Antiques and Collectibles
By Breanna Mona
What’s your attic’s net worth? Fighting off cobwebs and furry little critters is tough enough. Figuring out which mysterious trinkets are worth a pretty penny and what’s simply a hunk of junk is even tougher. You don’t need to appear on “Antiques Roadshow” to get to the bottom of it. Here’s the word from local antique experts.
Over It
Hummel, Royal Doulton, Precious Moments, Lladro — these names used to mean big bucks. But these days, most collectible figurines have lost their bite in the antique business. While still very collectible and worth something, they’re just not the money-makers they used to be. Hummels are a good example.
Jean Koepke, the owner of the Medina Antique Mall, says rarity counts, but the value has still declined.
“If they paid $150 for it, now they may only get $50,” she says.
Ryan Prpic — who manages Eastside Relics in Willoughby — agrees. He says a Royal Doulton figurine bought for $100 may only be worth around $40 today.
Why the decline? Pat Martin, owner of Antiques on the Square in Chardon, explains.
“The antique business changes so dramatically year after year — especially in the last 10 to 15 years,” Martin says. “Millennials want different things. They don’t collect like my generation did. Millennials look for functional pieces. They love repurposed antiques. They like painted furniture, etc.”
Other items Millennials are quick to pitch are pottery, china and glassware. Martin says there’s been at least a 50 percent drop in value — if not more — in these pieces.
What’s Hot Now
Which items are getting all the action across all generations? Furniture. Koepke says Hitchcock furniture is particularly sought after because it’s no longer made.
“It’s very popular and hard to find. It’s very attractive. The good thing about antique furniture like Hitchcock, it’s real wood. It lasts,” Koepke says. “You know the furniture stores nowadays, there’s a lot of nice pretty furniture, but a lot of it is not totally wood, and the markup is through the roof.”
Jewelry, precious metals and gems are always hot finds, even if it’s costume jewelry. Koepke says choice costume jewelry can be pricey and some pieces may be worth several hundred dollars.
Home Sweet Home
Northeast Ohio items have a hard time staying on the shelf around Greater Cleveland.
“We have a lot of local collectors that are very interested in Chardon or Geauga County memorabilia, and those usually go quickly,” Martin says.
“Anything from old advertising items to different newspaper items showing our Maple Festivals” are popular, Martin says.
“Old maps from the 1800s, a lot of people are framing those,” Martin adds.
Prpic says Euclid Beach memorabilia is trending right now, too.
Some Northeast Ohio collectibles seem quite ordinary.
“We have a dealer here with cases filled with special milk bottles and a lot of them are from Ohio dairies. He also has license plates geared towards Ohio,” Koepke says.
Millennial Must-Haves
Aside from furniture and repurposed functional pieces, franchise items are what Millennials seem to zero in on while antiquing — Koepke says anything from “Star Wars” to Marvel items, and of course comic books.
Sports memorabilia, old advertising signs, beer memorabilia, vintage phones (the ones you can’t text on), wind-up toys and even Tonka trucks are popular with this generation, too, Prpic says.
Textile pieces, quilts, vintage clothing, ’50s tablecloths and linens are also Millennial hot spots.
Those in Generation X seem to be buying differently than Millennials, Martin says, “Most of them (Gen Xers and Boomers) have completed their collection, so they are just looking for one or two specific items to complete their collections, so they are far more selective. They are still adding to their collections, but very carefully. Another side are the ones who are downsizing and selling their collections. We’ve had an enormous uptick of people selling recently.”
Now What?
It’s normal to feel overwhelmed when rummaging through your old keepsakes or an estate that was passed down to you. It’s tempting to just grab one giant garbage bag and pitch the whole lot. Our local experts say that’s the last thing you should do.
“The first rule of thumb is, do not throw anything away. You may be throwing away something that’s very valuable,” Martin says.
“Sometimes people just throw everything out, or they have a garage sale, and sometimes they don’t realize what they’re selling or what they’re giving away,” Koepke says. “They should always be careful and review what they have, whatever it is, whether it’s a keepsake or whatever. If you have a garage sale, someone may come along, like an antique dealer, and pick it up. You need to know what you have at least on some level.”
Martin says trust is key.
“Find an antique dealer that you trust that will be truthful to you in handling the estate,” Martin says.
Stopping in for a true appraisal, complete with documents for insurance purposes, gives you protection plus peace of mind knowing that you won’t accidentally pitch a priceless relic.
Stop In and Cash Out
Medina Antique Mall
2797 Medina Road, Medina
330-722-0017
Typically, appraisals here cost $75 or more during the week, but on Saturday mornings, local dealers come in and appraise for free. The dealers might want to buy from you as well. You’re never under any obligation to accept an offer for your items. Many dealers are willing to share tips on researching your items and are in throughout the week.
Antiques on the Square
101 Main St., Chardon
440-286-1912
Eastside Relics
4077 Erie St., Willoughby
440-251-9976
