April 1, 2021

Happy spring! We’re loving the warmer days—when we have them—and it staying light later. You may have noticed that we’re back to “normal” hours on Saturdays (i.e., closing at 6 rather than 5). That’s 10 – 6, Monday through Saturday.

Our newsletters usually focus on a featured product or some capability the store provides (e.g., refinishing, caning, upholstery, wiring & electrification, etc.); however, we don’t often talk about where to get antiques. Besides antique stores, some good options are:

• Barn/yard/estate sales – Get there early, bring cash, and be prepared to bargain.
• Consignment/charity shops – These likely won’t have high-end pieces, but may have just the thing to fill the empty space in your house. Remember that it doesn’t have to be expensive to look good.
• Family members – It goes without saying that not everyone has the same taste, so if your aunt is downsizing, none of her children may be interested in that old ________ (fill in the blank: pie safe, quilt, bookcase, lamp, photo) you’ve loved for years.
• In-person Auctions – These are great because they usually include an opportunity to see the items being sold, which gives potential buyers better understanding of the condition of the item before you start bidding. On the other hand, you may need to wait through a number of items you aren’t interested in before the things you want come up for auction. There’s also the temptation to bid beyond what you plan as your “max bid” when that competitive adrenaline kicks in! When considering what you plan to bid, don’t forget to add in the buyer’s premium, which is usually advertised and should be mentioned in the registration documentation. Some high-end auctions have a 20-25% buyer’s premium, which can add up quickly.
• On-line Auctions – These are so convenient! You can buy items and have them delivered to your house. One thing we’ve found is that paying attention to dimensions is important. (That should be obvious, but I’ve been disappointed when things arrive much smaller than I expected. Like those Audobon prints I “assumed” would be folio size . . .) Paying attention to the ending time of the auction—and the time zone that it’s in, is also important, particularly if you’re a last-minute bidder. Most of us are familiar with eBay, but we recently learned of an on-line auction from an associated HGTV show called Everything But The House (ebth.com). Looks like they have some nice things. And the article at the following link describes the best auction websites for 2021: https://www.lifewire.com/online-auction-website-3482641.

 

Finally, wherever you get your antiques, keep in mind that you know a place where they can be restored! If a chair is the perfect shape, but has an ugly fabric, or if a table is just perfect except for that broken leg, we can help you with that. Hope to see you soon.

 

Lynne & Bob McCann