Posts: 30726
Threads: 2123
Joined: May 24, 2012
Reputation:
71
Antique furniture appraiser blowing smoke.
September 20, 2017 at 2:59 pm
Ok, looking for some extra cash to help pay for my new mobile home i intend on buying. Trying to sell off some furniture I damned well know is quality and not reproductions which were handed to my parents by theirs before they adopted me.
So today, I get an appraiser to look at them. One what I can only describe as a antique library or accounting desk solid wood, ornate with iron fixtures dovetailed woodwork, not machine, and a separating book shelf. With a matching coffee table and low boy. They are each worth grands each I am sure of it. The desk itself I couldn't see going for no less than 2 to 5k, if not more.
What was absurd is he was trying to tell me I could only get 75 to 100 each.
If anyone has any experience with selling antiques is it better to say put an add in the paper or let a consignment shop or auction house do it for you? I know the stuff is worth way more than he eyeballed.
Posts: 5599
Threads: 37
Joined: July 13, 2015
Reputation:
61
RE: Antique furniture appraiser blowing smoke.
September 20, 2017 at 4:27 pm
Perhaps you should consider having it appraised professionally first.
Posts: 5664
Threads: 219
Joined: June 20, 2016
Reputation:
61
RE: Antique furniture appraiser blowing smoke.
September 20, 2017 at 5:39 pm
Any pictures? Close ups of the detail?
God thinks it's fun to confuse primates. Larsen's God!
Posts: 28306
Threads: 522
Joined: June 16, 2015
Reputation:
90
RE: Antique furniture appraiser blowing smoke.
September 20, 2017 at 6:36 pm
Take pictures, google search images, research any manufacturer names. Pay for the appraisal and indicate for insurance purposes understanding that insurance value is less than retail value.
Old =/= expensive.
Being told you're delusional does not necessarily mean you're mental.
Posts: 30129
Threads: 304
Joined: April 18, 2014
Reputation:
92
RE: Antique furniture appraiser blowing smoke.
September 20, 2017 at 8:04 pm
It's worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it.
Pros and cons of Craigslist and Ebay are well known.
Do you have enough stuff for an auction, or can you consign onto an already scheduled auction ??
I recently gave a (very) 60s style piece of furniture to an antiques dealer. We both agreed even 300 years into the future the thing would still only be worth $10 on Antiques Roadshow. He wanted it to hold items (curios and doodads) he feels he has a better shot at selling. Without my prompting he advised even 'good' antique furniture is hard to sell in this area, his customer base is 'graying' out and younger people don't want to buy antique furniture, they want to unload antique furniture they've inherited from their parents.
YMMV . . . .
The granting of a pardon is an imputation of guilt, and the acceptance a confession of it.
Posts: 5664
Threads: 219
Joined: June 20, 2016
Reputation:
61
RE: Antique furniture appraiser blowing smoke.
September 20, 2017 at 8:17 pm
I had an end table that was a typical early '70's piece. Basically, the wooden pieces were typical and not valuable. The top piece was cut marble. Worth more separated from it's base than the piece intact.
God thinks it's fun to confuse primates. Larsen's God!
Posts: 23056
Threads: 26
Joined: February 2, 2010
Reputation:
106
RE: Antique furniture appraiser blowing smoke.
September 20, 2017 at 9:58 pm
Consign through a dealer if it's truly valuable. Sell on CL if not. EBay will be a waste of time and money considering shipping and fess they charge.
