I have an antique or vintage, incredibly detailed very beautiful Geisha dancer / performer. She is made of various materials, (I believe her face is hand-painted silk), meticulously attired and accessorized with fan, drum, pearl and coral necklaces, reddish gold hat, and white tabi socks -- they fit when they wear their sandals that have a split between the big and other toes. Layered over her elaborate gorgeous kimono is a gauzy painted fabric that ties in a bow in front.

She stands @ 22” H x 10” W. There are no markings I can see.

AW says: Thanks again for your appraisal request. If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times, when it comes to almost any of figurine, painting or any other type of art that has included in it a human form, look at the eyes. In this case, one needs only to look at the eyes of your doll to know she was painted and crafted by a master. Thanks for sending so many pictures, although I've only used 2 of them here, the others were helpful.


Date range: 1910s-20s

Retail value: $1800-$2200
(top price)

Wholesale value: $600-$900
(The midrange price you could expect to achieve at a well advertised live auction. The price that is most often realized)

Quick sale value: $400-$500
The price your likely to get if you have to sell your item immediately and your prospective customer is aware of this.

Common trade terminology: Antique Japanese Geisha Doll, Silk Geisha Doll, Hand Painted Geisha Doll

Nicknames or slang terms: N/A

In most cases, I believe it would be beneficial for your to give the prospective buyer a link to this page, and to bookmark it via your favorite bookmarking service.


Care and storage tips: Keep in even temperature and keep dry

To learn about my 100% guaranteed appraisals click here.

I'd try to market it on Craigslist or another good classified ad venue. Play up the paneled drawers and the marble writing surface.


In most cases, I believe it would be beneficial for your to give the prospective buyer a link to this page, and to bookmark it via your favorite bookmarking service.

Care and storage tips: The best thing to cover those scratches with is Old English scratch cover, it works like magic. Make sure you use the kind for dark woods and that you wipe off the excess.

To learn about my 100% guaranteed appraisals click here.

To find out how get the best money possible for your valuables click here!

What's it Worth? Appraisal for Antique Wheel-Cut Compote

AW says: That's a Bohemian style "wheel-cut" compote. Circa 1910s. It's most likely Czechoslovakian, which means it's of very good quality.

Date range: 1910s

Retail value: $125-$175

(top price)

Wholesale value: $50-$75
(The midrange price you could expect to achieve at a well advertised live auction. The price that is most often realized)

Quick sale value: $35
The price your likely to get if you have to sell your item immediately and your prospective customer is aware of this.

Common trade terminology: Czechoslovakian Cut Crystal, Glass,

Nicknames or slang terms: Canoe compote,cut glass compote. wheel cut.

In most cases, I believe it would be beneficial for your to give the prospective buyer a link to this page, and to bookmark it via your favorite bookmarking service.

Care and storage tips: As with most good quality antique glass, never put it in a dishwasher and avoid extreme temperatures.

Hello,

I inherited an oak shelf clock made by the Ansonia Clock Company. After extensive research on the Internet, I’m guessing that this clock was produced in the New York Factory around the time of the fire.

There are some very faint markings on the back with numbers and dates; I assume this was the servicing record, like 12/1/1976 another date marking on the back is “1878”. As far as I know, I have all original parts including the key with number 75 engraved on it, and the clock does work. The Height is 22” and the Width is 14”.

• As hard as your situation is, you need to step outside of your needs for a minute, and think like the prospective buyer. The more desperate you appear, the less you'll get. On the other hand, coming from a confident position and understand what the buyer is interested in, will raise value.
• Learn as much about what you have as possible, the less you know about an antique or collectible, the less you will get for it.
• Learn a few of the most often used negotiation tactics in the used items and collectibles market. There are many of strategies, but there are a couple that always pop up.  Click  here to see those strategies explained in detail.
• If you think you have a very valuable antique or collectible, by all means get it appraised or at least authenticated. Many local dealers will authenticate an item for free. You will get more for it if you can prove it's provenance.
• If your new to selling on eBay and are going to skip the tutorial, AT LEAST READ THE FAQs.
• Use the spell check in eBay, studies show that sloppy descriptions generate lower bidding activity.
• By all means, go to my site  and suck up as much free information as you can. I have over 350 pages of articles about selling on eBay, appraisals, antiques, the liquidation process, live auctions, selling wholesale to dealers and more. There's no membership fee or sign up process required to take advantage of the information.  I've dedicated the latest episode of my online radio show to this subject and it covers it in much more detail. There is also a full text companion transcription along with links to sites discussed in the show.  Click here to see that material.

This is in Excellent condition - original finish - solid oak. Full size extra long.
Wood side rails. Taken extremely good care of the bed throughout the years.

Headboard is 70inches high (from floor to crown), 57 1/2 inches wide.
Footboard is 33 1/2 inches high and 57 1/2 inches wide.
Side rails are approximately 1 foot high

Headboard top comes off.

Over 90 – 100 years old I was told but can't get the exact year. It has been in my family
from the beginning. I have been told it is worth quite a bit.

Can you help me?

I have another old bedroom set that I plan to send to you soon.

Thanks – you came highly recommended by Terri H.

AW says: That's a very nice Eastlake style Victorian era, spoon carved Oak bed. Points for height and original finish. These old beds are coming back in favor. Usually beds are kind of tough to sell, but of antique beds, these large Eastlake high headboard beds are better sellers.

You can find these listed at much higher prices on the internet and elsewhere, but trust me, they're not selling in those price ranges yet.



Date range: 1880s

Retail value: $1000-$1200
(top price)

Wholesale value: $400-$600
(The midrange price you could expect to achieve at a well advertised live auction. The price that is most often realized)


Quick sale value: $250-$300
The price your likely to get if you have to sell your item immediately and your prospective customer is aware of this.

Common trade terminology: Eastlake Bed, Victorian Bed, Spoon carved Headboard, Spoon Carved, Spoon carved Oak


Care and storage tips: Nothing special, I'd be careful about what kind of treatment if any that you give it. I'd give this points for original finish which is important, I'd just dust it at the most.

To learn about my 100% guaranteed appraisals click here.

For my best advice on selling your valuables, click here.

Mass interest: An economy needs that, no? I mean if a good portion of the world isn't interested in playing ball, then an economy will collapse.
Let's face it, one man's trash has been another man's treasure since the first cave man threw out a Saber toothed Tiger bone, and Grog fashioned it into jewelry for his cave girl. So we know enough people are "willing to play ball".

Now what you may ask does this have to do with hiring an auctioneer. Well, everything.
You see, whether your hiring an auctioneer to MC a charity event, or you want to liquidate Grandmother's estate, your asking someone to do a very big and important job. Now many of you reading may know that, but a common belief is that the only thing an auctioneer needs to do well is talk fast, and that's just not true.  In the case of an estate when your looking to hire an auctioneer, your asking someone to be responsible for a good portion, if not all the entire accumulated wealth of a deceased loved one.

Maybe your in need of a fund raising auction and the event is going to be 50% or more of your organization's yearly budget. Not every auction is this important, but many are. Ask yourself how important your auction is to you. Then decide if you need a rubber jawed junk dealer, or if you want someone that understands and respects your situation. An auctioneer of good caliber can sum up any job in your first meeting and give you a very clear cut idea which direction you should go in.

That last sentence would be the meat and potatoes of this article then. What you most likely want to know is how to tell if you have an auctioneer that is right for you and will treat you fair.

First find out if the auctioneer available in the date range your working with? Although a good auctioneer can get a sale ready in a few weeks, auctions are often booked months in advance, some, as much as a year. Therefore, he may be busy in the date you need him. Let them know on the phone the time frame your looking at, it may save you and the auctioneer a wasted meeting.

Do they do the kind of auction you want to run? Most auctioneers are flexible, but each has his/her forte. Mine is antiques/collectibles and estates. Some auctioneers do only heavy equipment etc. You get the idea, this can also be found out over the phone.

When your calling an auction hall, if you reach anyone other than the auctioneer, ask when they can be reached. Unlike a lot of other businesses, there are not very many questions an auctioneer's help can answer for you with much accuracy.

So you've decided to meet. If it's a big job and the auctioneer is late for the first meeting without a ROCK SOLID excuse, don't hire them. While this may sound overly harsh it is not at all. The most important talent an auctioneer needs to have is a sense of timing, it is the most crucial element to reading a crowd of buyers and reading a crowd of buyers is the auctioneers most important job.

I've seen people auction off antiques that know nothing about antiques, yet they can get more money than the guy from the antiques road show because they know how to work a crowd to just the right tune. Of course it's better to have an auctioneer that knows the merchandise and can read a crowd. But I'll take a good sense of timing over anything. If they can't make it on time to the very first meeting, what does it say for their sense of timing? Late auctioneer = bad auctioneer.

* So you've met, now the auctioneer is looking over the estate. How is he/she handling the items, with respect or nonchalance?
* Does he seem to know what he is talking about?
* Ask a lot of questions such as:
* Does she/he purchase estates?
* How many auctions has she/he called. (Be careful of anyone whop has called less than 25 auctions.) In most cases you want a veteran.
* References?
* Is there an auction they have coming up that you could attend?
* Ask how much certain things are worth, the key here is to look for someone that knows ranges, but probably won't commit to firm prices. Anyone that starts guaranteeing they can get you this for that, and that for this, is either full of bull, or doesn't have that much experience yet.

This is a good sign of someone that may be overanxious to get work and will say what they think you want to hear. Any smart auctioneer is going to answer your value questions by saying something like: "I'm going to do the best I can because the more you make, the more I make".
* Commission fee ranges: A reputable auctioneers percentage will vary, but should fall with-in 25 to 35% to you, with a 10% buyers premium. The rule of thumb is, the pricier the estate, the less commission charged. Please realize there are many commission fee factors such as, who is responsible for the clean-out of the property, who pays for the ads, rents the tent if any, is it at an auction hall or on site?

A red flag should go up if the commission fee offered seems too low. Ask yourself why, and how might someone in this position try to make up for that lost revenue. There are sharks in every business, but they usually give off signs if you know what to look for. I don't want to give the impression that Auctioneers are any less honest than people in any other profession, but they are often in a very powerful position with your estate, so please be careful of whom you give that power to.
* When and how does the estate get paid? The standard is around 14 business days.
* Ask every question you can think of, it's an important test.
* If it seems like I'm asking you to throw a lot at this person you've just met, that's because I am. They can handle it if they're a professional.
* A good auctioneer deals with up to hundreds of people at the same time, trying to sell an entire room full of people something, two to four hundred times a night! If they can't answer more than a few nagging questions without getting rattled, I'd look for another auctioneer if possible.

If you've found someone to work with, make sure they are willing to give you a clear, easy to understand contract. Never, hire an auctioneer without a contract.

 I welcome any questions or comments you may have. If your would like more information on auctions go to Auctionwally.com

You may also be interested in my online radio show, The Auctionwally Show