Every week the intention of this column is to educate the reader. Educate them on the hottest things in antiques, collectibles, Pop Culture, fine art, and everything in between with a demand on the secondary market, but this week is slightly different. For all those flea market hunters and estate sale savants, these are some the most uncollectible collectibles you want to avoid like landmines in a field. But like always, there is always a small one percent exception.
1: Floral China- I think the reason why this comes in at number one for me is because it’s right in the name, but let’s break it down. “Floral” is your adjective affecting the noun of “China”. Unfortunately, antique’s is not like math were two negatives equal a positive. China is so unpopular that if you are going to sell it today, it can’t be grandma’s pink rose pattern. Regardless of pattern there are only a few collectors left, nobody uses the stuff! Your exception would be to look for services crafted by high end 19th century manufactures. Services by companies including Sevres, Meissen, Mintons, and other European companies can still sell, but the price is severely depressed from years past. Try to find plates with a large, thick, and simple cobalt blue border or other color with a fine gilt edge. It’ll be a much easier sell for you.
2: Hummel- I know they aren’t soft and filled with pellets, but if there is anything in this antique world that is comparable to beanie babies it’d be Hummel figurines. 1985 through 2005 you could make a small fortune, Hummels were more desirable than water in a desert. Today, ninety-nine percent of them make for good practice with a BB gun, especially if they are newer. Your exception, the earliest of Hummels with a full size bee mark are still desirable, but take yesteryears values and cut them by 10. For the remaining Mohicans these and large scale figures are the cream of the crop but condition is everything. Unless you have the Holy Grail any small bit of damage is the kiss of death.
3: Occupied Japan- Knick-knack, dust collector, trinket, and gewgaw are all applicable words to describe this useless garbage. It is the last… and certainly least desirable category on my list, and maybe as a whole in the antique world right next to empty soda cans and 1970’s velvet paintings. I really don’t care what you saw someone asking on eBay because you can ask anything. A little navigation of the interwebs will show you that 80 to 100 piece figure lots sell for $150, maybe $200. At most that’s $2.50 a figure. You might catch a rare bird or large funky clock that sells for $150 individually!!! I don’t know about you but I do not want to spend the rest of my life selling things for that.
The antique and auction world is fun, exciting, but dangerous. Take a shot on something, you’ll never get hurt entirely, you can’t lose it all. However, if you come in for free appraisal Tuesday, please, I’m begging you, do not bring me occupied Japan farm animals or salt and pepper shakers unless you have a 1,000 piece collection. Then we can do something, otherwise let the kids get creative.
