Archive for December, 2007

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Elegant Glass

Elegant glass

As with all collectibles that are subject to wide price fluctuations, elegant glass seems to be in a bit of slump right now. Many pieces of elegant glass are selling for well below price guide values. Just the other day I saw a Heisey crystolite jam jar sell on ebay for only $10.49! This Heisey jam jar has a book value in the neighborhood of $75.00. And keep in mind I haven’t updated to the most recent price guide so the book value may be even higher. I’ve started searching Ebay for bargains on elegant glass items.

I have found some real steals on Heisey, Cambridge, Morgantown, Fostoria Westmoreland, Fenton, etc. I’ve found that in the past 10 years, shop prices seem to be on the high side and Ebay prices are on the lower side. With ebay you can build a world class collection of elegant glass for a fraction of price guide values.

Now would be a good time to begin or expand your collection of elegant glassware; it will surely increase in value as the market recovers. A combination of things probably contributed to the decline in prices this wonderful glass is bringing. A general discomfort with the economy, and then the sub-prime mortgage mess, have made us all think twice before spending on life’s “frills”. Whatever the reason, wise collectors can increase their collections and add some pieces that were previously out of reach.

25p-elegant-olive-lampwork-glass-oval-loose-beads-jlg1h 25P ELEGANT OLIVE LAMPWORK GLASS OVAL LOOSE BEADS jlg1h
US $6.99 (0 Bid)
Auction Ends: Friday Mar-12-2010 0:06:19 PST
  | Watch this Item
elegant-white-lampwork-glass-cuboid-gemstone-beads-15- Elegant White Lampwork Glass Cuboid Gemstone Beads 15''
US $7.19
Auction Ends: Friday Mar-12-2010 0:13:27 PST
  | Watch this Item
elegant-murano-art-glass-lampwork-bracelet-2540 ELEGANT MURANO ART GLASS LAMPWORK BRACELET 2540
US $0.01 (0 Bid)
Auction Ends: Friday Mar-12-2010 0:37:17 PST
  | Watch this Item
elegant-pink-lampwork-glass-cuboid-loose-beads-strand Elegant Pink Lampwork Glass Cuboid Loose Beads Strand
US $7.19
Auction Ends: Friday Mar-12-2010 0:40:20 PST
  | Watch this Item
j1024-fad-murano-lampwork-glass-elegant-bracelet-bangle j1024 Fad Murano Lampwork Glass Elegant Bracelet Bangle
US $0.99 (1 Bid)
Auction Ends: Friday Mar-12-2010 0:59:22 PST
  | Watch this Item
j102x-lot-6-fad-elegant-lampwork-glass-bracelet-bangle- j102x Lot 6 Fad Elegant Lampwork Glass Bracelet Bangle
US $0.99 (1 Bid)
Auction Ends: Friday Mar-12-2010 1:06:52 PST
  | Watch this Item
elegant-murano-art-glass-lampwork-bracelet-2536 ELEGANT MURANO ART GLASS LAMPWORK BRACELET 2536
US $0.01 (0 Bid)
Auction Ends: Friday Mar-12-2010 1:45:15 PST
  | Watch this Item
elegant-murano-glass-fancy-dangle-earrings-2809 ELEGANT MURANO GLASS FANCY DANGLE EARRINGS 2809
US $0.01 (0 Bid)
Auction Ends: Friday Mar-12-2010 1:55:18 PST
  | Watch this Item
elegant-murano-art-glass-lampwork-bracelet-2535 ELEGANT MURANO ART GLASS LAMPWORK BRACELET 2535
US $0.01 (0 Bid)
Auction Ends: Friday Mar-12-2010 1:57:17 PST
  | Watch this Item
elegant-murano-glass-fancy-dangle-earrings-2805 ELEGANT MURANO GLASS FANCY DANGLE EARRINGS 2805
US $0.01 (0 Bid)
Auction Ends: Friday Mar-12-2010 3:28:21 PST
  | Watch this Item

December 31st, 2007 | Posted in Ebay | No Comments

Liberty Blue Price Guide

My Liberty Blue Price Guide

Although my website is dedicated mostly to antique glass, I also have dealt quite a bit with china and pottery items. One of my favorite patterns is Liberty Blue made in Staffordshire, England in the mid 1970’s to commemorate the US Bicentennial. Odd that England would be making china for the American market to commemorate its Independence from The British Crown.

liberty-blue-china-colonial-scenes-cereal-or-soup-bowl Liberty Blue China Colonial Scenes cereal or soup bowl
US $8.49 (2 Bids)
Auction Ends: Friday Mar-12-2010 1:00:13 PST
  | Watch this Item
liberty-blue-china-colonial-scenes-hot-cocoa-cup&salt- Liberty Blue China Colonial Scenes hot cocoa cup&salt
US $8.50 (5 Bids)
Auction Ends: Friday Mar-12-2010 1:00:17 PST
  | Watch this Item
liberty-blue-china-colonial-scenes-4-coffee-teacups- Liberty Blue China Colonial Scenes 4 coffee/teacups
US $7.99 (1 Bid)
Auction Ends: Friday Mar-12-2010 1:00:58 PST
  | Watch this Item
liberty-blue-china-colonial-scenes-12-platter-roundser Liberty Blue China Colonial Scenes 12" Platter/roundser
US $12.06 (2 Bids)
Auction Ends: Saturday Mar-13-2010 1:00:02 PST
  | Watch this Item

I’ve never really found an accurate price guide to determine values of Liberty Blue pieces so I though I would list an average of the prices that I’ve gotten over the past 15 years, both on Ebay and in my space at the Ballston Spa Antique Center. You should keep in mind that these are prices realized in Upstate New York, and not meant to be considered “book” or “retail” values; they are simply the average prices realized, both in my shop and on Ebay.

As a general rule, I find the more common items to sell for less on ebay than they do in the shop. However, the more expensive items tend to bring a premium on ebay, especially if they are in the orig. boxes. Keep in mind that having the origjnal box can bring as much as 30% to 40% more, especially for rare items like the soup tureen. The most common Liberty Blue item I have found in the box is the cup and saucer.

Feel free to use this Liberty Blue guide that I’ve come up with but again, keep in mind that thorough research of current market trends needs to be done before you make a purchase as these are my estimates and opinion only.

MY LIBERTY BLUE SELLING HISTORY

ITEM                         LOW PRICE                HIGH PRICE

10″ DINNER PLATE 5.00 8.00
6″ BREAD & BUTTER PLATE 5.00 8.00
CUP AND SAUCER SET 5.00 8.00
BERRY BOWL 5.00 6.00
GRAVY BOAT WITH UNDERPLATE 30.00 45.00
OVAL VEGETABLE BOWL 12.00 20.00
ROUND VEGETABLE BOWL 15.00 22.00
COVERED CASSEROLE 75.00 90.00
8-1/2″ LUNCHEON PLATE 12.00 15.00
12″ X 9″ PLATTER 18.00 25.00
14″ X 11-1/2″ PLATTER 22.00 35.00
RIMMED SOUP BOWL 15.00 25.00
6″ CEREAL BOWL 8.00 12.00
PITCHER 25.00 45.00
COFFEE MUG 10.00 15.00
4 PIECE COASTER SET 20.00 35.00
COVERED BUTTER DISH 20.00 55.00
TEAPPOT NO PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE  
SALT & PEPPER SHAKERS 15.00 35.00
SOUP TUREEN WITH LADLE NO PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE  
CREAMER AND SUGAR SET 20.00 35.00
18″ PLATTER NO PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE  
20″ PLATTER NO PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE  
PLACE CARDS NO PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE  
7″ SALAD PLATE 10.00 12.00

December 31st, 2007 | Posted in Ebay, Price Guides, liberty blue | No Comments

DEPRESSION GLASS REPRODUCTIONS

DEPRESSION GLASS REPRODUCTIONS

There was a time when buying depression glass was simple. You liked the color and the pattern, and you made sure it was in good condition with no chips, scratching or cracks. And the prices were very reasonable. Simple, right? As time went by, however, more and more people starting collecting depression glass, sometimes putting together entire sets. That was relatively easy 40 or 50 years ago. But, with increased demand and rising prices, reproductions started to fill the market and these days there seems to be no end in sight. And so, with the advent of reproductions, the marketplace has been overloaded with patterns, colors and pieces that were never even originally produced.

Depression era glass was never considered high quality glass. It was often a give-away in boxes of cereal and soap; it was given away at the local movie theater. Sometimes a depression era kitchen item was given away when you purchased an appliance. And you could make purchases at your local five and dime store to complete a set. Woolworth’s carried a complete line of Old Colony and other great patterns.

So, here we are, just getting ready to celebrate the New Year of 2008. You have been seeing all these great depression glass patterns at your local antique mall or auction house; you want to start a collection. How ever do you begin? Unfortunatley, I have seen a lot of reproduction glass at both the malls and auctions. So there’s no surefire way to guarantee that your purchase is the “real deal”.

I have found that Gene Florence’s book “Collector’s Encyclopedia of Depression Glass” is the best source for patterns, descriptions, colors and a complete listings of pieces made. The back of the book provides invaluable information regarding reproduction depression glass – what patterns have been reproduced (not all patterns have been reproduced), which colors were never originally made, how to spot a fake or reproduction piece, and what to look for in terms of color quality. It’s the best place to start. You can buy Gene’s book on Amazon.com.

December 22nd, 2007 | Posted in Buying | No Comments

How to Buy Glassware at Live Auctions


BUYING AT ANTIQUE AUCTIONSThe 3 rules of auction buying, I’ve been told, are PREVIEW, PREVIEW, and PREVIEW. After nearly 50 years of collecting, I have to agree with that statement. Almost all auction houses are selling their items “as is where is” and it is up to you to assess the condition of the item of interest. So allow plenty of preview time. Some auctions allow previewing the day before the auction. This provides an opportunity to research your items of interest to see what you should be paying for it.Many collectors believe that they are buying “wholesale” at an auction. But I have seen so many items sell for well over their retail value that I would disagree with that assumption. Keep in mind that the article is simply going to the highest bidder, and if there are 2 people who really want the same item, it can go incredibly higher than it should have.

I arrive as early as possible and preview preview preview. What has worked for me is making a list of the items that I am interested in purchasing and what I am willing to pay for them. Otherwise, “auction fever” can take hold and you end up bidding on things you haven’t previewed properly. It has happened many times to me; auction fever takes hold, and I buy something that should have simply been given a decent burial at the junkyard. No matter how long I’ve been in the antique business, I am always learning, and occasionally “re-learning” the same lesson.

Always keep in mind that a commission, known as the buyer’s premium, may be added to your item purchase. Where I live in Upstate New York, the buyer’s premium is usually 10%. So, for example, if you are the high bidder and get your “treasure” for $100, remember that it is really costing $110. We have auctions in this area running from NO BUYER’S PREMIUM to 10% BUYER’S PREMIUM IF PAYMENT IS BY CASH OR CHECK AND 12% BUYER’S PREMIUM IF USING A CREDIT CARD. Some auction houses have even higher buyer’s premiums so always check the auction ad to avoid “surprises”.


December 21st, 2007 | Posted in Buying | No Comments

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