled into dramatic color schemes that removed any traces of the wood. Today however, she's finding that many are now leaving the tops of tables in their original state, and only painting the legs. "There's no question," says Doleman, "we've changed some of our inventory back to reflect more naturally exposed wood, because that's what customers are requesting." For Kimberly Nash, an antiques and vintage lighting specialist from Rhode Island, the move away from the modernist themes of the century's early years were more pronounced. "For the longest time any mid-century or stainless themed object we had would sell almost instantly, but recently we've seen some of that inventory backing up." Nash says that her partner, while out on a buying trip last summer, snagged some older industrial copper lighting from the early 1980's, and literally had it sold before it hit the showroom floor. "I was astonished," said Nash, "So we started looking for more, and since then, have unloaded every piece to either interior decorators, or upscale home-design centers in the city." Artisan markets, a new type of upscale venue that often showcases combined antique and vintage resellers as a single entity, are also apparently seeing a shift back towards more traditional decorative arts styles. Henry Carlson, an antiques dealer from the west coast, often frequents Treasure Fest, an artisan market in the San Francisco Bay Area, and says that he's noticed a lot of the hip and up-and-coming dealers who show at the market are definitely incorporating a lot more natural wood and patina than ever before. "I come here often just to see what the youngsters are showing, because inevitably in the next few years, I'll probably be trying some of it on for size as well," he commented. While Carlson admits that not everything at the show will likely move to the mainstream, he notes that their recent track-record for the most part has been pretty good at predicting major changes in tastes and styles related to the decorative arts. "As a dealer you can't follow every single trend, but getting some guidance on where the bigger movements might be heading sure can be of help." On the flip side of the coin, some of these same fresh-faced vintage dealers who haunt artisan markets like Treasure Fest, are experiencing trend changes for the first time in their professional lives. Colin Hackett, who's been renting booths at vintage shows and fairs for over ten years, admits it's going to be a tough slog if he has to start learning about traditional antiques. "When I came on board everything was vintage and retro, and you just kind of learnt as you went along, but antiques have a history and culture around them, so it's going to take time and study if I want to successfully incorporate them into my inventory." For a number of the younger dealers, the idea that trends can change is something entirely new. While for veterans of the trade, it can often seem like an imperceptible shift where one's timing has to be just right. Wait too long and the party's almost over. Jump in too early and you may end up with inventory that's not quite ready for primetime yet. Or, as South Beach dealer Carey Dolman described to her vintage colleagues over brunch one Sunday morning, "It's kind of like picking fruit from the buffet table... getting the ripe pieces can take some practice." - A.I.A. Staff Writer's NOTE: For readers seeking more information about the Asheford Institute Of Antiques distance-learning program on professional-level appraising, the study of antiques, collectibles, vintage and mid-century modern items, please click here to visit the school's Home Page. Should you have additional questions about the Asheford program, you can also write to the school at: [email protected] or call the Registrar's Office toll-free at: 1-877-444-4508 Florida - With summer in full swing, we thought it might be the perfect time to look at one of the hottest collecting commodities in today's vintage and antique marketplaces. For years now, astute dealers and buyers have been quietly snapping-up what many consider to be one of the best untapped areas for collecting within the decorative arts field. Surfing, its related forms, and wide array of potential memorabilia, has finally arrived. No longer just the domain of "dudes" and "dudettes" living along coastlines, the surfing phenomena has come to the masses. Whereas surf-themed dealers once relied upon a niche market of geographically similar clients to support their wares, the popularity of the sport and associated accoutrements, has now spread firmly across the globe... and inland. Car commercials hawking Lincoln and cool-cat Matthew McConaughey as he heads for a "sesh," or Canadian potato-chip manufacturer Hardbite, showing surf-dogs on their chip-bags, are all part of the surfing allure and its new mainstream embrace. Films such as Mavericks, and Blue Crush have also helped to catapult the lifestyle sport to an even higher level with a younger generation, while pro surfers such as Laird Hamilton and Kelly Slater have helped push the "cool" factor into the stratosphere. For dealers who got in early on the move towards mainstream merchandizing, surfing memorabilia has skyrocketed in value. Tommy Shantz a part-time picker (and surfer) from Santa Cruz, California, says it's all about the pick. "I started suss'ing stuff from local legends back in the 70s and 80s," says Shantz, "I just didn't realize that my signed Greg Noll surfboards would be a hot ticket in Des Moines twenty years later!" Shantz says that while he collects virtually everything related to surfing, some things are just more popular than others. "Boards are all the rage right now, especially Hawaiian woody long-boards from the 20s and 30s, which people are using to decorate their pads with." Shantz recounts that twenty years ago only surfers did up their digs with equipment, but that today he sees boards hanging over dining room tables like expensive chandeliers. It's not just coastal dealers who are experiencing the boom though. Nancy Brown, a vintage seller in a summer resort town from Wisconsin, says that Great Lake surfers have been plying the waters for years in her area and are picking up anything she can find that's related to the history of fresh water surfing. "It's really kind of cool to see what this is all about," said Brown. "I never even realized that you could surf on a lake until recently!" Her latest sale involved a collection of black & white photos she came across at a cottage yard sale on Lake Superior, that showed a group of men surfing in what appeared to be the late 1960's. "You could see the old cars in the foreground, so it helped date the pictures to sometime from that era," she said. A quick scan of eBay and Etsy listings shows just how strong the market has become for surf themed items, from classic beach signs to vintage t-shirts, posters, and even competitor trophies. Maddy Croft, an online retailer on Etsy says she began selling "surf-wares" when her brother started ditching all his old surf clothes. "One day he came home and cleaned out his closet, but before he could pitch them, I tried selling them online," she said, "and by the end of the week they were gone." Croft says items from older surf companies such as Quicksilver and Instinct, that can be shown to be truly vintage, can command high prices. "There's still lots of cheap product in most thrift and second-hand stores says Maddy, you just have to be willing to dig through it." For those hoping to cash in on the recent popularity of the trend, Tommy Shantz says that it's still a great time as there are plenty of pieces out there that can be picked up cheaply. "Obviously coastal communities are going to have more of a selection, but I've picked up some really cool items inland too," said Shantz "...and at great prices." As to how long the trend will last is anybody's guess, but surfing and its accompanying lifestyle has always been the domain of the cool kids, at least according to Maddy Croft. "Local surfers kind of ruled when I was young, and often set the trends, and I think they still do in many respects," said Croft. "So if coolness is a factor in longevity, then I think we'll probably see this trend stick around for quite some time." C. Clarkson (AIA, AAM), is a former Asheford honors graduate and a New York-based writer/editor who's a self-professed mid-century modern junkie with more than a decade of experience covering the decorative arts scene. Ms. Clarkson also curates two Etsy shops and spends weekends hunting down the treasures with her dog Spike. NOTE: For readers seeking more information about the Asheford Institute Of Antiques distance-learning program on professional-level appraising, the study of antiques, collectibles, vintage and mid-century modern items, please click here to visit the school's Home Page. Should you have additional questions about the Asheford program, you can also write to the school at: [email protected] or call the Registrar's Office toll-free at: 1-877-444-4508 Florida - It would seem that everyone's a "curator" these days. No longer just the purview and title of those who work for museums and galleries as protectors of cultural heritage - curators can now apparently be found everywhere - from Esty to Goodwill stores, thrift shops, and all points in between. If you've got something used to sell, you'll likely see it being offered up as part of a carefully crafted "curated collection." But how did this fanciful moniker, once reserved for the those in the upper-echelons of the decorative arts and museum staff, become so pervasive in regard to the sale of today's used, vintage, and retro items? For some, the term came about as a matter of economy and distinction, at least according to Tara Johnson, a long-term vintage store operator on Etsy, who thinks that it was simply a way to elevate one's inventory, or one's own professional status, when comparing themselves to other dealers. "We're all selling on the same platform," says Johnson, "So trying to differentiate yourself from the competition can be difficult when the layout of your virtual store is pretty much the same as your neighbor." While Johnson continues to use the term on both her website and Esty shop, she does acknowledge that the descriptor is perhaps getting a little long in the tooth. "I've seen signs at grocery stores where apples are being curated," she said, "that seems a bit ridiculous." For others in the industry, it would appear to be somewhat of a shared sentiment. Allison Tanner, a retired auctioneer and antique store owner, who volunteers part time at a large charity shop in the greater metro Atlanta area, says the whole expression is a bit bewildering. "We just have general goods and chattels coming in mostly," says Tanner, "However, we're told to group items together (in no particular order), and then to sell them as part of a curated collection." Tanner thinks the whole idea is sort of crazy, "I get that you want to increase sales by indicating that you have something special, but hanging a sign over used garden furniture from Walmart that reads, Today's Curated Collection, seems a bit absurd." On the flip side, a number of dealers point to the fact that unlike true antiques, many vintage items can't really stand on their own without a bit of creative curatorship, since they don't have the same kind of history backing them up as more traditional antiques often do. "I suppose it's a bit of literary license and salesmanship all rolled into one," says Doug Plath, a vintage dealer who operates multiple online stores on both Etsy and EBTH (Everything But The House). "What I'm trying to get across with the curated title is that my items are unique and original, even though some of them may have been mass produced." For many, this runs contrary to the antique ethos of rare and unusual. "Antique dealers don't really have to spice things up too much," says Plath, "the pieces often speak for themselves, whereas vintage and retro items can sometimes benefit from a little descriptive bump." While this may be the rule rather than the exception for many vintage dealers now, a number of store owners on Etsy have reportedly decided to take a more light-hearted approach to institutionalized curatorship, by offering a few prize-winning customers a chance to "curate" their stores favorite collections. One venue even went so far as to headline the event as a chance to "Curate the curator..." There is clearly no final answer here as to "curate" or "not to curate" - but one thing is certain - sometimes expression-fatigue can suddenly set in, and when it does, it's often a good indicator that it's time to move on. Whether or not that time has come for this expression remains to be seen, but when a famous university in northern Michigan places curator, curated and 'to curate' on its list of banished words, it might just be worth the effort to start considering an exit-strategy... - A.I.A. Staff Writer's NOTE: For readers seeking more information about the Asheford Institute Of Antiques distance-learning program on professional-level appraising, the study of antiques, collectibles, vintage and mid-century modern items, please click here to visit the school's Home Page. Should you have additional questions about the Asheford program, you can also write to the school at: [email protected] or call the Registrar's Office toll-free at: 1-877-444-4508 Florida - For sometime now it's been suggested by many in the antiques trade that the business is simply not like it was in years past, when there was a strong interest by the public in almost all things antique. Or, as David Rasuchkolb, an old-school dealer in upstate New York recently put it, "There was once a time when the younger generation led the way in the purchase and sales of antiques, and the rest of us followed - unfortunately that period ended during the early nineteen-nineties." For many in the industry, the next twenty years seemed to be a case of endlessly wandering the desert in search of the perfect fit for dealer and customer. It was also during this time that the stainless-steel revolution entered the market, and things seemed to fall even further down the rabbit hole, as the public shifted away from anything old, choosing instead to migrate to the land of Ikea and everything that was shiny, new and disposable. Fast-forward a decade or two, and suddenly you have the stirrings of a mass resurgence in interest related to not only antiques but to almost anything old (or used). Enter the millennial, the most unlikely demographic source for the potential resurrection of the traditional antiques market as one could imagine. While this somewhat odd pairing may have seemed unlikely at first to many in the industry, to Tina Wayne, an online retailer with a vintage shop on Etsy and eBay, the connection couldn't have been more obvious. "Millennials want to be cool and standout," she said, "but it's hard to do so when buying the same catalog furniture as everyone else, or being priced out of the mid-century market, so you end up turning to whatever's leftover to make a statement about your individuality." While Wayne's assessment may be somewhat far-reaching in scope, her instincts seem to indicate that she may be onto something, as numerous online shops, as well as bricks & mortar dealers are reporting strong upticks in the sales of items that for some, have been languishing in their back-rooms for years. Timothy Pike, a pop-up dealer who tours the circuit of Southern antique shows and fairs, says he's now carrying all things Victorian again because they're cheap to buy, and cheap to sell. "I've noticed that it's the millennials who are basically trying to design-on-a-dime that are snapping these pieces up," he said. "For them, there's so much variety to Victorian pieces, and none of it really looks exactly the same - unlike their iPhones!" Being original is certainly an impetus for millennials as they age, as it's a generation that was often knocked with the moniker of sameness and herd-mentality when it came to expressing their interests in anything - including the decorative arts. However, today that notion seems to be changing rather quickly, as Susan Hoftner, a millennial herself, noted when over on a buying trip to London's Olympia Fair in England recently, "There were just so many people my age scouting about, looking for a deal on home furnishings." she said. "It's truly amazing, because five years ago these would have been the very same people I would have seen at Ikea or some other big-box store." Hoftner believes it's a combination of factors driving millennials sudden interest in older styles of furniture and decoration, "I think at some point in time you start wanting a little uniqueness in your life that isn't going to cost an arm-and-a-leg... especially when you're working within a budget." In the end it may just come down to price. You buy what you can afford, and right now old Victorian furniture is very affordable. For Timothy Pike, it doesn't really matter what the reason is, so long as it sparks a renewed interest in some of the classics from the past. "If it takes millennials to reignite the flame, so be it," says Pike, "I'm just happy to see a younger generation showing some interest in their own history - and then buying it!" J. Hobson (AIA), is a former honors graduate of the Asheford Institute and a freelance writer who specializes in business trends in today's antique and vintage marketplaces. She comes by her experience honestly, having operated one of the southeasts largest antique malls for over ten years before moving onto her own business in San Antonio's upscale La Cantera district. NOTE: For readers seeking more information about the Asheford Institute Of Antiques distance-learning program on professional-level appraising, the study of antiques, collectibles, vintage and mid-century modern items, please click here to visit the school's Home Page. Should you have additional questions about the Asheford program, you can also write to the school at: [email protected] or call the Registrar's Office toll-free at: 1-877-444-4508 Florida - Whether you're a collector, a dealer, or just a buyer of decorative arts for your home or condo, scoring that perfect find while hunting through the backwoods and nether-regions of antique and vintage shops can often be a frustrating task. Especially when it comes to discerning the true from the fake, and the great from the pretenders. However, with a little help from some of the school's top appraisers and experts, we've managed to compile a list of items you'll definitely want to be on the lookout for this spring as you're out treasure hunting for those hot finds of the season. Costume Jewelry Like the school's annual survey pointed out in December of last year, there seems to be no end in sight for this popular collectible. Great deals can still be found and jewels don't have to be real. Look for known makers like Eisenberg, Trifari, Weiss, Sarah Coventry and Hobe - all can command top dollar. A boxlot investment of $20 at an estate sale can easily return $400 to $600 online. Antique Purses This is something in the textile zone that you might really want to pay close attention to - it's already gotten hot, but we think it's probably going to sizzzle this upcoming year. Look for vintage beaded bags, MCM lucite purses, chainmail style clutches from the twenties and thirties, and anything that comes with bangles. As always, condition is paramount. Buy at $20, sell online for $350. MCM Dishes & Chinaware While everyone is obviously aware of the incredible explosion of Mid-century modern into furniture design and tastes of the 21st century, it doesn't end there. Small little condiment dishes and place settings have also rocketed off the charts recently. Experts at the school say these can be a particularly good find since little dishes like these are often overlooked during an estate sale/garage cleanout. Tin Toys While toys remain popular across the spectrum, most of the school's experts feel that tin toys are particularly well positioned to move up this year in price and popularity. Especially lithographed makes, and those related to robots and the space age. Dealers are scooping up $10 garage sale and estate sale boxlots and flipping for twenty times that online. Original box and packaging add value. Pueblo Pottery For many, McCoy was the name, but recently others have begun to shine, and Maria Martinez may be at the vanguard of this movement. The Pueblo artist was a prolific creator, and her blackware pottery is plentiful and beginning to command sizable prices at auctions across the country. Again, look for unchipped and pristine examples in order to see the best realized price. Vintage Luggage This is a rapidly rising area of interest for collector's and dealers alike. Old Pullman cases and mid-century modern themed pieces are flying out the door. As with all practical items, condition is king. Look for original leather straps, perfect linings on the inside, and if it comes with authentic travel stickers, so much the better. Vintage Vuitton and American Oshkosh pieces can bring very, very high prices. Look for accessories too, such as hat boxes. Native American Handicrafts It goes without saying that native American items of any kind are still very popular today, and will command top dollar prices at galleries and auctions. However, there are still a number of bargains to be had for those with a keen eye. Woven baskets are often missed at garage and estate sales, and at $2,000 to $40,000 a pop, they could be more like a lottery win for some. Look at the design and shape to help determine authenticity. Christmas Memorabilia & Decorations While Christmas might not be on the mind of anyone at the moment, this is certainly one of the best times of the year for scooping up all those old unused vintage cards and ornaments, for resale in December. Tony Harper, one of the appraisers at the Institute, says he's noticed that Christmas cards with an MCM theme can sell in the $30 to $50 range for a pack of five. Classic tree ornaments with motifs that date the item can also prove highly desirable just before Christmas. Flatware and Cutlery Sets Finally, to round out our top eight picks (plus 1), for antiques not to be missed, are flatware and cutlery sets. For a while, these items seemed destined to join the moniker of Victorian passé, but they've recently made a turnaround, and box-sets that could be previously be bought for $20 to $40 are now back in the triple digit range. Again, estate sales with downsizing as the main theme are likely going to be your best bet for good quality finds at decent prices. D. Harman (AIA), is a former Asheford Institute honors graduate and a freelance writer who has a knack for picking trends when it comes to the decorative arts world. When away from his keyboard, Mr. Harman is also a top "picker" for some of New York's finest antique & art establishments. NOTE: For readers seeking more information about the Asheford Institute Of Antiques distance-learning program on professional-level appraising, the study of antiques, collectibles, vintage and mid-century modern items, please click here to visit the school's Home Page. Should you have additional questions about the Asheford program, you can also write to the school at: [email protected] or call the Registrar's Office toll-free at: 1-877-444-4508. Florida - For some it's a long-weekend, while for other's it's a time to treasure hunt (but not just for eggs). So, if you're looking for something fun to do over the next few days, the writer's at the school have complied a list of some pretty great antique and vintage shows that are open across the county this weekend - and which might just spark your interest when it comes to scoring that perfect Easter "find." Below, are the writer's "choice" destinations as listed from A to Z (or, W). SHOWS & EVENTS Alabama - Apr 19-20, 2019 Selma. Historic US HWY 80 Sale Location: Angies Auction 4094 County Road 44 Selma AL. 36701 Mile Marker 78 Hwy 80 West 334-412-0263 or 334-875-3147 [email protected]. SH: Sunrise to sundown. Connecticut - Sunday April-December, New Milford. Elephant’s Trunk Flea Market, 490 Danbury Road (Rte. 7 / 202) New Milford, CT 06776; [email protected]; 860-355-1448; www.etflea.com. 500+ vendors. ADM: $2 (Super Early 4:45am $40; Early 5:45am $20) SH: 7am-3:30pm Georgia - Apr 19-21, 2019 Cumming. Lakewood 400 Antiques Market, 1321 Atlanta Highway, Cumming, GA. www.lakewoodantiques.com; 770-889-3400. ADM: $3 SH: Fri 9am-5pm; Sat 9am-6pm; Sun 10am-5pm Indiana - Apr 19-20, 2019 Evansville. Spring Outdoor Spectacular, Evansville National Guard Armory, 3300 E Division St, Evansville, IN; 812-483-3064, 270-993-9915 Kansas - Apr 20, 2019 Wichita. Outdoor Vintage Market at Paramount Antique Mall, 13200 W Hwy 54, Wichita KS; 316-722-0500 SH: 8am-3pm Michigan - Antiques Show Every Sunday, Royal Oak. Royal Oak Farmers Market, 316 E. 11 Mile Rd., Royal Oak, MI. 248-246-3276. 8 a.m. – 3 p.m Mississippi - Flowood Flea Market & Antique Mall, 1325 Flowood Dr, Flowood, MS 39232; 601-953-5914; [email protected]. ADM: $1 (16 & under free) SH: Sat 9am-5pm; Sun 12-5pm New York - Sunday. Grand Bazaar NYC. 100 West 77th St. (At Columbus Ave.). www.grandbazaarnyc.org. SH: 10am-5:30pm Wisconsin - Sunday. Shawano Flea Market, Shawano County Fairgrounds, Shawano, WI. Zurko’s Midwest Promotions, 115 E Division St, Shawano, WI 54166. 715-526-9769; fax 715-524-5675; www.zurkopromotions.com; [email protected]. SH: 7am-2pm Happy hunting and Happy Easter everyone! - A.I.A. Staff Writer's NOTE: For readers seeking more information about the Asheford Institute Of Antiques distance-learning program on professional-level appraising, the study of antiques, collectibles, vintage and mid-century modern items, please click here to visit the school's Home Page. Should you have additional questions about the Asheford program, you can also write to the school at: [email protected] or call the Registrar's Office toll-free at: 1-877-444-4508. Florida - Understanding what's hot and not these days in the antiques market seems to be as perplexing a question as ever. Years ago, the ancient, and likely scholarly owner of the local antiques store was often the go-to resource for what to buy. For fine well established items that would almost certainly accrue in value, Georgian furniture was the way to go. For those less well-heeled, a solid investment in Victorian would likely reap rewards at a later date. For the younger set, primitives were in demand, and all the rage. Fast-forward thirty years, and the quintessential notion of an antiques dealer has undergone a massive make-over. Not just in the sense of image changing inventory, but from the ground-level up. No longer are antiques shops filled with brown wood, and men of academia representing a certain age. Instead, you're just as likely to encounter young hipsters handily working on upcycling old furniture into vibrantly painted colors slated for a showroom floor. For many in the business this change seems almost implausible. The long-standing image of the bespectacled antiquarian hovering over a magnifying glass in a musty old antique shop, has persisted for so long that it's virtually become enshrined as decorative arts lore, and a somewhat de facto representation of the antiques business itself. However, as with any industry, change is bound to happen. Just ask Ahmed Patel, a second-generation antiques dealer from Boston who recalls taking over his father's business fifteen years ago. "I'd pretty much worked alongside him my whole life," says Patel, "but when I finally took the reins, I knew it was going to be a changing of the guard, in virtually every sense of the word." Patel remembers telling his father they should maybe try some new ideas, as shop sales of old European classics had begun to falter by the turn of the century. "He was reticent to change," says the younger Patel, "He just wanted to believe it was a temporary downturn." The elder Patel was not the only dealer during this period to express such resistance. Janet Hawkes, a now retired antiques dealer from New England, recalls how she thought the exact same thing in 2000. "I simply attributed our lack of sales in early American furniture to the dot-com bust of the time, but in reality, it just never came back," says Hawkes. Patel thinks that much of his father's resistance to change was due in large part to the consistency that the antiques trade had witnessed over the last forty years. "He definitely had a few ups-and-downs in that time, but for the most part it always came back - and usually to the same type of items." Hawkes noted that when she and her husband retired in 2006, they had finally pivoted to more kitschy and vintage themed pieces for their shop. "It was actually working really well," she says, "But it was simply time for us to call it a day." Relinquishing control to her daughter in 2007, Sarah Hawkes moved the business even father from traditional mainstream antiques, and began to include vintage clothing and accessories. "It was a super seller right from the start," she said, "...and continues to be so." Later that same year, while hunting down inventory, the younger Hawkes started adding vintage garden furniture on the side, doing a light refurb where necessary, and placing it outside the storefront in the mornings during the summer months. "It was all I could do to keep pace," says Sarah, "by the late afternoon, it was usually sold - especially on sunny days." When Patel took over his father's business in 2004, he began to implement new changes almost immediately. "The first thing I actually did was to open up a wall and put in some windows to bring more light into the shop," says Patel, "The next order of business was to start buying inventory based on what people from my generation were collecting." Patel says it wasn't hard to see that stainless steel influenced themes in the kitchen were leading to mid-century modern décor. "I was literally buying it by the truckload for $20 to $50 back then. Often times on a Sunday I could travel the neighborhoods and find enough free curbside inventory to last a month." Sales were brisk according to Patel, and within a few years he could barely keep up with demand. "It was definitely the right decision for the time," he says. Today, Patel and most other dealers in his neighborhood all carry a very similar stock and inventory of MCM and vintage themed pieces, which Patel says he finds worrying. "It's not like my fathers' generation anymore, where we can sit and rest knowing what's popular today, will probably last a lifetime - it won't." Patel thinks the antiques business is just like any other retail business now, "Unfortunately, we're going to be subject to the whims of popular trends and change like everyone else - whether we like it or not - so we're probably best to start adapting now..." - A.I.A. Staff Writers NOTE: For readers seeking more information about the Asheford Institute Of Antiques distance-learning program on professional-level appraising, the study of antiques, collectibles, vintage and mid-century modern items, please click here to visit the school's Home Page. Should you have additional questions about the Asheford program, you can also write to the school at: [email protected] or call the Registrar's Office toll-free at: 1-877-444-4508. |
A.I.A. Staff
We're providing our students and reader's with the latest breaking news on events and happenings that we think might be of interest to both collectors and dealers alike. Including changes within the world of antiques, vintage, collectibles and appraising that might just have an effect on your bottom line. We're also interested in hearing from you - so if you've got a great newsworthy story, let us know, and you just might find it here! Archives
December 2019
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