With 30 years of resale under my belt, I’m the guy when friends need a quick analysis. And over the years I’ve noticed something that happens over and over again: The old things that most people consider valuable are often useless, and the things they want to throw away are often hot collections.
Here’s why: Most of us get our idea of what’s important from our parents. But markets are changing, and new collectors have different tastes.
What overlooked treasures are hidden in your home right now? The answers may surprise you. In this series, we’ll explore the hottest collections you may already have.
1. Ceramics by Rose Cabat
Born in 1914, Rose Cabat was a self-taught studio potter who worked in pottery and porcelain. Named “feelings,” his pots were often small enough (usually less than 8 inches tall) to fit in one’s hand with a silky sheen that invited the touch.
Cabat has excelled in combining elegant shapes with delicate construction. His oval weed pots (a vase that is not the usual accepted shape for holding a single stem) have long narrow necks and a glazed surface that allows natural drips to become part of the design.
Cabat’s wordmark is simple and unique. look for CABAT hidden in all the caps under his pieces and the three-digit production number and two-digit year.
Rose Cabat work is incredibly rare in the wild, although a secondhand friend of mine pulled one out of a dirty basement here in the Midwest last month. Recently on eBay, this 3-inch weed pot by Rose Cabat sold for $600; and this 5.5 inch gord shaped pot sells for $400.
Interested in learning more about Rose Cabat’s work? Check out this measurement clip from Antiques Roadshow.
2. Lamps by Denis Vibert
Maine’s state potter, Denis Vibert was born in 1919. In 1941, Vibert escaped German conscription in England’s Channel Islands and arrived in Canada in 1943.
By 1950, Vibert and his wife, Ruth, had moved to Sullivan, Maine, and opened the Pine Tree Kiln near their home. From there, the couple began experimenting with different types of firing, glazes, colors and textures.
Today, Vibert’s dishes – especially his lamps – are loved by collectors. Capturing the best capture of mid-century elegance, Vibert’s forms are minimalistic yet sophisticated. You can find the maker’s mark on the bottom of the lamp base. Look at the words Vibert (with an extended V at the top) and Maine (with an extended M facing downwards) inside a rectangular lock.
On Etsy, this original Vibert lamp was listed for $999. On eBay, this vintage Vibert example sold for $266.
3. Bill Moss Tents
And now for something completely different: tents!
Born in 1923, Bob Moss studied at Cranbrook Academy of Art and worked as an artist for Ford Times, a monthly lifestyle and entertainment magazine published by Ford Motor Co. In 1955, Moss disrupted the camping industry by designing the first pop-up. tent.
Along with his wife, Marilyn, Moss founded Moss Tent Works in Camden, Maine, in 1975. Over the next ten years, the company developed a line of camping and outdoor products.
A favorite with buyers then and collectors now, Bill Moss tents are as valuable as vintage Coleman lamps and vintage Filson jackets. Recently on eBay, this four-person “Big Dipper” tent sold for $1,200; and this two-person “Starlett” model was listed at $425.
Where has the buyer been?
One of the most common questions I get is: Where is the best place to sell an old ________? It makes perfect sense. Not everyone should sell at a yard sale and not everyone has enough inventory to warrant an auction or estate sale.
If there’s a family fortune you’d like to liquidate, reaching the right person – wherever they live – is key. I’ve found the best way to do that is through Facebook Marketplace, through online sites like eBay and Etsy, or through a well-connected consignor.
Pro tip: Marketplace isn’t the only way to sell on Facebook. Many special interest groups allow enthusiasts to share photos of items available for sale. Working out details and making a deal often happens informally through direct messaging.
Curious about the wonderful world of vintage collecting? Check out my series of hidden gems in the secondhand market.
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