Arlington Park Antique Show Finds

Roseville Falline

It’s Spring Time, and around here that means it’s time to visit the Arlington Park Antique Show. It was held this weekend, and I was very excited to get the ball rolling again. Cindy and I met to discuss our strategy before we entered the show, and while we waited for the gate to open, I talked to everyone within ear shot. The mood was upbeat, and the people were very eager to begin their shopping. Cindy and I did as we always do by following a pattern throughout the building to be sure we didn't miss anything of importance.

Whoa, were prices high! For the first four hours we drew a blank. Finally breaking for lunch we decided to retrace our steps, thinking that at the close of the sale, some dealers might be more willing to deal with us.

So after much disappointment, we approached a booth we’d looked at earlier. In fact, this was the same booth we ended up buying from last year. They seem to always be tempting us with their outstanding inventory of glass and pottery. Yesterday, they had a wonderful Weller Forest Jardinier and Pedestal we eyed earlier, along with several other pieces of really fine pottery. A huge Roseville vase in the Green Pinecone pattern was still there, as well as one of my favorites – a ten inch vase in the Falline pattern from 1933.

So, as closing time was creeping up closer, bingo! They significantly reduced the price of the Weller Forest Jardinier and Pedestal to meet our goal. It’s rather large and I’m certain they wouldn’t want to pack that up and lug it home. By closing time, we were able to come to an agreement on price for the huge Roseville Green Pinecone pattern vase as well as the Falline pattern vase.

Paul was so nice and even packed the pieces, and Jo Ann helped carry them to the car. You can be assured that we will never fail to visit their booths if they set up at a show we attend. This is what I mean by networking when I talk about networking. You should make an attempt to meet these folks. I have never had a problem with any item that I’ve purchased from them, but I feel certain if I did, they would be accommodating. Without these wonderful people, my entire day would have been wasted. You will soon see these pieces on our website, and I am sure you will appreciate them as much as Cindy and I did.

If you ever run across Joann Woodall and Paul Woolmer from Hampshire, Illinois, be sure to stop and say howdy. These folks are real home town and ready to deal. They can be reached at Wagon Wheel Antiques [ www.wagonwheelantiques.net ] Next to them you will also find some fine folks in their booth. Cindy Horvath and Mike Nickel have a store called A Nickel’s Worth out of Portland, Michigan. I’m not certain, but I think these two stores work as partners. Last year, they supplied us with some fine Lotton vases we listed on the 31 Club site. If you remember, those pieces didn’t last long.

Yesterday I promised a great story for today, and I don't want to disappoint you. However, you may get tired of hearing this name so often. Yes, it was Cecil R. again. He called me Saturday afternoon to ask if I was near my computer. It so happened that I was away from home. But, I couldn't help myself from asking what he had found. “Oh, nothing was his reply. Well I wasn't going to let him get away with that, so again I asked, “What did you find?”

He told me that it was just a small watercolor about 5x7 inches. I asked him who the artist was and when he told me, my hat almost flew off my head. I asked him if I could be his partner on that, but he wasn’t buying that one. I couldn’t wait to get home to research it, and as I expected, that small watercolor has a value of $6,000 to $8,000. Please don’t tell me there isn’t any great treasure out there to be found. Cecil asked me not to give the artist’s name yet, but hopefully I can do that at a later date.

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Daryle Lambert: UHL Pottery & Rural Antiques & Collectibles

Having been away in Kentucky for Christmas, I have to admit that this has been a hard week for me to stay focus on business, but I have enjoyed seeing my mother, children, and grand children. Old friends shared stories that brought back memories that had been storied away for years and they seemed to come from everywhere. We laughed and cried but that was then and this is now so it’s back to the work we have set out to do together.

If I were to start an Antique business today in Kentucky, I would have to study different items than I would in Chicago. However, with the internet, this problem isn’t as important as it was when I first started in this business.

I have seen interesting items this week I don't normally see in Chicago. First to come to mind is UHL Pottery. This company started in Evansville, Indiana around 1846. The company later moved to Huntingburg, Indiana around 1908, though they kept their Evansville business office until 1934. Over the years, August Uhl was joined in business by his brother, Louis who stayed until 1879, and then his son, George. It remained a family business and closed around 1944 due to union strikes, rising costs and Japanese imports. From 1944-47, the company was leased to Vogue Pottery who continued to manufacture some UHL pieces until it closed in 1947.

Perhaps the most interesting things that you might run across in your search of UHL are pieces that were produced by members of the family and signed by the potter. They are usually pieces of dinnerware, such as cup and saucers and plates. But the pieces I always looked for were the Miniature Christmas Whiskey Jugs. These little jugs often have paper labels from the twenties and thirties and can sell for several hundred dollars each.

Today's Photo: Miniature Uhl Christmas Jug sold on ebay for $143.76 12/16/07

You might not believe this, but tobacco items are in demand today. Kentucky is still one of the biggest tobacco producing states in this country, so you would expect there to be interest for these tobacco related items.

Cigar boxes with their wonderful graphics can bring some fancy money today and so can cigarette lighters and ashtrays. These items gain additional value if they are also have advertising associated with them.

Even cigarette packs are being collected. Can you believe it? Paper matches are collected by a large group of collectors and there are even collector clubs that have been formed for the lighter and match collectors.

You might have thought that collecting wouldn't be as popular in rural communities as it is in the city, but this presumption would be wrong. There are collectors everywhere.

Toy farm implements can sell for thousands of dollars if the have the right name on them and are produced by the right companies. All the major implement companies have toys made of their products. You can find tractors, combines and plows, plus many other items that are eagerly sought after by the collector.

I once went into a garage here in Owensboro, and up in the rafters was a paddle car that looked as if it had been there for fifty years. I ask if it was for sale. I was told I could have it if I could get it down, which I did. After examining it, I told the woman I couldn’t take it for nothing, so I gave her $200. This little car later sold to a collector for over $2,200. Great things seem to show up in the strangest places.

Quilts, guns, knives and primitive furniture bring big money in rural areas. And there can be huge money in duck decoys. A fine Kentucky sugar chest can bring $25,000 plus today, and a painting by some of the better rural artist are beginning to sell to record heights today.

There seems to be something for everyone's taste today, and this gives us the excellent opportunity to cash in on this insatiable demand.

Discover how our book can be the tool that helps you become financially free buying and selling antiques, collectibles and fine art according to a real wealth-building plan.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club Wealth Building and start your own race to your millions! Read more about The Million Dollar Challenge.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us. Contact us here.

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Daryle Lambert: Why the Backlash to "Silver is a Sell?"

I'm back from Christmas in Kentucky, and upon my return, Cindy informed me that my recent story on selling your ungraded silver coins now, extracted right here from this blog, got more than 15 times the usual amount of hits. And the news distribution companies had people calling them upset that the story was run. I had to think about this, and in the process, asked myself why? Through this I learned a very important lesson.

When I write about buying items, most of you probably say, "That's nice." There are a lot of things to buy on the market. Then, you thank me for sharing some of the special ones with you. No one gets upset because I suggest things to buy. But when I suggested selling something, like I did the ungraded silver coin, I opened up a hornet's nest.

Aside from my dealing in antiques and fine arts, I have been in the investment business for over forty-five years now, and I have seen plenty of markets go up and down. But to those whose livlihood comes from promoting certain items, there is never a time for Joe Consumer to sell. One of my favorite sayings in the stock market is, "Bulls make money, Bears make money but Pigs go broke." This is also true in the Antique business as well.

As a youngster, I could have made a pretty penny if I had owned a mint Model A Ford. In fact, it might have brought $35,000 or more then. There are still those who are holding onto their Model A's, waiting for the time that they will bring $100,000. But if I had suggested they should sell their car at the lower price and use the funds for something else, I would have been threatened with my very life. And guess what? I can buy that same car today for less than $20,000.

Let's take it a step further. I have seen Royal Doulton stoneware decorated buy Hannah Barlow sell for $5,000 to $15,000. Today I could buy them for $2,000 to $5,000.

Speaking to you about the things to buy is very rewardingfor me, but perhaps the best service I will offer you is suggesting when it's time to sell.

I received many emails from people that were angry with me for writing that article and angry at the news distribution companies who posted it. There are also many people who make a lot of money when things go up, but if the prices turns down, the game is over for them. I'm talking silver here. Even if the price for silver goes a little higher, who cares? Now is the time to sell, because there is greater value to be found for your money now than presently keeping it in silver. I guess I've just said it again. This is just a industrial metal that has reached a level where it should be sold, and if some have a difference of opinion than me, so be it. I will never be angry with them for their views. When I find people who get so upset when their opinion is challenged, it is usually because they are trying to protect their own position, and it has nothing to do with helping others.

However, I will never shy away from sharing with you my opinions about the trends and on which side of them you I believe is wise to be on. In my humble opinion, this is the time to sell silver, and if some of the holders of this commodity metal get upset by my saying so, then it even makes me more sure that I'm on the right side of the trend. Well, I guess I've just gone and said to sell a third time now.

I sold my Royal Doulton collection at the top of the market, and I could buy the entire collection back today at twenty five cents on the dollar. The same with my porcelain dog collection and coin collection. Believe me, I don't miss them, and wouldn't even consider buying them back except perhaps the Doulton, because that market might have bottomed out, as I have written about before.

I can take the heat for you if it is the right thing to do, and selling ungraded silver coins now is the right thing to do.

Discover how our book can be the tool that helps you become financially free simply buying and selling antiques, collectibles and fine art.

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If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us. Contact us here.

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Daryle Lambert: Where Beauty Began - Marblehead Pottery

I have outlined several different pottery companies for you to watch for throughout these blogs. I hope that you are beginning to see what an advantage having knowledge of multiple companies in your head is, as you are looking around. You are becoming the expert, and these will be your secrets to success.

Today we're adding Marblehead Pottery to our ever-growing knowledge base. This very simple small studio was started in 1904 to help teach ceramics to sanitarium patients but it became something entirely different. Arthur Baggs, founder of Marblehead, was a master potter at that time, and Marblehead produced some of the best Arts and Crafts pottery of the period. The factory was closed in 1936.

The carved Marblehead pieces are the most valuable, and many have as many as six colors included in the design. If you run across one that is heavily carved with five to six colors, the value may be well in the five figure range or more. The favorite colors are dark green, blue, light green, pink, yellow, brown, gray and orange. The more common the piece the less desirable it is, but just having the Marblehead mark on it means that it will bring several hundred dollars.

The subject matter for most of these pieces included simple nautical designs on matte pebbled backgrounds. Also used were many geomectic designs, and these are much in demand today, bringing very high dollars. Marblehead also made tiles, so watch for those as well.

Damage on Marblehead pottery pieces will be a real problem for collectors and might reduce the price as much as fifty percent. This is because Marblehead pottery was hard and durable, so you will find less damage to these pieces than most of the other pottery pieces.

When I first became interested in Marblehead Pottery, I found a small vase that I didn't think looked like anything special, so I offered under $100 for it. When the seller accepted my offer, I began to wonder if I had paid too much for this 4" tall vase with a few small carved flowers with three colors.

I put the vase up on eBay, hoping to make a few dollar. Then, the questions started to roll in. "Is there any damage?" and "Are you sure it's got three colors?" From the responses, I knew that this piece must be something special, but what were they willing to pay? After seven days I had my answer. It sold for $3,500.00. Today it would probably be even more.

Marblehead's main mark is a circle with a ship between an M on one side and a P on the other.

Today's Photo: Marblehead vase sold through Craftsman Auctions for $33,600 in 2006

Make sure your friends and loved ones have a copy of our book. You can sign them up for our 31 Club, and they'll get the book for free. Or order them the book, and get the membership for free. Either way, this makes a great Christmas gift for the special people in your life.

Discover how our book can be the tool that helps you become financially free simply buying and selling antiques, collectibles and fine art.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club Wealth Building and start your own race to your millions! Read more about The Million Dollar Challenge.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us. Contact us here.

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Daryle Lambert: On Merrimac Pottery

While we are studying pottery, why not look at the company that produced some of my favorite pieces. This company is Merrimac Pottery from Newburyport, Massachusetts.

This company founded in 1897 by Thomas Nickerson, burned to the ground in 1908. I truly believe that if this hadn't happened, Merrimac Pottery would be the best known of the Arts and Crafts Pottery in this country today. I personally like it much better than Grueby, and it is more rare than Grueby.

The pieces of Merrimac Pottery are often heavily carved, with thick walls, often finished with just the glaze. Their best pieces often depict underwater vegetation.

Some people say that Merrimac pieces are molded, but even if that is true, the work and design on their surface is hand tooled. In my opinion, they are the most natural of all this type of pottery.

I always like to have things that you can't find in most people's homes, and this is true of Merrimac. The true collectors out there would pay almost anything for the right piece of this wonderful pottery, but they may have to wait a long time just to have the opportunity to buy a common item made by Merrimac. I wish that I had a super piece in my collection. So, it anyone out there is wanting to sell your piece of Merrimac, please give me a call.

Today's Photo shows the Merrimac mark so you can add this to your memory bank or keep it on the paper you keep with you.

To see examples of this fine pottery, Rago Arts and Auction Center has some very fine examples of Merrimac Pottery. here.

Don't forget to make sure your friends and loved ones have a copy of our book. You can sign them up for our 31 Club, and they'll get the book for free. Or order them the book, and get the membership for free. Either way, this makes a great Christmas gift for the special people in your life.

Discover how our book can be the tool that helps you become financially free simply buying and selling antiques, collectibles and fine art.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club Wealth Building and start your own race to your millions! Read more about The Million Dollar Challenge.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us. Contact us here.

If you wish to leave comments use the ANONYMOUS button and then you don't have to sign in to leave your message. Chime in and participate with us.

Daryle Lambert: An Auction Provides the Testing Ground to Check Ourselves

We have studied many different types of Pottery, Porcelain, Paintings and Glass over the last few months through this blog, and our library of knowledge has increased substantially, but how are we doing?

That's the question I asked myself as I attended the auction at Direct Auction in Chicago yesterday, along with Cindy and our club member, Andre. There were many things that caught my eye before the sale started, and I previewed the pieces I might sell at prices that would meet my rules for purchase. The three of us were also interested to see what the coins would be selling for, and this was Andre's first auction at Direct Auction.

During the preview, I checked to be sure the items were what I thought they were, and then I continued to check them for any damage or flaws that might not be apparent at first glance. Mentally, I tried to recall similar items I had seen sell before, so I could set the upper range of my future bid. I also scouted out my competition to see how much interest there seemed to be in the pieces I hoped to be bidding on.

Yes, I had prepared myself as the start of the auction was coming near. Taking my seat next to Cindy and Andre, I felt the excitement starting to build. The crowd at this auction was one of the largest I've seen them attract in many months, so my expectations did diminish a bit because of that.

Coins were the first items offered, and I had checked the price of gold and silver before I arrived. If I could purchase half dollars, quarters and dimes that were minted before 1965, I decided I could pay up to five or six times their face value, not even consider their numismatic value, while still meeting my criteria. This auction had more coins than usual. There were literally hundreds of each type.. As the auctioneer began the sale, fifty or sixty coins would be lumped into a group and they were priced per coin. I found myself shaking my head in amazement at some of the prices these coins were going for. After all the coins had been sold, including the gold ones, I still hadn't made my first purchase. I have to admit, I was a little disappointed.

I figured my time would come when we moved on to the pottery, glass and porcelain. Finally, the Charles Lotton magnum paperweight was coming up, and I didn't feel there was much interest for it at this auction. Earlier, I had spoken to Warner Smith, the president of the Lotton Glass Club, and we agreed that if I could buy it for $250, I should do well. But, that paperweight was hammered at $400. No money to be made there. Next was some Doulton dogs. These used to be my specialty, so I thought I had the inside track on them. I think there were six, and since they were rather common, I figured that $50 each should buy them easily. When they sold for about $600, I could tell this wasn't going to be a very promising evening.

Now was the time to go to the counter and get some hot dogs for us and think about what was happening here. I asked myself whether or not this night could improve. It didn't. In fact, we didn't even stay for the art, because through my friends, I learned that bids were left on the paintings I was interested in. And those bids were greater than I would be willing to pay. A left bid is when someone previews the auction and then leaves an absentee bid on certain items.

Being totally discouraged, we decided to leave, but not before picking up our Christmas presents from the auction house -- a can of peanuts and a box of turtles.

By now you are probably asking what's the purpose of this blog? My answer goes back to the very heart of what I'd like you to have etched in your mind. In the first chapters of my book, I state that one of the most important things I would repeat over and over to you would be the necessity of having patience. Patience will be the key to your success using the wealth building plan in my book, and that patience combined with knowledge, will give you everything in life that you desire.

Yesterday I followed my own rule. I saw each one of those pieces slip from my hands at prices I knew I wouldn't be able to at least double. I had to use all the patience I could muster up not to give in and overpay for an item. But you know what? I still have my money, and there will be another day. While most of the people at the auction will make a very small gain on their investment, if any, I still have my money to buy a treasure that is waiting for me right around the next corner. At the price I want.

Discover how our book can be the tool that helps you become financially free simply buying and selling antiques, collectibles and fine art.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club Wealth Building and start your own race to your millions! Read more about The Million Dollar Challenge.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us. Contact us here.

If you wish to leave comments use the ANONYMOUS button and then you don't have to sign in to leave your message. Chime in and participate with us.