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Here are a few special requirements for the
following:
Furniture:
Pictures of all the structural joints, feet, knobs, pictures of one
of the "older" screws (including the top and the spiral), drawer
structural joints, back of the piece, and the bottom. Check the piece
for manufacturers marks and provide photographs.
Pottery:
Picture of the front, back, top, inside and bottom of the item. Good
visual aids on the mark is very very important, including the color
of the mark.
Glass:
Overall good picture of the piece and closeup of the pattern.
Sometimes you need to vary the background to determine the best
overall effect.
Jewelry:
It is impossible to determine the gem quality or metal value online.
But it is possible to determine costume value based on signatures.
Then only a range can be given. You will need to provide good
photographs of the overall piece and a detail shot of the more
intricate parts. You will also need to provide the signature if it
has one.
Art:
Not really possible to appraise online. But you can forward pictures
including pictures of the signature. They can help determine who the
artist is, but not the value excepting in the case of a print. But
that does not help determine if it is a fraud, fake or
reproduction.
Tools:
You will need to provide good visual aids for help identifying tools,
expecially tools that are unique.
Lamps:
Lamps are an interesting piece to appraise. On the bottom of most
lamps has been attached a piece of felt to protect the furniture.
What you need to do on these, is, very carefully, with a razor blade,
peel back that felt and check for identifying marks. The felt, in
most cases, did not come attached from the factory. If you are very
careful, you can return the felt to its original position and attach
with a water based glue lightly applied. Lamps are one of the few
remaining sleepers in the market today.
You will also need to supply closeups of the hardware on the lamp,
that includes all the brass fittings, the marks on the fittings,
pictures of the cord and plug.
Coins:
I do not appraise coins. But if you will provide a zip code, I can
refer you to someone in your vicinity that will be able to help
you.
Vintage Clothing:
One of the pieces I love to evaluate. It really is a hands on type of
appraisal though for the most part, especially on the very vintage
pieces as you need to evaluate the cloth, stitching, buttons and
hooks. If you will provide good closeups of the piece, I can usually
determine what direction I need to steer you in order to evaluate the
piece appropriately.
Silver Serving Pieces:
While a good photograph is helpful, the marks on silverware tell the
majority of the story. If you cannot get a good photograph of the
marks, then I recommend hand drawing them and submitting them in that
form.
Fishing Equipment:
Fishing equipment is valued on the vintage, manufacturer and
aesthetics. So you will need to provide good visual aids and all
makers marks. Lures require good photographs as there are sometimes
only subtle differences between manufacturers.
Vintage Ranch Equipment: Wagons, Buggies, Sleighs, Seeders, Plows,
Vehicles:
If you will provide good visual aids of the pieces including all
hardware it is possible to identify and evaluate these pieces
readily.
Toys:
Oh what a fun catagory. I am in awe as to some of the toys I have the
opportunity to evaluate. What a creative catagory. Send pictures of
the pieces while stationary and in operation, along with
manufacturers details and, last but not least, pictures of the box
and all the details on there.
Not on the List?: Then post the question to the board and maybe there is a specialist onboard who can assist you.
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