Posted by I am attempting to segue my vintage/antique business to more higher-value items but I find myself struggling. The truth is I don’t want to spend much for my inventory and don’t want to have to spend a lot of time and effort acquiring it. Those are both somewhat at odds with my goal! While I have made some lucky scores at thrift stores over the years, the reality is most of the items on the shelves these days aren’t what I want to sell anymore.
For example, the other day I popped into Goodwill and spotted this vintage vegetable dish by Newhall Hanley Staffordshire in the ‘Indian Tree’ pattern. It was lovely, just lovely, but I stepped back and asked myself, “Who’s going to buy this?” People my age and older are getting rid of stuff like this. Younger generations, like my own daughters, aren’t interested. And what could it honestly sell for? I found one listed on Etsy for $30.
This large metal (copper?) dish with an enameled flower was striking but unsigned. I doubted it had the value I wanted. Possibly could have sold it for $40+
I was glad that I turned these both down and walked out empty handed.
But on Saturday I did buy a couple of things at my favorite boutique thrift stores falling back into old buying habits.
I spotted this vintage pewter pumpkin box with brass and copper leaves at the Cancer Discovery store. It’s heavy (almost three pounds!) and made in Hong Kong. Other than Christmas stuff, I tend not to buy seasonal decor items but this is not overtly so and in Asian cultures pumpkins are symbols of abundance, prosperity, and good health.
Still as I stood in line to buy it (waiting about 10 minutes), I started hesitating. Yes, it was a good, uncommon thing, but not a great thing. Vintage but not antique. And I was going to be paying more than I wanted. I continued to waffle all the way till I tapped my credit card on the reader and had bought it!
Now at the Junior League store across the street I immediately spotted this handsome vase. Turns out it was a vintage Brush McCoy Onyx ceramic vase. I did a quick image lookup in the store and online prices were literally all over the place–from $20 to $700! (The highest price was on 1st Dibs.)
Even on Etsy a similar vase had an original price of $550. Why the hefty price when so many others are selling the same piece, in the same condition, for well under $100??
I’m a bit baffled. But of course in this biz folks can put any price they want on things and I’ve seen some wackadoodle prices over the years.
Did this vase fit my higher-value store goal? Well, no, still I bought it. I could slap a silly high price on it, but I’m not going to. (I’ve listed it for $48.)
Total spent without tax: $23
Despite a few buying wobbles this weekend, I am moving in the right direction and that feels good. I’m realizing I really need to get back to estate sales, flea markets and even online picking. Over the years I’ve had success finding great items on eBay that still have meat on the bone, but I’ve learned to be careful–caveat emptor. I was interested in this box (which is not a jewelry box, but a cigarette box lined in wood) for a hot second, but I’m 99% sure it is not sterling silver as the seller claims. Besides extensive damage to the plating on top (more visible in other photos despite the heavy tarnish), it is only marked Poole Silver Co.1899. Poole always marked their sterling silver boxes with “Sterling.” In this condition, this silver plate box isn’t really worth anything, IMHO.
In the meantime I am continuing to find more items in my house, including this chunky sterling silver and turquoise cuff that’s too big for me and a vintage Coach Dinky black leather cross-body purse I’ve enjoyed over the years. I’ll be looking more stuff this week.
So it’s two steps forward and one back!! How about you?
Wishing you happy hunting,
Karen
Hunting for Vintage 