Trading from London UK.

[London Calling]

Hello All,

If this is the wrong forum, I apologise I'm brand new on this site.

Having dabbled for a few years in antiques in the UK and after visiting family in New Hampshire recently, I've decided I really like the idea of buying antiques (furniture probably) at auction over here and shipping them to the US (probably to NH). Antique furniture is really out of fashion over here currently and is called "Brown Wood".
I suppose the first question is; Is this a good idea or foolhardy and a quick way to go broke?
What are the pitfalls and things to watch out for?
Any ideas on the best way to sell the items once on your side of the pond.

My interest was sparked because while in NH I saw a leather top, twin pedestal desk C1900 for sale for $2000+.
I know I can pick those up over here for $300 - $450 and about $450 to ship them to the US, say $900 in total. I rather like the idea of doubling my money, or did I just happen to see an incredibly expensive desk?

Last question, what other forms of European antiques sell well in the US?


Many thanks for any help or pointers you can offer.

Regards

Mark

[mart]

Well,, you are not the first to do that !!  Back in the 70`s when almost anything called antique was quick money,, some purchased in the UK for pennies on the dollar and shipped them in by droves !! I had my shop then and bought a few myself !!  Most were 19th and 20th century pieces !!  Rarely did a really good one show up !!  But in todays market that would not work without you going broke or at least making a major dent in your wallet !!  For one thing,, there is no guarrantee of a sale,, and just because one sold does not mean that everyone is looking for the same piece !!  And just because it is for sale at that price does not mean anyone will buy it !!  Money is too tight now and people are  hanging on to what they have !!  Check the sales on ebay,, they are way down !!  Unless someone is looking for a particular piece ( and chances are you will not know what that one piece is) you might have to hold to an item 6 months to a year before it sells and that would be if the economy improves,, and I do not look for that till after the presidential election !!  And after all that,, you must pay out of your pocket to have it shipped with no guarrantee of selling it !!  Kind of put a new spin on "buy what you like" doesn`t it ??  You may be the one using it !!  Another thing to think about is the number of English pieces that are still here !! Could be where the one you saw came from !! 70`s leftovers !!  And last but not least,, styles have changed and most of the English furniture just doesn`t fit in homes of today !!  Sorry to burst your bubble, but that is my opinion, having been in the antique business !!

[London Calling]

No need to apologise, it wasn't so much a bursting of my bubble but a reality check. Thank you, it probably saved me money and a load of effort.
There is still a perception over here that an American will look at something over 100 yrs old, say "Wow" and open up a wallet bulging with Dollars.
I'll have to think of something else to crate up and ship over to make my fortune. Anything spring to mind?

[mart]

You will do best with quality glassware and porcelain !! Seems your investment would likely be managable, inventory storage smaller and sales in those areas have stayed up more than anything else !! But do your research and know before you buy what type is most in demand and it will vary but you can roll with it,, furniture,, not so much !!

[fancypants]

Tiff items do rather well in some markets here , London Calling ..... then again a couple dz boxes of fine Russian eggs might get you where you want to go  .... 

[London Calling]

Hi Fancypants,

By Tiff do you mean Tiffany, and what Deco Tiffany lamps or silver? Or is Tiff slang for something completely different (to accidentaly quote monty Python).


Had an odd conversation this afternnon. Some guy had a stall in my local market selling old furniture (the market usually does foodstuffs) and he had a Davenport that caught my eye. On closer inspection, it was repro and younger than me so not interested. In passing I mentioned my idea about shipping antiques to the US. Apparantly his 2 aunts have been doing it for years, and doing "very very nicely, they practically have dealers waiting at the docks". He must have been in his late 60's so gawd knows how old his aunts were, I can't believe dealers were hanging around the docks for his aunts. 
Apparantly they live in the US though and make full use of the big antique fairs.
Maybe I won't write off this idea just yet.

[fancypants]

Yes , I was yakking about Tiffany & Co. 'stuff' , esp antique/custom-made items , LC .... not so much for anything new , except for intact sets , IME .

There are still folks on the East & Southern coasts who will have 'pickers/buyers' (on the other side of the pond) who'll purchase items & fill a shipping container or two , usually resulting in both advertised & non-advertised "container auctions" shortly after their arrival .
Most that I know of have got a bit of a following/client list , and are often established owners/renters of brick&mortar shops (&/or warehouse locations) .... some of these folks are also 'specialists' in liquidating estates through state-appointed executors , so the biz there is sort of a closed/cloistered loop ...
After sifting through the 'preferred customer' list & auctioning highest value/most desired items , these folks often have one or two public auctions to help clear out the rest . Sometimes the market for (& the quality/style of) the items don't sell worth a darn .... there is a risk of that & many have got stuck holding the bag for items that just sit around & cost dough to keep insured/stored , so once -in-awhile lucky buyers can get fire-sale pricing on leftovers !

It is true that some dealers/customers are adrift in saliva , while awaiting the opening & sorting of containers , but that's not done 'on the docks' !
These folks are usually ones who have given a list(s) to the U.S. business-folk who pass along the desired item-list to the overseas pickers , in the hope that such items will arrive intact & in great shape (not always) .

It can be a complex biz to enter into cold , esp with all the sharks circling (for the tastiest hunks of chum) !

[jacon4]

I would stay away from "brown furniture", what dealers, auctioneers here call antique american furniture. The top 1% of this market does OK as does the bottom however, there is a depression in middle market american antique furniture. It's been this way for a long time now and it's not likely to change anytime soon mostly because of collecting habits as well as demographics. I think Mart & fancypants are correct to steer you to ceramics, glass, silver, etc and if you must, smalls in brown furniture like "bible boxes", stools, spice boxes. The middle market is just not there for antique furniture.

[mart]

I would actually sit down and put a pencil to paper and add up your cost involved in shipping, storing, insurance, ect !! That might be your reality check,, unless you have quite a bit to invest and have the funds available to wait for your return on investment !!  Small items can be turned quickly and usually at a reasonable profit !! Although you will not make money on every item you have !! You can almost count on losing a bit on some items and a break even on a few !! What you like and think will sell is not always what the public is looking for !! The market swings in different directions !!

[jacon4]

Another thing about antique american furniture collectors that are serious, they tend to want American, no matter what era or style.

[mart]

That is true Jacon4 !!