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The next morning, after more phone calls and cross-checking, she gingerly loaded painting and took it to a temperature controlled vault in same city where she urchased it. This $125. painting later sold for several million dollars at a major auction house, and this woman's financial future was changed in dramatic fashion literally overnight.
The museum curator was appalled, overwhelmed and completely flabbergasted!
Imagine that you are curator of this museum, and you placed $125. price tag on this million dollar painting! This tag sale had been held to raise money for projects around museum. If curator had only possessed knowledge to even "check it out", outcome could have been far more positive for establishment that he represented!
Knowledge and research made all difference.
Aside from curator, think of all antique dealers, collectors and enthusiasts that had toured this weekend-long tag sale. Here was an item that could change their entire lives financially, and they walked right on by. any one of them could have sold painting, banked money, and just "fiddled" around with antiques instead of trying to make a living from them. And difference was knowledge!
How to get antique knowledge.
With advent of Internet, research is easier to do, and knowledge is much easier to come by. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands of sites that are dedicated to various collectibles, art and antiques.
Visiting library all day, once a month can be one of best ways to increase your knowledge of antique items. The library is still one of most untapped resources for gaining expertise on a variety of antique subjects. Talk to librarian, ask questions, and dig! The human mind is like a sponge, and someday you may need what you are learning today.
A methodical approach toward research and gaining knowledge can pay huge dividends in your antique world. It's secret that can make a huge impact in buying decisions that you make!
Michael Temple is a retired antique auctioneer and author of "Buying Fresh Antiques - 16 Ways to Increase Your Opportunities...No Matter Where You Live!" He owns Antique Power Dealer, a popular web site frequented by dealers and collectors. Antique Power Dealer