I Need A Tip on Valuing Antique Furniture To Sell

[foxxyroxie]

Is there an online resource (free of course) that I can look up values on antique furniture? Has anyone on here dabbled in antiques and have a few books that they can look stuff up for me? I really didn't want to make a trip to the library or pay an antique appraiser, but I guess I might have to.
BTW... I'm particularly interested in looking up values on a Duncan Phyfe china cabinet and a drum table.

[Ani]

A good place to look is on eBay. You can do some price research by performing a completed items search. To perform a completed items search, follow these steps:

1. Go to www.ebay.com.
2. Click the Advanced Search link toward the top of the page and to the right of the main search bar.
3. Enter a keyword (or keywords) that describes the item in the "Enter keyword or item number" field.
4. Check the box next to "Completed listings only" and click the "Search" button.
5. On the next screen you may be asked to sign into your eBay account. Do so.
6. A page will show up with a list of items that have been listed recently, and what they sold for. Any prices in green mean that this item was successfully sold and for the listed price. Any prices in red mean that the item was not sold.

I hope that helps!

(Spot the eBay employee... )

[fuzzybunny]

Check your library. Furniture collectors do a lot of research there are literally volumes and volumes written on furniture types, styles etc. Especially early American... those are intense collectors.You should be able to get some books on whatever era your furniture is from... so for instance things from 1880-1920 look for artu neuveau or arts and crafts. 20's to 40's look for deco, 30's to 60s look for "mid century or modern".

I just picked up an interesting one from our library about depression era furniture... the high end stuff rich people were buying... very interesting. It looks like that "mid century" stuff I can't stand actually started showing up in the 20s and 30s. Good to know because, after all, if I can't stand it then it's that much easier to sell

Christine

[Jskell911]

Try these:

http://antiques.about.com/od/researchingantiques/

http://magazines.ivillage.com/countr...284647,00.html


http://www.antique-information.com/

http://antiques.about.com/od/researc...a/aa021501.htm

http://www.antique-central.com/furniture.html

http://www.antique.org/antiquecontents.html

Hope at least one of these is helpful to you!

[Laurie in Bradenton]

This may sound bad but I would call your local antique stores and tell them I have a couple of items I'd like to sell and see if they have someone who'll come out and give a bid on them. I know in my area we have about 25 antique stores and many have buyers you'll come and look at what you've got and buy it. That is if you can agree on the price. I've done this with several items over the years and now carry several cards with me of women who want me to call whenever I've got stuff.

Laurie in Bradenton