BEFORE YOU BUY

A few general points to keep in mind when shopping

1 JUST BECAUSE YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT IT IS, DON’T BE PUT OFF FROM BUYING IT. If it’s great quality, shouts out a key design style, or is highly unusual, take a risk if you can afford it. Some of the very best things I have ever bought were mysteries to me when I handed over my cash. Of these, a few turned out to be valuable learning experiences, while others made me money later on when I sold them. 2 RECONSIDER ‘FLAWS’ SUCH AS A THUMB OR FINGERPRINT IN CERAMIC BODIES OR DECORATION. Many who grew up around massproduced consumable and disposable items now see these features as charming, and as a human connection to the artist, potter or decorator and their place in time. Of course, placement and prominence counts.

3 Pay attention to size – biggest isn’t always best. Although they use fewer materials, small or miniature- sized examples require the same skill s, expertise and production processes to make, and can be scarcer. 4 CONSIDER OBJECTS THAT WILL APPEAL TO DIFFERENT GROUPS OF COLLECTORS. Cross-market interest can often raise the value, due to increased demand from a wider audience. For example, a postcard of a female tennis player may appeal to enthusiasts of tennis or sporting memorabilia, postcard collectors, and even those interested in the history of women’s rights. Animals such as dogs, cats, pigs, owls and even bulls, in a range of formats, are also good examples. 5 MANY BUYERS TODAY PURCHASE WITH THEIR EYES AND HEARTS. That may be because something moves them in some way, or brings back memories, or simply looks stylish. By comparison, connoisseurship and the academic value of an object have largely fallen by the wayside. ‘Anorak pieces’ of academic interest with lower visual appeal will always have their place, but among smaller groups of people.