Community Chat

[~kaIypso~]

On 10/30/2014 twopeas said:

We called a reputable dealer and put many things on consignment. They all sold.

Excellent advice, twopeas.

[shoekitty]

On 10/30/2014 straitgirl said:

On 10/30/2014 Skylands said:

Antiques are considered "antiques" when they R 100 years old. Everything else, vintage with little value.

Simply not true.

Antiques are 75 to 100 years old. Believe me, many vintage items have more value than many antiques. There is no rhyme or reason. It has to do with rarity, provenance, historical value, and demand. I wouldn't go by Ebay either, but it can give you an idea of value.

Do not discount the value of vintage items either. I worked in a museum for years and managed a large collection. Go into an antique store or Call one of the large auction houses like Butterfield or Bonhams. Look up auction houses, curators, antique assessors and such and ask for a few references. If they can't do that, they can refer you to someone who can. Then research them online. Most assessors have specialties, but there are general curators. Sometimes you can call an estate liquidator and they can help you. They are wanting to get the most from your items, because if sold they get %.

[tansy]

My mother had several pieces from the 50s that had a very good value. I sold a few and kept a few pices for my sons.

[Blahblahvampemer]

On 10/30/2014 Skylands said:

On 10/30/2014 adelle38 said:

On 10/30/2014 Skylands said:

Antiques are considered "antiques" when they R 100 years old. Everything else, vintage with little value.

Today "vintage" items from the 1950's can be more valuable than what people consider to be "antiques". The marker for Victorian and Edwardian furniture has all but disappeared but prices on mid century modern pictures have skyrocketed.

My most recent experience doing this research myself, is that most vintage has zero value today. Of course, there R always exceptions. But in general, antiques R valued most vintage =Goodwill or charity.

It must be where you are because vintage prices have soared. I've been around the market since I was a child, and this is a great time for this category. What has taken the biggest hit are items that were created to be "collectibles," but I'm expecting some bubbles to burst in the future as the middle class is destroyed.

[shoekitty]

On 10/31/2014 blahblahvampemerblah said:

On 10/30/2014 Skylands said:

On 10/30/2014 adelle38 said:

On 10/30/2014 Skylands said:

Antiques are considered "antiques" when they R 100 years old. Everything else, vintage with little value.

Today "vintage" items from the 1950's can be more valuable than what people consider to be "antiques". The marker for Victorian and Edwardian furniture has all but disappeared but prices on mid century modern pictures have skyrocketed.

My most recent experience doing this research myself, is that most vintage has zero value today. Of course, there R always exceptions. But in general, antiques R valued most vintage =Goodwill or charity.

It must be where you are because vintage prices have soared. I've been around the market since I was a child, and this is a great time for this category. What has taken the biggest hit are items that were created to be "collectibles," but I'm expecting some bubbles to burst in the future as the middle class is destroyed.

Some of the most coveted and valuable collectables are what we call vintage. The 1950's is where the market is now! An Eames chair from 1950 can garnish up to 30,000. A chair from the civil war period maybe 200 to 1,000, depending. Try pricing coveted dolls from the 1950, like Ginny and Muffy. A high ball glass designed by Wright can be around 150 for one shot glass. My husbands Fort Apache set by Marx, had people offering us upward of 900. Yet I have items 150 years old that are less. it all depends.

But as I said before, it all depends. What I think would be worth the big bucks , isn't. Some piece of junk that is often thrown out can worth thousands...go figure!

[Kathlen]

We had an appraiser come in and evaluate everything.

[Burnsite]

On dolls of the 1950s such as Ginny dolls, I collected them for a while some time back. My impression is that they are now worth less than they were c. 2003. I am holding on to mine until prices go back up.

This is true of most collectibles and toys, though: my Ginnys are in very good but played-with condition, they are not mint. Mint Ginnys are still very valuable. Mint in the box, with clothes never washed, hair never styled, etc.

When I was collecting, the first thing I did was wash the doll's outfit, as it usually smelled as if its original owner had been smoking stogies for forty years, or the clothes were grey with dust. I have a couple that are worth a lot (not Ginnys, Tonis and Madame Alexander Binnies) but I am waiting for my five nieces to produce daughters, so I can pass them along for their great play value.

[RainCityGirl]

I think you have to check several sources as to value of things. If you look on EBay, yo will find a huge disparity in prices for the same thing. I was looking at the comparative prices for Occupied Japan Blue Willow doll dishes and was appalled at the things set to be sold for next to nothing while dealers were asked much, much more.

[newziesuzie]

Vintage pieces can be worth a lot one day and not so much if you have them appraise later on and Antiques Roadshow on TV shows good examples of this. I've found in general a local appraiser in the specific area like jewelry, or glass ware is a good source of info of current value.

[shoekitty]

On 10/31/2014 Burnsite said:

On dolls of the 1950s such as Ginny dolls, I collected them for a while some time back. My impression is that they are now worth less than they were c. 2003. I am holding on to mine until prices go back up.

This is true of most collectibles and toys, though: my Ginnys are in very good but played-with condition, they are not mint. Mint Ginnys are still very valuable. Mint in the box, with clothes never washed, hair never styled, etc.

When I was collecting, the first thing I did was wash the doll's outfit, as it usually smelled as if its original owner had been smoking stogies for forty years, or the clothes were grey with dust. I have a couple that are worth a lot (not Ginnys, Tonis and Madame Alexander Binnies) but I am waiting for my five nieces to produce daughters, so I can pass them along for their great play value.

I was referring to Ginny's from the late 1940's and early 50's with glued on hair. I think the original vogue dolls are worth a bit, but only certain ones?. But you are right. I have a Ginny collection myself (is she just too precious)? I too started letting my granddaughter play with them. Not the oldest one.

You are right, the bottom did fall out of the doll market in late 1990's, early 2001!