Featured Finds Thread

Omg, I wish there was a "LMAO" button, Af !!
Love that story Greg !
Thanks evelyb, I don't have any museums like that around here (that I know of), but I'll look around.
Fig, the dry cleaners said they can clean it, but they have no guarantee that any or all of the spots will come out. They also spotted out some underarm ring stains that I didn't know where there, and said those are hard to remove. Said the cost would be about $30, which isn't bad at all, I thought it would be more, but I didn't leave the dress with them, because I don't know that I want to pay that, if the spots won't come out. I need to do more research to see if I can get it clean another way, or another place.

 

Thanks everyone!

Hi Sharona and thank you!

OMG Terry, you are so right (don't have the patience).

Thanks for the tip regarding vinegar and muriatic, but a lil' birdy told me this will do wonders...



...cleaning corroded metals. Anyone ever try it?

 

Not mine. Came across it when searching for something else...



A Texas auction house at a Sept. 2014 sale had a pre-sale estimate of: $4K - $6K. It sold for: $775K. I can only imagine what the owner's face looked like when the hammer dropped...........

 

That's what I'm talking about. Sometimes a chance pays off big!!

 

Hi,
Citric acid is lemon juice or you can dissolve your Vitamin C pills.
I like ketchsup on small intricate pieces because it is thick and stays put and does not drip, using the pointy ends of toothpicks also help control where it is going. All the other acids I like when there is a lot larger areas to clean.
greg

 

I found this over a year ago and did some research on it. I'm finding ritual dance Topeng masks. It's a little confusing to me, sorry. I know that in Indonesia they hold festivals and there are plays that they do that are ritualistic. They use mask to depetic a character they are performing. I've looked and haven't found one like mine. Someone said it resembles a figure of royalty, that only "God" figures had a green face. All Iknow is, this piece seems very old and very authentic. It appears to have multiple layers of paint on it. The back, you can see has been hand carved, very roughly at that too. I noticed that appears that someone wore this alot because I see what appears the outline of aface and then you see the dark discoloration. I found this piecereally cool.

 

That Chinese vase.....obviously the thing is absolutely beautiful! But I can't figure out what would have made it worth $700,000 more than the estimate. Was there any rhyme or reason to it, I wonder? Or just because there was an insane bidding war?

 

Thanks, Greg!

I was just looking online at a guy rubbing half cut lemons over some oxidized metals and it appears to work. I'm afraid to try the muriatic, and the ketchup a bit messy. I'll try the lemons and see what happens.

 

Or, could the auction house under estimated it? Obviously, two people or more, seen something that the house missed.

 

I think the auction house made a slight era with dating. They state "Republic Period or earlier". My guess would be the latter......

Also, the provenance and the fact that it was an imperial made piece.

 

Agreed!

There was a small box (don't remember if it was Chinese or Islamic) I posted over on the other board a few years ago. I believe a Midwest auction house give a pre-sale est. of: $200 - $300. The thing sold for $500K+

Talk about under estimating and missed.

 

It just shows that sometimes, even supposed called"experts" miss the target. That's why it's important for a collector to do their homework first before purchasing. If you're fairly confident that a piece is under priced, go for it, let that puppy be known for what it's WORTH!!

 

Just to add Moon,

Some auction houses deliberately under estimate some items to encourage bidding. Example: pre-sale est. of $40K - $60K, but the item sales for $300K+.

On that box and vase, the auction house just screwed-up. But still, a win-win for both the house and consigner.

But..............

What if you choose not to consign the vase or box with the house after they gave you the pre-sale estimates of $4K - $6K & $200 - $300..........and instead placed it on eBay at BIN/BO for $8K or $500.

 

This would be a scary scenario. If an auction house, underestimated a piece, knowing it was worth more but the uneducated consigner knew no better. The house has a few "buyers" that they have set in the group to possibly win the item. I know that's an unethical situation but has anyone known a house to do that?

 

I don't know of any house doing this but,......

I was reading a couple years ago where this guy over in Europe (I believe the Neatherlands) found an old painting in his wall. Took it to a auction and they said it was a piece attribute to and/or made after Rembrandt. Gave it an est of I think $100K or so. Two dealers at auction knew what it was and battled for it. It sold for $2.2M or something like that. Long story short,........most experts believe the piece was/is a true lost painting made by Rembrandt worth over $100M. The consigner sued or is suing the house claiming all types of fraud, but I didn't follow the story after reading the first article, so not sure what the outcome.

 

Yeah, I read that story as well. It was in the news just a month or so ago, wasn't it? Which just goes to show you, than even auction houses can mess up. Just a hazard of being in our business....there are pitfalls and hazards everywhere you look...but also potential for a lot of profit.

 

Hi,
A lot of smaller auction houses do have shrill buyers. If have a piece up for 50 bucks and it's worth 300. Your bidders have it up to 75 dollars and a buyer for the house makes it 80 bucks. They turn around and resell it later at a different auction for 150.
greg

 

That post does not make much sense. You are either up far too late or far too early.

 

Hi AF,
I am tired, I am going to bed and perhaps when I wake up I'll understand your comment.
good night,
greg