If you are looking through your own silver collection or an inheritance, here is a guide to understanding which pieces are likely headed for the melt and which ones are worth saving.
Thanksgiving does something funny: it exposes which heirlooms people actually care about — and which ones they absolutely don’t.
I recently had an appointment on the North Shore of Long Island with a gentleman and his wife who owned one of the most beautiful collections I’ve seen in a while — art glass, porcelain, bronzes, jewelry, silver. Walking into their home felt like stepping into a private museum. Every shelf glimmered with pieces that had clearly been chosen with care.
Every antique dealer has a story that makes even seasoned collectors stop and stare. For us, it was the day we opened a dusty cabinet and found… a human brain in a jar of formaldehyde.
Most of us have stumbled upon an old coin in a jar or piece of furniture and wondered if it was worth anything. While most are just pocket change, some coins, often dismissed by their common name, hold surprising value.
Thinking of selling your fine art, antiques, collectibles, or jewelry at auction? Before you dive in, it’s essential to understand precisely how the process works—the costs, the risks, and the outcomes you might face.
Whether you’re curious about the history of a family heirloom or trying to figure out what that market stall “treasure” might be worth, AI tools can give you fast, detailed answers. But like with any tool, it’s important to understand both the pros and the cons before relying on them.
Every week, we meet people who uncover a jar, bag, or box of old coins. Most of the time, the coins aren’t neatly displayed or in pristine condition. And yet, some of them could be worth far more than face value.
You’re on a cruise, you’ve had a few cocktails, the sun is shining. You wander into one of those onboard art auctions and suddenly you’re raising your paddle for a Picasso. It’s got a certificate! It must be worth something, right?
Being named the executor of an estate sounds like an honor — a sign of trust from a loved one. But for many people, especially during emotional times, it becomes a complicated, time-consuming responsibility.
When the stock market takes a hit or inflation eats away at the value of the dollar, gold prices often surge. But why does this happen?
Finding creative ways to access additional funds can provide much-needed relief and even open doors to new opportunities.
The Antique Help book is should be your go-to resource for navigating the often-confusing world of antique resale with confidence.
If you have sterling silver antiques that you've been holding on to—whether for perceived future value or sentimental reasons—NOW might be the perfect time to consider selling them.
Stepping into the new gallery, visitors will be greeted by a curated collection that celebrates the timelessness of Mid-Century Modern design. Each piece embodies the spirit of a bygone era while seamlessly integrating into modern spaces.
When it comes to downsizing most people envision having to make difficult decisions about what to keep. But what if those belongings could help transition to a new chapter in your life?
Memorabilia and artifacts from the Revolutionary War era provide tangible connections to the past.
Creating lifelong memories can seem like a dream yet for a number of our clients they have been able to do just that.
People sell their art for many different reasons. They no longer like the piece(s), they don’t fit into their new home or their aesthetic has changed.
Diamonds are always valuable in the resale market, but you should keep some things in mind if you want to try to sell diamonds that you have.
Purchasing something on a whim or with great deliberation can make us feel happy and content, at least for a short time. But that happiness may soon dissipate, and in its place, you may experience “buyer’s remorse.”
When you've made big or small decisions, remorse can creep in and undermine your satisfaction with your action. For instance, in our business, some sellers will regret that they sold an antique almost immediately after the sale has been completed.
Before you fill your leisure time with sun and surf, let’s not forget about yard sales and tag sales.
After more than 40 years in business, we can still be surprised at how and where we find antiques and other items of value.
It’s not surprising that the real estate market in New York and Long Island is very hot. Correspondingly, the antiques market is also hot…
The following steps can help you save time and money if you’ve been left potentially valuable antiques or heirlooms, as well as assist in avoiding disputes that can undermine your family bond forever.
I know I might be repeating myself, but I practically gasp each time I see that we are on the cusp of 2022, not that it’s a moment too soon, of course. I’m always excited and optimistic about the year ahead and this year, even more so.
What happens if you’ve put items up for auction and they didn’t sell? There can be several reasons that items you’ve put up for auction didn’t sell. It might be that the item was priced too high, the item was repaired, or in some situations, the item is a copy.
Are you planning a move? Here are some of the questions you should be asking yourself.
What’s important is knowing the “provenance” or the background of an item. Has the item been passed down by a relative? Do you know the “history” of the item and is it verifiable?
While perhaps not as physically taxing as building a firepit, I can tell you many stories about the perils and pitfalls of DIY antique sales, because, in all honesty, it’s difficult to assess value by yourself and without training or experience.
It’s that time of year again when people’s thoughts turn to Spring cleaning, and while it might not be enjoyable when it is going on, the end results certainly bring pleasure.
At Syl-Lee we also know that at the start of Spring, people begin to think seriously about organizing, donating or selling items they no longer need or want.
Are you thinking about moving? People start to contemplate the thought of moving when the end of Winter is in their sightlines, and even though the flowers aren’t blooming yet in the Northeast, we hope that Spring will be here soon.
A New Year is here and many of us are evaluating the objects in our homes, the things we have collected over the years or were handed down by our parents and grandparents and asking ourselves what do I wish to keep and what do I wish to sell.
For many of our customers, connecting with us is the very first time that they find themselves buying or selling an antique or collectible. There’s a bit of intimidation stepping into the unknown and, of course, they are concerned about money, as in spending too much or getting too little.
Anticipating a move often prompts stress and anxiety. Did I make the right decision, will I like my new place, or can I get everything organized in time for the big day are just some of the things that can make you feel uneasy.
I know, I know, I’m pushing the season way too soon, BUT, I must tell you that it’s time (or maybe “almost” time) to start thinking about holiday shopping. Sure, the holidays are going to be a lot different this year. Families and friends have to figure out how to gather safely and will probably have to curtail the number of people that are invited to any get-togethers.
We all know the cliché “timing is everything” and it’s true even when you’re thinking about selling your antiques. Just because you’ve cleared out a closet, basement, drawer, or an entire room and have accumulated what you hope is a treasure trove of items to sell, doesn’t mean that you would want to do so all at once.
It’s a sensitive subject, isn’t it? You have “stuff” that you purchased with love and good intentions, or perhaps your “stuff” was handed down from beloved family members. In either case, there is significant sentimental value.
Right now, yes, right now, we are starting to see some relief and positive changes as we continue to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic that pretty much changed everything in our personal and professional lives.
We’d be lying if I didn’t make it clear that what was once considered to be a “hot” item might no longer be of any interest. The antique and collectibles markets continually fluctuate and last year’s must have objects might now be gathering dust.
Life as we formerly knew it just mere weeks ago has radically changed and a timeline for a return to “normal” is pretty much unknown. I’ve been receiving many calls and texts from people that are taking this time at home to take a better look at “what they have” with the thought that some of the items might be of value.
Here are answers to some questions that I get asked quite a lot. Feel free to contact me if you have other questions that I might be able to answer for you!
Maybe you’ve been collecting watches for years or have one special watch that you no longer want. Or perhaps you have inherited a single watch or a collection from a family member that has passed. In any case, you’ve decided that you are not interested in keeping the watch/es and are seeking to sell them.
Maybe you’ve been collecting watches for years or have one special watch that you no longer want. Or perhaps you have inherited a single watch or a collection from a family member that has passed. In any case, you’ve decided that you are not interested in keeping the watch/es and are seeking to sell them.
Maybe you’ve been collecting watches for years or have one special watch that you no longer want. Or perhaps you have inherited a single watch or a collection from a family member that has passed. In any case, you’ve decided that you are not interested in keeping the watch(es) and are seeking to sell them.
Does this sound familiar? Some years ago you bought some antiques, perhaps not as an investment but because you liked the idea of collecting and even more importantly, you liked the pieces themselves and enjoyed displaying them in your home. Or perhaps, you didn’t buy the antiques but instead, you inherited them from someone else. Can you relate?
Downsizing is never easy. When heirlooms have been in your family for generations it can be very difficult to let them go. The majority of our clients are in a situation where they are forced to deal with the difficult task of downsizing.
On a daily basis, we get numerous calls and emails from people who are downsizing or moving. We’re also frequently contacted by people who have received an inheritance. All of these people have one thing in common: They want to liquidate and move on — even if that means saying goodbye to some of their most prized possessions.
I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Nassau County Museum of Art. The museum is located at One Museum Drive in Roslyn Harbor 11756. What an amazing place in the middle of Long Island. The grounds are huge. They have walkways with sculptures, trails with beautiful flowers and of course the art exhibits which change every few months. In addition to the wonderful sites, the museum has educational programs for children and adults.
I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Nassau County Museum of Art. The museum is located at One Museum Drive in Roslyn Harbor 11756. What an amazing place in the middle of Long Island. The grounds are huge. They have walkways with sculptures, trails with beautiful flowers and of course the art exhibits which change every few months. In addition to the wonderful sites, the museum has educational programs for children and adults.
If you love to accessorize, you’re always looking for something new and trendy to mix and match with your outfits. But why not start looking for something old instead? Whether you’re looking for a gift for her or treating yourself to a little bling, vintage jewelry is the way to go. What makes these antique treasures so much better than any piece of modern jewelry you could ever buy?
You have a Chinese antique that you think might be valuable – glassware, a vase, a furniture cabinet – and you’ve been watching a lot of Antiques Roadshow and are itching to know what it’s worth. Bringing your antiques to a television appraiser just isn’t in the cards, so you’re going to have to come up with something else.
One of the most common heirlooms families pass down to their children are glassware sets. As you walk by the pieces safely stowed away behind a cabinet or in a drawer, a few questions may come to mind: are they antique? Are they worth anything? Is there anything you can do to maintain them so that they can continue to be passed down in the best condition possible?
On a busy week we have close to 25 appointments. Our clients call us to evaluate antiques, fine art and jewelry. Most of these homeowners are either moving, or selling a house for a family member. A very common question is “what should we put in storage?”
If you’re suffering from the winter blues, then we’ve got the perfect antidote for you: it’s only a couple of weeks until Asia Week New York 2016!
Design Auctions The 1950s and 60s were decades that conjure to mind liquid lunches, a martini after a hard day in the office, and low slung furniture with clean lines. Fans of the show Mad Men, which ended a few weeks ago will be familiar with this design aesthetic from the show’s sets which epitomized mid-century modern design. Later this week, Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Phillip’s auction houses will be having their design auctions in New York.
Design Auctions The 1950s and 60s were decades that conjure to mind liquid lunches, a martini after a hard day in the office, and low slung furniture with clean lines. Fans of the show Mad Men, which ended a few weeks ago will be familiar with this design aesthetic from the show’s sets which epitomized mid-century modern design. Later this week, Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Phillip’s auction houses will be having their design auctions in New York.