Wednesday, June 17, 2009

STONEWARE BANK

Barberton OhioWe track down rumors in the world of antiques every month. A few weeks ago we heard that a 4 1/2-inch stoneware bank, made in Ohio early in the twentieth century, was bought on eBay for $500, then sold at a regular auction for $40,000. Wrong. Garth's Auctions sold the eBay stoneware bank for $5,875. Still not a bad profit. The bank had a cobalt blue "folksy" design of flowers and a bird and "Barberton Ohio" in the inscription, all price increasing features. Rumors often have a grain of truth that is exaggerated. Watch out also for suspicious provenance. Here are two popular claims being used right now: a container, a simple covered box or bowl, is advertised as a cocaine or an opium jar; an ordinary item, usually a tool or a quilt, is described as having been made by a slave. Neither is very likely. Don't be fooled into bidding extra because of the story.

3 comments:

Cape Ann Auction said...

Great points made here. Verbal provenance is virtually worthless.

To add value to an item, Historical items should have verifiable documentation.

movie-posters said...

We always provide a Lifetime Gaurantee of Authenticity. Dealers , if they know what they are doing, should never be affraid of unconditional guarantees.

historical photos documents

Anonymous said...

Often on eBay a bottle will be listed as a "poison bottle." When questioned, the seller will usually state that it "could have held a poison, it's so old that I don't know what was in it." BEWARE! Poison bottles are generally recognizable as such.