Now if you've got any smarts at all, you know that many of the items sold in antique stores, vintage boutiques, and even at well known auction houses, were found at one of the shopping venues in the title. Granted, this may not hold true for the higher end auction houses as their items often come from private collections or high end dealers. But, many of those items, if traced, would be found to have similar backgrounds. Hand sewn quilts, embroidered samplers, hand carved dough bowls, were all items that could be bought cheaply at flea markets and yard sales 50 years ago. Many collectors became enthralled with and started purchasing items long before popular interest made them valuable.
Dealers who have brick and mortar stores usually don't have the time to do their own "junk shopping" so they often buy from "pickers". Pickers are people who will shop any venue with low prices, looking for anything that looks old or unusual. They then bring car, van or truck loads of items around to people who buy those types of things. Pickers do not always have detailed knowledge concerning age, marks, material, etc., nor do they spend time trying to attain that knowledge. Acting as the "middle man" for many dealers, they buy cheap and turn their inventory quickly. The good ones with "an eye" do very well.
Then there are those of us who are as addicted to the "find" as we are to the item itself. We just love to junk shop and the treasures we locate have extra value to us personally. It's not just the fact that we picked up a gorgeous piece of Italian art glass worth $325 in today's market for $2 at a yard sale. Though it can't be equated into dollars, the "find" itself gives us a thrill that more than doubles the profit albeit not literally. Going beyond the resale value, we also delight in finding useful and decorative items for our own personal use at a fraction of the going retail price in which ever market it would normally be found in.
So - whether you are already hooked into junk shopping, are just beginning to explore the joys of it or are thinking about trying it, here are some suggestions from one who has been going at it for 40 years.
Prepare and keep in your car the following. Find yourself a tote bag with lots of pockets, preferably something made of soft, padded or quilted material. In your bag, keep a magnifying glass or jewelers loupe, some small screwdrivers, some packs of cheap wet wipes, a pair of garden gloves, a notebook with a pen, small bottles of glass cleaner, wood soap, and a gentle detergent mixed with water, and last but not least, a small purse with a long strap you can wear diagonally across your shoulders. The purse needs to be big enough to hold money and a magnifying glass. Depending on how often you shop, the small bottles of cleaner may need to be emptied and refilled occasionally.
Now find two boxes, one from a liquor store with cardboard dividers where the bottles were and one just a regular box. In the undivided box put some used bubble wrap, unprinted newspaper or butcher type paper, or those small plastic bags of air. Roll up some discarded t-shirts, towels, etc. and put them in the slots of the liquor box.
With the above items stashed in your vehicle, you are ready to stop at a moments notice at any type of sale that looks like interesting. The magnifying glass will help you look at marks, check for chips and flea bites, get an idea of what type of printing process was used, if there are real brush strokes, if signatures are real or imprinted, check glazes, etc.
Small screw drivers will let you check to see if loose parts can be tightened, if they have a different color underneath the screw head, etc.
Wet wipes are for your hands if not wearing gloves. Also, if shopping a large spread out area, the individully wrapped ones will fit in your small shopping purse and are great for spot checking items when carrying around your bottles of cleaners would be a hassle.
Garden gloves for digging through boxes that might have broken glass, sharp edges, nails, etc. Getting a cut or puncture, even a tiny one, around a bunch of dirty stuff isn't a great idea!
Notebook and pen for the obvious - phone numbers and names of people who might have more items you want to see, who have information on items you're interested in, who sell in different places, who have info on different places to sell. What I find really handy is making notes on things I've bought, makers' marks, color, patent numbers, company names, old addresses, etc., especially when I'm having a good day and finding numerous treasures. When I get home, some quick research can be done without unpacking everything. A big glass of ice tea, take my shoes off, turn on the laptop, put my feet up and see if I can add even more zest to the thrill of the hunt!
The cleaners help to check whether those stains and discolorations are just dirt, mold or permanent, clean framed glass to get a good look at what's underneath, see if a mirror or piece of glass is permantly clouded or just way dirty, same with wood items and leather - warning! just do small spots to check and do further thorough cleaning at home carefully and with the proper products.
The small purse is an easy and safe way to carry your money, magnifier and wipes while keeping both hands free. On those occasions that a really good find is spotted, purses can be set aside and ignored while you hold and check out your prize. Large shoulder bags can make slipping thru narrow aisles or bending over to dig under tables difficult. I found one of those small rectangular shaped used Coach bags at one of my stores. It has a long strap, the front flap has a turn closure and underneath is a front pocket perfect for my iphone and enough room in the purse itself for a small magnifier, a zip change purse and an extra pair of reading glasses (one of those pairs that come in a small tube).
The boxes are pretty self explanatory. I love the liquor boxes for small items. They can be safely stored in separate sections. On a big shopping trip or extremely lucky one, more than one item can be placed in each section using a small piece of cardboard or some wadded up paper between items. Try to avoid using printed newspaper as it will discolor or stain some items. If you buy something wrapped in printed newspaper, discard and rewrap as soon as possible.
If you are shopping or on the look out for large items such as furniture, lamps, wall hangings, etc., then keep some old blankets and some larger screw drivers handy. If you buy mirrors or items framed with glass, do not lay them flat, place them on their sides with material or cardboard between them and place them so they can not fall over once the vehicle is moving. Transporting flat sheets of glass, even just one mirror for example, laying flat is asking for cracks or breakage.
Additional info - The soft tote mentioned above - mine is a used, of course, Vera Bradley with 6 pockets stitched to the interior sides. I keep one or two empty at all times for things like jewelry and super small smalls. When looking for liquor boxes, check out the larger stores as they will have a surprising variety of sectioned boxes. Good quality pints have some sturdy small rectangle sections, better quality brands have thicker dividers, sections can be 3x3 inches to 6x6.
Remember - this is what works for me. There are probably a wealth of other suggestions out there. Keep an eye out to see what other shoppers are carrying or using. If you find yourself thinking "I wish I had a - fill in the blank" more than 3 times, then figure out a way to carry one or improvise one. Happy hunting!
