“I Feel Like a New Dad” - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club Blog – It will soon be here.

It's the Best - Thanks to www.flicker.com

I was 18 years old and standing in a waiting room in Bowling Green, Kentucky, waiting for my wife to give birth to our first child and that feeling was almost indescribable. When I first saw my son the pride swelled up inside me but the longer I looked at him, all blue and wrinkled, I have to admit I asked myself what I had done. That question didn't last long, however, as I started to cry, knowing that I was holding God's greatest gift to me beside the gift of his son.

No doubt you as a member of the Daryle Lambert's antique and Collectible Club are asking what does this have to do with antiques and paintings, right? Well it does and I hope that soon you will have the opportunity to share in this feeling along with me. You see as you continue along in your journey to find those special antiques and paintings that we call treasures that are waiting to be found by you, often doubt creeps into your mind whether or not they are really out there. But one special day there it is, that once in a lifetime find and it is yours. Well that has happened to me and I have to share with you, the feeling that I am experiencing.

First the call came from Paducah, Kentucky about some local artwork and I was asked if I would be interested. It didn't take me much time to get that answer out of my mouth and the answer was affirmative. There were Harvey Joiners and Carl Brenners but not being able to see the paintings myself, I sent Cecil, my friend in Kentucky, to view them for me and after talking we decided to purchase them. I still hadn't seen them so do you get the parallel with waiting for a baby. They were brought to Chicago where a wonderful restorer was going to bring them back to their original condition, and even though I knew they were there I still couldn't imagine how they would look in the end. For me this wait has resembled the nine months that were the longest months of my life, the time waiting for the birth of my son.

Monday will be the delivery date because today I received the invoice saying the paintings were ready to be picked up. All of a sudden I felt both excitement and anxiety at the same time like in the hospital many years ago. What will the biggest one look like? Will I like it as much as I hoped? It may be too large to hold, however, by being five feet by six feet in size but I am sure that I won't be able to keep my hands off it. I can't tell you how this story is going to end but I assure you that this is a feeling that you should experience some day and I hope that it isn't that far in your future. Yes I will be give you the end of the story as Paul Harvey would say, later. But as I wait I will be having visions of the most beautiful paintings that were ever painted.

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques & collectibles is FREE with your membership in the Daryle Lamberts Antique and Collectible Club . Join Us Today!Check out the new Paintings and new items in our Gallery and Marketplace here.

“Flora Danica Even Sounds Beautiful” - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club – China With a Cost.

Royal Cophenhagen Flora Danica - Thanks to jamerantik.dk

This week I have had several emails and calls on sets of china. The one that surprised me most was when a gentleman email me about a Bohemia Carlsbad set composed of 64 pieces. After corresponding with him he finally called and said that he had been told that several of the pieces were worth $2000 dollars or more. Since I have been in this business for over 45 years I have only encountered a few china sets that will sell in the secondary market for over $2000. My advice to him was to check with Replacements Limited and he shocked me when he said he had. I ask what they told him and his answer was $9.00 a plate. This was when as gently as I could I said ” I don't think the person saying that pieces sold for over $2000 was correct do you?”

When today you can buy complete sets of 12 plus serving pieces from companies like Doulton, Hutschenreuther and Wedgwood for $900 to $2500, it is hard to imagine many sets that would sell for $20,000 or more in the secondary market. Yes, if you go to the store to purchase these sets of china new, don't be surprised to see them marked up 500% or more from the prices I quoted here, but the secondary market is a totally different market just as it is in jewelry. Why anyone would buy china or jewelry at retail prices is beyond me.

This is when I think that old adage comes into play “ A fool and his money are easily separated ” and I concur. My wife has beautiful jewelry, if I have to say so myself, but it has been purchased wisely and for this I have been able to buy for her things that I could not have afforded at retail prices. This same can be said of china and sterling silver that are given for wedding presents. How many people have started their china and sterling patterns but because they are priced so high, never get them completed. I must confess I fall into that category and have an incomplete set of silver stored in my closet.

My purpose in writing this blog is to warn you about over paying but it is also to inform you of where you might find bargains when they are over looked by others. There is a company that makes a series of china that falls into the class and it is Royal Copenhagen's Flora Danica. This china isn't for the faint of heart. I noticed a small basket listed in the Cincinnati Art Galleries auction for this weekend with an estimate of $2000-$3000. It is only 3 1/2 inches tall and 9 inches across. Since this bowl is reticulated [ meaning it has perforated sides ], I can only think of one purpose for it and that is to hold napkins. Ha Ha. Pretty expensive napkin rack.

But not trying to be funny, there is money to be made if you run across pieces of this china in your search for treasure. I remember when Vicki or Lou Ann emailed me once about some Flora Danica that was selling and my advice was to purchase it if it were reasonable, but guess what, it wasn't. If you doubt me go to eBay to the completed section. There you will find where 12 plates were offered for $12,500 and the ad says that was 50% of the retail price. I once was told if a person had to ask the price of something they weren't rich and I believe this would differently apply to Flora Danica because the person buying it must never ask the price I'm sure. I don't think that I could eat off a $1000 plate because I would be shaking so hard I would drop my knife and chip the plate. Happy hunting.

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques & collectibles is FREE with your membership in the Daryle Lamberts Antique and Collectible Club . Join Us Today!Check out the new Paintings and new items in our Gallery and Marketplace here.

“If It Is Too Good, Be Careful” - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog – Fakes abound.

Fakes Can Be Costly - Thanks to http://www.home.clf.rr.com/

You would think that in times of prosperity you would see the most fakes and reproductions but that isn't necessarily so. I am finding that the percentage of fakes that are being presented to me now is greater than at any time that I have been in the Antique and Collectible business. It really hurts me when I have to tell a person the treasure they thought was going to really set them on their way is a fake. I usually hear them say “Oh well” but I know the their heart has just aboutfallen through the floor.

Let's examine why this is happening. First, I think that the unscrupulous sellers know that in times when dealers are making very little money and often not breaking even, they can be open to getting hurt if they think that there is an opportunity to score big. Often, out of despair, they will forgo the lessons that they have learned through study. These buyers become easy prey for the rogues in this business. It is exactly these times that we as members of the Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible club want to be cautious because a big mistake now will be harder to overcome than in good times. If you have your money you're still in the game but if you get taken by fakes it may be game over. So take your time because time is on your side as long as you are still able to play.

This is a dog eat dog business on the outside so that is why we must stick together and share with one another to prevent us from getting taken. How do these people without a heart lure us in? One of the best ways of getting us is to put something out at a garage or house sale. When we ask if it is real they will tell us it has been in the family for 50 years or simply they don't know. This is when we should walk away because the seller knows we don't have time to do the research and they are hoping our greed will get the best of us. Another scam is when you go to a show or flea market and a dealer says, "I took this piece in on trade and I made my money on the piece I sold so I can offer you this piece at my cost." You should always be leery when someone offers to sell you something at cost. Here is another line to avoid, "I had a very well known dealer say that it was genuine." Sure they did.

I could go on and tell you about other ways people pass on fakes and reproduction but maybe it is time for me to help you avoid getting taken. Here is an almost fail safe way of finding out if the seller is trying to take you with a fake. Ask the seller to hold your check while you have a person that is an expert check it out and the response will almost be immediate. If the seller knows the piece is fake he will start making every excuse under the sun why he can't do that and this is when you don't want to walk away but run. If he says okay it will clear him from being purposely dishonest but it still could be a fake so check it out and hopefully it will be the real thing. Second, you can ask for a receipt that states that it is a real genuine item and that you can return it if it isn't.

Hopefully these little tips will help you stay safe but the best method to avoid fakes and reproductions is to take your time and realize that there will be another opportunity and if there is the slightest doubt about a piece being real, walk away. I am sure that I have missed my share of treasures in the past but believe me I am so glad I did because by not making many mistakes I have lived to fight another day.

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques & collectibles is FREE with your membership in the Daryle Lamberts Antique and Collectible Club . Join Us Today!Check out the new Paintings and new items in our Gallery and Marketplace here.

“ Amphora, but Which One?” - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog – For me it is Reissner, Stellmacher & Kessel

The Best Amphora - Thanks to www.trocadero.com

I have know that Amphora could sell for big dollars but it entirely depends on the piece and who made it. Some Amphora will barely bring enough to pay for your gas to pick it up, while other pieces sell in the thousands of dollars. Yes I knew enough to know that pieces of Amphora with jewels usually do okay but I really was never sure about the others so I usually passed them.

Remember when I shared with you that it was well worth your time to scour auction catalogs because there will be a wealth of information there for you to store in your mind for later use? This just happened to me and, guess what? I have added information on Amphora that will make me lots of money in the future. You are asking how did that happen, right? Well, I just received my new Cincinnati Art Gallery's catalog and in it is listed an outstanding group of Amphora pieces for sale.

Paging through the catalog, I noticed that there was one company that seemed to have higher estimates on their pieces than the others, so I started doing my research. The company's name is Reissner, Stellmarcher & Kessel [ Bohemia ] and I had to know more about them. Going to Google search, I learned they were founded in 1892 and produced fabulous works until 1905. This is a very short life for a factory but what happened was the founders, at different times, went their separate ways. But while they were together their body of work was unsurpassed. Here is a site that gives the marks that you will need in your search for treasure among the Amphora pieces in general.

However, the marks you are looking for will carry the initials of the three men R, S & K that founded the company and these were the only ones used by these men during the thirteen years they were in business together. The marks with the R, S & K are usually in red and here is a link to a site where you can see them. I promise you that in the future I will be looking for these marks and I will report to you as soon as I stumble on to one of these treasure. Isn't it easy how we add to our knowledge base, that will make us money, while others are satisfied watching TV or other forms of wasted time. When you can talk to others about the quality items that you have learned about, it is better than any show that I have ever watched.

You will run across many Amphora pieces as you continue to search for treasure, but after reading this blog, you know that if a piece has the initials R, S & K on the bottom, it is time to start bargaining. Just another example of where the rare and unusual will serve you well.

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques & collectibles is FREE with your membership in the Daryle Lamberts Antique and Collectible Club . Join Us Today!
Check out the new Paintings and new items in our Gallery and Marketplace here.

“There is Time to Grieve” - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club” – Say a Prayer With Me.

Together Nothing is Impossible - Thanks to www.watchmanministries.org

We have started this journey together and as I have always told you the turtle wins the race. It is okay to put important things in front of your desire to succeed. God didn't plan for us to work every waking hour and he instructed us to rest. This rest that we need can come from many different directions. First, if we are sick, as I was over the weekend, it is okay to rest. Maybe you are just feeling burned out and want to take more time for yourself or family. Whatever you leave behind will still be there when you return. Another member of ours, Ondre is recovering from surgery and I keep her in my prayers. But there is one situation that demands your total mental power and that is when we lose a loved one.

I just received an email from Gretchen S. who is one of the members of the “Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club” and also the lady that brought me the painting to Chicago from Paducah, Kentucky. She informed me that her dad, who fortunately she had visited recently, passed away. It is never easy to lose anyone close to you but a parent is a different matter entirely. There has been a request for prayer for the family and I am sure that each one of you will put her and her family on your prayer list.

These have been the quickest two years of my life. Who could forget Todd, who lost his 16 year old son, and was so warmly greeted into our lives, or Andrew, who as a young man with problems we can only imagine, has taught us some of life's most important lessons. This has been already a journey that no amount of money could buy. My life has been made fuller by this experience and I believe the best is yet to come.

Today we put out a bid on all the necessary work to complete our goal for the website and I have to tell you that even I am getting excited. My goal of sharing the opportunity with others to become financially secure without breaking themselves in the process will be a dream fulfilled for me. We are approaching two years of blogs that people said was impossible, but with your encouragement and God's help we have done it together. How can I ever thank all our members that have stuck with me, when I even wondered where our club was going. They knew and continued to share their experiences with me that give me the strength to continue. Yes, making money and being successful are important but their importance is minuscule compared with the value of having friends and family.

I do get away from antiques and collectibles some of the time but I will always share my heart with you even if the other things have to take a backseat every once in awhile.

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques & collectibles is FREE with your membership in the Daryle Lamberts Antique and Collectible Club . Join Us Today!
Check out the new Paintings and new items in our Gallery and Marketplace here.

“Walley Can Mean More than a Walrus” - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog - William S. Walley Pottery.

William Walley Pottery - Thanks to www.roykas.com

When we are looking for treasure as members of the Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club it is easy to get carried away with the names most people recognize, but that isn't necessarily where the real money is to be made. Often it is from pieces that were made by craftsmen that never became commercial successes while they were alive. I think that William S. Walley was such a gentleman. His production of pottery only covered a short span of time from 1898 – 1919 in a small shop in West Sterling Massachusetts, but today his pieces of pottery are highly coveted by the sophisticated collector.

With the downturn in the economy most of the common and even some of the not so common works of the potters have declined in value, but not so with Walley. In fact, to my amazement, they are still climbing at a rather startling rate. He was a common man and I think that he never would have guessed that his works in the future would sometimes command thousands of dollars. Not like one of his peers, George Ohr, who predicted his works would be worth more than gold someday. What a prophet he was.

Walley once made a statement that will last for all times, "There is more artistic merit in a brick, formed and fired by one man, than in the best piece of modeled pottery ever made.” So I hope that the Roseville collectors don't hear that. But I do believe that the skill of one man is better than the copy of any other work. He did a lot of his work at the Wooster State Hospital where he taught the patients how to make pottery. These works were signed with a die cast mark WST. I can find no other mark that he used with the exception of his initials.

He used local red clay for his pieces and most were under 7” tall. Only 5% of his pieces were 12” or taller. Most of his work consisted of vases with carved leaves and the glazes he used were his own compositions. He liked to use the colors green and brown with the semi-gloss or matte finishes but could vary to the mahogany and blue.

I just received my new catalog from Cincinnati Art Galleries and there is a wonderful example of Walley's work represented # lot 308 and it has an estimate of $3000-$3500 and at that price I think that it is a bargain. Watch for those initials WST on the bottom of that next vase you pick up.

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques & collectibles is FREE with your membership in the Daryle Lamberts Antique and Collectible Club . Join Us Today!
Check out the new Paintings and new items in our Gallery and Marketplace here.

“Coppertone Doesn't Always Mean Sun Lotion” - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog – Weller Pottery

Happy Fishing - Thanks to www.wisconsinpottery.org

It is early summer and that always makes me thing of going fishing. In fact, my brother Roger is coming to Chicago Thursday to pick me up for a short trip to Minnesota to see if the fish are biting up there. When I think of fishing, scenes of cattails, fish jumping and frogs croaking come to mind. This is what I must have had in common with one of the designers at Weller Pottery. This designer created the line called "Coppertone" and it is one of the favorites with collectors of all the Weller patterns. Most of these pieces are marked with the Weller half-kiln ink mark.

I was attending an auction in southern Indiana many years ago and happened across this unusual piece of pottery bearing the resemblance of a frog sitting on a lily pad. This piece caught my eye and, even though I wanted to leave the auction early, I stayed just to bid on that one piece. This was a farm auction and most people weren't there to buy pottery so I was very proud of myself when I purchased it for under $100. Later I found out it was called a Fountain Figure and when I sold it at auction it brought over $600. That sure made that cute little frog a prince in my eyes.

So that I won't only tell you my success stories like the one above, I will share this one with you. I was in Florida visiting my wife's parents and decided to visit the local flea market one day when nothing else was on our calendar. After visiting most of the booths I came upon this dealer that really had some rare and unusual items. I tried to negotiate on several of them and I have to admit that I was quite successful. However, before leaving his booth I saw two water sprinklers, one was a duck and the other was a frog, I asked their price and he said $3000 for the pair. I knew they were good but not how good and I wasn't following one of my own rules. I didn't have a price guide with me. He told me if I didn't purchase them he was going to consign the pieces to auction. That seemed like a lot of money at the time so I started to walk off and the dealer said “What would you pay?” I hate to think about it today because I feel sure the purchase could have been made for $2500 or less. Returning to Chicago several months later and receiving my Treadway Auction catalog, there were the two pieces that I had passed on. I believe they brought over $8000. Today I have to just say that just like in fishing "that one got away".

If you will open your Kovel price guide the prices listed there will open your eyes. Here are just a few: turtle candlestick $960, console perched frog $1200, pitcher fish $2000 and a frog vase $1700. Sort of makes you want to go fishing doesn't it.

Little green frogs, fish and turtles can put big money in your pocket if they are marked Weller Pottery. Also if you are lucky enough to find these pieces they are a lot of fun to have around the house until there are sold.

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques & collectibles is FREE with your membership in the Daryle Lamberts Antique and Collectible Club . Join Us Today!
Check out the new Paintings and new items in our Gallery and Marketplace here.