We arrived in Owensboro, Kentucky after a very nice but short stay in Jeffersonville, Indiana to drop off my two Patty Thum paintings. They are to be shown for two months in the museum’s show there and I will receive a book of all the paintings in the show. This is very exciting to me because I personally collect Patty Thum paintings.
Arriving in Owensboro, I called my friend Cecil and we immediately headed to Evansville, Indiana for the Don Sohn Auction. We previewed all that was going to be offered on Friday and guess what? It was a wasted trip. But in the section slated for Saturday’s sale, Cecil pointed out this small, less than two inch, stoneware Kentucky jug. He asks “What do you think this piece will bring? “ My guess was maybe $250 to which he said “Your not half way there yet.” “Think $500 or a thousand and you will be closer.” This got me to thinking where could I find some of these jugs. My first thought was where they were made but soon I realized that probably would be the worst place because the people that lived there would know their value. But how about all the people that visited the distillerys and wanted to take a souvenir home from their visit? Jackpot! Yes, these jugs should be able to be found priced at $1.00 or less all over the country and most people would think of them as garage sale items. So look for miniature Kentucky jugs and if they have advertising they will bring even me money.
What about other miniatures you ask? I had a friend that with her husband they produced miniature rooms. One room they made was an art gallery with original works of art. There were three pieces in the gallery two paintings and a sculpture. The entire group was made by artists that were well listed. I saw the invoice that showed each piece was bought for $1,000 or more and I continued to pursue purchasing the room until the lady moved and put a huge smile on your face. A treasure out there that may be worth as much as $25,000 so if you see it I am still interested
Then there are the Charles Lotton vases under 2 inches that I was buying for just a few dollars a few years ago but today they are bringing $500 or more and in my opinion that is a bargain in the future they will bring $2,500. Gallee and Daum miniatures often reach $2,500 to $5,000 already and Lotton’s as good if not better. Check all glass miniatures that you come across they could bring huge smiles to your face. The Doulton penguins will sell for $250 plus and Vickie bought, I think six, for us at $35 each, yes miniatures are in.
Think small as you are out in the marketplace because to many don’t see value in miniatures but I can assure you they are wrong. This theory even extends to miniature furniture and pieces of this can bring thousands of dollar if the are early pieces. I like the characters in that movie “Mom I Shrank the Children” and all the miniatures they need to live. This would give me a great market for all the items you find but believe me there are full sized people that will search you out if you have the true treasures in the miniature world.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
“Travel Can be Fun” - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog – God's Country Here I Come.
Kentucky - Thanks to www.ky.net
The week should prove to be interesting for me and my family as we are headed to God's country as we call it, Kentucky. The trip is to wish my wife's nephew the best as he leaves for Iraq Monday. By the way, did you see the Medal of Honor presented yesterday? I have to admit my eyes were filled with tears. What others give so that we can live as free people sometimes overwhelms me.
However, this trip is going to be so much more besides honoring Nick. Our first stop is going to be Jeffersonville, Indiana to drop off two paintings by a Kentucky artist, Patty Thum, to be displayed for two months in their museum and then entered into the catalog of Patty Thum's works. These are perhaps the only paintings that I have purchased that Vickie has ever liked and by having them in the museum and catalog, their value will only go up.
Next, I will be attending an auction in Evansville, Indiana with my friend Cecil on Saturday and hopefully there will be stories to tell of great treasures that were found when I return to Chicago. The auction that we will be attending is the Sohn's auction and the owner, Don, is a personnel friend. I mentioned his auction in my last blog. With Vickie's permission, I hope to stop at a few malls along the way and see how the mall business is doing. It is so interesting to talk to the proprietors of the malls to hear their views on the latest trends in this business of antiques and collectibles. As you can tell, my business is never far from me and I would like to encourage you to have the same perspective. You never know where that little gem might turn up that could make your year if you only had your eyes open.
I have told you before that when I travel most of my reference material stays at home but I will make every attempt to publish a blog each day that will at least add to your desire to stretch your abilities just a little further until you achieve the success that you desire.
Hopefully, when I return to Chicago my emails will be overflowing with questions or stories from you the member, that will take months to answer. I am your servant and if you don't use me I will get lazy and forget how to do what I do best and that is serve you. And even though I feel that I have tried your patience, I will have news about the site to share with you next week.
I do have a request, please say a little prayer for Josh, Vickie and I for safe travels while we are away, I know God will hear it.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
“Auction Buzz” - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog – Boy, did I stir up a hornet's nest.
Lets Be the Examples
When I wrote the blog about my less than satisfactory transaction with Christie's auction house, I believed that would be the end of that. Was I mistaken! The first email that I received referring to the blog stated "Who do they think they are?" I thought the person was talking about the treatment that I had received, but no, they were talking about the treatment they had received at the hands of Christie's. Here is their quote, "I have tried to contact them but they didn't even respond to my request. You can be assured that the very nice American silver pieces that I was calling them about won't be adorning a Christie's catalog after reading your blog.”
Wow! And that was just the start because the next person contacting me asked if the blog was for real because they just couldn't believe it. I assured them that every word was the truth. Then came the call asking if I was going to do a follow-up story about other experiences I have had with auction houses and expressing surprise at the conduct of Christie's. It went on like that all day. There was also the woman that sent pictures to Christie's and never heard back from them. Perhaps they got lost in the mail like my check did.
Not wanting to beat a dead horse because I think you get the idea, there were other calls defending other auction houses. A friend of mine told this story about an auction house in Montana. I wish I had written down the name but I didn't. He consigned a painting to this auction house and it didn't sell so he called them and asked if they would try to sell it. The reserve had been $1000 so to his surprise they got back to him within a couple of days and said the painting was sold for a little over $900. Expecting a check for the $900 less commission, when the mail arrived with a check for the full sales price, he called and they said since it didn't sell in the auction they waived the commission. I ask you, do they have a customer for life? Here is a story about my experience with Cincinnati Art Gallery. I consigned a Daum Nancy piece to one of their auctions and someone tried to say it was a fake. If this rumor had persisted, the piece wouldn't have brought anything. The auction house kept me informed about the information on the piece before they sold it at auction time and most people had been convinced that they had nothing to worry about. The piece brought well over $13,000 and it may have even been over $15,000. I will never forget what they did for me and you can be assured that if I have anything that would fit into one of their auctions that is where it will sell.
I have nothing but the utmost respect for honest auction houses and they have become some of my closest friends. Here is a short list of auctions that I would put my reputation on: Shannon's in Milford Ct., Sotheby's New York, Cincinnati Art Gallery Cincinnati Oh., Sohn's auction Evansville Ind. and Early's Auction Cincinnati Oh. There are hundreds of other fine auction houses I am sure but these that I have mentioned worked for me and always tried their best to be sure I was well represented.
I did get a good piece of advice from one of my callers and he said to tell my readers to really read the contract with the auction house before you sign it and if there is anything you disagree with cross it out. Also he said to share that most things are negotiable in the contracts such as commission, ins., photo fees, reserves and resale fees. I will promise that never again will I sell anything without a reserve and if the auction says they won't take it with a reserve then it won't be sold.
Auctions can be your best friends but just like a friend, choose wisely. I am sure we at the Daryle Lambert Antique and Collectible Club will have more opportunities to list items in our marketplace since this experience we had with Christie's.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
“Marketplace Value” - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog – Look no further.
MARKETPLACE - Thanks to Flicker.com
I have quoted the little book “Acres of Diamonds” before in blogs but I think that a look back at it may be in order. It tells of a man that spent his life in search of a fortune but never succeeded. Returning home dejected and ready to quit, he discovered diamonds in his own back yard.
This book was written by Russell Herman Conwell in 1917 and has sold millions of copies. Why would people still search this book out after so many years? The answer is that it is as relevant today as it was 95 years ago. We don't have to travel around the world searching for our fortunes because most people that find theirs are within a short distance of their home. I hear people constantly saying if only I live in New York, Chicago or Los Angles then I would become rich. But let me share with you what I see.
There is a young man who lives in Jacksonville Florida, now that isn't a metropolis, who purchased a painting for $25 and later sold it for $600,000 or the lady in Evansville Indiana that purchased an Indian blanket for a small amount but sold it for over $150,000. Not wanting to leave out my friend Cecil who bought a Kentucky Derby Glass, I think in Henderson Kentucky, for $12 and soon placed it with a new owner for $12,500. I could continue to tell these stories for at least five blogs but I think these stories are enough to prove my point, that the little book written so many years ago is still relevant today. Yes, your fortune might be right where you are now, but if you only dream about other places where your fortune might be located, then there is a chance you will never find it.
One place I believe our members should look is in our own marketplace. Many of the listings have been there for many months and now may be priced fairly with enough profit to be made on them that they would meet our requirements for doubling our money. Don't be afraid to make offers for the items that are listed in the marketplace because you don't know what the sellers would take now that they have been listed for some time. Also go back to the places where you have spotted treasures but the asking prices were too high for you. If these items are still available maybe a 50% offer would be entertained. I think back to my own experiences where I offered $15,000 for a painting that was priced to me for $25,000. Yes I did have to pay up for it with the final price $16,000 but six months later I sold it for $115,000.
Dreams are just that, dreams, but action speaks louder than words so now is the time to get back in the game. Talking about how bad things are will never make you a dime. A lady called me about a painting she owns and I believe that soon I may have a chance to purchase it or at least represent her in the sale of the painting. If this comes about it should be the second best trade that I have ever made. Just keep filling that pipeline and I assure you that over time you will get your share of deals. As others stand asking how you do it, you will be basking in your success. “Go get them mate.” I sort of like the way that sounds, don't you?
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
“Is Christie's Worth Your Trust?” - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog – You be the Judge!
Thanks to www.this oldhouse.comI have been brought up thinking that Christie's and Sotheby's were the pinnacle in the auction business but now I have second thoughts about Christie's due to a transaction that I was involved in where Christie's sold a painting for me. Now I am reconsidering my opinion about their professionalism in the auction business. I will let you be the judge and I will just present the facts for your analysis.
This story starts out on a very happy note when a member of the “Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club” was contacted by one of its members in Texas about a painting. This painting was by Walter Darby Bannard, an American painter. It was rather large in size 30 X 45 ½ inches and from the era of his better paintings. Its title was Cherokee Blanket # 4 and on the stretcher it was signed and dated 1970. At the price of $600 it had to belong to the Club and with a $100 fee to get it to Christie's or Shannon's, the total investment would be $700.
The Club was more than happy to enter it into the “Associates Program” where the Club purchases the piece and then splits the profit with its member who found it. Calling Shannon's Auction and being given an verbal estimate of $3,250, the next call was to Christie's since they had sold the most recent painting by this artist for $13,750. To be fair it was larger, measuring 67 X 99 inches, but it was the same genre. After Christie's estimated the painting at $5000 - $7000, it was decided to sell the painting at Christie's because they had sold a piece by the artist at the highest price. What a mistake that was because Shannon's seems to never miss the estimates they give me.
But on with the story. The auction due date came and all the parties were excited until the news came that the painting didn't reach its reserve. Please remember that Christie's set the price with no help from the Club. Yes, we were disappointed but Christie's said they would resell it at another time. However, they set the estimate this time at $2000 - $3000 fairly insuring it would reach that level but yet not allowing a reserve to be set the second time around.
Now this is where the story turns a little sick because at the second auction it was sold for $850. A check for that small amount of money seemed to confuse them because after the settlement date had come and passed, there was no check and they were given a call. They said the check must have been lost in the mail but assured us a new one would be sent.
Now for the comedy, the check arrived listing the sales price at $850 with $212.50 deducted for the commission. But that isn't all, there was an Ins. Fee for $12.50. Are you laughing yet? If not you soon will be. They also charged $150 for the second auction and $300 for their illustration. Wow! We jumped for joy at the final figure $174.75. With the buyer's premium the painting sold for $1063, less what they paid Daryle Lambert for the club $174.75 so if my math is right Christie's kept $888.25. I wouldn't believe this story unless it happened to me. But be assured once stung it was my fault but there won't be another stinging at the hands of Christie's for me.
So, what should Christie's or any other auction house have done? Remember, they set the estimate and the reserve for the first auction. When bidding for an item doesn't reach the reserve, I'd like to see a new set of pricing rules kick in. There shouldn't be a charge for placement in a second auction. They should never insist that an item be auctioned with no reserve. The commission should be lowered. The seller should be offered the chance to take the item back at no cost other than shipping and insurance charges. We choose an auction house based in part upon their best estimate of the amount of money the item will bring. When the auction house misses its own estimate, let's be fair and try to make things right with the seller rather than eke out the most profit you can.
WARNING – WARNING – WARNING – You be your own judge as to future transactions with Christie's.
Monday, September 14, 2009
"Classical Music" - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog – I'm becoming a long hair.
My New Music
I am beginning to change my passion for music and to my surprise there seem to be many of us that are doing that very thing. No longer do Rock and Roll or Jazz and Blues hold my interest but classical music puts me in a a mood of reflection. Is it because I am getting older? No, I think it has more to do with how I am seeing the world.
With classical music I can feel and hear the different instruments as they contribute to the overall piece. This music seems to speak to me the way no other is at this moment and it gives me a sense of peace. Maybe that is because the world is swirling around me and at every turn I feel confusion and frustration. But playing some classical music seems to allow me to put all things in prospective.
For my own interest and the possibility of picking up a few albums for myself, I typed in "classical music" on the eBay site and I was amazed at what I found. When other collectibles are having a hard time selling on eBay and maybe only one out of ten listings are even receiving a bid, classical albums are receiving almost 100% sales ratings. This is why I stated earlier that I must not be the only one interested in this music. Yes often the sales were for multiple albums, but I don't care because when I can purchase 100 albums for under $25 at most garage and house sales, my investment will be very limited at best. In fact I was offered a 50,000 album collection not long ago for under $5000. I didn't purchase them at that time because I thought that the work to sell them wouldn't be worth my effort but today I believe I would reconsider my decision.
What I found on eBay was that there were a lot of groups of albums selling for over $300 with most of the groups containing less that 40 albums. It didn't take me long to do the math and this is what I came up with: most albums, if you purchase them in groups, will cost you on average 10 – 50c apiece. If you purchase 40, even at the high end your investment will be $20. Then as you sell the group of albums for $300 I would say that they meet and exceed of goal of compounding our money, wouldn't you agree?
One of the rules that I have shared with you so often is to buy what others are willing to spend their money on at the present time and I think that I have found that perfect item, classical albums. In fact here is the reason I believe this is happening. People love music and the outlay of cash for a decent collection of music compared to anything else you might wish to purchase is very small. Turn off the radio and television along with the computer and music seems to me to be a great alternative for keeping our sanity in the confusing world. God Bless.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
"The Seasons Are Changing" - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog – Amusement Parks.
Me On the Front Row - Thanks to www.joyrides.com
Where is the time going? I have to say I don't know. I remember when children were preparing at this time of year for winter by taking their last fling on a roller coaster or merry-go-round at their local amusement park. The one I remember best was Beach Bend in Bowling Green, Kentucky. I also remember the different fares that were offered such as the cotton candy or candied apple that I seem to be tasting as I write this blog. Children today want to go to the movies or watch television. The rest of their time is spent with radios blaring in there ears or having their eyes stuck to the computer screen playing video games. What lasting memories will they be left with for their summer, I wonder.
The question that I ask myself is if ipods, computers and video games were available when I was young, would that have been where I would have spent my time? I sincerely hope that it wouldn't have been and I have to admit that the old time amusement park still holds an allure for me as I daydream about them, even today. I could never get enough time at the parks and I always hoped that my parents would take me just one more time before school started.
I would ask my parents for just one more trip to the park where I could spend those last magical days and hours of the year before going off to school for the new year, which I never looked forward to. It has been almost fifty years since I have enjoyed all the amusement parks offered but I believe that I could recall almost ever ride I rode on and every game I played at the last park I attended. Even the smell of the old park comes back to me as I envision waiting in line for each ride or trying my hand at the arcade games. These memories must be the same for a lot of people because memorabilia from amusement parks are eagerly sought after by collectors.
To give you some examples, I will list a few from Coney Island. How would you like to own a horse gambling wheel for $4500 or an original bumper car from the park for $4000? If these don't fit the bill for you, maybe a wooden shop sign for $1600 or a pamphlet at $200 would do the trick. Coney Island was just one of the amusement parks that drew national attention years ago. There was also the Boardwalk in Atlantic City and Riverview in Chicago. Items from these parks are just as collectible as those from Coney island. There is money to be made with these collectibles and there will never be a time that you will have to search very long to find your buyer.
If you never had to opportunity to visit a real amusement park I hope that this blog will encourage you to at the next chance you have.
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