My favorite new TV show is called Hollywood Treasure on the SyFy channel. It features the staff at auction house Profile in History and follows them as they try to procure consignments for their auctions.
My jaw just about dropped when I saw this original production art archive from the 1933 RKO version of King Kong (including an original model bi-plane!). I think it made something like $185,000.
Isn't it amazing how many shows are out there about collecting?
ReplyDeleteI laugh every time I see those biplanes flying around Kong on the Empire State building, with one of the pilots pointing frantically at the giant ape, as if the other pilot wouldn't have noticed.
It's funny Robert because I hear from so many dealers talking about the death of the trade, and I can appreciate the difficulties that some are facing. But I also think in some ways that the antiques field in general is as healthy as ever. Like you said, look at all the shows that have sprung up in the last few years, some of which are big hits, including American Pickers and Pawn Stars. And the Internet has given dealers (at least the ones that have embraced it) a cost efficient medium to market themselves and their inventory.
ReplyDeleteThis is somewhat parenthetical, but when I went to Brimfield back in September, I introduced myself to a few dealers that had stuff I really liked, gave them my contact info., exchanged cards and followed up with each of them with an email. What was unbelievable to me is that only one followed up with me after that and I ended up spending $500.00 on an item he had. So I think some of it also just has to with having the right stuff and having just good common (and business) sense!