The world of Antiques does not discriminate. Antiques are owned by people in all walks of life. Each month we will feature Period rooms from people whose collections are beyond fabulous. People with incomes from $5,000 to 1,000,000 +. People just like you. How is it possible to a mass a $100,000 collection on a $5,000 yearly budget? Time and effort. You will be surprised at what people throw away. There was a short period of time when Tiffany Lamps were being thrown out. And I can guarantee you, that will not happen again. There was also a time when Hudson River School Artist were considered out of touch and their paintings worthless. Today if you own one painting by the top tier Hudson River Artist, you will have a lot of money hanging on your wall. And you might even be a millionaire. Realistically, million dollar paintings or furniture are rarely thrown out. So the chances of finding one is slim and none. But with hard work and persistence and a great deal of research, you can snap up bargains, on a regular basis.
I recently bought a box of lamp parts for $15.00. From these parts I put together four gas chandeliers worth between $1500 - $2500. All I needed was a screw driver and a pair of pliers. A friend in New York who works in a retirement home pulled a $2500 desk out of the garbage. These incidents occur on a regular basis around the country. You just have to pay attention to what is going on around you.
Everyday silver and gold is sold for less than the spot price on the World Stock Exchange. In every junk dealer’s store that I have ever visited in my life, there are usually one or two gems. Know a little bit about everything and make sure you are an expert in at least one area. Scour your local flea markets, and make sure you bring no more than the maximum amount you intend to spend. Instead of buying five good items for $1.00 each, keep searching, no matter how long it takes, until you find the one great item for $5.00. Don’t settle for mediocrity, otherwise that is what you will eventually own. Excellence in all areas of life including Antiques, is the ultimate prize. Sometimes it is better to save up all your money for one year and purchase one museum quality item, and do the same thing the next year. In a few years, your home’s furnishings will have increased dramatically in value. You will also have gained that invaluable experience of owning museum quality items, that you can now study up close, which will give you a much better idea of how to spot the same quality items in the future. Repetition is your greatest ally. Visit museums and housing, great collections of American furniture and decorative art. Study them, and then use them as a reference, for the great collection you are about to start.
Below is a picture of a Renaissance Revival dresser from the period 1860-1880. Although this Period Victorian Room is a work in progress, the owner, who is a stay at home mom, is very happy with the look and feel of the room thus far.
