Upcoming Events
- September 11, 2010
Antiques Appraisal Day - September 12, 2010
What’s It Worth? - September 12, 2010
Skinner Fine Jewelry Clinic
Poll
Antiques Poll of the Month - Do You Decorate for Thanksgiving?
Invest in History Invest in the Best
Most people probably don’t associate antiques as investments, but let's look at one example, a carved Bellamy eagle which was valued at $35,000 to $45,000 when appraised on "Antiques Road Show " in June 2005. Within a year the value had skyrocketed to as much as $160,000. That certainly sounds like a great investment, and investors hearing of such appraisals may be seized with a sudden desire to dash to the nearest antiques dealer, but the reality is that earning returns on antiques takes dedication and extensive research. Investors should also have a genuine appreciation for antiques if they want to use them to diversify a portfolio.
Antiques do have potential as a worthwhile investment for buyers who know what they are doing, but it may prove difficult for the average investor to find and purchase so-called “investment grade” antiques. The antiques market can be a fickle creature, presenting sudden windfalls to some—such as the owner of the Bellamy eagle—or dashing the hopes and bank accounts of others.
“Usually dealers and auctioneers avoid using the terms ‘antiques’ and ‘investments’ in the same breath,” Kathleen Bailey, a certified appraiser with the International Society of Appraisers (ISA) and the Appraisers Association of America and co-owner of Baileys’ Antiques Appraisals and Estate Sale Service in Washington state, said in an e-mail interview. “Most first time buyers of antiques should recognize...the antique could depreciate as they are loading the antique in their vehicle. [They] should realize it is possible they would have to hold the item for years before a profit realized.”
Our Investment Plans
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