Adventures in Antiquing: Chicago's Randolph St. Market Festival

Chanel Black Leather Classic Quilted Handbag is offered at Ladybag International for $2,100.

I have told you in the past that one of the greatest pluses in the Antique and Fine Art Business is sharing great things with your friends, meeting interesting people and forming relationships. Cindy and I were able to do just that yesterday, when Sally, a 31 Club Member and owner of the Randolph Street Market Festival, (formerly the Chicago Antique Market) invited us to visit the market. It was like going home. The difference between this market from last year is that it’s much larger and better attended. In fact, the parking lot where we usually parked the car is now filled with dealers.

With the band playing, the food sizzling, and a colorful array of urban dwellers in attendance, you could feel the energy and excitement at this market located in the heart of Chicago. Where are those who stated the Antique, Fine Art and Collectibles markets were over? Booths were filled, and customers were buying. Sally and Sarah were as busy as bees, which was no surprise to me.

But, let’s talk about what the dealers were offering. First, we ran across Doris and Mike, who had an assortment of the best Bakelite Jewelry you will ever see, as usual. But, it looked to me as if they’d expanded their Indian Jewelry and Pottery selections.

Next we spoke with a gentleman who does furniture refinishing, and he shared that his business has been so brisk that he’s booked through the end of the year. I was so please when he shared with Cindy and me what our book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, has meant to him. He told us that he read it all in one day. I hope to have him serve as one of our experts on furniture, and hopefully you will see his company logo on our site soon.

If you know Chicago, you know the weather can suddenly change, and change it sure did. A warm sunny day suddenly turned into a chilly rainstorm. While the outdoor vendors covered up their wares, the indoor market, inside the historical Plumber’s Building, was going strong.

Cindy quickly made her way over to say hello and chat with Adrienne Astrologo of Ladybag International. Last summer, our booth was right across from Adrienne’s eye opening collection of vintage designer handbags, and Cindy spent a good deal of time chatting and looking at Adrienne’s collection. Little did she know at the time that Ladybag International is the largest and best known dealer of vintage designer handbags world wide.

This collection of vintage designer handbags has some of the finest examples from the1960’s to present. There was a large collection of Chanel, Hermes, Gucci, and many more sought after vintage bags all in excellent condition. Cindy dragged me over to take a look at a Judith Leiber, made with Swarovski Crystal, that was hidden away. Wow! Handbags is something I'm not too familiar with, as you can probably guess, and when Cindy told me some of the asking prices on these vintage treasures, I suffered a case of sticker shock for a while after that.

Adrienne’s book, High Fashion Handbags, published through Shiffer Collector Books last November, was displayed, so Cindy had a chance to go through it. Cindy tells me that this is one fabulous book. Adrienne Astrologo proves me wrong in one way. I’ve said that you can’t be a one way dealer, but she is the rare exception.

Before we headed back, I managed to pick up a small oil painting in an antique gold gilded frame and a watercolor painting that I've already researched. I believe the watercolor is the work of an English artist who I've already located and e-mailed to see if it is, in fact, her work.

I was a little disappointed I didn’t see the Children’s Collector’s Club this year, and I do hope it will be revived. We are going to need the young to assure future appreciation and success for all the Antique and Collectible business. I hope to talk with Sally and offer to support this activity at the Market.

I am still asking our readers for suggestions on possible subjects to write about in the blog. This is one way I can answer your questions and share information with other readers that could be vital to them.

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Check out the new Paintings and new items in our Gallery and Marketplace here.

Art Business: The Changing Print Market

For years, I have said that prints held very little interest for me. However, my attitude might be changing for the short run.

Having worked with a lady for several months on selling her Andy Warhol prints, I told her I could no longer present them on our website when I secured a buyer at the posted price and she decided not to sell them. At the time, the price was $35,000 each for Warhol's "Howdy Doody" and "The Witch." I checked prices the other day on these two prints and found that they have almost doubled in price since I listed them. I know you won’t believe this-- I hardly did, but the asking price for Warhol’s Mickey Mouse print is now over $100,000. For a print!!!

I might say that this is an exception, but some good fortune has come my way by this increased value of prints. I scanned the completed sales on eBay for a Marc Chagall print I’ve owned for some time, and there on the screen right in front of me was my print. And it had just finished its auction at $12,000. You can bet there will be another one listed soon.

Then, Cecil called me this morning to tell me that a print he had hanging in the booth at the antique mall where he sells many of his items, had just sold for over $1,000 and another one for over $400. These prints, by Buffet, had been there over a year, and Cecil had expected them to be just decorative wall paper to make the booth attractive.

So what is happening in the print market? Has true art become so expensive that most people no longer can afford it? And, what do we do with this trend?

While I still have very little faith that this market in prints can be sustained, it doesn't mean that we shouldn't take advantage of this trend while it's here. Money is money. If people are willing to spend big bucks on prints, let's scour the countryside for them. Be sure, however, to list each print you buy quickly, so you don’t get stuck with many of them should the market reverse course.

The only warning I would give you is to not buy prints that have a certificate of authenticity with them. Usually these pieces were produced to take advantage of the buyer by unscrupulous sellers. There are exceptions, but let the buyer beware.

To build your client base in the Art business, it will always be best to encourage them to buy the real thing, and the best they can afford. In the Art World, it isn't how much you own, but rather the quality of each piece in your collection. If you help your clients to assemble an art collection with the best they can afford, always putting their best interest above making money, they will be your customers for life, and you will become the person other people will look to for advise in building their collections.

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Check out the new Paintings and new items in our Gallery and Marketplace here.

Summer Antique Markets and Flea Markets

Cindy and I will be attending the first antique market for us this summer; the Randolph Street Market Festival, formerly the Chicago Antique Market. If Cindy can get our new video camera operating right, we hope to have some video to share with you of our adventure at this urban market and festival, including a visit with Sally Schwartz, who owns the event.

If you’ve been following our blog, you might recall that Sally is a member of 31 Club, and last summer, she sold a valuable Pauline Palmer Painting that had been in her family, and its six digit figure sale changed her life. She was able to buy out her partner’s share of the Chicago Antique Market and make it her own. (Here's the story Cindy wrote about it.) We sure hope that if you’re in Chicago this summer, you’ll pay a visit to this fine summer urban market.

This visit to the market will give Cindy and me a chance to reacquaint ourselves with the new dealers we met last summer, as well as a chance to visit with old friends.

I have been assured that there will be great paintings, pottery and glass, so you know I will be feeling as if I’m near heaven as I browse around inside and out for true treasures. Sally has wanted to create an atmosphere of a Paris Festival, and with her talent, I certain it will be just that.

Remember to take your time as you approach each booth at a market or flea market, and see if you can pick out the better pieces from a distance. As you practice, you will be able to eye the items that are of interest, and the other items will quickly pass from your eyesight. When I started attending Flea Markets, it was an all day job, but today I can usually complete a market in under four hours, regardless of its size.

When you do spot something of interest, be sure to inspect it for damage first, and then ask the dealer to tell you all he knows about the piece. Often, you will know as much as he does, but be sure to be attentive. If it happens to be something you want to buy, your attentiveness will start you out on his good side.

Before you start negotiating for anything, always identify yourself as a dealer. This usually assures you of at least a 25% discount, while the normal discount to the public is 10%. Other dealers know that you must be able to make a profit from the items you buy, so most of them will work with you. If for some reason you can't come to an agreement on price, be sure to return later. If the item is still there, take another pass at it. If the pieces is over priced, most dealers will know that you are aware of this, and a 50% discount can be in the cards and may well be accepted.

The later in the day, or later into the event, the lower your price should be. The reason for this is that if you are the first to see a special piece, then the dealer could have it underpriced so a very little discount could be in order, but as the sale progresses more and more people will have looked at the piece, so at the asking price it probably isn't a bargain, if they have passed on it.

I will be leaving for the Smokies next Thursday, so I hope that every member will use these next few days to prepare for the ten days I will be away. Yes, I will have my cell phone for you if that special items becomes available, and I’ll have a laptop to continue the Blogs, but I do hope to rest a little and have fun with the family.

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31 Club Helps Members Trade in Higher End Antiques, Collectibles & Fine Art

A Member of the 31 Club Located this Historical Document Signed by Patrick Henry, and it was then purchased through the 31 Club Associates Program.

When we started the 31 Club, we aimed at formulating a plan that would help people walk the success steps of life. The ideas that have come from meetings with Cindy, Chris, Clarke and Jeremy have spoken about many have proven worthy of our efforts, but one program that your 31 Club has started is beginning to stand out above some of the others. That is the Associates Program.

The Associates Program gives members the opportunity to participate in a transaction when they find and present an outstanding item to the 31 Club for purchase. If we are able to buy the piece, the member will receive 35% of the net profit of the transaction.

We now have Associates in Texas, Kentucky, Michigan and Illinois. I feel certain that in the coming months, we will have a 31 Club Associate in every state. Through this program, you will have the opportunity to advance in your Race to the Millions faster than it might be possible to advance by yourself.

If you don't fully understand the program and would like a more complete explanation, e-mail me at info@31corp.com and put “Associates Program” in the subject line.

We have transactions in the final stages on items we’ve purchased when 31 Club Members found a great item, didn’t have the funds to purchase it, but called us to buy it using the Associates Program. When these transactions are completed, members will be putting thousands of dollars in their pockets, while at the same time, they are receiving the best education possible in the Antiques, Collectible and Fine Art field.

Already in partnership with members of the 31 Club, we’ve purchased a valuable historical document signed by Patrick Henry, a painting by Walter Darby Bannard worth thousands of dollars, Rookwood and Muncie lamps, and several other paintings that will soon be appearing in our Gallery & Marketplace.

We are waiting for each one of our members to take advantage of perhaps the greatest benefit you’ll receive for becoming a member of the 31 Club.

Something interesting and humorous happened yesterday when I received an e-mail from one of my favorite people and one of our earliest members. She told me about an Estate Sale where a Rookwood Lamp and a Muncie Lamp were being offered. She thought they were priced a little high, so she asked what would be a good price to offer them the next day when the price would be reduced. I immediately sent her back an e-mail to call me because I thought we could have a good laugh together. She got right back to me, and I had to tell her that I had already purchased the two lamps the day before.

Here’s what happened: I got a call the day before from another lady who was interested in the sale, and she told me about these wonderful lamps. She was interested in purchasing these using the Associates Program. So, I called the person conducting the sale to see if we could buy them. I was told it wasn’t possible, but if I called the next day after 12:00 noon and they hadn’t been sold, I could have them. I called and they were available.

Naturally, I bargained a little before completing the sale. I’m sure the same thing could happen in the future where two people see the same sales ad and call me. So, if there’s something you think might be interesting to us to buy through the Associates Program, the sooner we are notified, the better. And remember, the Associates Program is for Members Only. So, it you’re still hanging out and just following the blog, it’s time to get off the fence and join us today.

This story brings back that old saying: The Early Bird Gets The Worm.

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Ephemera & Paper Collectibles Find at a Country Flea Market

Peter F. Rothermel's 1851 painting of Patrick Henry's "Treason" speech before the House of Burgesses. A Patrick Henry Historical Document will soon be listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace.


Little did our 31 Club Member, Cecil, know that a real country flea market in Greenville, Kentucky was the setting that would put him at the right place to uncover a treasure. In case you’re wondering, a real country flea market is one of those markets where you can buy chickens, pigs, ducks and even a mule if you need one. You might also find homemade jams and jellies and a selection of tempting cakes and pies, and an assortment of other merchandise.

”I was walking down the rows of booths,” Cecil told me, “and my eyes focused on a pile of old papers. After some study, I discovered that they were stock certificates for the Nashville, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad Companies. I counted them, and there were 55 of them. I asked the dealer the price for all of them, and I was surprised that he asked so much -- $90. I bought them anyway.”

Cecil listed one certificate that night and was surprised that there were already bids on this item the next morning. When the auction was completed, the final bid was $27.

“I estimated a price on the remaining certificates,” Cecil said. “Then I added them up and saw that my $90 investment could come near to $1,500 by the time I’m done.”

Can you imagine this much money for “worthless paper” that wasn’t even filled out?

As I’ve said before, there’s a collector for almost anything, and you can be sure that the attraction of these certificates will be from those who collect Railroad or Transportation items.

I am consistently amazed at how Cecil can pluck out treasure after treasure, even at an event like this one.

How many times have you gone to a garage sale or a flea market and seen stacks and stacks of paper lying in a heap? Newspapers, Magazines, Advertising, and maybe even some old stock certificates are often put out at sales like these. I've seen people looking through these stacks, just looking -- having no idea what they were looking for. And if there was something valuable, it would’ve gone unnoticed.

Cecil never misses the chance to browse through old paper, and it was his browsing that turned up a Historical Document from the time of the Revolutionary War, signed by none other than Patrick Henry. ("Give me Liberty or give me death”) This document is in the process of being listed in our Marketplace for a very reasonable $4,850. Cecil used the 31 Club’s Associate Program to help purchase this historical piece.

I think you’ll agree that Cecil had a pretty good week. Remember, this is the same Cecil who bought ten vintage travel posters, still in their tubes, for $30 each yet still hasn’t listed them. I’m hoping he will list them on our marketplace, because I know a least one of the posters is selling today for about $12,000!

Paper collectibles has been very good to Cecil and Paper can be good to you if you’ll study and gain the knowledge necessary to separate the wheat from the chaff. Perhaps one of the reasons I enjoy writing about Cecil so much is because I know where the first fruits from his grains go.

Put a Turbo Charge on your Antique & Collectible Treasure Hunting Skills. Join Daryle Lambert's 31 Club.

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Exposure Sells Your High Quality Antiques - Even in This Economy

Dimitar Manev, "Woman & Goat", is a new listing at 31 Club's Gallery & Marketplace. Manev, well known and exhibited in Europe, will be represented in America by 31 Inc.

Exposure of Your Antique Items is Key to Getting it Sold

We’ve talked about buying antiques and fine art, and I’ve shared with you the importance of buying right in my book, as well as in the Blog. But once you’ve made your purchases, your items must be exposed to the potential buyer. Exposure will be the key to getting your item sold.

We’ve been busy building up the 31 Gallery & Marketplace for this very purpose. The adjustments Jeremy has been making to our website should make each item searchable on a search engine and greatly increase the exposure of your item. Over the past year, our website ranking has steadily increased, and today our site has an excellent ranking.

So, while many of you have written, called and shared your latest purchases, now’s the time to get busy selling so you can keep your money churning. Become familiar with the 31 Gallery & Marketplace. We hope to see your items listed here. The more items we list, the greater viewership we will have. I believe that there will be no better place to sell your true treasures than on your own club website, and the amount of money saved will allow you to complete your “Million Dollar Race” even that much faster.

Picasso, Chagall, Dubord, and Vickery may be a few listed artists you’ve become familiar with in your search, and yesterday I stated that the 31 Club was in negotiation to purchase a collection. Well, the negotiations are over and your Club is now in the possession of either lithographs or originals by these artists. Although some are lithographs, they are still much in demand, because each is signed by the artist. One of the greatest things about each piece is that they are professionally framed and ready to hang in the most discriminating home. Throw in a few pieces of Lalique and a slag lamp with this sale, and I say we had one whale of a day! You will see these items listed on the market place as soon as I can find the time to list them.

I’m not the only one in the buying mood based upon the e-mails and calls I’m getting. Keep up the great work and keep e-mailing us. Keep up the great work and keep your emails coming.

Yesterday, a member asked me when I buy. My answer was, “Whenever the opportunity presents itself.” I have no special buying time. It might be tomorrow or not for a few weeks, but when it does come, don’t be bashful. Yesterday was our time to buy. When you consistently hand out business cards and speak to people everyday about your business, you’ll soon start getting calls, in every season of the year.

Antiques, Fine Art & The Economy

I’ve been very pleased on how fast our members are being able to distinguish the better pieces from the common ones. I hope you’re spending your time becoming increasingly more familiar with the items that meet your personal preferences, keeping your eye on the trend and taking notice of what others are buying. And they are buying, regardless of how bleakly the evening news paints the picture of the U.S. economy.

There is more money pouring into this country than ever in our history. With the dollar so undervalued, America is the best place in the world right now to make investments; particularly in rare and valuable tangible items given the volatility of the stock markets.

Now that we’re in an economic slowdown here in the U.S., other countries are prospering like never before. They’ve got more money to burn than they know what to do with, and they’re looking to buy here for pennies on the dollar. They’re very interested in the rare and valuable antique and fine art items we’re dealing in and are gobbling them up. Yes, indeed! Ours is an international business, and people from other parts of the world know it’s “Betty’s Bargain Basement” in America right now. And they’re coming here with empty suitcases in hand. Let’s plan to have what they’re looking for on hand.

Let’s not forget that there’s more wealthy people in our country than ever before, as well. And they’re still buying. My friend, Murray out in California, just told me about an extraordinary day his wife had selling china at a department store in Beverly Hills.

A lady walked in stating she’d like to purchase a set of China. Murray’s wife assisted her and at the end of the day, this woman’s grand total was $125,000. Who says people don’t have money for discretionary spending? Just think, if we could have shown her a set of Antique Meissen, we could’ve made a wonderful sale, and the customer could have owned something of great value, now and most likely, in the future.

So, don’t let the ten o’clock news upset you too much. Your time to shine will come soon enough when you make the necessary steps through the 31 Club Plan.
Put a Turbo Charge on your Antique & Collectible Treasure Hunting Skills. Join Daryle Lambert's 31 Club.

Get FREE MENTORING. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets that help you increase your profits. Then Learn to Grow Your Money Exponentially Buying and Selling only Antiques, Fine Art, and Collectibles with Daryle's Strategic Business Plan. Our Members are Newbies to Seasoned Dealers, making more money than they thought possible. Join Daryle Lambert's 31 Club, today.

My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. Join Today!

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31 Club Member Scores Another Fine Art Painting

Merriman signed, Tressemanes & Vogt 13 inch vase dating from 1892 to 1907 was acquired by 31 Club Member, Vicki.

Just a few weeks ago, William, a new 31 Club Member, made the statement to me that he didn’t know anything about Antiques or Fine Art. Today, he’s purchased several paintings at great prices and the 31 Club is his partner on two paintings he located in Houston. William has taken me at my word. I’ve said I’d mentor. I’ve said my readers can call me. And, William calls me while he’s out in the field. I can safely say, William hasn’t bought a single piece without first checking with me. I can also safely say that there’s no other place you can receive this kind of help. We offer this help to all 31 Club members.

William’s call to us yesterday resulted in the purchase of his latest find, and he decided to take us up on our offer to partner up through our Associates Program for this new piece. You see, he called me when he found a painting he thought had possibilities. (As he always does.) It was priced at $400. I asked him some questions about the piece and then did a little research on it. Turns out, the artist was from Chicago. Wow!

“We’re interested,” I told William, “But, let’s try to bargain for it.” I was soon giving the lady my credit card number and purchased the painting for $240. Bingo. I have no doubt that here in Chicago, this painting is worth more than double that price.

These stories can be your stories. When more of you get out into the field and take advantage of what I’ve offered you, you’ll turbo charge your life in this business. So, let me hear from you.

Vicki, one of our very first members, also called me yesterday, and what a pleasure it was. She found one of the most unusual vases I’ve come across lately. This Tressemanes & Vogt 13” tall double handled vase with a black and white nautical scene, signed “Merriman,” is a name I am familiar with. I’ll have to do my home work on this piece. I believe it could be very special.

She showed me a painting she bought by signed, “Beaman.” I knew instantly this was a winner. After some research, I was sure of it and am certain the painting will give her about 300% return on her investment. Not bad.

Vicki, like William, is out there looking, and that’s why they’ll have success in this business. The 31 Club can help you in every other way, but we can't do the looking for you. When you find something, give us a call, and we’ll help you from there.

Members are sending me auction flyers to take a look at almost every day, and it makes me so jealous that I’m not able to attend some of these great sales. When members send me this kind of information, I tell them the pieces that I’d be interested in if I were attending. From that point, it’s up to them to evaluate each piece, making certain there isn’t damage that I can’t see in the photographs.

I’m working very hard on acquiring a collection of wonderful items, and I’m hoping to be able to report their purchase to you very soon. We’ve added some fantastic Native American articles to our inventory recently, and they will soon be appearing in our gallery. We will be posting a Historical Document signed by Patrick Henry, as soon as Cecil gets me the description. Man, this place is jumping lately, and I am looking forward to all our members participating in what could be the most remarkable journey of our lives.

Jeremy’s gotten me very excited about how some of our new website projects will be working and has promised to update the 31 Club’s Spreadsheet, so you can see what progress we’ve made in our own Race to a Million Dollars. Remember, we’re working this plan right along with you, and we started our account with only $100, just like everyone else. The updated spreadsheet will be available on our Members Only site.
This summer should prove fruitful for the Antique, Fine Art, and Collectible Industry. If you haven’t left the gate yet, what’s keeping you?

Put a Turbo Charge on your Antique & Collectible Treasure Hunting Skills. Join Daryle Lambert's 31 Club.

Get FREE MENTORING. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets that help you increase your profits. Then Learn to Grow Your Money Exponentially Buying and Selling only Antiques, Fine Art, and Collectibles with Daryle's Strategic Business Plan. Our Members are Newbies to Seasoned Dealers, making more money than they thought possible. Join Daryle Lambert's 31 Club, today.

My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. Join Today!

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Local and Regional Antiques & Collectibles

Vintage Cast Iron Toy Horse and Wagon sold for $266.51 USD in June 2008 on eBay.

I spent this past weekend in Kentucky for our family reunion, and I have to admit, I had a very special weekend with aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces. And, what would a family reunion be without the fabulous food prepared only as my Aunt Martha can prepare it. This is not to say that the other ladies didn’t fix their finest dishes. But, no one could refuse Aunt Martha’s coconut peach cake.

The conversations quickly turned to what I was doing, and it didn’t take me long to start bragging about all the members of the 31 Club. I shared many of your stories with them, and I think I might have even recruited some new members. As I was talking about the success of the club, I began to think about what the members of my family could do to equal your success.

You see, I feel certain that most of them would never have the opportunity to buy a Tiffany lamp or Grueby vase, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities for them to compete in the 31 Club’s million dollar race. The only difference will be the type of items they might buy.

As a child, I remember my great uncle living with my grandparents, and he had the neatest Civil War rifle I’ve ever seen, even today. I still wonder who ended up with it. When I think about it, where else could you find as rich a field to harvest for Civil War Memorabilia as Kentucky? You may not know it, but in Kentucky there were soldiers fighting for both sides during the Civil War; and in many instances, brothers fought brothers. I just wish I could search all the chests hidden away in closets and attics in small town Kentucky.

So, what other true treasures might be found in Kentucky? Aladdin lamps are a dime a dozen in clear glass, but did you know that colored ones with unusual designs can sell for thousands of dollars? How about razors? These simple items were a mainstay for the early settlers of most areas in Kentucky. For the right razor, $1000 wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility. And where else could a person expect to find one of the earliest pairs of Levi Jeans if not in Kentucky? I can remember every male in the family having had at least two pairs of jeans. These jeans, today, are worth several thousand dollars a pair.

I am not a big fan of primitive furniture but be assured there is gold in the right pieces. Signed furniture by the right craftsman can bring six figures. I saw a primitive blue kitchen cabinet sell for $25,000 at the Heart of Country Show. At the time, I wondered if I found this in my search, if would I have paid $1000 for it. The answer to that question would probably have been no.

I was raised in the farm areas of Kentucky, and families were usually rather large. In fact, my father’s family had nine children, and this was considered small. As you can imagine, toy purchases were very limited, and a child might be fortunate enough to receive something special every year or so. When this did happen, it usually consisted of a cast iron toy, a doll or some marbles. I just saw a box of marbles bring in over $18,000 at auction.

Perhaps some of the greatest treasures to be found in the rural areas are the handmade items that were produced for use in everyday life. Hand stitched blankets can bring a fortune today. Small children used to practice stitching lettering and numbers on pieces of cloth, and today if you find one of these signed and dated with figures or scenes, get ready to go to the bank.

I know when I get home I’ll have a lot of e-mail to answer, so if you’ve written me, please be patient while I settle in and begin answering them.

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Antiques & Fine Art: The New Market During the Financial Storm

Every day, there’s more bad news about plummeting stock prices, the spiking foreclosure rate, and about the high price of gas and food causing many financial hardships. However, this financial climate has created the perfect storm for those of us working in the antiques, collectibles and fine art markets, particularly those of us who are working the 31 Club Plan.

The 31 Club Plan is the plan I wrote about in my book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, published just last year.

Those of us working this plan are looking to profit substantially by locating and purchasing rare and valuable antique treasures to sell. Our clients will be collectors and the world’s wealthy. We work this market because we’re looking to build our financial futures, but find the traditional ways, like the stock markets and company 401K's, just don't seem to be doing what we need them to do.

We've discovered that there's a limitless amount of money that can be made in the antique and fine art industry, so we're getting ourselves up to speed. Many of us were already antique lovers, but some members are just now beginning to appreciate these fine items.

We're learning, having fun, and meeting great people as we build college funds for our kids, and aim to have enough retirement money to live well, and not just get by. Our members each have their own personal financial goals, and they set their path accordingly. Right now, while the markets might be taking a beating, the higher end of the antique and fine art markets are still a blazing fire. This is where we want to be, and this is what we get educated about at the 31 Club.

By working in the high end of the antique and fine art markets, along with the plan I’ve laid out in my book, you will discover that trading in the kinds of tangible goods sought after by the world’s wealthy will be the path that sets you and your family financially free. But, first ask yourself if you consider yourself trainable and are okay with doing some hard work. You'll need to be both.

At the 31 Club, we’re educating ourselves to recognize and locate these high quality items. We’re using specific strategies for buying, selling, and growing profits. And we’re doing it all in the Antique, Fine Art, and Collectible Markets. When we follow this disciplined approach, well – quite frankly we’ll find that people will be counting us among the world’s wealthy.

Right now during this perfect storm, I’ve seem more estate sales advertised then I can possibly attend. I’m certain that antique items that have not seen the light of day in decades will likely turn up, as people sell off their valuables for cash.

In my book, I’ve done my best to lift the veil of secrecy that pervades this business, so that anyone can gain access to it. And when it comes to making money, the simple truth is this:

Money is made buying and selling, not sitting in an investment account or a piece of property. A planned approach to buying low, selling high, keeping your money turning and compounding will enable you to accumulate more cash than your banker or your broker will ever get for you. All in the Antiques, Collectible and Fine Art Markets.

Most 31 Club Members a begin with a $100 purchase in the antique, collectibles and fine art markets, and continue to grow their money from this initial investment. That’s the 31 Club Plan. I’ve laid it out in my book, and I Blog everyday to help educate you. Members e-mail me and call me for guidance. Some of our members are making more progress than they ever thought possible. If you’re new to this blog, stick around and take a look at our archives. We think this is the place you’ll want to hang your hat. And if you're already a member, let this serve as a reminder to continue on the path.

Put a Turbo Charge on your Antique & Collectible Treasure Hunting Skills. Join Daryle Lambert's 31 Club.

Get FREE MENTORING. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets that help you increase your profits. Then Learn to Grow Your Money Exponentially Buying and Selling only Antiques, Fine Art, and Collectibles with Daryle's Strategic Business Plan. Our Members are Newbies to Seasoned Dealers, making more money than they thought possible. Join Daryle Lambert's 31 Club, today.

My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. Join Today!

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Maximizing Opportunities and Staying in Control in the Antiques and Fine Art Business

Most of you know by now that I have many stories about my experiences in the antique and fine art business. I share these stories with you to not only share my knowledge about the antiques themselves, but also as a way to share the ways I’ve handled business relationships and negotiating for items.

If you’re to ascend the 31 Steps and be dealing in the higher end of the markets, you not only have to be knowledgeable about the items, but about people, too. As I’ve said before, this is a people business.

An experience that continues to inspire me on my hunt for antiques and fine art was the time I was heading out to visit my family in Owensboro, Kentucky and was wrestling with the idea of visiting a gentleman who I had spoken to on the phone before I left. He had asked me to stop in and see him while I was in the area, but in my mind, I was thinking it would be a waste of time. After all, he didn’t have anything at the time I’d be interested in, and I was on a time crunch with this trip. But, it weighed on my mind. I reminded myself that this business is built on personal contacts, and if I didn’t have time for meeting with others, I should find another source of income. So, I called him back and confirmed a meeting, knowing that I’d be forming a relationship that might lead somewhere at sometime.

When I arrived at his gallery, he was busy with customers, so I just browsed the gallery. I saw several paintings that caught my eye, and I began to look a little more closely at his offerings. I was very surprised when I discovered several paintings with the gallery owner’s signature on them. I had no idea he was an artist.

He meandered over to me when he finished with his customers, and said, “You must be Daryle.” We spoke for a while when, out of the blue, he asked me if I’d accompany him downtown to see some paintings. I wanted to continue talking with him, so off we went. I’ve learned to always expect the unexpected, and I was game.

We arrived at an office building and went up several floors before we entered a jewelry store. We were greeted by a pleasant man and invited to examine the paintings on the walls. I was so sure I’d have little interest in them and was in no hurry, but that soon changed when I spied a painting that looked to me like one by Harvey Joiner. Sure enough, it was! And next to it – why – I couldn’t believe my eyes! It was a very large Carl Brenner painting. And it didn’t stop there. The next painting was a favorite artist of mine: Patty Thum. If you’re not following me, these are all Kentucky artists that I specialize in! My hands began to tremble. I felt like a kid in a candy shop, but I didn’t want to show my excitement.

The gallery owner who had brought me to see these paintings asked if I had any interest in any of them. I said, “Maybe.” About that time, the owner of this particular shop asked if I thought there was anything here that might have my interest. This broke me out of my trance, and in a feeble voice I said, “You have some nice paintings.”

“Is there any special one you are interested in,” he asked? This is where I knew I had to keep my cool.

“Well," I said, "I'm really looking to buy a collection.” This was the first thing that came out of my mouth. “Really,” he responded. “Well you can buy these.” I now knew I was leading this trade in the right direction and maintaining a poker face was absolutely essential.

I ask if he had a pen and paper and he soon produced them. I tried to make it appear as if these paintings weren’t really anything that special to me, but at the right price, I could be interested in buying them all. I went to each painting and asked the price, then figured what I could pay, then added it to the preceding price on my paper.

I could see his interest peaking, because he knew the figure I was going to offer would be considerable. By the time I finished marking down the inventory on paper, there were about a dozen paintings, and my figure totaled between thirty and forty thousand dollars.

For awhile he insisted there was no way he would sell them for that amount. But, I could see in his eyes, there was no way he was going to let me and my money leave his shop. At this time, all I had to do was make it appear that I was moving his way a little. There was one painting that he was especially attached to, so I offered to drop this one from the deal. But, he apparently wanted to prolong the game, by saying he’d need to go in the back office to see what his cost on it was. I knew the game was over and we already had a deal. He soon emerged from the back office and said, “I never thought I’d do this, but I guess we have a deal.”

There were smiles all around because I’m certain the seller made a handsome profit, the gentleman who brought me in made about $4,000 and I had just pocketed $30,000 or more. This ended a very happy story.

I’m sure that I don’t have to tell you all the lessons that can be learned in this story, but one very important one is to maximize every opportunity that presents itself to you and always be in control of that opportunity.

Put a Turbo Charge on your Antique & Collectible Treasure Hunting Skills. Join Daryle Lambert's 31 Club.

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Western Collectibles: Dream of the Wild West

These J.O. Bass original spurs sold on eBay for $8,700 on June 7, 2008.

I used the phrase “Go West Young Man” the other day, and that’s exactly what I’ve done. For ten years straight, Vickie and I traveled to Sheridan, Wyoming to the Eaton's Ranch and spent a week in the beautiful Bib Horn Mountains. I recommend this ranch to anyone that wants to experience the Old West as it was.

On our first trip to the Eaton’s Ranch, we were greeted by the wife of Big Bill Eaton, and these were her instruction: “We have a working ranch here, and we serve our wranglers food three times a day. If you’re hungry, you will show up. There will be a horse assigned to you equal to your ability to ride, and it will be yours for the week. The cabin assignments are posted on the bunk house wall. By the way, there are no locks on the doors. Other than this we hope not to see you unless there is a problem.” She meant every word, and these vacations were the best that I have ever experienced. Riding over 25,000 acres of mountains and flat land is an experience that I will never feel again unless we travel to the ranch one more time. You could spend the entire day in the mountains and never see another living sole. Just Deer, Antelopes, Fox, Wild Turkey, Elk, Bison and let’s not forget a few Rattlesnakes.

Can you now see why I fell in love with the West? This is where I first saw paintings by William Gollings, Remington, Curtis and so many others and knew that I would be searching to own them for the rest of my life. If you ever stray out that way, be sure to visit the Don King Museum in Sheridan. You will never see so many saddles, bridles and ropes in your whole life again.

By now you might be asking what this all has to do with collecting. I assure you, it does. What if you run across a Hollywood Saddlery Silver and Gold mounted saddle with Walt Goldsmiths Silver and Gold breast plate? This piece could easily command $10,000 or more. Then you may run across a pair of Batwing Chaps with hundreds of nickel studs priced at $2500. Not to be out done there are the Edward H. Bohlin Sterling Silver Spurs with the engraved Gold Horseheads for $8000. Believe it or not, these are the cheaper items in these classifications. Many of the Western collectibles will run in the $100,000 category or more. Western Memorabilia has been hot for many years and it doesn't seem to be losing its glitter any time soon.

When you combine these items with Western Art, you have the road to success opened to you. Yes, these items will be identified in the West, but how about where you live? Do you think someone on a trip back in the 1930's or 40's might have brought something home with them from the West? I have seen items worth tens of thousands packed away in some old trunk in the attic or basement just waiting to be found. Often the price for these items will be below $100. In fact I have already shared the story about the Indian blanket that was found that way and after being purchased for very few dollars, sold the second time for $200 and the third time for over $300,000. My hope for you is that when you buy an item, you will be the one selling it for the larger amounts because you’ll have the right knowledge necessary to recognize the true value.

Saddle Up, Buckle Up and let’s move those Lil doggies.

Put a Turbo Charge on your Antique & Collectible Treasure Hunting Skills. Join Daryle Lambert's 31 Club.

Get FREE MENTORING. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets that help you increase your profits. Then Learn to Grow Your Money Exponentially Buying and Selling only Antiques, Fine Art, and Collectibles with Daryle's Strategic Business Plan. Our Members are Newbies to Seasoned Dealers, making more money than they thought possible. Join Daryle Lambert's 31 Club, today.

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The Expanding 31 Club

The 31 Club is just beginning to come to life. I hope you have noticed that the Marketplace is quickly filling up with quality items. And there will always be room for our members listings. Your staff has come to the final conclusion that it's time to start enhancing the Members Only section, and these new and exciting improvements will be starting this week. For all of you who are reading the daily blog and wondering if it's time to join the 31 Club, I'll say, "Yes it is". We plan on there being no other place on the Internet but right here where you can get the information you need and have opportunities to make money in this business.

Our goal is to make sure that our members are not only making money, but also having fun.

Jeremy has almost completed the internal items that needed to be addressed so the 31 Club could become all that we have envisioned. Cindy is busy getting our message out so that all who have an interested in Antiques, Collectibles and Fine Art will know about us. Our Internet rankings are way up and we've surpassed some bedrock names in the industry.

When we started planning this venture, I knew one day I would include experts in every field within our industry. One area that I am not comfortable with is Asian Antiques and Art. I've taken care of that by finding an expert in Asian Antiques to advise me and our members. I hope to be able to make an official announcement next week. I am very excited about this because now we can acquire knowledge about this vast area and we won't have to pass up those items that could prove to be real treasures for us.

Cindy reported to me that many of our members are taking advantage of Skip McGrath's eBay expertise. Skip has spent many years in the antique business himself, and is one of our biggest supporters. If you're planning on working the strategic plan for capital accumulation buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles, you'll likely be using eBay. Even though I've disagreed with them many times, eBay is always going to be a large factor in our successes. Why not learn to use eBay by the most enlightened person we know? We highly recommend you get hold of some of his eBay materials and let him guide you through all the confusion of it. Skip makes it easy! Check out Skip McGrathhere.

On our Members only site, you'll have access to a list of specialty auction houses so you will know where to send your better pieces to be auctioned. This was suggested to us by one of our members, and he even helped us assemble the list! I'm telling you, this is turning into one great club! I can tell you that this list will soon be posted in our members only section.

The Wish List will be completed within the next week, and its use will be limited to members. The public will be able to view your entries to purchase and contact. Each member will be receiving thousands of dollars worth of free advertising from their wish lists, and this alone could assure your success.

Please give us your comments on the changes that you are seeing on the website and anything that needs to be added or corrected. And if you have suggestions you'd like us to hear, drop us a line or a call!

Join Daryle Lambert's 31 Club, today. Put a Turbo Charge on your Antique & Collectible Treasure Hunting Skills. Get FREE MENTORING. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets that help you increase your profits. Continue to Grow Your Money Buying and Selling Antiques, Fine Art, and Collectibles with Daryle's Strategic Business Plan. Our Members are Newbies to Seasoned Dealers who are making more money than they thought possible.

My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership.

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Kay Finch Collectibles

“Go West Young Man.” I’ve heard this expression all my life, but it takes on a new meaning when looking for antique and collectible treasures that seem “out of place.” Items made in California but found at an estate sale in Vermont would be considered “out of place,” and these out of place items stand a very good chance of being bought right and sold for a decent profit to a West Coast collector.

Kay Finch pottery is a good example of this. To me, these look as if they were made by a child out of common ceramics material, but to the collector, they are fabulous works of art. Finch started making her humors animals in the 1930's and opened her studio in the 1940's. Her work was considered so unique at the time, there was a ready market for anything she produced. After World War II, cheap foreign imports caused a lack of interest in the more expensive pieces she produced in her studio, and soon after her husband’s death in 1961, she closed her studio. Over 700 designs were produced from her studio, and when it closed, she continued to work for many more years for other companies.

Although she is best know for her animal ceramics, many of which were modeled after her own animals, nothing was beyond her range, including people. Collectors today are willing to pay almost anything for her one-of-a-kind pieces, and you can find over twenty different marks she used. After sharing a few prices on the early items Finch produced, you’ll probably be on the lookout for items bearing her name. You might even find her items very cheap at a garage sale because they don’t appear to be very valuable. Many of her pieces are “NPA”, which means no price available, or priceless.

Take a look at some of these prices: Best in show Afghan no. 5490 - $3000; Petey the Donkey no. 4776 - $3000; Chinese Princess $6000 (and she is only 3 inches tall) and Grail the Shepherd no. 478 $1500. This is real money for these simple figurines. And, as unattractive as I find them, I must confess, they do make me smile. So, when you’re out looking, remember that it’s so important to be able to see things through other’s eyes. And just because it doesn’t appeal to me, it appeals to someone else, and that’s all that matters.

There is a wonderful book out about Kay and her life called Kay Finch: Biography-Identification-Values by Devin Frick, Jean Frick and Richard Martinez. This book can come in handy. As always, try to locate a second hand copy to be budget conscious.

Join Daryle Lambert's 31 Club, today. Put a Turbo Charge on your Antique & Collectible Treasure Hunting Skills. Get FREE MENTORING. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets that help you increase your profits. Continue to Grow Your Money Buying and Selling Antiques, Fine Art, and Collectibles with Daryle's Strategic Business Plan. Our Members are Newbies to Seasoned Dealers who are making more money than they thought possible.

My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership.

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Identifying Paperweights for Value

This Baccarat Paperweight sold in 2001 on eBay for $10,566 to a private collector.

“I found a wonderful art glass vase at a house sale, but I left behind some pottery and a paperweight and now it's weighing heavy on my mind.”

Lou Ann, a 31 Club Member who often finds wonderful items at fantastic prices, said that to me last week. I can honestly say that after 40 years in the business, I still ask myself what I might have left behind at a sale. The voice in my head says to me, “That piece of pottery might have been better than you thought, and that painting could’ve turned out to be a real winner, Daryle. Why didn’t you buy it.” I even find myself churning these thoughts in my mind months after the sale. Although I try not to think about what I might’ve missed, I’m only human.

I don't know if the pottery Lou Ann left behind was special, but at a low enough price, I would have taken the chance since I was already there. However, the real story might have been the paperweight.

Most people know very little about paperweights, so having the knowledge can give us a big leg up on finding that special one.

Paperweights only have had two great periods in their development, first from 1840 to 1860 and then starting in 1952 and continuing today.The most famous companies producing paperweights during their heyday in the first period were the St. Louis Company, Baccarat, Clichy, Bacchus and Whitefriars. Soon after this period, the art of making paperweights landed in America with companies such as The New England Glass Company, Gillinder, Mt. Washington and later Millville.

Try to get a look at some of these early pieces because they are just fantastic, produced with amazing quality. I could spend the next ten pages just describing them, but this would do you very little good, and I highly recommend you buy a few good books on paperweights. Second hand books are just fine. In fact, we’d sure appreciate it if you used our site if you order books from Amazon, because it helps us keep this site up and running. Take a look at this good guide for starters: Collectors' Paperweights: Price Guide and Catalog

The second period of paperweights starting in 1952 with companies like Lundberg, Orient and Flume, Perthshire, Stankard, Ysart and a name I’m sure you’re already familiar with – Lotton. Lotton’s pieces are going up in value as we speak. Baccarat is producing weights that challenge the early the early ones for beauty. Each of these companies have made outstanding paperweights for the collectors.

Early pieces can bring over $100,000 and it isn't unusual to find ones priced from $10,000 to $25,000. In fact, it is very hard to find a great example that doesn't bring over $500. Like almost everything else, when the paperweight market got hot, the fakes and reproductions spilled out into the market place, but most of them are so bad, my nine-year-old can tell the difference.

How do we know what paperweights are worth, and how can they be identified?

Here’s a little secret. Most people pick up a paperweight and look on the bottom, finding nothing and put it back down. But, most paperweights are identified by marks within the weight itself. Baccarat has figures within the canes that even give you the date they were made. Often the maker’s initials are marked within the design of the weight, and you will have to look very carefully to find them. Take time to study every paperweight you see, because just one might put several thousand dollars in your pocket.

Get those books and study them. They will more likely only set you back a few dollars, but owning them could prove invaluable.

Join Daryle Lambert's 31 Club, today. Put a Turbo Charge on your Antique & Collectible Treasure Hunting Skills. Get FREE MENTORING. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets that help you increase your profits. Continue to Grow Your Money Buying and Selling Antiques, Fine Art, and Collectibles with Daryle's Strategic Business Plan. Our Members are Newbies to Seasoned Dealers who are making more money than they thought possible.

My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership.

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Antiques & Collectibles: Learn What to Avoid or Buy Extremely Low

I’ve received many calls lately from people wanting to know my opinion on contemporary collectibles. I’ve taken the general view that these aren’t worth the time needed to sell them, however, there are always exceptions – like at what price I can get them for.

Frederick Hart is a wonderful artist that worked in Lucite and Bronze. However, to give you an idea why I avoid this type of merchandise unless I can purchase it at a price that seems almost idiotic, let me share a couple of stories.

I’d been working with a couple on their art collection for several weeks when they sprang a surprise on me. They had acquired several Frederick Hart pieces and asked if I was interested in them. They showed me a small bronze. I offered $1,000 for it, and they accepted. I soon sold it for $2,500. But, then they ask me if I would be interested in a major piece of Hart’s work called “Fidelia.” I was reluctant to even give the owner a bid, but since I had purchased so much from them, I did. $2,500. Again, I was startled when they accepted, because I had no idea what I would do with it. There was, however, one lady that had purchased the small bronze from me, and she was willing to take a look. Thankfully, she bought that one as well, for $5,000, allowing me to make some money on the piece. Today, “Fidelia” is in a gallery, offered at over $25,000. I wish the gallery luck getting the price.

Can you imagine taking a 90% licking on something you purchased? I was able to double my money but that wasn't a guarantee. I could have had some real trouble selling these pieces. Don't hesitate to offer what you may think is a totally unreasonable price for items that could be potentially difficult to re-sell. Even original Erte bronzes can be difficult to sell, unless you can buy them extremely reasonably. I’ve purchased two Erte bronzes and was able to double my money on both, but only because I was able to purchase them at less than 25% of their retail value.

Perhaps the strangest piece I’ve purchased was a bronze of two Leopards with a nude on top. This piece was about 2/3 life size and extremely heavy. It listed for about $55,000 and I purchased it for $5,000. I tried and tried to sell it with no success, but finally a dealer in Florida took it off my hands for $7,500. Believe me, even though the dealer paid the shipping, it wasn't worth the headaches to get it shipped. At last check, the dealer still had the piece after almost two years. I wish him luck because he bailed me out.

It’s has been my experience that if you don't have some idea of where to move the merchandise, it’s better left for someone else. It totally amazes me how people can buy these types of items with so little regard for their money. “I just loved it and wanted to own the piece for my home” is the reason most people buy these items, spending more money than they could ever resell it for.

Other items that fall into this category are Franklin Mint, Collector Plates, Thomas Kincaid, and any other Collectible you’re told will become very expensive in the future. Remember the Beanie Babies? How about the Dolls that you could adopt, what happened to them? With items such as these, please be safe rather than sorry.

Join Daryle Lambert's 31 Club, today. Put a Turbo Charge on your Antique & Collectible Treasure Hunting Skills. Get FREE MENTORING. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets that help you increase your profits. Continue to Grow Your Money Buying and Selling Antiques, Fine Art, and Collectibles with Daryle's Strategic Business Plan. Our Members are Newbies to Seasoned Dealers who are making more money than they thought possible.

My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership.

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Special Father's Day Sporting Collectibles

Today, I'm attending the Nascar Race in Brooklyn, Michigan. This is my Father’s Day surprise from my wife, Vickie, and my son, Joshua. I hope each of you will have a wonderful Father’s Day and not forget the Father of us all on this day.

I want to connect this Blog to things that bring back memories of our fathers. Since I knew mine best, I will share a few things that remind me of him.

He was on the Kentucky racing commission, and I remember the lapel pin that he was given. It allowed him to enter any race track in the world free. He was so proud of this pin. I would give almost anything for it, but one of my siblings ended up with it. They called my father, “Big Stan” and aside from his family, he loved nothing more than the racing of thoroughbred horses. This is where I got my interest in the Kentucky Derby glasses and other racing memorabilia. Big Brown didn’t win the Triple Crown this year, but you can bet that items belonging to him will become great collectibles. There are unlimited items to collect that are connected to racing, and as I have put together a small collection of racing programs, glasses, silks and other items, it has allowed me to keep my father close to me.

His next passion was gol,f and I have written a Blog on golf collectibles before, but let’s just revisit them. With Tiger Woods being the greatest golfer that’s ever lived, this has reawakend the interest in collecting golf memorabilia. I visited the home of one of our 31 Club Members, Ray, and on his wall was a large frame that contained one of the flags from the Augusta Golf course. This is where the US Open is played. The flag was signed by all the All-Stars of that day. To complete this great piece, there were several photos signed by the golfers who played in that tournament. Golf collectors have a wide variety of items to collect. There are ball, clubs, signatures, bags, shoes, photos and many other things that I could mention. Maybe your dad was a golfer, and these things would bring back memories of when you played a few rounds with him.

As a small child I remember my father taking me hunting and how I begged to shoot his shotgun. Finally giving in, he picked a milk apple, a large green round ball that grows on this type of tree, as my target. I aimed the gun but was afraid of the recoil so I kept it off my shoulder. I fired the gun and ended upon my backside and received a large bruise on my arm. I will never remember that moment without thinking of my dad. I can still see the 16 gauge Ithaca pump shot gun he owned. It meant so much to me to go hunting with it after his death. People can collect guns, shells, advertising, paintings and a variety of other items related to hunting, and you will find they are more than generous with their money when it comes to buying them.

I am sure that your fathers had things that would mean more to you than money could buy, and this is how collectibles get started. As we go about our business of buying and selling, don’t forget that these things have special meaning to the ones that buy them from us. They will be glad you located a special item for them.

In the future, I’m hoping that when Joshua sees the racing program from the race we’re at this weekend, he’ll feel the special feeling that can only be felt when you are remembering.

Join Daryle Lambert's 31 Club, today. Put a Turbo Charge on your Antique & Collectible Treasure Hunting Skills. Get FREE MENTORING. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets that help you increase your profits. Continue to Grow Your Money Buying and Selling Antiques, Fine Art, and Collectibles with Daryle's Strategic Business Plan. Our Members are Newbies to Seasoned Dealers who are making more money than they thought possible.

My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership.

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Working the Trends in the Antique and Fine Art Markets

Lotton Glass Lava & Cypriot Vases. Photo from Lotton Glass Club.

It’s come up upon the first year anniversary since I published my book and launched the 31 Club, and naturally, I’ve been thinking about the past year. I’ve shared a lot of my expertise with blooming enthusiasts, and it does my heart good to see many of you doing things you never thought you could do. It’s always helpful to visit the past for a brief time and examine what’s occurred, so let's do that.

When 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles was released, others were stating that the Antique, Collectible, and Fine Art Markets were doomed. I completely disagreed with the barrage of negative articles that came out about this topic, so we decided to go on a crusade to show that these markets, were in fact, healthier than ever. So we wrote about it and sent our articles all over. A look at the market today shows that there are record prices realized in almost every category of the industry, and while I don’t get to read everything around, I haven’t seen negative articles about our industry in a long time. But where is the market headed now? Remember the trend is your friend so let’s check out a few markets.

The American Art Market is still on fire. Paintings that were bringing in only a thousand dollars or two dollars may produce figures today that I'm startled by. I’ll start with some of the markets that I am most familiar with.

Paintings by Kentucky artists have reached heights that most who collect them never thought possible. Harvey Joiner’s paintings, just a few years ago, could be purchased for $400 to $500 dollars. The market trended upward, and the prices escalated to the $800 range. But, over the last 24 months, his paintings may now demand $10,000 to $15,000 and even the smallest 5 to 8 inch paintings can fetch $4,500 at auction.

I have probably sold 30 of Joiner’s paintings over the last 5 years, and I’ll say I wish that I had them back at the prices I sold them for, but that isn't the way we work in the 31 Club program, is it. We take our profits and move on with our money, and keep it turning. That's the only way the compounding effect we are looking for will ever be achieved.

Regional Art

The same that we said about prices on Harvey Joiner can also be said about artists such as Carl Brenner and Patty Thum. Collectors are standing in line to purchase works by these artists that are not even their best. The trend in Regional Art is going straight up, so you might want to look into your local market and see if it's following the trend. If it is, don’t you think it might be worth your while to find some of it?

Art Glass

My friend, Warner, introduced me to Lotton Glass less than five years ago. At that time, we were able to purchase examples of Charles Lotton’s best work for under $500 for small and medium pieces, but what about today?

I pulled out some old auction catalogs from back then to see if there was perhaps a single piece of Lotton represented in the sales. I don’t think I found more than two pieces in any one sale. And there weren’t buyers lined up for these pieces. Flash forward to today and you find that both Early’s Auction and Cincinnati Art Gallery just completed sales with about 40 pieces of Lotton represented in each sale.

Usually when this many pieces of anything are sold at one auction, the prices are reduced, but not in this case. Most of the Lotton offerings brought close to retail. So, where’s the trend here? We can still look to make a wonderful profit on this glass if we can buy it right. Most good pieces of Lotton Glass are bringing in over $1,500 and as much as $7,000 or $8,000. I believe this same trend is being followed by most good Art Glass today.

Know What The Trend is and Follow It.

Know what’s in demand today and look to buy these items as you ascend the 31 Steps of our plan. Follow the trend and buy, buy, buy – according to the plan developed in 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antique & Collectibles. When you do, you’ll find you’ll complete these steps in this upward market faster than you could ever have imagined. See you in the winner’s circle.

Join Daryle Lambert's 31 Club, today. Put a Turbo Charge on your Antique & Collectible Treasure Hunting Skills. Get FREE MENTORING. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets that help you increase your profits. Continue to Grow Your Money Buying and Selling Antiques, Fine Art, and Collectibles with Daryle's Strategic Business Plan. Our Members are Newbies to Seasoned Dealers who are making more money than they thought possible.

My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership.

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Recognizing Value in Fine Art Paintings: Signatures, Initials, Monograms and Unsigned Paintings

We purchased this signed painting, but the artist's signature has not yet been identified. It will soon be available in 31 Club Gallery.

Taking some of the mystery out of recognizing value in Fine Art Paintings is a topic I get many e-mails on. Members e-mail me about wonderful paintings they'd like to buy, but the artist can’t be identified. Maybe there are only initials, a signature that can’t be read, or just simply a monogram with a figure on the painting. Perhaps the signature can be read, but the artist is not in the guides on paintings. People have often said to me, “I liked the painting, but I didn’t purchase it because I couldn’t identify it.” This could be a huge mistake.

If you judge a painting to be worth $400 because of the frame, the content, and quality of the work, and you can purchase it for about $100, then your decision is made. Even if the painting is not signed, you might not want to hesitate to purchase it. I have seen paintings in beautiful frames sell for $100, and after a little research, it was discovered that the frame was a Newcomb-Macklin frame worth up to $1,000. And this might be a real shocker: Some vintage frames have been known to bring over $100,000. And, unsigned paintings can still sell for thousands, as William shared with me when he saw an unsigned painting sell for over $5,000.

I have seen signatures appear after the painting had been cleaned and have found signatures hidden behind a frame. So, if you buy a painting for a few dollars and know that it’s worth more than four times what you paid for it, then it has met our rule for buying. Anything from there that enhances its value is only a plus.

I’ve accumulated many secrets over the past 45 years in this business and I've shared many of them them in my book. Today, I'll share one of those secrets with you.

Did you know that, like authors who’ve written under pen names, artists also painted under alternate names? Did you know Leon Gaspard also painted under the name Leon Schulman and John Edward Castagno used the name Czako? Artists painted under alternate names, and they are listed in the back of American Signatures and Monograms by John Castagno. In the back of this book on signatures and monograms, you will also find the initials used by some of the greatest artists to ever decorate a canvas. If you find a painting signed with only initials, the identity of that artist might be discovered right here in this book. If you’re serious about finding valuable paintings, there might be a true treasure waiting for you because others didn’t have this information, but you did. Castagno’s books are very expensive, but if your interest lies in this area, his books will prove to be key tools for you.

At a house I was called to about several items, I stumbled across a painting of an Indian Chief that looked to be unsigned. I asked what they were asking for it. The answer came quickly: $250. I thought that was a good price, but I asked if I could take it out of the frame. They agreed, and lo and behold, there was a signature behind the frame I didn’t recognize. I had just made a very serious mistake.

You see, the owner quickly asked if I would mind if they waited another day before they sold the painting. We had already settled on several other items I was purchasing, and I didn’t want to miss out on those items as well, but I said, “Sure” anyway.

That evening I quickly researched the painting and found that it was worth about $10,000. I called back the next day but they told me that their daughter really liked the painting, so they’ve decided it should stay in the family. You see, they had done their research after I left, also. So, remember this story, and keep this in mind: If you come to the conclusion that something should be purchased, stop trying to convince yourself further and simply buy it.

You may find that this approach will produce several paintings that will only return you a small profit, but by taking a risk, you might end up with a piece that will make your whole year or even more.

Join Daryle Lambert's 31 Club, today. Put a Turbo Charge on your Antique & Collectible Treasure Hunting Skills. Get FREE MENTORING. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets that help you increase your profits. Continue to Grow Your Money Buying and Selling Antiques, Fine Art, and Collectibles with Daryle's Strategic Business Plan. Our Members are Newbies to Seasoned Dealers who are making more money than they thought possible.

My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership.

WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT! You can sign in "Anonymous."