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We all know there is more than one way to skin a cat, but I thought I might put this out for public consumption...maybe it helps...maybe it's common knowledge. In either case, these are just my personal practices on how I go about buying, and if they help you to uncover a million dollar piece, just send me a check for the 10% royalty you owe me at your convenience! 😝
So, for the about the past 10-12 years, I can honestly say that I have been able to make a reasonable living off of buying art & antiques, most of which are Asian, but certainly not all. And, while building knowledge is a critical component of recognizing quality antiques, you still need to find them. So, the process of how you find quality antiques/art is in my opinion, just as important, and perhaps even more important than fully understanding how to authenticate and appraise value.
So, what is my process?
Well, let me just address in this thread how I approach multi-dealer antique malls. Down the road, if there is interest, I'm happy to discuss other buying outlets (consignement shops, thrift stores, single dealer resellers, auctions, Craigslist...etc). However, one common thread, no matter where you go to buy your antiques, is that TIME is your most important asset and your greatest limitation for finding good quality antiques!
For this reason, one might think that a multi-dealer antique mall would therefore be the best place to shop. Well, not necessarily.
Multi-dealer malls generally offer the greatest quantity of products for sale in a single location, some I've seen are as large as full size shopping centers. However, they are prone to be inundated inferior product, and sometimes the owners are dealers and they 'pre-shop' all the good stuff as it comes through the door from their best dealers. So, they can be a huge waste of time if you're not carefull.
However, I like to think of multi-dealer malls in the way one might think about gold prospecting... you have to sift a lot of sand in order to get down to finding a few flakes of gold, but it's not only possible, but done correctly, it is profitable.
The first step is to classify the type of dealers that have booths/cabinets in the mall, and avoid those that don't offer any real chance of finding Asian antiques:
AVOID
Re-thrifters - These are the folks who get all of their product from the local thrift stores. Low prices generally, and generally low quality. Not impossible to find a treasure, but you'll spend way more time looking at 'junk' than finding good Asian antiques.
Crafters - What can't you do with old lace and chalk paint? You know these folks! They are actually raking in the money these days with repurposing antique and vintage items, but as for Asian antiques....generally they are a non-starter.
Toys & Comics - Self explanitory as to what they sell, and also a non-starter.
Nostalgia - Old signs, vintage bottles, 50's memorabilia... not prone to Asian art.
Folk & Rustic - Call it 'rusty gold' until you're blue in the face....not going to have Asian antiques.
SHOP
Jewelery & Coins - Their main product line might not have much to do with Asian antiques, but they generally deal in higher dollar values, buy from affluent estates, and if they can fit it in their booth or case, you might find a very nice piece of Asian art/antique (think snuff bottles, jade, netsuke, and other small items).
Art Dealer - Art dealers who don't specialize in Asian art still should have a good eye for the aesthetics of Asian antiques. Art dealers were my main source for Japanese woodblock prints for my first years in this business, but I think scroll paintings and the like are viable possibilities as well.
Rug Dealer - The houses that rug dealers buy from are often the perfect setting for all sorts of Asian art, and rug dealers are not picky about how they make their money...they buy everything, and often have the money to buy great stuff!
Specialist - These are the folks who sell one type of product (glass, pottery, silver, etc) and really are experts in their own field. But, once in a while they happen upon a piece outside of their field (most likely they were told they needed to buy 'everything' in order to get the pieces they wanted) that they put in their booth, and they generally price it to sell quick!
Estate Buyer (Generalist) - These are the folks who go to all the best estate sales around (like me), but often don't have any specific knowledge about Asian antiques/art. They price to sell because they're probably already waiting outside the house of the next estate sale and need the cash to make their next buy!
Designer / Decorator - These sellers may not always be selling antiques, but they generally have a good eye for aesthetics, and they price based upon the decorative value. This means if they happen to be selling a good antique vase, most likely the price will be well below the collectors value. My personal favorite!
As you walk throught the rows of booths at the Antique mall, you should be able to classify each booth/cabinet display with just a few seconds of looking at the general layout of what they're selling. If you focus your time shopping only those booths/cabinets that offer your best opportunities to buy quality Asian antiques, you'll have more time to visit other shops, and you'll cover more territory which will lead to greater probability of finding a great piece to buy!
It's also a good idea to try and meet the actual seller, not just the mall owner/employee. Ask the mall owner/employee when the seller might be in the store, and make a point to visit. A conversation with the seller can open a lot of opportunity for future buying.
In close, the process is simple, but it is not without cost of time and gas driving from one mall to the next. But, consistancy and repetition will open the door to finding some great stuff to buy - you have to look on a regular basis if you really want to find good quality Asian antiques.
Hi Greeno, I hope you are well today.
This is great information for someone like me who loves to browse for fun. Thank you!
One thing I've noticed over the years of repeat visits to various antique malls is that some dealers are better at curating and other just let unsold things accumulate, which means their booths are cluttered and filled mostly with items of lower quality. Instead I like the dealers who weed their items because they seem to be more interested in moving merchandise and therefore might price a few things to sell quickly. Then there are the dealers who overprice mediocre goods that sit on the same shelf for years without considering discounting some of them. Of course, they must calculate overhead costs, etc and earn something back.
@steve Another problem is the frequency with which they come and go. I was debating about a Japanese vase with cranes but the stall owner had a high price on it. I decided to leave it to fate and check two weeks later, but the whole place was empty and a for lease sign on the building. When I walked to the shop next door to ask what became of her neighbors, she said she had no idea. The neighbor shop had lots of overpriced Imari. It was a traditional antique shop with optimistic prices, but I suppose it is relative because a couple from Montana were loading up their van with things from her overpriced shop. That crane vase will haunt me for years, but when things get back to normal, it might show up at the used to be annual antiques fair. It was a tall floor vase with cranes on a cobalt background and it had those bird rondells around the neck of the vase. Not Satsuma but a close relative. Sharon
That is unfortunate. I hope you come across one like it again soon!
Here in the Bay Area, with the cost of overhead rising, it is a tough time for antique stores. Plus, younger people don't have the room or interest, it seems. Many of them have closed over the last decade. There is an "antiques row" in the San Jose area that is under threat from developers; this sword of Damocles has been hanging over the head of the best antique mall in the Bay area for a couple of years now & every time we go we know it might be our last.
@steve You bring up a very good point about the behavior of some dealers to be ‘married’ to their inventory…until death do they part!
The truth about most folks renting space in antique malls is that they generally know more about collecting than selling (or business in general).
So, you’ll see these kind of dealers hold the same inventory for years, or go belly up right quick after paying rent without any sales.
The good news is that if you continue to make regular visits, not only will you see what inventory is just gathering dust, but the ‘fresh to market’ items will stand out right away! This will also shorten how much time you end up spending while on the hunt!
Glad to see so many ‘thumbs up’. This weekend I’m heading to South Florida to hit some shops.
Everone is more than welcome to contribute if you feel something was overlooked or unclear. It’s a step away from the usual discussion on age and authenticity, but it looks like it might be helpful.
Next week, I’ll follow up with a post on finding/shopping estate sale - that’s where the real gems turn up!
Tim
Great insights! I was just in a consignment shop today. It was one I hadn't been to before in an area outside of my usual driving range. It is in a very nice area and I anticipated they would be focused on higher end antiques, and it turns out I was correct. Several items priced in the high 4 figures, etc. As I began walking through I was thinking that it was not likely a place where I would find porcelain treasures for a bargain price, because they would probably have some knowledge in that area and would price accordingly, but I was also thinking that it was exactly that kind of place where I might find some great paintings or scrolls for good prices, because most of these dealers don't know much about that stuff, and it was the kind of area with old money estates where old Asian art can often be found. Sure enough, hanging between a couple expensive multi-thousand dollar pieces of furniture, there hung an old scroll. I went over and took a good look, then checked the price. $300. Probably one of the cheaper items in the whole place. After talking them down a little I headed back home with it. I haven't researched it yet so I don't even know who the artist is, but it's a nice one, and I have little doubt that when I eventually sell it it will far exceed what I paid for it. That shop will now be on my radar for scrolls and paintings for sure. Another bonus was the nice lady working the register gave me some info about a neighboring antique store to check out, so I went there after and found something I feel could be quite special that cost me all of $25. Also picked up a couple more paintings there for very little money. Needless to say, it's been a lovely day here for treasure hunting!
Thank you, Greeno! Looking forward to the next installment -- especially your insights on shopping estate sales.
@johnshoe I will be glad when you show us your new things, yes it pays to be nice and it does not cost a thing.
@sharonp I will be posting some pictures soon. Waiting until I get my new phone. I tried today but ran into a glitch. Hopefully will get it by Monday and then you will all be gifted with fresh lovely crisp photos from now on.
We need to start our own documentary on treasure hunting consignment etc. Discovery Channel would probably be interested.
If everyone is good on a camera and make some footage. I can create the Script/synopisis/outline and narrative structure, it would ideally be expository and then edit the contributions into a documentary. If your all serious about it, then it is not a problem. I have Graduated in Film and Tv and could do this no problem. I can start working on it, and then get pieces done, here and there. Interviews, and so forth. Make it into something worthwhile. Would have to be several presentors, i,e one in America, one in europe and one in Asia/Austrailia. For the story to be guided.
It is all in the editing 🙂
Ideas to put in the Documentary:
History of porcelain
Fakes and Genuine
Where to buy
How you found your best finds.
Behinds the scenes with an ebay seller. The whole business from procuring ( important) to appraising, catagorising and advertising for sale, to selling and packaging and the obstacles. ( fly on the wall style)
Lots of fly on the wall,participatory and observatory footage of sellers,buyers,collectors, bidders all going about getting Asian Art from lots of locations, with narratives for each one woven into the overall narrative.
Behind the scenes with specialist seller.
Some Auctions
The market
The future of the Market
The appeal of Antiques and collecting
Authentic versus Decorative, Market for Modern decorative.
Interior Design and it's impact on the market
China and its impact on the market
etc etc
@short-dong How about a reality type game show...
6 teams of 2-3 people start out with $5,000 each. They have 4 months to grow their money by buying and selling Asian antiques. The team with the highest earnings (cash and value of items purchased not yet sold) wins.
The competition will document the trials and tribulations, the successes and failures, and can be narrated by experts who point discuss history and key points of authentication along the way.
Since the competitors will be selling using Ebay and various other auctions houses, galleries, and private sales, you might be able to get sponsorship from them.
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