Comments on: Global and U.S. Antique Popularity Trends

By: RareVictorian

RareVictorian — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 11:52:41 +0000

Great Question about why I don’t feature things from Craigslist on this site:

1. You can’t search U.S.-wide as far as I know. I’d have to search in Dallas, Philadelphia, New York, LA, Mobile, ….. one at a time. That just isn’t realistic. On Ebay, one search hits the whole U.S. Craigslist is good for individuals searching their local metro area for local pickup.

2. I have searches in place for my local Philadelphia area and check them often. Fact is, I haven’t found much worth following up on at on Craigslist. To me it is the equivalent of the virtual garage sale. Think about how often you’ve seen a Belter sofa in a driveway in front of a yard sale house sitting next to the kid’s bicycle. That’s how Craigslist tends to be to me. On Ebay, it is one notch up (not a far notch) on what you can truly find. I CAN find a Belter on Ebay – and the search is nationwide.

Craisglist has it’s place. It’s easy to sell and buy there and good bargains can be found there. It will be rare, however to find “Rare Victorian”.

By: S. Myers

S. Myers — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 03:00:46 +0000

If Craigs listis so popular why I have I never seen anything from there on your site? S. M.

By: james conrad

james conrad — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:36:26 +0000

Interesting result on Eastlake stats. Eastlake was a starting point for my furniture collecting and i would bet for many others as well.

The search term may have something to do with your result as “antiques” covers an awful lot of ground, and even the narrower term “victorian furniture” may still be to broad.

I wonder if you entered specific styles like eastlake, ren. revival, etc., what the results would be then.

By: Paul Tucker

Paul Tucker — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:40:43 +0000

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing this. I checked “fretwork” and found that it is also dropping but Pennsylvania was the number one state. Probably because of me.

By: John Hutchinson

John Hutchinson — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:11:51 +0000

John I find your data interesting. I would like to make a few points. The data you have accumulated is from one specific source, so I am not sure if it reflects all movement of ‘antiques.’ Remember, there is a vast cash market for the movement of art and antiquities. I would like to know how many auctions are fully up and on line? Even further, with the economy as stands today, I believe you will see the investment on the high end of things go up, due to the perception of art and antiquities are a commodity. Gold, silver and paintings are all the same. However, gold topped out in March!
I can tell you from my perspective of a restorer and also buyer/seller the middle market is dead! But I participated in the Delaware show, (as an on site restorer) and there was serious movement on some very serious pieces. The best advise I have, is buy what you like and want to live with, and always buy the piece that is a little bit more, in regards to money and ‘market value.’ The ‘A-’ piece will appreciate with time and have greater return the ‘B+’ piece.
But alas the overarching fact is young people are not collecting like their parents. Ikea has taken over the world! Can I get fries with that?
John, RVR

By: RareVictorian

RareVictorian — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:20:36 +0000

I tried a more narrow search term – Eastlake – and got opposite results – increases. See here.

By: RareVictorian

RareVictorian — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 13:46:27 +0000

If that is the case, it may at least show net “new” (or forgetful) searchers and I would bet that the direct traffic that you speak of wouldn’t exactly be going in the opposite (increasing or flat) direction. I would bet that the two would mirror one another fairly well.

By: james conrad

james conrad — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 13:39:15 +0000

Neat, although i dont know what these numbers actually reveal. Is there a decline in people searching for antiques for sale or have people put their fav auctions/dealers on their fav list and do their searching from there?