WorthPoint likes to construct neighborhood. A method we are able to do that’s to introduce our readers to actual folks who’ve constructed careers out of shopping for and promoting and highlighting actual locations to discover on thrifting adventures. The top aim: We would like our readers to have some actual enjoyable on the earth of antiques and collectibles.
At WorthPoint, we love listening to from the individuals who use our providers. Lately, we requested our customers to finish a survey on how they work together with WorthPoint. Suggestions from our neighborhood of collectors is important. We wish to know what folks want from our website. The WorthPoint Consumer Survey included a sweepstakes, and one fortunate respondent who took the time to assist us out received a year-long subscription to WorthPoint.
We spoke with the winner, Chase Underwood. He lives in Knoxville, TN, however likes to journey and visits Florida frequently. He’s been concerned within the antiques world for many of his life, and has loads to share about his profession, expertise with WorthPoint, and the way he navigates the panorama of gathering.
WorthPoint: Congratulations, Chase. Thanks for serving to us with the survey and letting us know the way you employ WorthPoint in your efforts.
Chase Underwood: You’re welcome. I’m completely happy to speak about antiques and different collectibles.
WP: Are you able to describe your major position on the earth of antiques and collectibles?
CU: I used to be launched to antiques once I was a senior in highschool by some household associates who have been vintage sellers. With my love of artwork and historical past, it was excellent for me! I began out gathering for myself and promoting somewhat on eBay. Not too lengthy after, I received a job working for an property sale firm and in addition received my first vintage sales space. Throughout my fifteen years with the property sale firm, I grew to become an authorized private property appraiser and assisted with property value determinations in addition to the tag gross sales. The proprietor of the property sale firm just lately retired, and I made a decision to “retire” from property work too. In the mean time, I’m simply promoting on-line. I closed my sales space earlier this 12 months because of household obligations, however I’m now on a ready checklist to get a sales space once more. After all, I’ll at all times be a collector!
WP: We ask each collector we speak to about sourcing objects to resell. It’s wonderful to listen to how folks discover their stock and even simply their very own private collections. The place do you have got the most effective luck?
CU: Nearly all of my sourcing is from thrift shops. I don’t get to go to as many property gross sales as I used to, however I nonetheless like to go to them once I can. As soon as in a blue moon, I’d hit up a yard sale or rummage sale, however the thrifts are the place I’ve the most effective luck.
WP: We’re seeing that as properly. Thrift shops have gotten a go-to vacation spot for collectors of every kind. Do you’re employed with a specific style of collectible, like stamps, cash, dolls, and many others., or do you have got a number of pursuits?
CU: My favourite focus areas are glass, ceramics, and silver, however I’ve eclectic tastes and can decide up no matter catches my eye, no matter class or type, for each reselling and gathering. I’m particularly keen on artwork nouveau, artwork deco, Egyptian revival, Hollywood regency, and chinoiserie.
WP: Do you have got a white whale? We hear that almost all collectors have that one elusive piece they need and can at all times search for. What’s yours?
CU: My white whale must be an unique Florida Highwaymen portray. Though I’m a life-long Tennessean, I’m a Floridian at coronary heart. Their work completely symbolize my love of Florida’s landscapes, and I might be thrilled to search out one sometime.
WP: Do you have got any recommendation for these new to classic and collectible objects?
CU: Purchase what you want. Spend time studying about your pursuits and what catches your eye. As you study and get expertise, you may refine your assortment and improve to raised items when doable. It’s been enjoyable to look at my collections evolve over time as my pursuits and tastes have modified. New resellers—hold in there and don’t hand over! Reselling may be difficult. Many instances all through the years, I used to be able to throw within the towel, however I’ve caught with it. I’ve a fantastic love of what I do, and I can’t think about doing anything. I at all times say it’s feast or famine. There will probably be busy seasons and sluggish seasons, and it could possibly very a lot be a rollercoaster! For each collectors and resellers, I say: information is energy! You’ll be able to by no means study an excessive amount of!
WP: How do you employ WorthPoint that will help you gather and resell?
CU: Worthpoint has been invaluable to me with each facet of what I do—with the property gross sales/value determinations I did for a few years, with the reselling I’ve accomplished and proceed to do, and as a collector of all kinds of issues. For property work and reselling, I consider maintaining with promoting traits and researching bought costs is vital. Since eBay solely exhibits a restricted time span of bought listings, usually objects might don’t have any accomplished listings to be discovered.
Worthpoint can be nice as a collector for researching and preserving monitor of things in my assortment. I like having the ability to save objects to my favorites checklist so I can refer again to them when wanted. Each time I sit at my laptop to work on itemizing objects on the market, the very first thing I do is open up Worthpoint and have it able to go. Additionally, I at all times have the Worthpoint app useful on my telephone when I’m out sourcing objects or looking for new additions to my collections. It’s only a on condition that once I’m working or procuring, Worthpoint will probably be concerned!
WP: What’s been your favourite discover?
CU: I’ve so many fabulous finds from over time, however I feel certainly one of my greatest finds for my private assortment was at a thrift retailer in Florida a number of years in the past (in fact, I thrift whereas on trip!). As quickly as I walked in, I noticed a large artwork nouveau-style silver oval epergne/centerpiece with a minimize glass bowl that sat inside it. It was monumental, nearly 2 toes lengthy and almost a foot vast. I can solely think about the stately house it should have come from! It was 79.99. I beloved it and figured it was properly value it, even when it was simply silverplate. I researched the markings once I received house and located it was made in Germany, most likely round 1900-1910. There have been no markings to point the steel content material, so I took it to my scrap metals man and had it examined. It was confirmed to be silver at about 90% (.900/1000)! At current, it’s value near $2,000 only for the silver. I assume I did fairly good for $79.99. It now proudly sits in my eating room on high of my china cupboard. I usually marvel whose house it got here from, the way it wound up at a thrift retailer in Florida, and what all it has seen in its 115+ years. If solely antiques might speak!
Chase Underwood is certainly one of many WorthPoint followers who use the cell app and the web site to analysis their thrift finds and classic treasures. With nearly one billion objects in our Worth Information database, a Dictionary of phrases, a Library of assets, and a Marks database of makers’ marks to assist establish objects, it’s a vital software for anybody who loves to gather absolutely anything. Examine right here for extra data on the advantages of a WorthPoint subscription.
Brenda Kelley Kim lives within the Boston space. She is the writer of Sink or Swim: Tales From the Deep Finish of In every single place and writes a weekly syndicated column for The Marblehead Weekly Information/Essex Media Group. When not writing or strolling her snorty pug, Penny, she enjoys yard gross sales, flea markets, and badminton.
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