I can’t remember not having an appreciation for old things. I used to go digging in old dumps with my grandmother when I was a child. So the thrill of the treasure hunt has been in my blood ever since I can remember. Chris and I married very young. I love the fact that we both share the love of old things; we started collecting early in our married life, even when it wasn’t popular to collect.
I remember the two of us staying up late into the night, pouring over books, desperately seeking information about a violin Chris had purchased at an estate sale. Inside was an old tag that said: “Antonius Stradivarius.” We read about Stradivarius and were sure we had this one of a kind rare item. I remember we didn’t want to leave the house, fearful someone would break into our humble abode and steal this rare treasure we had just found. Later, we found out it was one of many fake Stradivarius Violins out in the world.
We make a good team, Chris is the buyer he loves to seek out the great deal. I am the one usually infatuated with the story; I find out as much as I can about the item. Chris became an auctioneer not only because it fits his personality, but also out of necessity. You can only buy so much, then you need to sell! I believe you never really own old things; you are just caretaker for a time. Being a caretaker you have a responsibility to find out the history, write it down and tell the story of what you know about the item that has been bestowed to you. It is so important to take care of it, to enjoy it, and then pass it on to the next person. Future generations need to be able to have the history that we have had the privilege to learn from. Chris and I have enjoyed some really unusual antiques and collectibles, such as: Tiffany Lamps, exceptional rare cars, a vampire killing kit, rare watches, parade saddles, Indian collections, paintings. But the stories are what make these items so fascinating.
I call myself an equal opportunity shopper. I can find something to buy whether I am at Bloomingdales or Goodwill! Isn’t it true that some of the greatest items come from the strangest places? My husband is very smart, he has bought and sold more than most ever could imagine. I tend to study everything, cautious of my purchases but it just comes natural for Chris. We sold on eBay for years and loved it. But then after a while there were things we didn’t like and they didn’t seem to want to change them. So that’s when we began the creation of OnlineAuction.com. We took Chris’s experience of being a real auctioneer and applied it to the auction. Fixed price is fine, but at auction is where the real records are set! Auctions are a fun, interactive, addicting medium. Things go low and things go high. Even the experts have been surprised and shocked at prices realized at auctions. An auction is where the excitement is! …..Hey thanks for reading my blog 🙂
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