Go to the Books
| I have created this web site
that specializes in books on antiques because of the invaluable
knowledge and benefits I have personally gained from browsing and
referring to books on antiques. I have chosen to work with Amazon.com because they have the largest selection of new and used books on antiques that I have ever seen. They not only have new, used and remaindered books, they also offer books from the stock of thousands of independant book dealers. Some of my most exciting and profitable purchases of antique clocks are the result of purchases I made from high class; knowledgeable antiques dealers on the upper east side of Manhattan. I bought many more great clocks in these fine shops than I ever bought at flea markets or auctions. The well-known dealers carried fantastic things selected for the name of the designer, the style or the exceptional quality. They however did not have the in depth expertise in the area that was my specialty. I could look over the clocks that they had chosen for their beauty or the name of the maker, and than I would proceed to look for something unusual some nuance or something that had been overlooked. I had been meeting other collectors, reading and studying many books on horology for a few years. I never sat down and studied the subject, but I did buy books whenever I could find them. I would look at the illustrations and read whatever I happened to find interesting. Then the books were put on the shelf for future reference. Thousands of times I saw something in a shop that looked interesting and I went back to my books to research it. One time I visited he shop of an experienced dealer who had a shop for over 30 years, just 2 blocks from the antique center where I had my stall. The owner showed me a globe that he did not know was actually a Juvet globe clock. A very rare clock mounted on gilt bronze decorative tripod then sitting on a beautiful marble base, He thought the price was high at $500.00. Actually the clock was worth 7.000 dollars. Another time while visiting a dealer friend in Winchester England. We were looking over a catalog for an upcoming estate sale to be held in a tent about 10 miles from his home. The catalog listed a clock by Raingo. Raingo made tons of clocks in the 19th century they are mostly figural or 4 glass clocks with standard 19th century French movements, but he also mad a series of magnificent orrery clocks of which 8 are known. One of them is is in Buckingham Palace. Although my friend and I thought the clock would probably be just a standard French clock we decided to go and have a look. You can’t imagine my surprise when we arrived at the auction to view the lots and found that the clock was in fact a rare orrery clock. I had seen one of these rare orrery clocks made by Raingo about a year earlier in the shop of a well-known watch and clock dealer/restorer, located on Madison Avenue in New York. The one we were looking at was even nicer, and in better condition than the one in New York. The auctioneer estimated the clock would sell for 300 to 400 Pounds. I could not believe the low estimate. And, I still can’t believe that even after seeing 5 or six of the most famous dealers in my field when we were able to purchase the clock for 4500 Pounds about $9000.00 at the time. Obviously some people in the audience know something about the clock. I still don’t know how we were able to buy the clock so cheaply. When I returned to my hotel a few days later I had about 10 or 15 messages from collectors all over the world that had heard that I had purchased the clock, and were interested in acquiring it. I had been reading about and looking at pictures of clocks from the period of the renaissance. I figured that these clocks must all be in the famous collections I had seen referred to. One day on my way to pick up lunch I visited the gallery of a well-known interior-decorating firm across the street from my stall. I noticed an automated flagellation clock that was made in the early 17th century in Augsburg on a shelf in the rear of the gallery. It was priced at $200.00. I asked the sales person if they knew anything about it and they said it was just a cross. You can imagine my surprise at finding this piece in a decorator showroom on Third Avenue in NYC. The decorator was selling it as a little early 20th century reproduction and it was just waiting for me to come and buy it for practically nothing. Needless to say the little time I spent browsing my books and having them available to me when I had a question and needed to find information paid off handsomely If you collect silver or China and Porcelain I’m sure that books containing the marks for these items will be a great benefit to you when you are searching for things to add to your collection. You should view the purchase of books on the antiques you are interested in as an investment. Maybe as good as the investment in the pieces themselves. About 15 years ago I sold my library to a dealer for a sum that I’m sure was 20-30 times more than I paid for them. You will find a lot of Great books about antiques and collectables sold as remainders, at a mere fraction of their original price. Amazon has many of these remainders. I have chosen Amazon to link to because they have the largest selection of books on antiques, they sell used books as well as new and they offer books not only from their inventory but from the inventory’s of thousands of book dealers as well. I have played around with the search terms and I have used the terms that should give you the best results. It has been over 20 years since I was active as a dealer, but I still enjoy the hunt and occasionally I find a nice piece. I still keep a library of of basic books to refer to if I find a piece or someone calls me for information. If you have any interesting stories that have to do with antiquing that you would like to share please post them on the site |
