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Another fun light we found a new home for - not a big price but as you know I like to share lighting sales

Just sharing more unusual lighting we sold...

When I initially researched this piece, I learned that it could have been worth as much as $1700! After more than 6 months of 'fishing' for a high price, I finally realized that while one may have previously sold for that amount, mine just wasn't going to fetch that much and I had to cut bait and take what I could get at auction on eBay. Sometimes our customers bring us nice items which they are convinced are worth a certain amount but at the end of the day, we need to be realistic about selling something for whatever it will bring in a timely manner.

Using the term 'mid-century' will sell just about anything these days as stylized pieces are in demand. While I could not find any similar sales to help me value this piece - my gut told me it was worth $100 and that's what I got. 

Not all old things have value. These oil lamps were probably made when Jesus walked the Earth but they are fairly common if you look for them. Plain ones like this have a fairly low value but some that have more detail can sell for big bucks. Things this old should really be in a museum and it's not often we find things that are really 2000 years old so it was fun to see them....

It wasn't until post war that retailers began to seiously market to children. Holiday comic / activity books like these sprinkled with toy ads were a great way to get mom and dad to do their shopping at one specific store so as not to dissapoint. Things like this just weren't meant to last and that is why they were worth $65 today.

Yes, a clothing hamper. When I found it digging around on a housecall last week the owner said in disbeliefe 'You really want that?' He gave it to me for free and in less than one week it sold on eBay for $40. The buyer also paid another $40 in shipping so the real value was $80 to him or her. People don't generally save stuff like this for 50 years so it's easier to sell than you might think as there are many folks trying to recreate the perfect mid century look. 

Anther vintage Christmas item on it's way to a happy holiday home

Obscure old novelty items will always have a market of collectors.

Mail away promo stuff from years ago can be killer. This unassuming little hat sat on the floor for several weeks but when we finally picked it up and realized what it was, it went right on eBay and sold for crazy cash a week later.

Old niche paper items that have survived for fifty years are worth looking at closely. While everyone saved things like special edition newspapers and Life magazine - which are a dime a dozen - obscure things like these monster mags can bring big screams when they sell! 

This little guy didn't have any markings but by knowing descriptive buzzwords such as 'Imari' we were able to find comps and got a nice price for what might otherwise appear to be just another mundane figurine. One customer had a whole house full of cat figures, most of which were nothing special. Having the eye to recognize unusual pieces is what sets us apart from other auction services.

Another neat old lamp that sold for a fair price

Things like old comics can have serious value but condition is everything. Comics and other types of things can be professionally graded on their conditiion - which costs money and takes time to mail them off. Sometimes we get things that could be worth even more if we had them appraised by a third party but since our consignors don't always want to invest money in things they're getting rid of, we just have to carefully show buyers what we have and take our chances.

I was recently turned on to the strategy of 'junk drawer' lots on eBay. Dealers looking for smalls and hoarders alike will pay up for a bunch of random vintage stuff. In this case, I tried to make an appealing group of things but for only $65 I don't think I'll be doing it again anytime soon. Believe it or not, there was a good $300 or more worth of items here if sold individually. The problem with selling unmatched groups of anything is that it lowers the per-piece price and most importantly, it is too hard to market to specific collectors.

This piece had a lot going for it - I'm surprised it didn't go for more this time of the year...

Vintage Christmas anyone?!!

Things that weren't meant to last like old novelty items are always collectible

Old comics and anything vintage Beatles will sell well

Quality musical instruments will always have decent resale value but here is a story for you: A couple years ago, a customer brought me one of these to sell - I sold it - and that was that. That same customer, who was a professional level player by the way, decided that she wanted to play again - mainly for her father who's health is declining. She just happened to be checking on eBay and found this instrument - from a totally different customer - and went ahead and bought it and picked it up in the store. We're like a neighborhood trading post!

Here is another example of us pulling money out of think air. At $28 it almost wasn't worth the effort but with so many people repurposing and upcycling old furniture, we knew someone would want them and keeping things out of the dump is part of why we make the effort

This old cart had never been used and was almost 50 years old - it's the type of thing that's so obscure and most people would send to the thrift store or throw away. And just look at the pattern, we knew it was so awful that someone would love it but it took time and effort to sell. 

Even common household and health/ beauty items can have value if they are old enough and in good condition.

Yet another funky light

Just sharing another strange old lighting piece