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August 2004: Interested in selling your French antiques?

Bonjour,

Buying and selling French antiques requires knowledge and efforts. Indeed we get a large amount of mail and phone calls asking advice, so here are some ideas to help those of you who simply have questions, or have decided to sell their antiques.

There is a number of ways one can chose. From antique dealers in your community to auction houses, second hand shops and even internet auctions. Guy and I get mail and phone calls requesting information about value of objects unidentifiable without pictures and thorough description. So no matter who you contact, these steps will help you getting the best estimate, information and market value for your French antiques:

- 1ST STEP: Determining how much it is worth: Having a minimal knowledge of the market value of an antique before offering it for sale anywhere is the smart seller's first step.
To request an appraisal, you will need several photos: general view from front and side, close up view of important adornments and marks. Your detailed description will include dimensions, materials, weight when possible, period, style, inscriptions, marks of age or of restoration. Mail this to appraisers on line and around you. Consult also your local yellow pages. Before sending your file, ask the appraisers an estimate of their fees. It can vary from a per-object-fee to an hourly compensation. If hourly, you should know the time it might take them to do the research.
- 2ND STEP: Calling an auction house:
Ask auction houses if they have a specialist for your category of antiques. They might have reception hours, or they could prefer that you mail them your information. You should request from them a low and a high estimate. Ask how much their commission rate is, and what will it cost you if they have to re-submit your antique to the next sale if it fails to meet your reserve. The reserve is the minimum amount under which you do NOT want your antique to sell. You have the right to set that - actually you should insist on your right to set a reserve.
- 3RD STEP: Selling to an antique dealer :
Visit antique dealers with the piece, or mail pictures and description if no shops are around you. It's wise to call before and ask if they buy from the public. Guy and I for example like to go to France to do our buying, therefore it is exceptional that we buy from a private collector.
- 4TH STEP: Familiarizing yourself with the functioning of the auction house before deciding to work with them:
If you've made your mind this is the way to go, sit in a few auctions before consigning you antique to the auctioneer. In the normal course of an auction, there should be lots that fail to sell. Unfortunately too often, in order to stimulate sales, the house uses employees or absentee bids to raise the enthusiasm of the crowd. They make believe all lots sell. You want to deal with respectable auctioneers, that do not invent fictive clients. It's important to attend auctions prior to giving your antiques so that you can observe the bidders and the auctioneer and make your own judgement.

Links with appraisers and auction houses

http://www.appraisers.org/
http://www.appraisersassoc.org/
http://www.isa-appraisers.org
http://www.antiqueappraisals.net/
http://www.artists-antiques.com
http://www3.sympatico.ca/appraisers/

Two examples of our new collection of turned wood antique objects, with exotic wood inlays and French country decors:

I'm very admirative of this highly carved wall pocket designed to store newspapers: it features a boat, a locomotive, and other carved ornaments that makes it as interesting as it is beautiful:

http://www.french-corner-antiques.com/detail.php?iid=139

We have been lucky to find rare antique filigrees, they are on view in our Home Decor section:

http://www.french-corner-antiques.com/detail.php?iid=130

New additions to our Glossary:

French folk art: French folk art refers to objects handmade by ordinary persons for their daily use, craft, or for decorative purposes. The question as to whether folk art can also be industrially made is much debated in the U.S> now, with the American Folk Art Museum including some of these in their collection. In Paris, the Folk Art Museum (Musee des Arts et Traditions Populaires) rejects all mass produced examples. They include only rustic, individually made pieces done by peasants, and in general by people not artistically trained in art schools. Their objects are made by common folks in the course of their daily activity.

http://www.rmn.fr/gb/02musees/01presentation/musees/traditions/traditions.html

Crafts - Artisanat in French: Craft, or artisanat, refers to hand made objects using non industrial tools, and made in small quantities. The difference with folk art is that crafts people or artisans are usually formally trained and professionals. Contrarily to folk art products, crafts can be executed by skilled tradesmen, who are making a living this way. Whereas crafts can be highly sophisticated, folk pieces tend to be naive and rustic.

Till next time,
Daniele et Guy Veroli