before John passed away. I decided not to use it to sell. If I'm tempted to buy, I look in my basement I still use eBay to check values, which is very helpful. Thank you.

My mother passed 5 years ago and my step father has been selling some items here and there. Giving some stuff to the kids and grand kids. Mostly selling through friends of friends. On a rare occasion on e-bay. You might check there and see if you can get a feel for what things are selling for.

When the time comes I am afraid it will be an auction. There is just too much stuff to try to sell piecemeal for him and for us.

I am not up on the market. Have you thought to go to some auctions or estate sales and see what items are going for?

My Mom passed away 10 years ago and I still miss her. She was a pack rat, and I still come across things she treasured.
I wanted to hang on to family heirlooms. The ones given me (5th generation) have been in the family 2-4 generations. Even if I didn't know the relative, I thought it something was important enough to keep that long, I should try to pass it along to family. I also want to hang on to things that were gifts, or bring to mind a special day or moment.
My husband and I were married over 45 years, and we discovered our common passion early. We have a lot of stuff, but we also have (maybe) some decent things.
I am planning to call an auctioneer and send the bulk of things to sell at auction. But taking my time.

and has been a dealer on and off for years as well. She’s made friends with local antiques store owners and when she’s in the mood to sell off some inventory so she can buy more, she invites them into her home and asks them to make her offers on what she’s willing to part with. She always has an idea of what she paid and/or what she wants for an item but this has worked well for her. She doesn’t have to haul anything to a sale or auction house etc which is a bonus for her. I agree that eBay can give you an idea of price range for some items.

I’m sorry for your recent loss. I’m sure this downsizing is bittersweet. Take good care.

I've been thinking of getting in touch with some of the dealers I know. We had a local big antique mall and a flea market close in the last year.

Yes, but I'm back in the house where we lived the best years and as of last weekend, most of my stuff is back too. John is never far from me.

them. Mid century furniture items sell, but not the pottery and dishes from the 50s. Dark wood furniture has a very limited market right now.

2-3 years ago on original finish furniture. And man, so many things at the auctions were going cheap. The writing was on the wall :/ My niece is going to open a booth and take some of my stuff. She is a wizard at upcycling and I'm sure we'll sell a few things in the booth. But she has a look she likes and so the stuff I give her to sell will have to fit her look. But she gets good prices.

First you need to know is the Market seems to be flooded with Chinese copy cat garbage. Secondly,the Market for recycled quality Furniture or anything else,has shrunk to just a hand full of buyers.

Renting a Booth only works if the Rents are almost zero. The House is going to take 10% sales charge. And beware of the Dealers,they love to steal the good stuff by sending in competitors as a ruse.

Do a bit of research on Auctioneers and interview a couple or so that really know their stuff. It might cost you up to 30% of the gross Sales,but they take care of the whole nine yards. Again,it is all about timing for your area.

Hard rule of thumb,Furniture depreciates at 20% per year for Insurance purpose . And every Antique Appraiser is just making a wild ass guess based on what he or she sees on the Internet or some Catalog.

Mega good luck.

When we first started collecting, prices were rising. We talked to one of my husband's co-workers and he said that not 2 years before, he'd bought a pick-up truck load of golden oak furniture for $11.00 and now (about 1975), you couldn't touch a piece for under $100.00 We were so jealous. We have always looked for bargains. I realized recently that going out looking was our entertainment, so I have the memories and I don't need every single thing we ever bought. Downsizing is more to spare the kids the effort than to make money. (although I have the shudders thinking of them selling the Lalique plates for fifty cents. Haha.) I think we have an original collection. The last few years we were leery of things that looked off, so we didn't get them.

We are familiar with the local auctioneers, went to a lot of auctions. We had a big sale about 3 years ago, and what was left, we sent to an auctioneer. We did ok, about what we hoped. So we might use him again. In our small community, we hear about the different reputations. Agree with some, not others. My daughter wants me to have an auction at my house, which would be 30-40%. If they come and pack it for the auction house, it'll be higher.

Now that some time has passed, I started trying to see what the market is doing. I read a story in NYT, which said that old antiques aren't selling but high-end mid-century and new products by designers. It helped me understand Flea Market flip. But I was hoping to learn if there is anything that, in spite of the market, is selling.

I think that the antiques market got inflated because some investment experts used it for some of their clients. Maybe the price drop means that while things will be priced more realistically, and a smaller set of collectors will stay interested. I know a lot of people can't do what they'd like. Things that are easier to move, less is more.

Thanks for your suggestions and advice.

cheap simplistic things. And the Asian Knock-offs are all over the place. Know what you are saying,we have tons of Thirties China with a couple of pieces that are the only ones known to carry top rating and one is a one of. All said and done,it does not mean crap. Young people are not collectors and have zero interest in History or Historical Memorable.

If we cashed out today,maybe end up with 10-15 % of value. And that would have to be on hell of a wicked day. Even worse for Hobbyist,they are getting burned down big time. Again no collectors and none on the Horizon.


And if one puts things in Storage,wow,the rental charges as we as Deterioration will eat one up. Seeing more and more things left on the curbs for the Trash Trucks each week. If you go to Good Will or other Social Service outlets,they really do not want anymore Furniture or Collectables. Take a look at the Dumpster,bet it is full to overflowing.

that as the great empires of old began declining, the items that archaeologists found were less and less quality-material, design, paint, glaze, all cheaper and sloppier than the stuff in the height of glory. I think (hope) there will always be collectors, and people who like quality will pick the better item.

Moved all this stuff for the last time.

I have used E bay to get rid of some of my stuff. Was amazed what some stuff brought. Word of warning craigslist can bring folks that case the joint. It is amazing stuff I bought because it hit me right 40 years ago is worth so much to an international market.

I would buy stuff and hope it got ripe We only sold a couple things on Craigslist. We got so busy watching our grandkids that everything else took a back seat. And it was always more about finding things rather than selling.

Last edited Sun Jun 24, 2018, 12:35 PM - Edit history (3)

New generations really don't want antiques from the past. Not really a collector but my grandmother was big into it. I traveled with her to auctions and sales. But even on Antiques Road Show, the appraisers are telling the sellers, there just isn't a demand for some items, unless it's a real legacy item (like Tiffany), a sports item or created by a famous person or craftsman.

It's disheartening when they do their retrospective shows and show what an item was appraised at say 5-10 years ago, and how the prices have dropped. I suspect there will always be a market for antiques, but it's definitely smaller.

Recently had a friend whose Mother passed away. They had an auction house come in and they held a sale right in the house. What didn't sell, they took to the auction house to sell.

Good luck.

I'll be happy to get rid of the stuff I really don't want, so I can enjoy the stuff I keep

(just kidding, malthaussen, you are a TREASURE on this board! Worth every penny! I think I was just channeling pinboy3niner.....)

Loved that man.

-- Mal