Wes Cowan, Antique Week
In the January 11, 2010 issue of Antique Week, Wes Cowan discusses how “2010 will be a great year to buy antiques for the home,” for collectors who like to ‘buy low.’
While insisting he’s “bullish on the business” of antiques, Cowan says that now’s the time to buy antiques for your home because prices are low and “dealers are eager to make a sale.” He credits (if we can use that word) the low prices to three factors, “the triple play of economic woes, eBay, and demographics.”
I probably don’t need to comment on the economy. And Cowan’s thoughts on the subject of eBay affecting supply and demand (you can click the scans to read them) echo my own. But the matter of demographics is an interesting one.
When we met Wes, he accurately and kindly noted that our kids were weird — for being collectors, that is. So I’ve heard Wes’ thoughts and discussed issue with him; but his column in Antique Week he puts it it more succinctly than I ever could:
Demographics continue to play another major role in the diminishing value of many antiques. If you’re a collector who visits shows and auctions, you already know that the average age of most antique collectors continues to climb. There simply aren’t enough young folks in the market.
I’ve written before on the values of collecting, how we’ve bonded with our children over games, vintage vinyl, books, and shows like History Detectives. In this economy, it also makes sense to teach children the values of money, of recycling and using previously used things, of decision making, and how to be good consumers; but it also makes sense to encourage and allow children to enjoy the hobby of collecting so that there’s younger people looking for older stuff.
Children aren’t just our future, they will be the guardians of our past; they have to start learning to value it now.
So take them out to the auction, the flea market, to antique shops, etc. and let them help you snatch-up the bargains. (And tell the dealers that Wes Cowan and Deanna Dahlsad sent you!)
All scans from AntiqueWeek, Vol. 42, Issue No. 2112.
Wes Cowan Article, Part Two
January 25th, 2010 at 8:17 PM
Great Article! We were just at a flea market this weekend. A young lad, probably 10-11 years old, walked in our booth. I smiled and said “Not much here for kids!” He looked back and said “Oh, no, I am here for the antiques – I love ‘em!” So, Mr. Cowan is, as usual, correct. We know it is a great time to buy antiques and you need to encourage youth to get interested! Val
January 25th, 2010 at 11:28 PM
I too have noticed the aging of the collector community. It floors me that kids aren’t being raised to be collectors. When I think back on all the things I collected as a kid… Two ways parents can assure their kids will never be bored – get them to read and turn them onto collecting.
That being said, while I was an antiques enthusiast from a very young age (my first big purchase was a wool spinning wheel I emptied my bank account for in third grade – it’s in the hall of my house as I write) it makes me shudder to think of the family heirlooms I was given and then lost when I was young. It’s one thing for your child to buy postcards, or keys, or stamps or whathaveyou – another thing to lose the family’s antique jewelry etc when you’re young. Bummer! Maybe a bit more parental oversight would take care of that issue.
Liz
January 26th, 2010 at 1:14 AM
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sparkle-Studio/189688473385
2010 definitely year to buy! we had an antique shop here in los angeles and we had to close down because business had been so terrible for the last several years! i now am creating fashion accessories and interior furnishings and will be selling mostly online. join me on facebook!!!