Thimbles have been in existence since the 1st century AD and have been a crucial part of tailoring and manufacturing since. The earliest known thimble was in the Roman city of Pompeii and was made of bronze, a very precious metal at the time. As time went on the thimble became a necessity in every […]

1. Assess the condition, look for cracks, chips, fading, and any other flaws. Compare each item to other pieces in the set in order to make a decision about whether or not the colors are bright and as flawless as they should be. 2. Look around the marketplace; collector’s pieces are only as expensive as […]

part 4 of 4 When preparing for an estate sale, don’t count on everything selling.The level of “sell-through” is largely driven by what’s for sale, but even more by your choice of service provider. Good estate sales companies have a strong following and get a better percentage of the value and contents sold. Your estate […]

part 3 of 4 Prices realized at estate sales are generally higher than those generated at auction, with the exception of higher end non-commodity items that attract competitive bidders from a wider audience in an auction setting. If you need to sell off a home and it’s belongings, it can be difficult to see its […]

part 1 of 4 As summer approaches, and spring cleaning begins, many people use the momentum of the season to ponder their living situations and make a change. Many of us are in the midst of down-sizing. In this process the question of “How do I get rid of my stuff?” comes up over and […]

Purchasing pieces of furniture from estate sales is a great opportunity to buy quality furniture at a reasonable price. The challenge is deciphering if the piece itself is in good shape or not. Woods like mahogany and cherry are often the most valuable and continue to gain value over the years. Look for pieces that […]