The Importance of Researching Every Item

Ok maybe not every single item but it's good to research everything you aren't totally sure of.  I bought a box of random mixed nick-knacks at an auction this past weekend because it had a few Fenton figurines in it.  I found these cats in the bottom of the box and on first glance I just assumed they were cheap trinkets.  The kind of thing I'd throw $1 on and put in one of my vending spots.  They are really heavy though and they were marked Dept 56.  I've sold Dept 56 holiday houses a few times but had never seen these solid metal cats before.  After a few minutes of poking around online I learned that these are from a line called Classical Cats by Martin Leman that came out in the 80's.  Each is hand painted and they are made of solid pewter.  At this time there are two from this line listed on eBay.  One is listed at $35 and one at $40.  Glad I didn't go with my first impulse of throwing $1 tag on them.  Now they are headed for eBay!

My New Favorite Way to Scavenge! Dumpster Diving!

I've always been a bit of a trash picker.  I grab good things or scrap I see on the curb and I have grabbed things out of a dumpster from time to time in the past but this summer I started making dumpster diving a serious regular hobby.  I don't really talk about it much on Facebook or with friends but my immediate family is well aware because I often share many of the items we score from dumpsters with them.  Dumpster diving has a bit of a negative stigma sometimes and it's a bit of an ethical gray area for some people so for the most part I keep it to myself.  But what many people don't understand is you can find some pretty amazing usable things in dumpsters if you get past the stigma and don't mind getting a little dirty picking through garbage. Things that you can save from landfills. (Also do some research and check into local laws before attempting it!) It's become a fun treasure hunt for us and here are a few of our favorite diving rewards.

The Human Teeth Were A Bonus

I bought a few boxes of baby items at an auction tonught.  Most items in the lot were dated from the 1940's and I was after some early advertising tins and leather shoes that I sell to doll collectors.  I found this small jar tucked into a pair of shoes. 

It's just some old baby teeth a parent saved, but this is the first time I've (unknowingly) bought human teeth at an auction.  I guess I'm the proud new owner of some 60+ year old teeth.

Early 1900's Checks

I felt like I needed to scan one of these neat checks or receipts before they left my hands because well, I just think they are kinda neat!  They came out of a plain black book and a few that had been written out were dated 1919.

Vintage Barbie Lot Including Talking Brad & Julia

On my last birthday in April I just wanted to go to an auction and my regular Friday night auction was closed that day.  I found another weekly auction that I had never been to before so went to check it out.  It was fancier then most auctions I attend, each item numbered and auctioned off in order and only higher end stuff.  About a hour into it, and seeing how high prices were going I didn't expect to buy anything at all.  But somehow I got lucky and grabbed up this lot of Vintage Barbies for $15.  Fifteen bucks!!!!!  

They came in a 70's case that wasn't in the best shape so I sold it in an antique mall for $9 getting most of my investment back right away.  The rest that you see pictured I list in a single lot on eBay for a penny with no reserve and just let it go! 

The dolls included were the familiar Barbie & Skipper but also a Julia doll and a (mute) talking Brad who is a bit more rare then the others.  Julia had some issues.  Someone cut her fingers off, but her head was in beautiful shape.  Brad had his pull string stuck in the out position, but was in overall good shape so I knew he would attract bidders.  

They also had a small assortment of older shoes and boots and an early Ken jacket. 

This lot sold for $78.99 plus shipping costs making my $15 investment a pretty good one! 

You Really Never Know What You Might Find in an Auction Box

One of my favorite things about picking is bringing box lots home and sorting them out, researching what I find, and learning new things. It's like a treasure hunt and you never know what you'll find. It's such a rush to go through a box you paid $2 for that looks like it's full of total crap and finding a piece of gold or something else of value. 

Last week I bought a few blue tubs filled with old vanity items from what I assume are from around the 50's. I like selling vintage perfumes, compacts and other old vanity items. They aren't items that make a lot of money but I enjoy them and they aren't generally items I have a lot of competition with from other buyers so I can get box lots really cheap most of the time. I finally got around to sorting the tubs out tonight. I sort and price various glass and fabric items, and even found this awesome nurse cap just in time to sell for the Halloween season....

 At the very bottom of the second bin I found a plastic bag all rolled up. 

I'm thinking maybe it's more old scarves. (There were several in the bin already)

I unrolled the bag and turned it upside down and out popped ....

Nasty old human hair braids! 

Images of the last season of Dexter with Julie Stiles popped in my head at first, but it just looks like someone got a haircut and kept them as a souvenir. While there is small market for stuff like this, I think I'm just going to toss this unique find because it's just plain gross. Just goes to show though that you really never know what you'll find in an old auction box that probably hasn't be sorted in years and those finds aren't always good ones. 

Doilies, Doilies, Doilies!!!

What are they? Lovely often hand crocheted ornamental mats often used under knick knacks.

What I Paid: $5 for several flats of them.

Where I got them: At a household auction in Kent OH. I also buy these on a regular basis at auctions, yard sales, or anywhere I can pick them up cheaply.

Where I sell them: In my antique mall rental rooms.

How I sell them: These can sell on eBay for anywhere from a few bucks to twenty depending on how ornate and detailed they are, but I prefer to sell them in my antique mall rental spots for a few bucks a piece. While I could get more on eBay I sell them in my vending rooms because it's it's a lot less labor intensive. It would take me several hours to a few days to list a large lot of these on eBay over the few hours it takes me to tag these with my prices and vendor information. They are also functional. I can place them under figurines I sell to make my spaces look nicer while I wait for them to sell. I only buy when I get them for literally pennies each so selling for a few bucks still offers a profit margin I'm comfortable with.