This column first appeared February 3, 2012
At a recent dinner party, the conversation turned to antiques and someone posed the question “what will be an antique when our grandkids are our age?” While it is impossible to tell the future, there are some basic points to consider if you are purchasing antiques as an investment for yourself or your descendents.
Avoid mass produced items. If there were ever a lesson to be learned here, it would be the short-lived phenomena of the Beanie Baby. I see this repeatedly in my work with estate liquidation. In some homes I have seen, literally, hundreds of the worthless little critters stored away in plastic tubs. When millions of the same item are made, rarity, one of the main determinants of collectability, is eliminated. Items are not “collectible” when they were produced. They become collectible over time. Mass-produced issues from The Franklin Mint, Danbury Mint, etc. are another good example. I have seen so many people, especially the elderly, who have put good money into “collectible” dolls, commemorative plates, and coins, only to find that most everyone has them, and those who don’t, don’t want them
Whenever possible buy quality. The fine china, jewelry, pottery, quilts and furniture pieces that are valued by today’s collectors all have one thing in common. They were very well made. Handmade items are usually a good investment. Hand thrown pottery issued in limited quantity by skilled craftsmen has a chance at increasing in value. Mass-produced import items from the popular decorator shops do not. If furniture is your passion, purchase solid wood furniture that has been hand made to specification and always avoid Indonesian imports.
Remember that rarity is a plus. Those things that are heavily used are less likely to survive and more likely to become collectible. This is evidenced now in a number of collecting categories, especially primitives and toys.
Watch for Trends. Items that denote social attitude or trends in design may well be looked upon as collectible 50 years from now. The lava lamps and Eames furniture of the mid-20th century are excellent examples of items from a time past that have appeal in today’s market. Highly designed contemporary products may rise in value when production ceases as they represent the best of a specific era.
Buy Holiday collectibles. Grab quality holiday seasonal items when you see them. They may not be repeated the following year. For several years I purchased hand-blown Ruby Glass Christmas ornaments for each of the girls in our family. After looking high and low for the past two years I have concluded that they no longer make them. While reasonable in price, they were very nice quality, and now they are gone. This is a case where I should have bought more.
Be on the lookout for designer items. Quality designer items, when purchased on sale, are a wise investment. Designer bags and jewelry would fall into this category. Due to the high interest rates and slow construction of the 1980’s, designers like Michael Graves and Philippe Starck turned their talents toward household items such as corkscrews and teakettles. These are often found at garage sales or auction for a few dollars because their value is overlooked by the general public.
Sadly, when we lose a well loved celebrity such as Princess Diana, Dale Earnhardt, or Michael Jackson, there is almost immediately a rash of commemorative items that hit the market. These seldom increase in value. Items owned or signed by the famous are a good investment, but make certain that you have the proper documentation to support your claim of “celebrity” ownership. Until next time . . . Linda
Linda Kennett is a professional liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for seniors and may be reached at 317-258-7835 or lkennett@indy.rr.com
