The Changing Antiques Market

The Antique Market has changed drastically in the last 5 - 10 years. Lots of dealers and collectors have discussed this trying to figure out what caused the changes and what it means for the long run. I just want to put in my 2 cents worth on this subject.

INTERNET

The internet has been both good and bad for the antiques trade. It has given a means to reach specialized markets for dealers and for collectors to find items scarce in their local area. Unfortunately it has also taken away some of the mystic and rarity at the same time.

When the only place to find an item was in a local antique shop/show and it took time and hunting to find, it made that antique stand out over new pieces that anybody could have. Now with the internet, duplicate items can often be found with a lot less time or effort required, eliminating some of the WOW factor of owning antiques.

The other area that has been hurt is great bargain buys. Don’t expect to go out and find very many antiques at a garage sale any more. When the only place to sell was to a dealer or at a garage sale/flea market there were lots of antiques around locally and some great buys. Now because of the availability, most people put the old items they have on an internet auction (E-bay, etc.) rather than take a chance someone will get a deal. That leads directly to the Antiques Road Show affect.

ANTIQUES ROAD SHOW

The Antiques Road Show gives the impression that any thing old is expensive. People overlook the fact that they have thousands of items to look at and only show details of the top 20 or so of those. As an appraiser I have participated in this type of event and know how many common collectibles and out and out junk is brought in. Dealers and serious collectors know this but the general public seldom sees the junk (not good television), instead they see the cream of the crop with once in a while a fake for educational purposes.

The affect of this is interesting, making many non-collectors think anything old is worth money. I have gone to garage sales where people have priced old but common collectibles for 3 or 4 times what they are worth. I have quit telling them that they are way over priced, since they all think I am trying to get the price down so I can steal it from them. ( Actually had someone use that word, I “wanted to pay a lower price and steal it from them” ). At other times when I have made a fair offer for an item I have been told it is worth more and they will sell it on E-bay if they can not get their price. As a result I seldom go to garage sales anymore. Especially with the cost of gas today.

CONCLUSION

So what does it all mean? The market has definitely changed but good items at reasonable prices still are selling. Though the prices are down from what they were a few years ago. The high end of the market such as rare glass and pottery, good art, and historically important items are still strong. What the antiques market needs is new buyers. But it also needs educated (in Antiques) buyers. That is what I want to do by using this blog to educate people about antiques so they will be better collectors and buyers. I believe that the more educated we become, the more it will energize or reinvigorate the antiques market.