Quote:
Originally Posted by stanislav
(Post 451517)
Isn't antique considered USED ? |
Not all of the time.
I find many antiques that have never been touched or used ever.
For example without great details of course.
I went to a house auction a few weekends ago and as the were sitting up tables to bring the items out of the house and onto the tables I noticed a certain piece of 1950s glassware in the original box being carried out. Thinking it was just the box with something else in it I asked the auctioneer if it would be ok to look at the item. They usually dont like you doing this until they are done.
I picked he box up and it was heavy, pulled open the flap and inside were 1950s very rare items made by a certain manufacture untouched, never used and appears to have been sitting in the kitchen cabinet for all those years.
As auction day goes along I am on terapeak, ebay etc looking as I knew it was a very rare set without the box but with the box the prices goes way up for collectors.
I waited hours for this item to come up for bid, pit in my stomach as I was buying other items. It came up, opening bid, 5.00. I could not believe it never moved. Then someone yelled 25.00 from the back. I of course like to counter with a knock out punch by saying 50.00. Bidder stopped walked away and no other bidders were interested.
It sold on ebay for 972.50.
Antique yes, used no.
Many antiques have been used but a nice portion has not been used.
An item that is vintage or old or antique does not mean it has to be used, for instance, etsy wont allow you to list anything that is newer then 25 years old. For me 25 years is not much of an antique but to some if it is a sought after collectible some would call it an antique. To me 25 years is not old considering I like items from the 30-40-50-60-70s myself. Those eras sell like hotcakes for the right item.
Each group of collectors for certain eras call their items something different.
1970s stuff is hot, very hot right now. All those crazy ugly yellows, greens, daisy flowers etc from the 70s bring big bucks.
Also, 1950s diner style items are hot.
In this business I am finding many older folks who would be in their 60-70s now are no longer showing up to buy like they used to. Leaving it wide open for those who have the knowledge. Many younger kids are not interested in antiques, vintage or older items and go for the newer modern or usable items instead. Which is a good thing for me.
There is not an auction, estate sale, yard sale, thrift store, antique mall etc in American that I cannot go into and find at least one antique/vintage item to make a decent profit on. Always something there to grab.
Grabbed a Champion Spark Plug 1960s metal sign last week at a community yard sale. Not considered an antique by many but highly collectible and as GB stated "vintage". Double sided, two colors which is rare.
Been doing this since I was a kid and still today get a pit in my stomach to find a treasure. Leaving in a few to go to a large antique auction. At this one I go and leave bids on certain items and leave. They will call and let me know which items I won and go back tomorrow and pick them up.
I do this at this auction because of the amount of dealers who go and bid items up. My silent bids lands me more items then if I were there in person.
Hopefully late tonight I will get a call because looking online at the pictures there is a ton of awesome stuff.