Daryle Lambert: Antique and Collectibles for Christmas Gifts can make the day

This holiday season people will be looking for those special gifts for their loved ones, not just something to fill stockings. Gifts of value will command center stage this year and quality Antiques and Art can make this time special. Giving something that can increase in value rather than becoming worthless will be what I will focus on the coming weeks.

This feeling of doubt and uncertainty created by the falling stock market may keep people out of retail stores but you know they will purchase something for their loved ones this Christmas. Dollars will be used wisely so quality will reign supreme. Items purchased should bring a sense pleasure, not one of obligation.

I hope my readers have followed the suggestions from my blog about buying only the rarest and most unusual items for their inventories because now you will see the wisdom of that advice. When you are able to sell your choice pieces, the average dealer with common items will see his inventory sit much longer whereas your treasures will be eagerly sought after.

Great examples of Lalique, Steuben, Tiffany and Lotton will fly off your shelves during this Christmas season while lesser quality art glass items will be difficult to sell. I talked to Riley Humler at Cincinnati Gallery and he informed me that their last sale, just recently completed, exceeded their expectations. How did this happen in these uncertain times? The answer is simple: quality sells and Rookwood is quality. I hope that over the last few months you have been fortunate enough to pick up a piece of Rookwood, Grueby, Newcomb. George Ohr or Doulton for your inventory. By selling it to an eager collector or someone buying a special gift for a collector can also make your Christmas much merrier.

Don’t forget about paintings because they will never let you down if they are purchased at the right price. I hope to report another great success story in the near future as I have a painting that I am offering at Christie's in January. My phone is beginning to ring on a regular basis with inquiries about items in our Marketplace and I feel certain that many of these pieces will be sold over the next few weeks.

This is the time to put on your happy face and you will find it contagious. Often, the best you can give someone in times like this is a smile but that may be all that is needed to turn their day around. God gave us that smile so let’s pass it around.

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Antiques and Fine Art are still cream of the Crop

I am still amazed when I hear the sky has fallen. Just ask any Lotton collector if that is true? Even in this purported depression that the news media attempts to convince us that we're in; Lotton Glass continues to increase in value.

Just a couple of weeks ago there was an auction in the Carolina's which included a couple of fairly nice pieces of Lotton Glass. Warner Smith, the founder of the Lotton Glass Club, called and asked me what I thought they would bring? I went to the auction site and after examining them said "they should bring at least $400 each." After the auction, I received another call from Warner and he was laughing. "You were a little low" he said, "they brought almost $2,000 each and that is very near, if not more than, retail." Wow! I think others are beginning to see what I saw more than two years ago. This glass will be as well known as Tiffany in future years. Today’s prices will be a thing of the past and pieces that can be purchased today for a few hundred to a few thousand should be selling in the $10,000 to $50,000 range.

This story doesn't end here. There was another auction of a fairly common piece of Lotton Glass that was just completed on eBay. Again, Warner and I discussed it and his feeling was that if he could buy it for $300, it would be a good buy (but not a great buy). Are you ready for this? The vase that I thought might bring $400, sold for an amazing $1,100. So what does this tell you? Lotton Glass will be, if it isn't already, one of the world’s premiere art glasses. There are a lot of pieces of Lotton Glass out there and you may find a fertile field of them at garage sales and estates sales. Even flea markets may prove to be a place where these pieces can be found. Their value still isn't fully understood and prices may still be available below the going market for collectors.

Our search, as 31 Club members, for the opportunities to make money should require us to pick the best items when we are searching. I think that Lotton Glass will qualify as one of “the” Art Glasses in the future and will be held up as a true treasure. In upcoming blogs, I plan to feature some of what I think qualifies as the “best of the best” items where you can help increase your bank account by finding these items to include in your inventory.


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Antiques and Collectibles in Odd Places

I just read where a gentleman found a trove of ancient coins in a field and I’ll bet that will change his life. What else can you do after all the requirements of the family are met, that can change your financial well being the way antiques and collectibles can? The stories that I have shared about people that I know personally should be enough to inspire the most negative person to action. Where else can a person like Cecil find a drinking glass for $12.50 and two weeks later sell it for $12,500?

During these times of economic uncertainty, why don't we look for treasure in places that normally wouldn't be on our list of places to check? For example: have you attended any charity sales lately? At the last event I attended, I purchased a designer necklace for $5 that had a true value of $500 plus. Not a bad result from picking through a lot of uninteresting items. Just one item can make it all worth it. True junk shops can also prove to be rewarding. I found a set of andirons at a junk shop priced at $50 that I sold for more than $1,000. I’m not sure the entire value of the shop was worth much more. Yes, you could get a little dusty and dirty but even that can be fun once in a while,

Remember that old saying" When times get tough, the tough get going". I hope all the members of the 31 Club take this saying to heart. During these difficult times there will be people who resign themselves to failure by simply thinking "Why should I go out today because there isn't anything to find anyway?" I hope instead "today is a day to search for treasure because my competition may be reduced since they are discouraged."

These are great times to run small ads in your local newspapers and publications stating that you are buy paintings, art glass and pottery. You can compose your ad as you please and if you keep it concise, the cost should be reasonable. This should bring you clients wanting to cash out belongings to raise cash and you can avoid competition by either visiting them at their home or asking them to bring their items to you. Phone calls are free! You may also want to call people you know and ask if they are aware of anyone wanting to dispose of items you may wish to purchase. Using your imagination can pay off big time and keep the cost minimal. This is certainly a better way to approach your search than sitting in a mall or a shop waiting for people to find you.

I miss receiving your notes on you searches and successes. Let me hear from you.


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Still the Best - Antiques and Fine Art

William Horton - Marketplace

The markets are crashing, home values continue to drop and people are losing their jobs. Where can you find good news in this you may ask? Well, I have to admit it is difficult but I will try. The Antique and Fine Arts markets have become more difficult - but the upper end items still bring top money. That is certainly a plus. Secondly, I am seeing a definite increase in better artwork and antiques coming to the marketplace. This will allow us to restock our inventories at more reasonable prices than we were paying just a few short months ago.

The really good news is that if you have followed the program outlined in my book "31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques and Collectibles", all your invested money is represented by items that you will be selling. You haven’t incurred salaries, rent, insurance and other expenses that have been spent with no recovery in sight. This allows you to set back and be patient until this market reverses itself. Most people in business today are being killed by their fixed expenses so this means that if something doesn't change quickly, they may not be able to survive. Fortunately, this doesn't apply to you because your inventory isn’t costing you an arm and leg while waiting for it to sell.

During this slow economic time why not educate yourself until the markets break our way? Take time to read and study auction results and this will prove profitable later on in your hunt for treasure. Remember to buy only the best items because there will always be a market for rare and unusual items.

If you have items in our marketplace that haven't sold yet, be patient. I will share one of my favorite rules for this business: "Never reduce your asking price for an item until the buyer has made an offer." Why is this? If you reduce your asking price it only shows the prospective buyer that you are desperate and they will lower their offer even that much more. The negotiating only starts when you have received an offer (no matter what the offer is).

The Christmas season is speeding toward us and there is no better gift to give someone than our book, "31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques and Collectibles." Get your orders in soon so you won't be left out.

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Remember Our Veterans - The Remembered Us

Thanks to dark-wraith.com


This should be a day that we take time to thank those who have kept this country safe for over 250 years. There has never been a group of people that have given more to this country than our veterans. I can still see my father’s uniform and remember the days when he would leave our house to serve this great country and how my mother would cry, not knowing if she would see him again. You see he served in the Merchant Marines and they took heavy casualties trying to equip our troops.

The military has produced perhaps more collectibles than any other group. For the serious collector, there are items that were used in combat such as weapons and uniforms. Many also collect items that recognize the bravery of our soldiers. Who could forget the posters that encouraged us to support our troops and to buy bonds? There are even some people that collect vehicles used in war - these people are unique because these collectibles take up huge amounts of space. Can you imagine having several planes or tanks in your yard?

However, the best known war collectibles are toys. Boxed sets of soldiers can bring in tens of thousands of dollars and even a few lead soldiers can fetch hundreds. There are people that reenact entire battles or display battle scenes set up similar to electric train displays. These can take up an entire basement to set up. There are different types of toy cars and other military vehicles with arm force’s insignias for the collector. If you remember your days of youth, we played with toy guns and other weapons blissfully ignorant of the damage the real thing could produce. These toys can bring big prices but there has been a huge price paid for us by our armed service’s men and women.

War is hell but our hats must go off to the ones that fight for our freedom. Their sacrifice can't be measured and each one of us should show our gratitude whenever we see a soldier.

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History of Ronald Reagan Items

History of Ronald Reagan Items

We know what items from past presidents such as Abe Lincoln and George Washington have commanded in the marketplace and the numbers are staggering. These items can make a man wealthy. I have also recently expressed what I believe will happen in the future to memorabilia from this year’s election of Barack Obama. However, have there been other Presidents that we could focus on and expect to reap financial rewards from our efforts? The answer to that is a definite yes!

Perhaps the best example of this is Ronald Reagan. During this last election campaign, the most talked about person other than the candidates themselves was Ronald Reagan. Why was this? The reason is that during his terms in office, he became known as the "Great Communicator." People trusted him because he made the extra effort to keep them informed of his intentions. Who can forget his statement to the Russians "Take That Wall Down"?

There are still opportunities to profit from his Presidency. If you look in the marketplace of the 31 Club, you will find a photograph of Reagan that we are asking $650 for (which is a bargain). I am sure that all the true treasures from his time in office have not been found and may be lying in that old chest at the next house sale you attend.

It only takes a short trip to eBay to find what President Reagan items are selling for today. The most expensive item was an oak box containing six audio cassettes of the President’s most famous speeches and his signed book “Speaking My Mind” which recently brought $1,662. This was topped by a letter to Barry Goldwater, a past presidential candidate, which brought $1,800. There are many items that you may run across at sales such as a signed, first edition copy of his book "An American Life” which sold at auction for $900 or a Royal Doulton “Reagan” jug that sold for $599. Now at the lower end of the spectrum was a signed photo of Ronald and Nancy Reagan that drew a bid of $299.

I feel that these are just a few of the Reagan items that people are searching for and in the future you will see personal belongings from his estate bringing hundreds of thousands of dollars. I am confident that museums have their buyers looking for items to add to their Presidential displays. If you are fortunate enough to find some of his memorabilia, they will pay top dollar.

Reagan will rank as one of our greatest Presidents so you can expect there to be collectors for his memorabilia. You should consider adding his memorabilia to your top ten list.
Learn to Grow Your Bank Account Trading in Antiques & Collectibles. Register for the 31 Club. Daryle's 220 Page Book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your Membership.
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Treasure Hunters:

You Find It.
We Buy & Sell It.
You Net 35%.

Partner Up with 31 Club on High Quality Treasures You Find. We Do the Rest!!

Sellers:

Sell Your High Quality Items for LOW FEES
at 31 Gallery & Marketplace.
Keep More of Your Money.

Buyers:

Buy High Quality Items for FAIR PRICES
at 31 Gallery & Marketplace.

Our Members are Newbies to Seasoned Professionals
Making More Money than they Thought Possible.

Looking Ahead

There are several very special days in the year for me like Christmas and Thanksgiving where I am able to give thanks to God and also thanks for my country. But there are other days that mean a lot to me and I celebrated one yesterday and will celebrate another today. What are they you may ask? Well yesterday was my wife's birthday and today is my youngest son's birthday. My wife often says that Joshua was her birthday gift some ten years ago.

Why is this important to the members of the 31 Club? My answer leads to another question: where do collectibles come from? If we are going to place our financial future in the hands of collectors then we need to know why they collect what they collect and what periods of their life should we examine to see what the future holds for them as it relates to their collecting habits. I think that you would agree that Christmas and birthdays are two of the most important days of the year for most people as this is a time they receive gifts that bring them much pleasure. Then it only figures that the gifts received on these days will become future collectibles because they will bring back fond remembrances of past special days in their lives.

I must have been about four years old when my uncle Warren Dee bought me a box of marbles and a cast iron car for my birthday. I couldn't wait to go outside and play with them but little did I know that you couldn't play with marbles in the sand box. My dad had built this enormous sand box in the backyard for me but when I dumped the marbles in the sand they disappeared. I must have tried for an entire week to locate them all to no avail but I do remember crying each day as I continued to search for them.

Now that I am sixty-seven years young, I still remember those marbles and every time I run across a box of them, I can't resist purchasing them if I have the money. Uncle Warren probable paid ten cents for the box of marbles he gave me, but today that same box may cost several thousand dollars. The cast iron car with the cast iron wheels is still in my possession and there is no price I can put on the sentimental value that can be put on it. What do you remember fondly from your past? Whatever it is, you can bet it has value today and should be something you search for when on your hunt.

Let me give you a list of items that was important to me over the years. After the marbles and car, there was a baseball glove and bat, then came sets of comic and adventure books. At the age of 10, I became interested in collecting coins and stamps. In high school, records by artists like Elvis and others filled my house. A 1955 Chevy hard top was my prized possession in high school (a gift from my parents) and after that I started my family and worked my way though college.

Does that sound like some of the items that collectors are searching for today? Items like those bring top dollar in today's marketplace when they can be found. I have people everyday ask how they can get started in this business and perhaps your answer may come as you start a list from items from your past.

Learn to Grow Your Bank Account Trading in Antiques & Collectibles. Register for the 31 Club. Daryle's 220 Page Book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your Membership.
Plus You Get FREE MENTORING with Daryle.
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Treasure Hunters:

You Find It.
We Buy & Sell It.
You Net 35%.

Partner Up with 31 Club on High Quality Treasures You Find. We Do the Rest!!

Sellers:

Sell Your High Quality Items for LOW FEES
at 31 Gallery & Marketplace.
Keep More of Your Money.

Buyers:

Buy High Quality Items for FAIR PRICES
at 31 Gallery & Marketplace.

Our Members are Newbies to Seasoned Professionals
Making More Money than they Thought Possible.

Make It at Home

Years ago when I went to auctions often, I would find spinning wheels and looms that were used to make cloth for clothing but I seldom see these today. But this doesn't mean they never show up and there are still collectors searching for them everyday. The best examples of spinning wheels and looms can be valued at thousands of dollars. I purchased a very fine spinning wheel out of a barn once in Indiana and took it to a flea market to sell and before I could get it out of the truck, I had people fighting over who was first in line to purchase it. However, there are several types of collectibles that were used to make life enjoyable and more interesting. I will mention a few that may be helpful in your pursuit.

It is very seldom that I attend a house sale that I don't see some type of food mold. There are candy, cake, ice cream, butter and other food molds that are eagerly sought after by the avid collector. I have seen candy molds sell for over $500 and they come in every shape, form and fashion. Santa candy molds should sell at a premium as we approach the Christmas season. Be sure to keep a close eye out for them and they can reward you handsomely when found.

Now, cake molds are a different thing. I was attending a farm sale once and there in the out building; you from the city won't know what this is but thats okay, I found a Griswold Santa cake mold in the box. I asked the price and was told $50 and so it was added to my growing pile of items to purchase. Not really wanting to part with this piece, I entered my Santa mold in a sale with what I thought was an outrageous reserve of $550 just to see what its real value was. As you may have guessed, it exceeded my reserve and I knew that even though I personally collected Griswold at the time, I would probably never own another original Santa cake mold in the box. I haven't found another one to this very day.

As for other molds, butter molds have always been a very desirable. They have been made using several different materials through the years, but the wooden ones seem to do the best in the market place. The better the design on the butter pad, the higher their value is. I once saw one with an Eagle pattern and dated, if I remember correctly, somewhere in the 1700 bring over $1,500.

I have just touch on a few of the collectible items that are available to you. It is a real tribute to the early woman that she wanted to pretty up the common things found in her house for her family. Taking pieces of colorful cloth to make wonderful quilts and homemade clothing, all the while cooking in the kitchen and making the food more appealing.

Remember this when you are out there hunting for those items that were used to make life better. These items were used and functional so few survived intact, making them rare and unusual. This is the reason the true collector is willing to pay large sums to acquire the true quality items from year's past. No one every expected them to have the value they have to day.

Learn to Grow Your Bank Account Trading in Antiques & Collectibles. Register for the 31 Club. Daryle's 220 Page Book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your Membership.
Plus You Get FREE MENTORING with Daryle.
Join Today!



Treasure Hunters:

You Find It.
We Buy & Sell It.
You Net 35%.

Partner Up with 31 Club on High Quality Treasures You Find. We Do the Rest!!

Sellers:

Sell Your High Quality Items for LOW FEES
at 31 Gallery & Marketplace.
Keep More of Your Money.

Buyers:

Buy High Quality Items for FAIR PRICES
at 31 Gallery & Marketplace.

Our Members are Newbies to Seasoned Professionals
Making More Money than they Thought Possible.

Time to Think Like Santa

Time is short and he's a list and checking it twice, so what do you think will be on it? Your customers are looking for that special present for that special person: do you have it for them? This is the easiest time to sell the items that you have purchased over the past year so be sure to take advantage of this season. Impulse buying is at it highest point from now until Christmas and if you have the right present, Santa has just the right person for it.

Go back to your lists of who you sold paintings, pottery or art glass to and let them know what items you currently have in inventory. Many people are like me: creatures of habit. I always go to the Brighton store to pick up some jewelry for my wife - they can count on me as a return customer for all those special occasions. Some of your customers are consistent in their buying habits. I know a person that buys his wife a piece of Lotton Glass each and every year.

This is the time to be pro-active and the rewards mayl surprise you. If you work diligently, over 50% of your sales can come over the next couple of months. This is the time for you to give your business the maximum effort. Remember the movies that depicted Santa's elves working all day and night: this is the time.

Scour auctions and antique malls for items that fulfill that special need your customer has. Call them and share what you have located. In the past this has proven very successful for me. Doing business in this manner provides you with a way to make money even before you dole out the cash. That definitely fits our goal, right?

You may even want to put some items in Christmas Auctions because many items seem to command higher prices than any other time of year. Time is of the essence for placing items in these auctions or you might be too late.

Remember, nothing is too good for a loved one. My son wants a new computer (a rather expensive Christmas gift) but it’s possible that he may just get his wish. I hope you get my point.
Learn to Grow Your Bank Account Trading in Antiques & Collectibles. Register for the 31 Club. Daryle's 220 Page Book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your Membership.
Plus You Get FREE MENTORING with Daryle.
Join Today!



Treasure Hunters:

You Find It.
We Buy & Sell It.
You Net 35%.

Partner Up with 31 Club on High Quality Treasures You Find. We Do the Rest!!

Sellers:

Sell Your High Quality Items for LOW FEES
at 31 Gallery & Marketplace.
Keep More of Your Money.

Buyers:

Buy High Quality Items for FAIR PRICES
at 31 Gallery & Marketplace.

Our Members are Newbies to Seasoned Professionals
Making More Money than they Thought Possible.

Wish List for Antiques and Fine Art

I have been disappointed in the lack of response the 31 club has received from the Wish List. The 31 Club is trying to provide ways in which its members can be connected to the world market without having to spend the advertising money to do it. With the Internet, a person can become a world wide dealer and expand their ability to be successful many times more than the person who merely maintains a local presence. By becoming a member of the 31 Club, you are allowed to advertise for the items that you are interested in and people from around the world will see your ad. The ability to reach foreign buyers and sellers is potentially worth several hundred dollars each month that you advertise.

All that is required to take advantage of the Wish List is for a person to join the 31Club at our website www.31corp.com. Even if you are a small, part time dealer, the world will not discriminate against you because they can’t tell the difference between you and the larger dealers. This allows you to receive bid and offers for your merchandise just like dealers that are spending thousands of dollars each month in advertising to get their name out to the public. You can do the same through the 31 Club.

Does this advertising work? I am presently working with a lady in France on three perfume bottles that I hope to buy this week. If I hadn't used the 31 Club’s Wish List there is no way she would have contacted me. This is also a great selling tool, as an example I recently sold a Doulton vase for $3,750 and a painting for $5,000 overseas because the buyers found my items on our site. The overseas markets are wide open for us if only we let the people know what we have for sale and/or what we are interested in buying.

It is so simple to create your wish list after you have joined the club. Joining is very simple: go to our website and complete the order from. After completing the form, you will follow the instructions to register for your ID and password. Once this is complete, you can access the “members only” section and hit enter on the wish list which will allow you to post the items that you are searching for. If you have any problems please contact the 31 Club.

Learn to Grow Your Bank Account Trading in Antiques & Collectibles. Register for the 31 Club. Daryle's 220 Page Book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your Membership.
Plus You Get FREE MENTORING with Daryle.
Join Today!



Treasure Hunters:

You Find It.
We Buy & Sell It.
You Net 35%.

Partner Up with 31 Club on High Quality Treasures You Find. We Do the Rest!!

Sellers:

Sell Your High Quality Items for LOW FEES
at 31 Gallery & Marketplace.
Keep More of Your Money.

Buyers:

Buy High Quality Items for FAIR PRICES
at 31 Gallery & Marketplace.

Our Members are Newbies to Seasoned Professionals
Making More Money than they Thought Possible.

People Want to Know

Yesterday was quite a surprise for my first day back. I received a call, from Christina Hoag of the Associated Press of L.A., wanting to know how I felt about the Antique and Art business during this crisis. Guess what I shared with her? Now is the time to buy - because people are selling their better Antiques and Art to make ends meet. Remember there are always buyers for the rare and unusual so this is an opportune time for you to make your money for the year.

When I had finished this interview, I spoke with Walt Kolenda and Mindy about the Auction Wally Show we would be doing that evening. It is always a pleasure to share my thoughts and ideas with the wonderful people that listen to the Auction Wally Show. Hopefully some of what I said has value for their listeners. This was the first time that I talked to Mindy and she sound very excited about this business. I look forward to talking to her more in the future about the contemporary art and collectibles that she seems to be so knowledgeable about.

Guess what else happened? I was checking Yahoo and there was an article that talked about how Craig's List was being used by people to meet their financial needs. Great minds think alike - wouldn't you say? They are a little late with this article because anyone who reads my blog would have already known this. I recently put four paintings on Craig's list and I received four responses today. I will keep you informed as to my success, but this seems like a very good start.

Everything seemed to be going in the right direction yesterday - I even received an email from Christie's with an estimate on a painting that I may send to have them auction off (the estimate valued the painting at twice what I expected.) How often does that happen and who says the market is soft?

The 31 Club held a board meeting last night and I can tell you that my feet aren't touching the ground yet. I can't share with you all the great things we discussed, but in coming days I hope to reveal some wonderful news to all my readers. There are some exciting things on the horizon if certain things can be accomplished by the 31 Club. Stay tuned for further reports.

For more information visit our website " www.31corp.com "

31 Corp – Daryle Lambert- There's Still Hope

Yeah! My faith has be renewed today. There may be some good art for future generations after all. I attended the outdoor art festival at the Glen in Glenview Illinois yesterday. Believe it or not, I saw some great work. Most of the booths still left lots to be desired for future collectors but out of the many showing, I was able to pick out a few that will survive the test of time. I would recommend that you add their names to your list to search for because I think true collectors may want to have work by these artists in their collections.

I was beginning to get that empty feeling in my stomach as I passed perhaps 30 or 40 booths without even having a twinge of interest - but then it happened, there on my left was a booth filled with wonderful floral paintings that immediately caught my interest. I entered the booth, looked around and fully enjoyed the work when this very nice lady asked if she could help me. I told her what I was doing and that her work had caught my eye. We discussed the art world for a few minutes and shared the blessings that God has given us through art. I then stepped back and took another look at the wonderful florals that decorated the booths walls. I informed her that she might want to look at our blog today. I have made you wait long enough - her name is Kimberly Marshall from St. Petersburg, Florida. You can see her work at www.marshallsartz.com. Not until I got home and read one of her hand outs did I realize why I liked her so much. These are her words “ My art is an expression of my passion and love for life.”

It wasn't long after I left Kimberly's that I spotted another booth that drew me in. This time the paintings were watercolors- but not just any watercolors. This wonderful lady from Massachusetts said “can I show you something?” and I answered “yes, you can.” I was in heaven as she asked me what piece I liked the best. It didn't take me long to point to the beautiful vertical painting with very colorful flowers. As we talked she informed me that every painting that she paints comes from her garden or area. Her name is Barbara W. Doncaster and I may go back to her booth with my wife tomorrow. Her email address is www.barbaradoncaster.com. I wish that I had a picture of her work to show you but I hope you will contact her and she can provide you with some pictures. Both these ladies went out of their way to be friendly and gracious. I highly recommend that you follow up on the blog and get acquainted with these artists. The show continues through Sunday so if any of you are in the Chicago area, I would say that it is worth checking out this show just to see the works of these two ladies.

Tomorrow I will be writing about a friend that I ran across at the show but space doesn't allow me to include that visit in today's blog. Yes, I have been encouraged today and feel that there must be numerous other talented artists out there for me to find and pass on to you.

Don't forget to visit us at [ www.31corp.com ]

Cindy is out of town and will be back tomorrow so thanks for being patient with me as I have struggled to do just half as good at this job as she does.

31 Club - Daryle Lambert - Things have Changed

I know that you may get tired of me writing about the knowledge you need today to be successful in the Antique, Fine Art and Collectible markets but I hope that after reading this blog it will help you understand.

I went to a house sale on the North side of Chicago over the weekend and when I approached the sale, I could see that there was a long waiting line. Parking the car, I did as usual and started talking to the people standing in line. After a short period of time, I noticed the line wasn't moving much so I sought out the owner of the sales company and asked how long it would be before they would get to my number. Patience isn't one of my strengths. Again, I walked up to the son of the lady conducing the sale and asked if there were any paintings, pottery or art glass in the sale.

I know you won't believe what I am going to tell you next - but this is what we are dealing with. “No!” came his reply, “if there was anything good, mom would have sent it to auction.” I couldn't believe my ears. I asked him why I was there if all the good items had been sent to auction and his answer was “I don't know.” You see, the house sale companies have now started their own businesses by selling at auctions instead of doing a service for their customers and selling their items at the house sale. Of course, the customers come out on the wrong end of the stick because they still pay the house sale companies their fees and the auction houses take their cut, and I am sure the auction houses pay the house sale companys a fee for bringing them merchandise to sell.

If you ask the house sales companies why they sent the good items to auction their answer would be the good stuff brings more at auction. How do they know? The people arriving at their sales before daylight might very well pay a fair price for the better things – however, they don't even get a chance and the seller gets least amount of money in the end.

The logical answer is that the house sales people do not have the knowledge to price better items appropriately so they let the auctions do that job for them. If they did have the knowledge, you would bet that they would try to sell the items at the sale first at a fair price and then if the items didn't sell - they could be sent to auction. This is what I consider “servicing the customer where the customer retains a greater part of the sale proceeds.”

Why have I written this blog? Because you can still find bargains at these sales, often real treasures are not recognized by the house sales companies. For instance - the plates I bought for $150 and sold immediately for $1,250 or the Rookwood lamp that was bought for $1,500 has an auction estimate of $4500. Remember the Tarzan book purchased for a couple of dollars that sold for $18,000. I know a man who bought a Rookwood plaque for about $50 and sold it outside of the same house sale for $4,500. But the best example might be the Newcomb vase that I bought for about $3,000 and later sold for well over $14,000. Yes, there are bargains at house sales, but you have to be very knowledgeable to find them because it they are recognized by the selling companies, they will either be overpriced or sent to auction.

I hope that as we walk through this journey together you will grant me permission to continually feed you information that will make your journey easier.

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Pilkington Tile and Pottery Co. - A Hidden Value

Everyday, I search for things of interest that might just prove to be a treasure to us. I believe I have come upon an item I would add to the “What’s Hot” list. Remember trends are identified by people that have a gift that allows them to see them. Often a new trend is right there before your eyes, but by the time you see it this trend might be in mid-cycle. That’s not where you want to be. It is much better to be there at the start of a trend.

Pilkington Pottery is something you want to watch for and purchase. It has been on the market since the late1800's, up until 1937 when this division was closed. The company did survive and operates under the name Pilkington's Tiles Ltd., even today.

We are only interested in the period of manufacturing from 1903 through 1937. This is when the Royal Lancastrian line was introduced. The new opalescent glaze that was applied to the Lancastrian line became an instant hit with the buyers. These pieces where manufactured during the war years, so I would presume that there were fewer pieces made and even fewer that survived. These are some of the most beautiful pottery pieces ever produced

Pilkington, in my opinion, is of equal quality to the finest English pottery of the time, and I think much rarer than most of the others. However, if you aren't familiar with the company’s marks, you might come across a piece and think it is just a contemporary vase or bowl. The Kovels New Dictionary of Marks will provide the information for most marks out there, and I have suggested that everyone who wants to follow the 31 Club plan purchase this necessary book.

The surprising thing about Pilkington is that their pieces don't have to be extremely large to command some very healthy prices. For instance, a 7 ½ inch Lancastrian vase decorated with four Galleons at Sea, produced around 1908 might fetch $5,000 today. A Floral 9 inch vase could easily sell at auction for $3,500 or more.

Since most people will not know how to identify this company’s ware, you might be fortunate enough to pick up one of these for as little as a couple hundred dollars.

I can promise you that if one of these presents itself at a garage or estate sale, it will probably be waiting there for you. As you pick it up, don’t be surprised if the person next to you says, Oh, that’s nothing, and it’s so overpriced”

The oyster is ugly, but inside there can be a beautiful pearl. That’s what I think this business is all about. Yes, we will open many oysters to find those pearls, but how sweet it is along the way when we find them. By the way, the oyster isn’t all that bad either.

Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members. Turbo charge your treasure hunting. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to build a bank account to last a lifetime, buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.

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Daryle Lambert: When is the Right Time to Sell

Whenever you make a great buy, how much profit should you hold out for? No one can tell you the answer to that question on every purchase, but I can give you some suggestions.

It has been over a year since I started working with a person to sell two Andy Warhol prints: a Howdy Doody and a Witch. About that time it looked like they were pretty much sold, the party wanted to raise the asking price. Since they belonged to that person, they had every right to do it, but was it wise?

Let's examine the facts. When we first offered these, the bid price was $20,000 for the Howdy and $15,000 for the Witch. I suggested that we price them at $27,000 and $22,000. You see, the market was going up, and it wasn't time to sell them at the bid. It wasn't long before I got a call saying that the prices on the prints were going up more, and we should raise the price on them. Tell me something new. So we raised them to $28,500 for the one and $35,000 for the other. The Witch traded places with the Howdy, and surpassed it in price. This price increase in prints was caused by auction prices for some of Warhol's paintings, such as the Cars that sold for $71,000,000. This had very little to do with the prints, however, and I was sure that their prices would start to decline in a short period of time..

Thinking that the market was being artificially raised, my suggestion was to sell them at the next offer. That was when I received a call from California from a gentleman that offered almost $40,000 for the Witch, which I gleefully presented to the seller. Much to my surprise the selling party now wanted to raise the price to near $60,000 for the one and $45,000 for the other. I no longer represent the selling party on the prints, but today I found out that the prices were dropping and now approaching the initial price we started at.

There are at least two reasons why the choice not to sell made no sense. First they where prints, and prints are faddish. Their value, more than likely, wouldn'tt pass the test of time. Second, what could the seller have done with the money if the prints had been sold? That money might have doubled or tripled by now had it been invested in other items. The old saying in the stock market is "Bulls make money and Bears make money, but Pigs go broke." You always sell into a rising market, and the best time to buy is when everyone else says don't buy now because everything is going to zero.

The game we are playing is buy and sell, and we do this over and over again. We are not looking for appreciation, because in our plan anything we purchase should be worth several times what was paid at the time of purchase. This means our money is active, and the risk is almost nil.

Don't get caught up in the excitement of the market place and forget the purpose of our plan.

Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members. Turbo charge your treasure hunting. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to build a bank account to last a lifetime, buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.

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Daryle Lambert Blog: Create Your Own Market in the Antiques & Collectible Business

31 Club Member, Colin, just might have the largest collection of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony memorabilia in the U.S.

Have you ever thought that by having a special interest in a certain Baseball, Football, Basketball player you could start your own business? A certain Singer, Actor or Race Car Driver might suit you better, but regardless of your taste, there is plenty of opportunity to turn this interest into dollars.

No, I don't want you to change what you are doing now, as you study with me to acquire the knowledge that will set you free, but why not take advantage of some of the knowledge you’ve already acquired?

Here’s some examples: I’ve told you about my friend Warner before, and how he has become perhaps one of the top collectors of Lotton Glass. In fact, Warner started the Lotton Glass Club only a few years ago, although Charles Lotton began making glass in the early 1970s. I can’t tell you why someone hadn’t started a club earlier, but after Warner started the club, he found that there were a great many people who already had large collections of Lotton Glass.

Warner soon became the person to contact if you were looking to buy or sell Lotton Glass. Presto! A new business was formed. Ask anyone who enjoys this beautiful glass and they will tell you how thankful they are that Warner took it upon himself to provide this service. And he has made it a very successful business. Warner still has all the knowledge that he acquired while we were partners, and when he sees a bargain in anything other than Lotton Glass, I can assure you he still can pounce on it. He has followed the 31 Club plan, while at the same time, choose to concentrate in mostly one area.

You have the same opportunity to do just as Warner has done. Find something that you like for yourself, buy it and then sell it. By doing this over and over again, people will start recognizing you as the authority on the items that you are buying and selling. You can become the focal point for that collectible. You can start with one baseball card, one company’s figurine, a record by a certain artist or a painting. Let people know you are looking for these certain items. I can give you several websites that provide free advertising and you can place ads in the wanted to buy sections. In fact, I do this all the time and just today, I had emails from people wanting to sell a Harvey Joiner painting and some Lotton Glass.

The next person I want to tell you about is Colin, who is as close to me a son. Soon after we became acquainted, I found out that his favorite singing group was Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. You might not be familiar with them, but to a special group of followers, they are the best thing since apple pie. Believe it or not, there are probably thousands of collectors that are building a collection of this group's memorabilia. Colin tells me that he may have the largest single collection of their items in America. He in his own way, and has turned this into a business. No, he doesn't take the money out when he sells his duplicates. Instead, he reinvests it in more items for his collection. He’s following a plan just like the 31 Club Plan, only his money is always committed to his collection.

I hope that this information will get you thinking about what you can do. I will continue to share individual items for you to watch, but there is so much you can do in this business. So, stay with me, and pass the word.

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Daryle Lambert: Who Says It Has To Be Beautiful - Fulper Pottery

Photo from JustArtPottery.com

When I first started in this business, I was always looking for something I considered beautiful. Later, I realized that technique and style was equally important. In my early years in this trade, I walked past something if it didn't catch my eye. Today that has changed. Today, the glaze or texture of a piece might give me the clue to its value.

The best example of this might be Fulper pottery. Until I became acquainted with Fulper and began to appreciate their glazes, I couldn't understand what all the excitement was about, when friends of mine found great examples of this pottery. But today, the more I am around these pieces, the better I like them. They seem to grow on me. And, the prices that the better items in the Fulper lines bring at auction will make anyone smile. This pottery might be like sardines. You might just have to acquire a taste for it.

The Fulper company was incorporated in 1899 in New Jersey, and they made pottery from 1910-1929. In that short period of time, they produced some of the most highly sought after Art Pottery that was ever crafted. Probably their most successful venture was when they discovered a way to reproduce the ancient glazes of the Orient. These are know as Crystalline Glazes, and they come in many colors. My favorites are Turquoise, Chinese Blue and Red, Copper Dust, and Leopard Skin. There are many other variations to pick from in their glaze lines, and some people base their collections solely upon pieces in one glaze color. Fulper became the Stangl Pottery Company in 1929.

The second glaze that has become popular with collectors is the Flambe glazes, and they also come in may colors. You will have to make your choice.

In Kovels guide you will find a crystalline bowl priced at almost $5,000, lamps as high as $23,000 and vases over $3,500. I think these prices are out dated, and today, those same items might bring several times what they are quoted in the book.

I have been very fortune when it comes to Fulper, because over the years, I have discovered many pieces of their pottery and never have I had to pay very much for it. In fact, most of the pieces I've found were bought at auctions for under $200. I can count on them selling for $800 to $1500 each. No, I have never had the opportunity to buy a $20,000 piece, but by purchasing so many of their pieces over the years, I am sure that the total return on my investment would be equal to that or greater.

These pieces just seem so plain and new that most of the dealers just pass right over them. I must warn you that there are reproductions and fakes out there. Be sure you know the Fulper Marks.

The best book that will show you some greatest pieces of Fulper is American Art Pottery by David Rago. Fulper will be included in any book written on American Art Potery because of its popularity.

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TODAY'S FULPER LINKS:

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Fulper Marks
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DARYLE LAMBERT - LOOK FOR THE STORK ON ROZENBURG

We have studied several of the potteries that were produced in this country but how about ones over seas. I would like to start with the one that has been very profitable for me, The Rozenburg Royal Delftware pottery.

I knew nothing about this pottery until I found a plaque at a garage sale and purchased it for just a few dollars. Getting home and studying my price guides I decided to put it up for sale on eBay. I figured that I didn't know to much about this factory and eBay gave me the best exposure in the European markets.

This was a wonderful piece was a country scene of a Shepherd with his dog leading the flock down a country road. There was also a barn in the picture and the colors were wonderful. The primary color was mauve with some tints of blue and a white sky. It was mounted in a wooden from and when I saw it there was no other decision to be made I had to own it.

As the auction progressed I couldn't believe my eyes as the price soon pasted $1000. The next day when I went to my computer I could hardly keep my composure, there, right there it said $1500 for a purchase that I had made for under $20. The final price came to almost $2000 and you betcha that got my attention.

But what was so special about this piece? Later I found out that the artist at the Rozenburg factory were some of the best in all of Europe. This company started in 1883 and closed in 1917. It never seemed to be able to become profitable even when it changed to composition of it production lines many time