The cover of the February 2, 2009 edition of Antique Week teased the following snippet for an article in the National section:
Tough times = more education
Knowledge is power.
Nowhere, perhaps, does that time-honored adage ring as true as in the world of antiques.
I’ll admit, I ignored the article for this long because I’m already pretty done with the “how does the economy affect antiques and collectibles” angle — I get that folks are concerned, but I’ve been around this industry and this planet long enough to know most of these cultured pearls of wisdom strewn before anxious minds. And I was raised to generally believe in education as a wise approach to any problem or circumstance, so “no surprises there” is what I thought and why I avoided the piece in Antique Week. But eventually, as it was the only non-read section left in “the library,” I got around to reading it anyway.
The article, People turn to education when times are tough, by Eric C. Rodenberg, is quite a lovely pitch-piece for antiques education, especially for the Asheford Institute of Antiques™ and it’s director, Charles Green (son of the founder, Peter Green, maybe?), even if has the requisite amount of fear-mongering as motivation for money-making. But let’s start with the positive:
The school has an appraisal program, which includes the conventional methodology used in the field. But, it’s the hands-on knowledge of antiques that marks this school from traditional appraisal programs, says Green.
“The distinction is that we teach the product — we go into great specifics with antiques — something that your general appraisal classes do not do,” Green says. “the general appraisals course may spend two hours on the subject … we make the analogy that it’s like the brain surgeon who says he would really like to become a brain surgeon, but he doesn’t want to have to study all that medical stuff. We focus on that stuff — the antiques. Our graduates have the product knowledge, not just the methodology.”
Which really is another way of getting at the real issue of the business of being an antiques and collectibles dealer. I’ll get to more on that in a minute; let’s face the parts which focus on financial anxieties first.
The institute’s admissions dean, Tony Drew, is quoted as saying that his institute is seeing higher enrollments in response to “recent housing foreclosures and subsequent content sales.” (This quote is also used in Antique Trader‘s blog — suspiciously word for word, though it was published on December 10, 2008. If the industry itself is going to beat the economic angle to death, can we get some new quotes or properly record the rehashing?) While all of this might make for great (anxiety based) copy, this whole “in times of economic trouble, increase your income with a new career in antiques and collectibles” thing is getting out of hand.
Antique Week Education Article
Especially when so many folks want to offer entering the world of antiques and collectibles as a lucrative opportunity if not a get-rich scheme; it’s just not that easy. Mainly because there are lots of variables in any business, not just specific to this sector of it. But there’s one factor that most of these articles fail to address which is not only misleading but rather insulting.
While I admire the Asheford Institute (which I’ve no personal experience with) for its dedication past the simple appraisal methodology, I must dutifully state that it takes more than “two years of in-depth college” education to cover the centuries of antiques and collectibles. After decades of experience, I’m making discoveries daily — and by that I mean I’m discovering antiques & collectibles which are off the maps. I’m not saying “no” to education; I’m saying that education must be ongoing in this business.
And to continue your self-education you’ll need a special ingredient to motivate you.
As my friend Cliff Aliperti (recently interviewed here at CQ) very eloquently said to me during a recent discussion about just what makes a successful antiques and collectibles dealer, “The passion comes from collecting, if you just jump into selling you may have a passion for your business, but are you ever going to have a true passion for your goods?”
Cliff and I (and zillions of others) feel that it’s the passion for the goods — the antiques — which is that special ingredient, that “thing” which makes you better as a dealer. It’s what makes you not only willing but wanting to learn more than the bare minimum. We obsessive passionate folks want to “study all the medical stuff.”
Maybe comparing an antiques & collectibles dealer to a brain surgeon isn’t quite the same thing — but Green started it. So let me finish it by saying that in either case I trust the professional who cares the most, who is passionate enough to be driven to know the most.
So, to any of you thinking of about starting in this business, I say, “Welcome!” — and I’ll tell you what most of these others won’t: You need a passion for antiques & collectibles — or at least your area of specialty, should you select one — in order to succeed in antiques & collectibles. You’ll need it to keep yourself educated, to make your customers happy, to not go crazy; and you just can’t get accredited for “passion” or even take a course in it.
Tags: antiques, antiques dealer, careers, collectibles, economy, education
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May 3rd, 2009 at 7:59 AM
[...] blog, which you can find here, as well as the online edition of Antique Week are well written and informative… and I [...]
May 14th, 2009 at 6:17 PM
Hey Deanna,
Just caught this (actually coming over from Tom’s post at Encore-Ephemera above) and wanted to thank you for the mention here.
This is tough, I can see value to an “antiques education,” heck it might be good for someone like me even to broaden my horizons. But if you’re just starting out I think you’d be a lot better off spending your tuition costs on a heap of antiques and collectibles that you like, working from that passion you (and I) mentioned, and making your mistakes that way.
The best way to learn is making mistakes. I fear that for the beginner the first mistake would be enrolling in any sort of course, legitimate or not.
Again though, I don’t want to totally discount an “antique education” I just think it would be of more value to intermediate and above established dealers.
Thanks, Cliff
January 25th, 2010 at 7:30 AM
[...] tend to be vocal about my criticisms of Antique Week. It’s not some internet attitude talking, but human nature; we tend to be [...]
February 10th, 2010 at 6:54 PM
I actually think that education in any field is a good thing… I can’t recall any class at college that I took, where I thought, I’d be better of if I hadn’t learned anything in regard to general business, or history, or art, or gleaned some kind of knowledge from the courses I was taking.
I’ve been in the antique business for over 35 years, and I can’t tell you the number of people I’ve seen come and go in this business… some of the things they’ve done, and some of the mistakes they’ve made along the way simply make me shudder… I’m not saying courses like the one you mention from Asheford, can answer all the questions (and I’ve never even seen their course), but if it can help people avoid fundamental mistakes when they’re just starting out, and perhaps point them in the right direction, then it seems like a good idea to me…
Again, I believe, that as the individual wrote above, “eduction needs to be ongoing…” But it’s also got to start somewhere…
July 7th, 2010 at 4:28 PM
Having been in the business for 17 yrs., I agree that you learn something new everyday. However, I think there is a place for a course like this. Dealers who specialize tend to have good knowledge of their items, but most sell a multitude of items. The biggest benefit I see to this course is to learn how to research. Most dealers idea of researching an item is to ask someone they know, or look on Ebay.
July 25th, 2010 at 2:38 PM
Hello There…
What a coincidence. I have been wondering whether to sign up for the Asheford Institute of Antiques long distance course.
This comes from one who knows little about antiques but has developed an interest…(I have a few antiques to sell in order to move to England).
Hours have been spent online trying to find a clue of what i have.
My mom said they were valuable…but are they…really?
I came up with nothing except a new interest in the detective work required to determine what an antique was.
Hence, the Ashford.
Of course every learning is ongoing!
Please tell me there is not alot of “superior arrogance” in this interesting field. After all, networking is going to be important too.
sincerely
Patricia
July 31st, 2010 at 5:38 PM
“Please tell me there is not alot of “superior arrogance” in this interesting field. After all, networking is going to be important too.”
Amen SISTER! (to Patricia Altair) I was asked by my mother to sell a bunch of my grandmother’s items. It awoke in me a passion I did not realize I had.
Research has been my biggest problem. She took some items to an “appraiser” who put a dollar value on the item but no info as to why. I am no expert in this but I think an appraiser should be able to tell me WHY it is worth what it is supposedly worth. More than dollar amount (for me, not my Mom…she seems to care less), the history of the pieces is what stirred my passion. Where did it come from, who made it, etc. If I had known about these items before my grandmother died, I would have asked. Now I have hit a dead end.
I began looking into education because I think this is something that would be very fascinating to me. I just don’t want to get scammed. And the networking idea? Hasn’t worked for me…they all want money, and lots of it, before they talk to me. My mother paid a ton of money and learned next to nothing. Irritating. I just want information.
It all looks very cutthroat, based on my experience. Maybe it is just my bad luck. Anyway, I just had to put in the two cents of a regular joe just trying to get some help. Education of any kind in this field would be very enlightening to me at this point. Afterall, I’m starting at zero. If anyone here has any ideas for me to try and get info, I’d appreciate it.
August 26th, 2010 at 1:26 PM
Toni – my experience is similar to yours – researching family pieces and FELL IN LOVE with this research/appraisal angle. Now wonder how to move forward with it . . . Education makes sense but I wonder if the so-called experts find that threatening? I want to be a trained and reputable appraiser and don’t know how . . . Have you learned anything since your post?
September 12th, 2010 at 11:15 PM
I actually took the course from Asheford Institute a couple of years ago. I spent many a Saturday mornings hitting the garage sale circuit and got hooked on finding the “Roadshow grail”… of course I never did, but it kind of got me into searching for learning about antiques – that’s how I ended up taking Asheford. For me it was great, but I only had a limited knowledge when I started, so everything was pretty much new to me. But it ended up being a lot, lot more than I thought, and has really helped me now that I’m actually in the business (sort of – still a nurse during the weekdays – antique’r on the weekend!). Anyway, just thought I’d share the experience I had with taking a course. P.S. I’d like to maybe take an auctioneering course, does anyone know of a good one?
September 13th, 2010 at 5:15 PM
Now is the time to learn and buy. I have been raised in the Antique Auction business my whole life (I’m not quite 30 yet) and I am self educated in Antiques and Collectibles. I am currently taking the Asheford Courses, however the majority of it I am already familiar with from having hands on experience. In the end, I’ll be happy to at least be “certified” by something. The auction business is at an all time low in prices due to the economy. Too many have turned to internet bidding and selling. Your local auctions are a great way to learn about items, values, and meet dealers who can give you insight into your local market. Everywhere is a little different and the only way to learn your market is through self education.
November 4th, 2010 at 11:30 AM
Hi There!
I did sign up for the Ashford school of Antiques. This has spurred a bigger interest in all these works of art from the past.
The course is great and is chock full of info you can read over and over again. Its well-written and I may have pinpointed already a new direction of research into the antique i was so curious about.
Heh Heh…problem is the appreciation of antique beauty has grown so much, I may not be able to sell this beautiful piece!
January 6th, 2011 at 1:39 PM
LilySanforde Says:P.S. “I’d like to maybe take an auctioneering course, does anyone know of a good one?”
I couldn’t help responding to your request, as I graduated from Western College of Auctioneering, in Billings Montana in 1981, and have been an Auctioneer ever since. In April 2011 am planning on attending Continental Auction School in Mankato Minnesota to further upgrade my expertise, so to speak. Continental is offering appraising along with their general course of study and I am very excited about that. I also intend on enrolling in the Asheford home study course, as my belief is that you can never have to much education on any subject if you truly want to be a professional. I am a real believer that auctioneering and appraising education will always be a work in progress for me, whether it is improving my chant or my knowledge about my craft.
July 14th, 2011 at 2:18 PM
I was trained as an art historian. After my master degree, I was looking for post-graduate programs all over the world. After a while of researshing for the perfect program I came along Christie’s and Sotheby’s Educational Institutes. They both have undergraduate, graduate, post-graduate, part-time, as well as short programs and continuing education in different areas of the art business and antique expertise.
You may find programs in Europe as well. For example, there is the Institut d’Études Supérieures des Arts based in Paris that offers French and English programs in art business, expertise and collecting (antique and contemporary). They actually recently expanded in England, Italy and Belgium.
See for yourselve on their website. Enjoy!
July 21st, 2011 at 9:33 PM
I’m also an art history grad, and ended up taking the Asheford program after applying at Sotheby’s for a part-time position. They informed me that although the art history degree was good, they were a dime-a-dozen in this business, and actually recommended the Asheford Institute program as a way to beef up my application credentials – to which I can say, I did get the job (eventually). Not sure if the Asheford program got me in, but I’m sure it didn’t hurt! As for the program itself, I’d say it’s close to being on par with doing a couple years of undergrad study – at least from my perspective. Good Luck!
July 26th, 2011 at 11:38 PM
Great input everyone. My concerns are the appraisal certification(s), designations, USPAP, etc., esp for those of in states where such licensing and education is not mandatory. Can one purchase the Asheford Institute of Antiques texts without taking the course work?
September 17th, 2011 at 1:33 AM
I’ve always had an affinity for old things — I haven’t necessarily been interested in the price of them, although I do get excited hearing about valuable items. What I’m fascinated by is the connection to an earlier time. Objects seem to carry an almost palpable aura from the time period they come from.
I don’t know if that’s a product of my own imagination or if it’s the seed of a real passion that I could pursue as a career. I’ve never had the money or the inclination to build a collection of any kind, but I’ve never bypassed a TV show about antiques, and have yet to see a flea market or antique shop that I couldn’t spend hours in….just looking and absorbing the history and emotions that seem tied to the items I see.
Crazy? Probably. But since my career in the publishing industry seems to have stalled due to the economy, I can’t help but wonder if an education in this field is something I could make a living at. I know I would be endlessly amused and interested by antiques, but I haven’t “paid my dues”. At 41, is it too late to get into this?
It’s late and the scotch is working. Thanks for letting me think out loud. (lol)
September 23rd, 2011 at 10:18 PM
Jennifer, thanks for your insight regarding the value of Asheford with the Sotheby nod. I was skeptical and seeking “industry” approval of this program before investing.
Derek, I am 33 fortunately with 2 jobs in a successful career. I began purchasing items 1 1/2 year ago at a local auction to the point now where I have to sell them due to space in my home, or better yet I haven’t purchased my home furniture due to the awesome buys and finds at the local auction. I am now renting a space to sell from the local auction house because this hobby has captivated every other minute of my day.
With the economy the way it is branching out into new is the best way to go about it especially if you are calling the shots, no pink slips! At 41 you have paid your dues in the corporate rat race, have fun. Antiques have provided me with freedom to express, collect and now sell.