Carnival Glass – Daryle Lambert's Antiques and Collectibles Blog - Do What You Know

This notice is for those of you who link to our blog through blogspot. On August 1, the new blogs will no longer appear on blogspot but only on the www.darylelambert.com site. We are giving over a month’s notice so that all of our readers will continue to receive the blog by linking to the home page. Blogspot will keep the old blogs, but after the first, they will not receive the new ones.

Thanks to auctionzip.com

 

Over the last few months, I have attempted to find new areas of the antique and collectible business that members of the Daryle Lambert's Antiques and Collectibles Club could take advantage of, but I may have been making a mistake. Perhaps the best strategy would be to concentrate on what has been successful for us in the past. There are areas of this business that haven't suffered during the economic slowdown and those are where we should be spending our time, I think.

I have spent several hours this weekend just looking at auction sales results and eBay final prices. It is very apparent that there are areas that seem to still be appreciating in price. One of those is Carnival Glass. The Standard Encyclopedia of Carnival Glass will give you the knowledge that is required to identify and price Carnival and if you don't own a copy of this book, you should. You will find that Carnival is still going up in price. This book can be purchased from Amazon and I would suggest a used version rather than a new one. Here is something that I want you to write down and put in a place where you won't lose it. The site www.ddoty.com is perhaps the best reference on Carnival Glass that you will find and it includes patterns and prices.

As I have shared with you before, Carnival is all about pattern and color so it would serve you well to become acquainted with both of these as to price differences. Patterns with animals are always popular and any advertising piece will bring top dollar. Also, plates seem to bring the highest dollars, followed by vases and thin bowls. When it comes to colors, red and then pastels seem to steal the show. Pieces that are stippled or have opalescent edges also do very well. I believe that the reason Carnival Glass continues to stay so popular is because the market is well maintained with regular auctions just for Carnival and there are also a number of Carnival Collector Clubs. This provides a large base of people all interested in one thing.

Almost without exception, the rarest pieces of Carnival are found at garage or house sales and the next most popular place to find rare pieces is at the back of flea markets. I will promise you that if you study the guide book or spend some time on the Doty site, you will find pieces in your search for treasures that will equal almost any other collectible that you may run across.

On eBay at the present time are three pieces that I would like to mention. First, a Celeste Blue Plaid Bowl $13,000, second a Dugan Purple Elk Nappy $7900 and last, an Electric Blue Farmyard Bowl $7500. If this doesn't tweak your interest, I give up.

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques and collectibles is FREE with your membership in the Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club. Join Us Today

Indian Pottery and Baskets – Daryle Lambert's Antiques and Collectibles Blog – Still desired

This notice is for those of you who link to our blog through blogspot. On August 1, the new blogs will no longer appear on blogspot but only on the www.darylelambert.com site. We are giving over a month’s notice so that all of our readers will continue to receive the blog by linking to the home page. Blogspot will keep the old blogs, but after the first, they will not receive the new ones.

 Children at Pow Wow - Thanks to Elkriver.K12.Mn.US

 

Yesterday was a special day for me and my family. Vickie, Josh, Collin and JL and a young man from the Lakota tribe planned a surprise for me. They told me we were going to Lake Geneva for Father’s Day, but in truth we were going to an Indian Pow Wow.

This was a smaller Pow Wow than the one we attend in Wisconsin, but it still brought a sense of pride and hope to me. Seeing people so mistreated by this country still honor it, was something that brought tears to my eyes. In fact, we were invited to join in a dance of honor and something happened that I will never forget. My 11 year old son Josh joined me in the dance and there is no way to tell you how proud I was of him.

But this blog is about antiques and collectibles, right? This I promise you. If you’re looking for Indian artifacts, there is no reason to go to an Indian reservation. Why? There are no artifacts there. Everything was taken from the Indians, but thank goodness, some of the museums are returning items to the tribes. Most of what is being returned came from burial mounds and is spiritual to the Indians. However, there are many other Indian items that were made for the trade and even some that were actually used that collectors can own and appreciate.

Most dealers think of pottery as the ultimate goal in searching for Indian treasures, but here is a surprise for you. The real treasures are often baskets. When pottery is selling for thousands of dollars, baskets can be bringing tens of thousands. The Apache Olla basket may well bring $25,000 to $50,000, and average baskets on eBay are listed for $4,000 to $8,000. You can click on Amazon on the right column of this page, and there you will find several books on Native American Baskets and Pottery. Several of these should be in your library.

But let’s not forget about Indian pottery because Hopi, Acoma and Pueblo pieces can do quite well. Hopi and Pueblo pieces usually are white, black and orange red. They picture animals, symbols and people and the larger they are, the pricier they get. On the other hand, there is a pottery that is called black on black that was produced by the Pueblo tribe. If you find a piece of it by the right potter, the price can be out of sight.

Baskets and pottery were often brought back by vacationers as souvenirs and they have passed through the family and end up in a garage or house sale. This is where you may find your next treasure, so keep a keen eye out for authentic Indians pieces and they will reward you handsomely.

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques and collectibles is FREE with your membership in the Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club. Join Us Today

Pied Piper of Hamelin – Daryle Lambert's Antiques and Collectibles Blog – I like that book

 Pied Piper

Yes, you can teach an old dog new tricks and I am living proof of that. I have to admit I have been rather set in my ways but this economy is changing me a little. In the past, as the book dealers were pushing and shoving to get to the books at all the sales I attended, I didn't give them a second look. However, that all might be changing because with the purchase of the boys books, all 140 of them, I decided to look at some of the older books that I have accumulated over the years.

Here is what I found. First, the Pied Piper of Hamelin that I just listed in our Classifieds. It is number 27 of 100 printed. It was written by Robert Browning and when I went to www.abebooks.com, I realized it was special. This book came my way when a young man whom I had purchased things from before knocked on my door. He usually brought several items at a time and I would purchase them all to help. This particular time, he had the Pied Piper book. I may have given $50 for it but it is now priced on our site at $500. If it were in mint condition, that number could be 5 times that.

Now my interest started to grow and I unpacked another box of books. One of the first I found was called Red Men and White by Owen Wister in 1896. Back to Abe Books I went and it is now listed for $200. I was really on a roll so then I listed The Last of the Mohicans, 1935, by James Fenimore Cooper for $400 and on it went. Now I totaled all the books that I have listed and the total is approaching $2000 and I have just started.

Even though in school my teachers could never get me to read my books, I think that I may have found my next best and greatest things, books. Please don't tell anyone that knows me that fact because I am afraid they would just laugh. Here is a great tip for you. When dealing in books, the shipping is no problem because books are shipped media mail. In my case, the 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques and Collectibles ships for only $2.77. This makes it rather simple to trade in books.

If you have visited the Classifieds recently, you know that we are on our way and the people will come. Bob is going to change the way we present the Classifieds and it will knock your socks off when you see it. By helping yourself by listing in the classifieds, you will also be helping the Club because the more listings we have, the greater following we will get. 

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques and collectibles is FREE with your membership in the Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club. Join Us Today

Alfred Bayre – Daryle Lambert's Antiques and Collectibles Blog – Real or not real?

This notice is for those of you who link to our blog through blogspot. On August 1, the new blogs will no longer appear on blogspot but only on the www.darylelambert.com site. We are giving over a month’s notice so that all of our readers will continue to receive the blog by linking to the home page. Blogspot will keep the old blogs, but after the first, they will not receive the new ones.

 Alfred Bayre

I have found that there are a few things that continue to confuse me and bronzes are one of them. I am going to be completely honest with you. When I buy a bronze, to me it is always a reproduction and I would probably advise that, unless you are an expert on bronzes, you consider them the same.

Here is my dilemma. I purchased two bronzes recently, thinking they were reproductions, but the more I study them, the more it seems they may be the real thing. Usually with a simple phone call followed with an email and pictures, I can get confirmation on the authenticity of most items, but bronzes are different. After 45 years in the antique and collectible business, I still don't know anyone that I fully trust on bronzes. If fact, I usually find that most dealers are just as confused as I am on bronzes.

The two bronzes are by different artists, one by Alfred Bayre and the other by Caio Cassoli. Here is the problem. If you could find out that the piece you own was never reproduced, you would be safe in concluding that yours was an actual bronze by the artist, but this is almost impossible to do. Next, the reproductions are actual recasts of real bronzes, so unless you know the size of the real one, you can't make a comparison to see if one is a repro. So where does that leave us? I have to admit, usually confused. Yes, you can put it in an auction hoping that the people there will know, but what if they don't and yours is real and it sells for a 10^th of its true value? I think you are beginning to understand why bronzes aren't my favorite thing. 

If any of our readers know of someone who is knowledgeable on bronzes and might like to be on our expert panel, I would appreciate an email with their name and number. Believe it or not, on most of the items you call me I can give you an answer, and if I can't I know someone who can, but not bronzes. 

I have shared with you that to test a bronze to see if it truly is bronze, you take a pin in an area that won't show or damage the piece and just make a small scratch. If it looks like gold, it is bronze but if it looks like silver, it is what we call white metal. Now you know as much about bronzes as I do. I am kidding because I can usually see quality and judge patina, but to say a piece is real or a reproduction is out of my league.

By being a member of the Daryle Lambert's Antiques and Collectibles Club, I will give you this promise. Working together, we will always find the truth even if it takes us a little time. But on bronzes that old saying is extra true “It is better to be safe than sorry.”

There are some great books on bronzes and you may want to see about purchasing some of them on Amazon, but buy them used because they are usually quite expensive and the used ones are just as good as the new for your purpose. It is easy to see what Amazon has by just clicking on their logo at the right hand side of this page.

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques and collectibles is FREE with your membership in the Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club. Join Us Today

“Auction Alert” – Daryle Lambert's Antiques and Collectibles blog – What are they telling us?

This notice is for those of you who link to our blog through blogspot. On August 1, the new blogs will no longer appear on blogspot but only on the www.darylelambert.com site. We are giving over a month’s notice so that all of our readers will continue to receive the blog by linking to the home page. Blogspot will keep the old blogs, but after the first, they will not receive the new ones.

If there has been an optimist in these markets, it has to be said that it’s been me. I have stood steadfast when others were saying the sky is falling, but can I remain in that posture? Yes, the better things will always have a market but it may be that the times have changed and it is our duty to change with them. So what am I saying and why?

I met with one of the principals of Direct Auction yesterday and he said that average items were bringing nothing and even better pieces were beginning to slip. Here is an example. I took two large rugs from the estate which I bought the clocks from to Direct. They were top quality and I knew they cost thousands of dollars when purchased. When I asked what they would bring at Direct, the answer floored me, less than $100 each. I also took a wonderful tea set with 12 cups and saucers plus sugar and creamer and the teapot. They were all marked Limoges and they were egg shell porcelain. The decoration was wonderful and it covered the outside as well as the inside. I figured that the set would bring $350 with no problem but the auction house said that a reserve of $150 was too high. Then I had a mixed set of Limoges with gold rims that I wanted $200 for but was told I would have to include other things so that it would bring $100, which I did. The reason each lot must bring at least $100 is because the maximum commission is charged if a piece brings less that $100.

So what does this tell us? We must restrain our buying even more until the economy improves. The lower and middle range items should only be purchased at 10% or less of their retail value and for the higher end items, 20% may be a better starting point than the 25% that we have used in past years. I believe that this is temporary bur we must make adjustments until this changes.

Try to keep a large percentage of your money liquid so that you will have it for those special bargains and not tied up in merchandise that won't move. Here is the best tip that I can give you today. Try to shorten your turn around time to just a few days. One way to do this is post ads on Craig’s List and sell to another dealer, like the clocks I sold. Another answer might be our classifieds, but it may take a few months for us to really get the hits needed to move merchandise quickly. A short while ago, I recommended that we invest all our money in our inventory because things were getting too cheap, but now I am having to readjust that a little. Invest it all, but only if you feel that it will stay in inventory for a short period of time.

Keep your powder dry because there will be another day.

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques and collectibles is FREE with your membership in the Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club. Join Us Today

Proud Papa – Daryle Lambert's Antiques and Collectibles Blog – Thanks for your patience

This notice is for those of you who link to our blog through blogspot. On August 1, the new blogs will no longer appear on blogspot but only on the www.darylelambert.com site. We are giving over a month’s notice so that all of our readers will continue to receive the blog by linking to the home page. Blogspot will keep the old blogs, but after the first, they will not receive the new ones.

Proud Papa 

 

I just have to take a minute and tell all my readers how God has blessed me beyond anything that I deserve. This blog may not help you to find treasures, but it may tell you about ones you already have. Josh, my eleven year old son, accompanied me to the Chicago Antique Market. I asked him if he would like to take some pictures to post on our site www.darylelambert.com. His answer was “Sure Dad, anything for you”. For two days I was busy with the appraisals and really didn't get to spend much time with Josh, but I always asked if he was having a good time. His pat answer was “It's great.”

So after we got home, Josh said that he would work a little on a video. I figured it would be something like I would make and that would be a very poorly put together home movie. I will let you be the judge of his efforts. Believe it or not I couldn't ruin his project, even with my voice.

Please follow these simple directions and prepare for a surprise. Go to www.youtube.com. Turn it to full page by clicking the square at the bottom and then put it on 460 for enhancement. There are some things that simply can't be described and you will know what I mean when the video is over. I just give God all the credit for my blessing of a child that I can be so proud of.

I have been listing like a beaver but now I have to start on the toy collection. This is where I may have second thoughts because there must be 500 items in this collection and every one of them relates to ice cream. If you have read my book 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques and Collectibles you will remember that I became partners with Warner because I got tired of listing The Walt Disney figurines.

To be all that you can be in the antique business, you have to involve your family. I hope that as you follow the plans we have for you at the Daryle Lambert's Antiques and Collectibles Club, you will reap the true benefits of sharing this business with your family. Profit is great but without someone to share it with, it will become worthless. Josh has made all the late nights writing and the many hours working on your site well worth the time spent.

Tomorrow it is off to the races posting toys. But I will be waiting for your opinion of our latest video.

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques and collectibles is FREE with your membership in the Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club. Join Us Today

Biscuit or Cracker Jars – Daryle Lambert's Antiques and Collectibles Blog - Can be Bargains

This notice is for those of you who link to our blog through blogspot. On August 1, the new blogs will no longer appear on blogspot but only on the www.darylelambert.com site. We are giving over a month’s notice so that all of our readers will continue to receive the blog by linking to the home page. Blogspot will keep the old blogs, but after the first, they will not receive the new ones.

I remember when I would stay at Granny's house, she always had this wonderful little jar that she would keep her change in. I didn't know at the time you called them biscuit jars, but that didn't matter back then. It really didn't fit in with the other items in Granny's house, because it was pink and had little flowers on it while everything else was quite plain.

So today, when I see these little jars, I always try to buy them and often they turn out to be real little gems. The first jar that I bought was at a garage sale in Kentucky and I believe the price was $20. It was pink and yellow with a pewter top and the design reminded me of Granny's. It had little blue flowers all over it. So even though I thought that the price was a little rich, I still wanted it. This was when I first started trying to make money from the antique business, so I took it to a dealer and you could have blown me away when he offered me $500 for it. Latter he told me it was a Mount Washington jar and worth somewhere north of $1000.

My desire to purchase these jars hasn't ceased and I just purchased two within the last few weeks. You can see them in the classifieds. They were included in a large group of glass and I figure they cost me about $15 each. I have priced them very reasonably because I would like for them to find a new home where they will be appreciated. I always like to buy the jars with the enameled painting on them because of my love for items of quality and I find enameling very appealing. These little jars can become very expensive and don't be surprised to see some priced in the thousands. 

The history of the biscuit jar is quite interesting. In the United Kingdom they are biscuit jars but in America they are called cookie jars. The biscuit jar started in England in the 18^th century but they didn't really get popular here in America until around the great depression of 1929. Their purpose was to hold almost any small object such as cookies, candy, dog treats and yes, even currency. 

Once the biscuit jars are in the hands of the dealers it is too late for us, so these items most often must be purchased a garage sales or on private appointments. It is difficult to go wrong buying these jars under $50 and, unless they are damaged, they should treat you very well when sold.

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques and collectibles is FREE with your membership in the Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club. Join Us Today