YOU'VE GOT TO BE A BIT OF A LOON TO LIKE THIS ANTIQUE THING
IT'S THE RANGE OF STUFF THAT MAKES IT CRAZY FUN -
WHAT I FIND MOST DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN, ABOUT THE ANTIQUE AND COLLECTABLE TRADE, IS THE EXCITEMENT FACTOR. IT IS MOST DEFINITELY AN ADDICTION, AND IT CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS FINANCIAL PROBLEMS, ASSOCIATED WITH GAMBLING, AND OF COURSE HOARDING. I HAVE, ON MANY OCCASIONS, GAMBLED SERIOUSLY ON ANTIQUES. BIG MONEY! BIG RISK! I HAVE, AT TIMES IN MY LIFE, BEEN A TEXTBOOK HOARDER. BUT IN MY FAVOR, WASN'T COLLECTING OR STORING GARBAGE. I DIDN'T HAVE FIFTY THOUSAND PLASTIC OR PAPER GROCERY BAGS, BUNDLED UP, OR HAVE CLOTHES STACKED TO THE CEILING….THAT I MIGHT WEAR ONE DAY. MY HOARDING INVOLVED THE GOOD STUFF. THE SALABLE ITEMS. THE PIECES THAT ARE NOW FILLING OUR SHOP TO OVERFLOWING. I INVESTED CONSTANTLY BECAUSE THIS WAS MY PROFESSION. SEEING AS WE DIDN'T HAVE A SHOP, FOR SOME OF THIS TIME, I WAS PURCHASING MORE PIECES THAT WE WERE SELLING AT SHOWS AND DURING ONLINE SALES. SO OF COURSE, WE STARTED FILLING UP THE HOUSE. THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS NOW. IN REALITY, AS I'VE NOTED PREVIOUSLY, THIS HAD BEEN THE MISSION SUZANNE AND I HAD BEEN WORKING ON FOR SEVERAL DECADES. TO HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL INVENTORY OF ANTIQUES AND COLLECTABLES, TO FEATHER OUR RETIREMENT. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED. AS FAR AS GAMBLING, I HAVE NEVER GOT STUCK ON A MAJOR INVESTMENT IN THE ANTIQUE DOMAIN. I MIGHT NOT HAVE MADE A HUGE PROFIT, BUT IT'S NEVER BEEN A CASE, THAT I ACTUALLY LOST MONEY. IF SUZANNE AND I ENJOYED THE COMPANY OF A NICE PAINTING, OR A WONDERFUL JAM CUPBOARD FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, FOR EXAMPLE, WE COULD THEN TURN AROUND, AND SELL IT, FOR A LITTLE OVER WHAT WE PAID FOR IT…..AS A GENERAL RULE. WE WOULD CONSIDER THIS "HAVING HAD NICE THINGS IN OUR HOME," AT VERY LITTLE COST, EXCEPT A MINOR AMOUNT OF INTEREST. WE'VE ALWAYS HAD A RULE FOR BUYING, AND EVENTUALLY SELLING, AND IT'S ALL ABOUT QUALITY. WE WILL ONLY BUY PIECES WE KNOW ARE HIGH QUALITY, WHETHER IT IS A PAINTING, A PIECE OF VINTAGE GLASS, VINTAGE CLOTHING, HATS, FURNITURE OR RUGS. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SELL THEM FOR A PROFIT DOWN THE ROAD, AND EVEN THOUGH IT MAY STAY IN THE SHOP FOR A CONSIDERABLE TIME, QUALITY WILL SHINE THROUGH EVENTUALLY, AND THE SUBJECT PIECE(S) WILL SELL. THEY ALWAYS HAVE. COMPROMISE ON QUALITY, AND PEDIGREE, AND THE RISK OF LOSING GROWS CONSIDERABLY.
IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED AN INCREDIBLE SURGE IN ACQUISITION, AND THIS IS MIND BLOWING, EVEN TO AN INDUSTRY OLDTIMER. THIS IS THE PART OF THE BUSINESS THAT IS SO DARN EXCITING, BECAUSE EVERY DAY IS LIKE CHRISTMAS. I MEAN THAT. WE HAVE HAD WONDERFUL HUNT AND GATHER ADVENTURES, TURNING UP MANY INTERESTING PIECES, FROM OLD HI-FI UNITS FOR ANDREW'S NEW "MIUSKOKA JAM ROOM," AT THE BACK OF OUR SHOP, TO A SUBSTANTIAL VINTAGE VINYL HAUL, FOR ROBERT. NOT TO MENTION GUITARS. OH, SO MANY GUITARS. PRESSED GLASS, COOKBOOKS BY THE DOZENS, AUTOGRAPHED BIOGRAPHIES SUCH AS A SIGNED COPY BY ANNE MURRAY. LEATHER COWBOY BOOTS….THAT ANDREW SELLS REGULARLY, ON TO A NICE 1960'S HANDCRAFTED DOLL HOUSE, WITH CEDAR SHINGLES THAT NEEDS A LITTLE WORK, AND MARTHA STEWART QUALITY DECORATING. ADD TO THIS, A COUPLE OF BOXES OF EPHEMERA FROM SEVERAL ESTATES, AND A FEW INTERESTING PIECES OF VINTAGE CLOTHING THAT SUZANNE NOW DOESN'T WANT TO SELL. WE DEALERS ALL FORGET OUR MOTTO FROM TIME TO TIME, AND WISH TO KEEP IT ALL, AND OPEN UP A MUSEUM INSTEAD. IT'S THIS INCREDIBLE CONFLUENCE, WHEN ONE DAY, YOU'RE OFFERED A 1971 TABLE-TOP HOCKEY GAME….WHICH MAKES ME CRAZY, AND A 1960 LIONEL TRAIN SET STILL IN ITS ORIGINAL BOX. WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR A STORE TRAIN FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON, SO WE PLAN ON PURSUING THIS LITTLE GEM. WE'VE SPENT ALL OUR MONEY FOR THE MONTH, BUT THAT'S NEVER COOLED OUR JETS BEFORE. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE A VICTORIAN ERA PUMP ORGAN FROM A MAJOR MUSKOKA RESORT, AND DOZENS OF OFFERS TO PURCHASE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS, TO JOB-LOTS OF GARAGE PROPORTION. OF COURSE, IT'S A TWO WAY STREET. YOU HAVE TO KEEP REMINDING YOURSELF OF THIS, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T BUY UNLESS YOU SELL SOMETHING. AND YOU HAVE TO GUARD SOME PROFIT FOR A RAINY DAY FUND. WHAT SHOULD BE USED FOR RECREATION IS INEVITABLY SPENT WHEN SOMEONE OFFERS US A COLLECTION OF VINTAGE DOLLS, OR A BOX OF HAND-CARVED PIPES. SOMETIMES IT GETS A LITTLE FRUSTRATING, BECAUSE AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR, WHEN THERE ARE LOTS OF SALES TO ATTEND, EACH WEEK, YOU DO NEED TO BE SOMEWHAT CAREFUL BUYING OVER THE COUNTER. BUYING OVER THE COUNTER DOES USUALLY MEAN MORE EXPENSE, THAN IF WE ARE OUT ON THE SALE HUSTINGS, FINDING BARGAINS (SLEEPERS). WE CAN'T DO THIS WHEN WE ARE ASKED TO OFFER AN APPRAISAL, FOR POTENTIAL PURCHASE. I LIKE WHEN CUSTOMERS KNOW WHAT THEY WANT, AND ARE WILLING TO STATE IT FROM THE BEGINNING OF NEGOTIATIONS. I HATE THE DANCE, AND I'M TERRIBLY WORRIED ABOUT HURTING SOMEONE'S FEELINGS, BY TELLING THEM THE TRUTH; THAT THEIR CHERISHED HEIRLOOM PIECE IS A FRAUD, OR BASICALLY WORTHLESS. ON OTHER OCCASIONS, I'M STARING A MAJOR WORKS OF ART, AND I HAVE TO CONFESS THAT OUR SHOP WOULDN'T BE THE BEST PLACE TO SELL SUCH WORK. I HAVE SENT MANY CUSTOMERS TO ART APPRAISERS, GALLERIES AND AUCTION HOUSES.
THE ANTIQUE PROFESSION IS LIKE A CARNIVAL SETTING UP EVERY DAY, AND YOU'RE NOT ONLY INVITED, YOU'RE THE OWNER / OPERATOR. IF YOU DO IT RIGHT, THE WORK WITH FASCINATE YOU BEYOND ANYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE. IF YOU HAVE A HEART AND SOUL FOR THIS KIND OF WORK, HANDLING PREVIOUSLY ENJOYED ITEMS, THAT HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH DEATH IN SOME FASHION, AND MULTI-GENERATIONS OF DEMISE, YOU CAN ENTER ALICE'S WONDERLAND TIMES TEN. I HAVE HAD A BALL WITH HIS BUSINESS, BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW, FROM ONE DAY TO THE NEXT, WHAT WILL CROSS THAT SHOP THRESHOLD……OR WHAT YOU MIGHT FIND AT THE FARM AUCTION DOWN THE ROAD, THAT WILL MAKE YOUR SHOP THE BEST IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THERE ARE DAYS WHEN IT'S BORING, AND THE ONLY OTHER OCCUPANT OF THE SHOP IS ONE OF THE ATTACHED GHOSTS, TO ONE OF THE PIECES FOR SALE. YOU MAY HAVE WEEKS OF RATHER BORING CONDITIONS, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE FLOOD GATES OPEN, AND YOU GET OFFERS OF THE MOST AMAZING ANTIQUES AND COLLECTABLES……FROM BEAVER TOP HATS, HUDSON BAY BLANKETS, MEDICAL SKELETONS, COFFINS, VICTORIAN TABLES, CHINA CUPBOARDS, AND WELL, EVEN A "HAMILTON TIGER CAT, GREY CUP SOUVENIR CUP AND SAUCER, FROM THE EARLY 1960'S." HOW ABOUT A MILITARY BATON FROM THE ROYAL MILITARY ACADEMY? A SMALL TOTEM POLE. WOODEN TRUNK FULL OF OLD PAPER? IT CAN GET PRETTY WILD, WHEN YOU'RE ON THE RECEIVING END OF THIS MATERIAL, AND EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS, AND USUALLY OVERLAPPING WITH OTHER MAJOR ACQUISITIONS, YOU WONDER HOW THE HECK YOU'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH IT ALL. JUST CATALOGUING IT CAN MEAN DAYS OF NOTHING ELSE. BUT HAVING A CHANCE TO PLAY MUSEUM CURATOR AT THE SAME TIME……AND TREASURE HUNTER, IS TOO MUCH FUN TO BE CONSIDERED WORK. THIS IS OLD FASHIONED PLAY, AND IT KEEPS ON COMING THE LONGER YOU'RE IN BUSINESS. THE REAL JOY….IS SEEING THAT THESE RESCUED PIECES GO TO CONTENTED PATRONS. IT'S A NICE FEELING TO BE PART OF THIS CONNECTION, AND SINCE WE BEGAN OUR COLLECTIVE OF FAMILY BUSINESSES, WE'VE SENT ANTIQUES AND COLLECTABLES ALL OVER THE WORLD. AND WE'VE KEPT IN TOUCH WITH SOME OF THESE BUYERS, WHO HAVE A LONG AFFECTION FOR OUR LITTLE TOWN. THIS IS PART OF THE BUSINESS I HAVEN'T WRITTEN MUCH ABOUT, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO THE OVERALL FEELING, OF DOING SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT IN HISTORY, OTHER THAN WRITING A BOOK. MANY OF OUR PIECES HAVE PROVENANCE ATTACHED, AND WE PASS THAT ON TO THE NEW BUYERS, WHO SEEM VERY PLEASED TO HAVE THIS INHERENT CONNECTION OF FAMILY HISTORY. AN EXAMPLE OF THIS IS WHEN WE SENT A TABLE-TOP CREAM SEPARATOR TO ONE OF THE NORTHERLY AMERICAN STATES, WITH A WHOLE STORY OF WHERE IT CAME FROM AND HOW A LOCAL FARM FAMILY USED IT FOR FOUR DECADES BEFORE SELLING IT OFF. THE NEW OWNER WAS A "BACK-TO-THE-FARM" YOUNG COUPLE WITH TWO CHILDREN, WHO WERE PLANNING ON USING IT, AS IT HAD BEEN IN GRAVENHURST……ON THE HARVEST TABLE IN THE FARM KITCHEN. I LIKE THAT CONTINUITY. IT WASN'T JUST PURCHASED AS AN INTERESTING FARM RELIC. IT WAS GOING TO BE USED AND ENJOYED. I'M SURE IT PROVED JUST AS EFFICIENT THERE, AS IT WAS IN MUSKOKA.
I JUST THOUGHT I'D SHARE THIS WITH YOU, BECAUSE SOME TIMES I FEEL I NEGLECT TO EXPLAIN, WHAT REALLY COMPELS US TO BE PART OF THIS WHACKY PROFESSION IN THE FIRST PLACE. IT'S A BASIC NEED FOR ADVENTURE AND EXCITEMENT, AND WE GET SO MUCH OF BOTH, THAT IT CAN BE VERY EXHAUSTING. YET WE LOVE TO GET BACK TO WORK BRIGHT AND EARLY THE VERY NEXT DAY.
ONE LAST NOTE FOR TODAY. A FEW YEARS BACK, WE TEAMED UP WITH THE LOCAL GRAVENHURST RE-STORE, TO REPATRIATE A SAMPLER ORIGINALLY DONE AT A PRIVATE SCHOOL IN ENGLAND, CIRCA THE 1770'S. WE DID THE RESEARCH WORK, AND MADE CONNECTION WITH THE SCHOOL, WHO KEPT AN ARCHIVES OF RETURNED NEEDLEWORK, THEIR STUDENTS HAD DONE OVER THE CENTURIES. THE RE-STORE MANAGEMENT AGREED, AS A GESTURE OF GOODWILL, TO DONATE THE HISTORIC PIECE (THAT HAD BEEN DONATED BY A KIND PATRON TO THEIR STORE), IF AND WHEN WE COULD BROKER A DEAL FOR SAFE PASSAGE ACROSS THE POND. WE DID, AND IT WAS A WONDERFUL FEELING, TO RETURN THIS SCHOOL AND FAMILY HERITAGE, BACK TO ONE OF THE OLDEST PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN ENGLAND. I WAS PLEASED TO GET THE CONFIRMATION, IT HAD ARRIVED IN ONE PIECE. SUZANNE DID THE WRAPPING, AND BY GOLLY, SHE WAS AS NERVOUS AS I'VE EVER SEEN HER. THE PIECE WAS PROBABLY WORTH SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS, SO IT WAS A GENEROUS ACT BY THE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY ORGANIZATION…..A NICE HANDSHAKE BETWEEN TWO COMMONWEALTH NATIONS. THIS IS THE KIND OF REWARD, BEING IN THIS BUSINESS GENERATES ROUTINELY, BUT MOST OFTEN DOESN'T GET MENTIONED. WE'VE DONATED MANY HISTORIC PIECES OURSELVES, INCLUDING A RARE PLAQUE COMMEMORATING THE 122ND MUSKOKA BATTALION, FROM THE FIRST WORLD WAR. WE PURCHASED IT AT AN AUCTION IN GRAVENHURST, AND DONATED IT TO THE MILITARY DISPLAY, AT THE MUSKOKA LAKES MUSEUM IN PORT CARLING. NOW THAT FELT REAL GOOD, AND LOOKED BETTER IN THAT MEMORIAL SHOWCASE.
THANKS FOR JOINING ME TODAY. I'VE HAD MY HEAD IN CARTONS FULL OF OLD PAPER, FOR MOST OF THE DAY. SO EXCUSE THE FACT I'VE STAYED IN UPPER-CASE FOR THE ENTIRE BLOG. SOMETIMES THIS IS THE SIGN OF BEING TIRED, AT MY STATION, OR EXCITED OUT OF MY SKIN, BY THE WORK WE'VE BEEN UP TO AT THE SHOP. I THINK BOTH APPLY TONIGHT. LOTS MORE TO COME. THIS WILL BE AN INTERESTING SUMMER SEASON. I'M HALF EXPECTING AN EGYPTIAN MUMMY TO SHOW UP HERE. OF COURSE, WE'D MOST DEFINITELY REPATRIATE THAT ACQUISITION…..AS WE WOULD ANYTHING QUALIFYING AS A NATIONAL TREASURE, OR SIGNIFICANT ICON. IT'S THE RIGHT THE THING TO DO.
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