Art Points the Way

Charles Courtney Curran - In Our Gallery


I have to admit it is hard to stay positive when everyone seems to be saying that the sky is falling every day, but the truth is the truth. Christie's just had a record sale and even created three world records for an artist in these uncertain times. Christie’s total gross sales were $325 million dollars. This may seem like chump change when the government is giving away trillions of dollars, but it is still a huge amount in my little corner of the world. It shows that quality items will continue to do well even in depressed times. Hold fast to those true treasures that you have been fortune enough to buy.

I haven't been concentrating on individual items recently because I felt this is a time to encourage my readers that they aren't in this by themselves and that the future will reward those who stay the course. As we read about auctions like the one above, it only affirms my opinion that rare paintings and other unusual antiques and collectibles will fare favorably regardless of other market conditions. I have consigned a painting to Christie's January Sale and I have every hope it will bring ten times its cost. This will make the wait well worth while and also serve to stimulate me into greater action in my pursuit of success. In the most recent sale at Christie's there was art work that was representative of artist with low auction records that sold in the millions so it does not appear to be a shrinking market but one that is expanding every year. The same can be said about all quality Antiques and Collectibles. If the number of items available is small and the buyer numbers are large, you can bet the prices are going up. Yesterday, I received a very interesting call from a lady asking if I could help her sell a collection of automobile hood ornaments. At first it didn't interest me much but as she began to describe the collection my interest was peeked. These weren't your regular hood ornaments but ones that represent the wonderful art movement in cars back in the 1930s and 1940s. They are all mounted as works of art. If you would like to see images of these items go to www.northstargallery.com. I think you will be amazed. I truly believe that she has some items of significant value but it will take research to find this collection’s true value. My days are never dull because presented a new day of treasure hunting. I never know where next call may lead me on this adventure.

If there are certain items that you would like to learn more about, please send me your list and I will try to include them in future blogs.
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Always Be Prepared to Make an Offer

Charles Courney Curran

The margin between success and failure in the antique business is razor thin. When you come across items you know are treasures and you want to make an offer, there are many things that will mean the difference between having your offer accepted or not.

The inflexion in your voice, the manner in which you make the offer, the kind of day the seller has encountered, and your being able to assure the seller you are an expert on whatever items your dealing on can mean closing the deal or walking away empty handed.

Never leave home without having the means to buy whatever you might come across during the day. Carry blank checks, credit cards, or the phone number for the 31 Club with you at all times.

Don’t let your past experience dictate your present action.

How does this all play out in real life? My experience from other day might happen to you:

There’s a man whom I’ve found it very difficult to deal with over the years. Now, this isn’t because he wants to be unfair with me, but he reasons that, “If Daryle can make a profit on the items I sell him, so can I.” I can’t fault him for that.

The other day I was able to visit his place of business just at closing time. He wasn’t in, but as I looked around, I found some items I wanted to make an offer on, so we called him to see if he was in the selling mood. Although my past experience with him hadn’t resulted in a sale, I tried anyway. He haggled a little, but to my surprise, he said the pieces were mine if I could pay for them immediately.

Two wonderful paintings by Charles Courney Curran (be sure to look him up], a signed Ronald Reagan photograph in a great frame, the best print of West Point, from about 1860 that I’ve ever seen, and two watercolors by Daniel Sheerin immediately became mine for almost $6000.

I’m wondering though, would the results have been the same if I said, “I’ll send you a check?” Or, what if I'd let my past experience with him dictate my present action? My past experience told me he'd say, "No Deal." If I'd kept that in mind when I spotted his shop, I might never have gone in to look that day.

You see the timing was right. The deal was closed because I could pay for the pieces at that moment, and he envisioned something else he wanted to do with the money that day.

I will be completing my travels today, and the last part of the trip will not be nearly as pleasant as the time I spent yesterday doing what I love to do: search for treasure. Most of the finds I come across aren’t found at times I know what I will be looking, at but rather when I least expect them, like yesterday, so you must always be ready.

I did make a major mistake in yesterdays blog and believe it or not it wasn’t in my grammar. The mistake was that it is my Brother-in-Law’s funeral, not my Son-in-Law’s.

*****

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