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Personal Finance
Hunting for antiques
November 17, 1999: 6:27 a.m. ET

Some see online auction sites as less fun than a trip to a fair or musty shop
By Staff Writer Shelly K. Schwartz
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Your pulse quickens. A partially concealed Depression glass platter -- like the one your Grandma used to have -- beckons from the far corner of a dusty room, tucked away behind a collection of turn-of-the-century books.
     It's an item you've been after for more than a year. And as the antique dealer rings up your purchase, you bask in the glow of a good deal found, not to mention the knowledge that your latest find will soon claim the center spot in your china cabinet at home.
     You're hooked.
     Millions of antique enthusiasts flock to the country shops, auction houses and flea markets every year, hoping to purchase a piece of time gone by.
     "We do a lot of antique shows and people always buy something and say their grandmother used to have that," said Leonora A. White, owner of The Center Chimney antique shop in Bristol, R.I., and former treasurer for the Southeastern New England Antique Dealers Association.
     "It's like it all comes back to them when they see something old," she said.
     That may be true. But experts say the recipe for creating a Depression glass devotee, or any other antique aficionado, calls for one part nostalgia and two parts temptation.
    
Getting there is half the fun

     "The thing about antiquing for an awful lot of die-hard collectors is it's all about the chase," said J. Roderick Moore, administrator for Ferrum College in Virginia and head of the Blue Ridge Institute, a state-run center for mountain folk memorabilia.
     For that reason alone, he said, the hobby of antiquing as we know it is being threatened by modern technology.
    
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     "I happen to collect 19th and 20th century American draft horse memorabilia, which is a pretty esoteric thing," he said. "In the last 10 years, if I bought several pieces a year I felt fortunate. Now I can buy them weekly. All I have to do is sit down at my keyboard."
     Web sites such as eBay and Yahoo! Auctions now enable collectors in any state or city in the nation to log on and place their bid in an instant.
     Instead of waiting for months or years to track down that 100-year-old pewter coffee pot, it can be yours with the click of a mouse.
    
A double-edged sword?

     And that's not all. Moore said he has seen evidence that sites such as eBay have already had a negative effect on the ability of veteran collectors to sniff out real steals.
     "Before, when someone cleaned out their house they might put their stuff in a yard sale or sell it at auction to see what they could get for it," Moore said. "Now, Internet auctioneers post objects on their site without knowing what they are worth. They just let the universe of bidders decide. It's just changed everything greatly."
     Some antique stores these days have resorted to posted signs that ask customers to refrain from snapping digital photos of their goods. On some occasions, it seems, the photographer posts the photo on an online auction site, waits until they get a bid that's higher than the shop's ticket price, and makes the deal.
     The photographer then purchases the antique, turns around and sells it to the highest bidder and pockets the difference.
     "I've personally seen this happen," he said.
     Moore noted online auction sites aren't all bad. He acknowledged they have, indeed, created an environment where consumers looking to unload their attic treasures can fetch a better price from buyers.
     At the same time, they have opened new doors to collectors who might never have found that prized possession in their neck of the woods.
     "There's a better selection of objects on the Internet," he acknowledged, "but the thrill is gone."
    
The birth of tradition

     Antiquing as popular sport is centuries old in the United States, dating back to the sometimes elaborate collection hobbies of its founding fathers.
     Today, objects that capture the spirit of early Americana -- both folk art and home furnishings -- remain the most popular among mainstream collectors.
     "Collecting is the great American pastime," Moore said. "It dates way back into the 18th century in this country and it continues to grow. We know that Thomas Jefferson collected historical artifacts."
     Pinpointing the size of the industry, however, is tough.
     Some experts estimate the antique business is $10 billion strong. But since many of the sales are transacted at yard sales and flea markets, and since the Internal Revenue Service does not classify antique shops separately, no one knows for sure.
     Clayton Pennington, editor of the Maine Antique Digest Magazine, who casts a less critical eye at online auction sites, said he believes the birth of eBay and its competitors has reinvigorated the business.
     "You are getting a lot more people now who are collecting things that never knew they could collect before," he said. "It has brought more people into the collecting circle."
    
Mark your calendar

     If you're just now getting hooked on antique collecting, or you've been looking to broaden your horizons, you may want to start by calling up your state convention and visitors bureau and find out what's on the agenda.
     Most state and county fairgrounds host antique expos at various times throughout the year. Admission to the fairs usually costs a few bucks, but if you're after something special, the fairs can actually be a cost effective modus operandi -- cutting down on the gas money you'd otherwise spend cruising from shop to shop.
     You can also simply stop by an antique dealer in your area. They're bound to know the dates and locations of upcoming events.
     To make your life easier, Maine Antique Digest Magazine provides an electronic calendar of the various antique shows and auctions being held both at home and abroad.
    
Directories

     The Net can also come in handy when tracking down names and numbers to smaller shops in your area, or in regions where you plan to vacation.
     Sites such as AntiqueDirectory.net offer a comprehensive listing of more than 5,000 antique dealers across the country.
     The site sponsor, which publishes the No-Nonsense Antique Mall Directory, breaks out antique shops by state and city.
     Other helpful online directories include AntiqueGuide.net and AntiqueMallsUSA.com and The Antique-shop Finder .
    
Hot spots for Americana

     If you've had your fill of the shops and fairs in your area, you may instead want to pack your bags for the big time.
     graphicSerious collectors make the annual trek to New York City in January where 300 antique dealers converge for Americana at the Piers at the passenger ship terminal on 12th Ave. between 50th and 52nd streets.
     You'll find everything from 18th century furniture to quilts to folk art. Call Stella Show Management Co. at 212-255-0020 for dates and details.
     graphicAnother big show that month in the Big Apple, called Antiques at the Other Armory, is held at the Armory in Gramercy Park. Call (212) 255-0020 for information.
     graphicThe first few weeks of the new year are also busy times for high-end auctioneers Sotheby's and Christie's, which both host annual Americana sales.
     If you come, bundle up and be prepared to drop some dough.
     graphicFor those with a taste for the more provincial -- with price tags that don't require a second mortgage -- you can also head to New England in August, where more than 250 dealers peddle their wares at the New England Antique and Collectible Festival in Hopkinton, N.H.
     Hotels in the area get booked up fast, so it's a good idea to reserve your room well in advance.
     graphicAnd, if you still haven't found what you're looking for, there's always Nashville in October, when the All American Heart of Country Antique Show takes place.
     There's no reason to take these trips alone. Collecting clubs exist for almost every item imaginable. Most have at least one or two members who may enjoy an antique getaway. (Click here for a list of collecting clubs sponsored by The Antique Haven.)
    
Going abroad

     Antique collecting isn't limited to U.S. borders, of course.
     There are several companies out there that sponsor buying trips abroad. In most cases, the package deals they provide are cheaper than you could get on your own.
     Antiques Abroad, Inc., , for example, which organizes trips to England and France, charges $1,995 per person for its 9-day international buying excursions. The price includes the expertise of a former art appraiser from London who attends the trip and helps inexperienced buyers sort through the treasures and the junk.
     Zurko Promotions is another trip organizer, hosting 6- and 7-day antique "treasure hunting expeditions" to England, Poland and the Netherlands. The company charges anywhere from $1,845 to $2,965.
    
The real deal

     The big unknown when dealing with antiques is distinguishing between the legitimately valuable and the carefully crafted knock-off.
    
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     "That's the crux of the matter," Pennington said. "If you buy from a dealer, you might want to check with the dealers' association to see if they are a member, since they usually have a set of bylaws they must abide by."
     Also, he said, make sure the dealer provides a written description of the item you purchase on the sales ticket or receipt. That way, you've got some recourse if you discover the 17th century armoire you bought is really from the 19th century.
     If you're spending big bucks, Pennington said, the bottom line is always shop with a reputable and well-established dealer. Back to top

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Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.