Books! - spend some time at abebooks.com you might be surprised at what you have. Recently in a dusty basement of a clients home I came across a book, the title looked like something my son would like so I bought it for a small price even though the owner wanted me to have it for free. On a lark I thought to look it up on Abe Books - it is a first edition, with dust jacket, which sadly is a little frayed so it wont bring full dollar value but it is estimated at $5600.00, my son can read it but carefully and I am sharing the bounty with the original owner(needlessly they were surprised)
China and Porcelain - Pull back that green felt that so many people put on their pieces to not mar their furniture! Recently a client said I could sell "that ugly vase for a $1.00". turned out to be a signed antique Gouda Vase from Holland from a noteworthy artist, the piece is now with the grand children in a prime display area.Crystal and Glass - We all have depressionware we know what it looks like, but do we realize those frosted kitschy glasses with "Fred and Wilma" or even just flowers can draw big dollars. Cake plates on Pedestals, if it has a cover will bring even more money.
Toys and Games - Sharp edges are in! Metal toys bring the dollars and if the are complete and working you can be looking at close to four figures in some cases. Games sadly unless they are cult classics; in most cases have only kept their original $10.00 value.
Dolls:Signed composition dolls from the turn of the 19th
Century can bring mid range $200-500 based on condition and accessories.
We recently came across a Patsy Ann doll with original brass bracelet
and clothes, although that is a great find the addition of a "Patsy Ann"
Doll book, made the set complete and gave a higher price realization.
but dont ignore the dresser doll with the porcelain doll top a full
skirt base filled with old crunchy straw looking dusty and forgotten.
She is probably French or German turn of the century hat pin keeper,
they can fetch significant money for what you might pay for them at a
general estate sale.
Jewelry - Costume -All jewelry is not the same,
sometimes costume jewelry can bring a higher price then real jewelry.
Take into consideration a Cigner brooch recently brought to us, Although
nicely faceted with Swarovski crystals and enamel painted accents the
owner was surprised to see it sold for $500.00 to an overseas client. So
dont overlook the gaudy brooch in the pile.Jewelry - Fine: Always look hard at piece, if it looks well made and it probably is there are a number of tell tale signs so you dont always need a loop and you dont want to bring a loop out. We had a piece that the customer swore had no value and no one wanted. No visual markings were on the piece but the stone was remarkable almost artificial in color so brilliant and true. It was. The piece 18K the stone .90 Ceylon Blue untreated Sapphire, perfect, value approx 2500.0 just for the stone.
Furniture - Dont overlook the obvious even the most experienced forager can miss something while looking for something else. Called into a client recently we were taken again to a dusty damp basement with some furniture of limited cleanliness. Encouragingly we told the client we would work to bring them the best we could. In the back corner sat six chrome and orange leatherette chairs covered in dust and webs. At first blush we agreed we would be grateful for someone to carry them out let alone buy them. The other furniture as well. After some research the chairs were signed value $4600.00, The teak chair signed although missing strapping valued $600.00, Teak inlaid wood,signed coffee table valued $550.00 They were happily carried out by winning bidders.