In this article I wrote about my favorite phonographs. Every collector has their favorite pieces in their collection, this maybe the first piece they bought, a piece they just had to have or the one they cant seem to get their hands on. We all have our favorites, here are mine. Victrola XVIII (18) The Victrola XVIII was the most elegant non-custom phonograph made by the Victor Phonograph company. It was introduced in 1915. The Victrola XVII cabinet was fancy hand carved with finely detailed … [Read more...]
Best Auction Houses in the United States
I have had a few readers of this site ask me the following two questions about auction houses: Which are the best auction houses to use? Are there any auction houses located near me? So I decided to compiled a list of the good auction houses in the United States and publish on this site. I have either used or have heard good things about these auction houses. There are over 100,000 auction houses world wide. The most popular auction houses are located in Europe and the United States. … [Read more...]
How to find the age of a Mason & Hamlin Piano
Use the following chart of Mason & Hamlin serial numbers to help determine the age of your piano. The serial number of your Mason & Hamlin piano can be found in several locations, depending on what model of Mason & Hamlin you are trying to date. Mason & Hamlin Serial Number Locations 1. Model B, A, AA and BB grand pianos First, sit at your piano like you are playing it. Then look into the piano plate and to the left of the centre of the piano. There should be a serial … [Read more...]
10 Important Things to do Before Bidding at an Auction
The following list of good auction house bidding practices will prepare you for an auction. This list of things to do before biding will give you the knowledge to help you protect yourself from making big mistakes at an auction and in turn will save you money. 1. View the catalogue Auction houses will usually have their auction catalogues available one week prior to the auction date. Most auction houses offer their auction catalogues on the internet or a hard copy that is mailed out or picked up … [Read more...]
7 Tips to Authenticate Antiques Using Black (UV) Light
In this article I have explained a few techniques on how to date and test for authenticity of antiques using a black light. Black lights produce Ultra Violet (UV). Many materials fluoresce under ultraviolet lighting producing colors or light that our eyes can see, and making things that might go undetected visible to us. Some clues to age or telltale signs of repair are not easily visible to the naked eye, but will fluoresce under ultraviolet light (black light). … [Read more...]
Top 10 Antique Buying Tips
When buying antiques you want to be confident and knowledgeable. In this article i have covered 10 things you can do to help protect yourself and to find a few good bargains at the same time when buying Antiques or Collectibles. 1. Always Negotiate the price Many dealers will have a code marked somewhere on the antique that you are interested in. This marking tells them exactly how low they can go on the price. For example X20 or X45 could mean the amount they will discount the price. or this … [Read more...]
What’s Hot in the Antique Market?
I have put together a list of the most popular antiques in regards to what sells good, what retains their value well etc from the broader antique market. This article covers a small sampling of the myriad of antiques you can find on the market but should be enough to give you a very good idea of whats going on in the antique market. Antique Silver Antique silver has always been one of the hottest sellers on the antique market retaining it's value over the years. Silver has seen a recent boom … [Read more...]
Roseville Pottery Buying Guide
Facts about Roseville. In this article I will talk about some interesting facts about Roseville Pottery Company. I will also cover the value and how to tell the difference between a fake and a reproduction. Roseville used many different marks throughout the years. These marks can be used to help determine the age. Most all Roseville pieces and patterns are very collectible. Collectors look for pieces that are in mint-very good condition. Even the most common pieces of Roseville have high … [Read more...]
Auction House vs. eBay
There are many avenues to sell your antiques and collectibles; private sells, auction houses, eBay, antique brokers etc. In this article I have compared between the auction house and eBay. I have presented the pros and cons of both the Auction house and eBay. Who will see your antiques or collectibles? In an auction house your antique or collectible will be seen by buyers that are there specifically for that type of item. Most auction houses advertise world wide through there mailing list, … [Read more...]
Finding the right Auction House to sell your Antiques
There are many auction houses around the world and each with different criteria on what they will take in for consignment. There are a few questions you should ask yourself before choosing an auction. In this article I will go over some of them and provide some tips to help you in your choice. … [Read more...]
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