antique

A New Year and an old haunt just seem to go together. We have spent many an hour at School Days Mall in Sturtevant, WI searching for treasures over the many years they have occupied this old school building. First discovered by Wifey when she worked in the Racine, WI area, it’s located on Hwy 11, a couple of miles east of Interstate 94, and about 20 minutes north of the Illinois border and about the same distance from Milwaukee. The building is large with eleven classrooms, gym and library, and much of it filled with quality antiques, collectibles and furniture with a restriction of 1970 or older. Four of the rooms are occupied by independent dealers with a mix of old and new.
As you enter from the rear parking lot you pass through the hallowed school halls fitted with cases on both sides, and after a thorough inspection with one of several staff members assisting and carrying our selections to the counter, we start in the side rooms, then on to the largest room, still called the gym.
School Days has about sixty dealers, and the variety of goods offered is reflective of their individual tastes and specialities. As we toured from room to room, and the staff carried our collective goods to the front counter, it seemed as if our every requirement might be met. But alas, we could not find an old rabbit ears TV antenna or ugly TV lamp worthy of sitting atop the 1940s set I turned into a digital picture frame and mentioned in a recent posting.
I’m not sure why it’s taken so look to write about School Days. It could be the frequency of our past visits, or it might be what Wifey suggested; I wanted to keep it secret from the hoards of travelers on Interstate 94 to and from Chicago and beyond. It may be too late, a good share of the visitors to School Days come from some distance with the sole intent of finding additions to their collections. And with a group of long time dealers that know what repeat visitors want, it’s a fun and rewarding place for a return visit. Consignments are now part of the mix of offerings, and we saw some good bargains in furniture that was from several periods and styles.
If you have read previous articles on Collectors’ Quest, I have a set of criteria, that must be met for a mention in my blogs, and School Days fills the bill nicely. So if you’re in the area, it’s worth a shot down the off ramp for a chance to find your next treasure. Located at 9500 Durand Ave. (Hwy 11) Sturtevant, WI. Their normal hours are 10-5pm and 11-5 on Sundays. I recommend a call first, to confirm the times, 262-886-1069. Dan and Karin are always glad to have new visitors and welcome you with a coffee pot in the gym. They have scheduled events throughout the year, with four storewide sales, February 1-28th, April 24-May 9th, November 19-28th and December 26-31st. They also have two flea markets outside, one on June 5th and September 18th for the fall flea market.
A new feature is Senior Citizens Day on Wednesday.
On this visit we were helped by the mall manager Kathy at left and Judy, some of the many staff members you may see on your visit. Kathy has been at this mall nearly from the time the shop opened in 1986 and enjoys her own collections of pottery and mission furniture. With staff members that know and appreciate antiques, they can help you find the type of items to fill your own Quest for Collectibles.

Last Saturday was the arrival of the big date; one we’d been waiting for for several months. Our local public television station puts on an annual antique and collectibles fair, held at their fund raising and TV auction facility.

In the same vein  as the Antiques Road Show that MPTV broadcasts locally, this annual event has certified appraisers from all around Wisconsin. In a hand-out bulletin, each of the appraisers are listed along with their specialty. It’s one of those lists of contacts that’s worth the price of admission for future reference. A great resource if I need assistance in evaluating an estate or your antiques.

We wanted advice on some items and that’s exactly why we decided to attend this event.

The item I was bring was a glass door fireplace closure – screen with two moose, (or is it mooses) in copper in a three dimensional sculpture, one on each door. The copper also covers the complete edges of the door with a hammered Arts and Crafts look. We arrived early since I has cased the piece for travel by building a partial wooden box and needed to dismantle before dragging into the building. Since we purchased two tickets for the appraisal fair, wifey vacillated between several items to bring and finally selected a cast iron portrait of a lovely young lady to confirm the authenticity of the object she believed was by Bradley & Hubbard. Wifey’s item was a lot simpler to tote albeit heavy cast iron.

Greeted at the door we were directed to tables at the entrance in the triage area, manned by volunteer staff from local antique malls, assigning each item to the proper appraiser with a background in that area of collecting. Over thirty appraisers were waiting at their assigned tables, books opened, computers turned on and lots of stored knowledge from years of study. They were waiting to see the prized item each person brought to the appraisal fair.

We were assigned to Antiques and Estate Appraisals, LLC in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. She provided information on my fireplace closure, to confirm that it was from the Arts and Crafts period, and that the retail price was around $500.

 Wifey learned her B&H painted portrait was indeed original from around the 1850s-70s. Our appraisor  evaluated that piece at approximately $275.

We also observed other interesting objects being appraised, including some wonderful old pocket watches that seemed to delight the appraiser. We had a chat with a gentleman carrying an antique wooden sleigh that would have made a great holiday display item in our house. A truly unique antique.

As we were pulling our wagon load toward the door to leave, we spotted a grand display covering three tables filled with old tools, attended by their owner, local collector and dealer Tom Burns. I confirmed his latest booth location in an antique mall in downtown Waukesha, Wisconsin. I informed Tom I had purchased some gages from him in the past. He gave us an overview of some prized items in his collection including a lunch box from an employee of the old Allis Chalmers Tractor factory, and a most unusual lawn mower, too odd for me to even describe.

We walked out pleased with the appraisals, delighted we made the effort to attend and willing to return next year with other odd objects we manage to acquire by the time this show rolls around.

Many collectors, suspecting they have found a long lost painting, obscure manuscript from Medieval times or love letters for Norma Jean, try to get onto the great Antique’s Roadshow. With the popularity and renown of their appraisers, a ticket is almost as scarce as a winning lottery ticket and harder to obtain than a Green Bay Packer ticket. So these appraisal fairs are a great answer to your need to confirm an object’s retail or insurance value, before you give the item  away or put it out at a yard sale.

I’m sure you’ll find a venue like this in most major cities, and I encourage you to attend, even if you have to drag your item on a dolly as I did.  And happy hunting.

My blog today concerns the reader that wants to dispose of a few items or a collection. 

I’m one of five writers on Collectors’ Quest (CQ) and we all get questions on value and how to rid yourself of your once prized items (hopefully, at a profit.) We all have a sense of value on the items we discuss, but none of us qualify as appraisers.

 My recommendation has been to research the net for value and check local shops for comparable prices in your area. Many good resale or antique shops will tell you the retail price and what they are currently willing to pay (the wholesale price). Normally these prices are based on their knowledge of the current market in your area, how long they may wind up holding onto it before it is going to sell and what is not selling. A check of several stores may reveal a difference in price, based on different clientèle purchasing habits. It’s the same on net sites where you want to see the average selling price not the asking price.

You may want extra cash for a new play thing, computer, flat screen or fishing motor. Could be your cash flow is down due to a layoff and the extra cash is more important than your signed artworks. Or maybe your last child started full time school and you’re bored, and see potential in selling off designer clothing the grandparents flooded the kid with. Could be you just retired and finally have time to thin out your stacks of stuff before you move south.
These are all good reasons to explore selling a collection.

My first suggestion, of course, is to place your collection on Collectors’ Quest – Marketplace using the “tab” above. The easy sign-up and step by step instructions will guide you through the process, and all you will need to start is a digital camera and an idea of the item’s real value. Our Market Place will work well for the collector down-sizing or selling a complete collection of like items.

If your collectibles are bath tubs or buffets, you probably want to use a service like Craig’s List with local pick up as your best bet.

Collectors with tons of high end pottery, china and old glass will do well with a site like TIAS, over the long haul.

A new site with strong early exposure,  I Collect 24-7, is a low cost venue for the collector with a broad range of different product to unload, with the restriction, it must be old stuff.

Esty is newer too, and deals with the artsy type collectibles.  I imagine you can suggest a few places on the web you might have found for selling your stuff, that you can add to my list  by writing a reply at the bottom.

Did I leave out the big elephant in the room? Yes Ebay. Not easy for the beginning net seller to deal with for all the requirement and restrictions imposed on the seller. But still the way of selling a good quantity of items with patience.

Which ever route to success you choose, remember this one rule:
It’s retail sales, the customer is always right, unless they’re wrong.
Buy Low and Sell High, unless you paid too much.
Pack your shipments, as if you’re going to receive it. You may, if you got the label wrong.
You can satisfy all of the customers some of the time, and some of the customers all of the time, but in sales you can’t satisfy all of the customers, all of the time.
In a future post I’ll give you some suggestions on how to handle inventory, cutting costs on packaging and shipping, and lots of incidental stuff you will need to be a successful on line seller.
Good Hunting, and if you can, hold onto your collections for better times.

Our destination remained Florida for a week of rest and relaxation. Out of Kentucky and down I-75 until we turn onto I-24 past Nashville. I should not bore you with all of our stops. We followed many billboard signs to stores just off the freeways along the way. We stopping at lots of typical malls with some minor luck but no additions to our “Must Return” list. At most places we would find a gem or two and that’s why I allow extra days into our driving schedule, as many of these “I” system malls are large and require extra time just to breeze through them.

One of the signs led us off I-24 and into Chattanooga, Tennessee were we stopped at several places including High Point Antiques at 3524 Broad St (423-756-9566) where we were greeted by Susan & James. If you’re looking for antique light fixtures, the polished brass will stun your eyeballs. Of the wonderful items this store offered, wifey could not live with out this stunning pen holder. I’m betting it’s on her desk already, but with the stacked up papers across every inch but the keyboard, I’d never find it and I’m not fool enough to try.

Staying overnight south of Chattanooga, then on through Georgia trying to make up time spent in too many antique stores. We always shoot for Atlanta at mid-morning to avoid rush hour traffic, and drive directly through the heart of the city and on towards Macon, stopping infrequently while enticing billboards directed us to “Only Minutes Left” or “Minutes Right” proclaiming yet another “must stop” antique shop.

Past Macon our drive is through Billboard Alley, where every store has some sort of flooring for your house if only we had brought along our room sizes and a big truck. Stopping finally near the Florida border for the night, we knew the next day had to be an early start if we expected to be on island at our rented beach condo before sunset.

Well Florida “IS” Vacation, so we only go antique hunting part of our time. We started the day with a tour of Siesta Key and St. Armands Key, strictly for sight seeing, but as we drove North, I spotted an antique store and we determined to return that afternoon. We arrive late in the day and lucky to still find the shop open.

It was our first visit to an antique store in Florida this trip. With good fortune it was the Savantiques at 113 N. Tamiami Trail in Osprey, Florida. (941-966-9800). This was our third return to this mall. We were greeted by owner Nick as we walked in. The store features lots of beautiful period American furniture, and a great verity of early collectibles and antiques including nice art glass pieces. I had the impression wifey was determined to fill the counter with purchases before closing time and she almost made it. She left just enough room for receipt writing. Oh! I found a few items too, but no depression glass ice buckets to add to my collection.

We were so impressed with our finds, we decided to go back the next day after touring some shops in Englewood and Venice. I wanted to get details for this article and of course wifey thought she might have missed a hidden treasure or two, (she must have, as I had to pay for more stuff). But with a friendly staff including owner Cathy at center and Eileen and Jim we were once again loaded down with treasures, even if it required rearranging the van to accommodate more goodies.

In business for six years and attracting buyers with ads in local newspapers and The Antique Shoppe, Peddler & Antique Week. These type of publications are often found a local shops and most stores will have a display of antiquing papers and brochures from other locations. I always pick up all the literature available to add to my files.

I had written last year about some antique stores in the St, Pete area, and several of our readers suggested we visit Arcadia. It was without hesitation when we started our trip planning to include this antiquing town located on US Hwy 17 North East from Punta Gorda.at the convergence of state roads 70, 72, and 31 to our agenda. And you will find the short jaunt through the Florida countryside worthy with rewards for all collectors. Lots of stores on Oak Street and don’t pass on the ones near by as well. I suggest a whole day should be reserved for this town. And don’t worry, several eateries and an ice cream store will keep you refreshed all day long. I’ll only mention a few shops we visited with no intent to leave anyone out. I’m listing ones I remembered to get business cards from: Isabelle’s, Tokens of Tyme, Cherry Hill, Abigail’s, Treasure Alley and Arcadia Antiques & Fine Art, with real treasures in English brass and furniture. Marc the owner of Cherry Hill Antiques happened to originally come from our home area and we spent time in discussion with him on the good “old” days. Marc informed us of his unique promotional efforts by bringing in experts on various antiquing and collectible subjects to promote interest and ultimately sales. He also does a newsletter to stimulate interest. For more info on Arcadia contact the Antique Association of Arcadia (arcadiaFLantiques.com)

One last word on our trip, we stopped at the Exit 76 Antique Mall of Edinburgh IN, just north or Louisville on our way home. While huge this 72,000 sq ft. mall is very well run, with plenty of helping hands to assist everyone. With a good layout and efficient counter help we had a pleasant buying experience once again. And talk about promotional ideas, we received a card form Kelly to thank us for our purchase. (neat)

When you have a good antiquing experience, please share it with all of us at Collectors’ Quest by using the “reply” below.

Filled with great antique product, friendly staff and on several visits, dealers that willingly share knowledge with a fellow collector, the Antique Center At Wales is one of my must stop places and worth the drive to Southern Wisconsin.

Our fellow blogger, Val Ubell, had a bad experience on a recent visit to a mall that she did not name. I too have had such experiences, and while I attribute that type of behavior to the individual, it does leave a bad impression that remains and tempts one to pass on by and head up the road to the next place. Those next places are the ones I like to highlight here at CQ, as I travel around the eastern half of the US. (No I don’t have a VW bus with flowers painted on.). My desire is to inform you of the better stores or malls to visit. I had described some criteria that makes for a good experience, helpful staff, integrity of product (reproductions not allowed), uncluttered booths and cases and an adherence to a “not newer than” date, even if some categories are excluded to allow art pieces or for wifey’s sake, earrings that can be newer, and identified by the artist.

We were greeted as we arrived by Jane, manning the front counter at the Antique Center which is located three miles south of Interstate I-94 off exit 287 at 327 East Summit Ave, (Hwy 18) in (you guessed it) Wales, Wisconsin. 53183. Open four years, this was our eighth visit including several visits when their dealers have an outdoor sale on the grounds in June and September.

We started through the store with wifey looking into cases that occupy the center of the main floor of this converted barn built in the 1840s. A second barn building houses the “rough” pieces and the home is occupied. The main barn has three floors with even the staircase walls lined with art and other goodies. A section upstairs features books. About 30 to 35 dealers occupy spaces and cases in the neatly arranged 3500 square foot store and it’s a pleasure to see the great variety of vintage items. Dealers are not only from this lake country area but two are located as far away as Connecticut.

The shop has restrictions on an item’s age and tries to restrict furniture to pre-1920s and with approval some categories such as art.

With the other barns, buildings and homestead, this became a most inviting place to find just the right piece of antique furniture, painting, folk art or accessory to add to your collection or beautify your décor.

The owners are associated with the Delafield Antique Show which draws visitors each year into this area from great distances, and we will make an effort to visit. I have included links to view the store and show sites for you to check times and dates.

If you have a favorite shop that our community of collectors will enjoy, please share it with us in a reply below.