By Pamela E. Apkarian-Russell

      One of the beautiful things about antique dealers and collectors is that one never knows what type of conversation will erupt from out of their over active and well used minds. Perhaps, that is why we have always broken the taboo and allowed our booth and shop to be an open forum for discussion on anything and everything. We never allow arguments just open forums of thoughts ideas and probing, which allow me to get a better idea of what is going on in the world pro and con. You can learn so much from others if you listen.

Recently at a funeral a rather belligerent man asked me “How’s the big time antique dealer.”

Being taken aback at the tone of voice and knowing how small time our operation really is I just shrugged my shoulders and said, “Well times are hard, the economy and gas prices….” I was cut off.

“Let me tell you the economy is great, never been better, and if you and every antique dealer or collector dropped dead tomorrow the country wouldn’t even know you had existed.” What does one say to such invective and anger?”

I barely knew the man and wondered why he was so hateful but funerals are not the place to probe someone’s fury. Considering his age, mid seventies at least, I wondered if he was suffering from early Alzheimers and extricated myself from his presence with a, “Thank you very much have a great day “, and walked on to speak with someone else. I can only wonder if all of us passed on in one day how many millions of people would no longer be on this earth and how much they would have to expand that great antique show in the next world. Hopefully, this angry frustrated man is a minority, as no one should ever wish harm on anyone.Someone like this man would never come to an antique show or frequent a shop and that is where I glean most of my information and where most of my many acquaintances and friends spend quite a tad of time and very few would agree with him on the economy and gas prices. From the Atlantic City show to Atlanta’sLakewood show this is what I saw and heard, and what has been happening.

Having been invited by the management of the Atlantic City show (Atlantique City) to put up a display of Halloween items for the public to view, the Englishman and I closed Castle Halloween for almost a week and headed off with a van full of vintage Halloween and related folk art. Claire Lavin and her husband were also there, exhibiting and signing her book, so we had a chance to chat about what was happening in the world of vintage Halloween collectibles and how we felt that a few people were trying desperately to manipulate prices and that the large amount of holiday collectibles being made today in Germany and falsely being sold here by dealers who know better, as being old, has hurt the collectors and frustrated the dealers. Unfortunately, many people don’t know the extent of this deception, how to spot the aged new pieces, and some just don’t have the ethics of adiseased mad cow but sell items as old for vintage prices. The sad thing about this is that if these items were signed and dated by the cottage industry craftsmen in Germany there would be an avid collectors market for everyone.

Al Capone and Abraham Lincoln both had the same IQ but I guess it is easier to be a Capone than a Lincoln. Anyone can make a mistake and I actually put two of these faux pre WWII pieces in one of my books years ago, as they had just begun to come on the market, I had bought them mail order from a well known dealer in California and everyone told me I was nuts to doubt their age when I said I felt they were contemporary.In my heart I knew they couldn’t be old because of the smell and the paint but could everyone be wrong and just me right? I unfortunately capitulated and it has been thrown in my face ever since.Mea Culpa.

The Atlantic City show was exciting for us for more than one reason. Being able to show people items we love and introduce them to the works of some of the folk artists, which was particularly rewarding but even more exciting was the fact we had sufficient time to walk about, chat with people and do some shopping. Everyone was complaining about the horrible weather and the outrageous price of gasoline. During the show I spoke to many customers who were horrified by the prices and I perhaps a bit to smugly reminded a few that before the last election I had predicted three dollar a gallon at the pumps but that antique dealers could not put up their prices arbitrarily day by day and blame it on the high cost of antiques in France or Holland. Both the weather and the gas prices affected the attendance and dealer participation in the show, and we have noticed this at almost every show.

The show was lovely with some outstanding booths. For instance there was a furniture booth set up and decorated for the holiday with napkins and plates etc on the table, etc. that was picture perfect. There was a booth with Robots which made me wish I was rich so I could at least take the life size one home with me. It wasn’t in the booth half way through the show when I meandered by so someone must have left in a euphoric state. There was a wonderful booth of Royal Doulton and tons of great jewelry booths. The Englishman who seldom shops jewelry booths purchased an articulated 9K gold witch on a chain with inset jewels on her cloak for less than 400.00 which for the size and workmanship was a bargain to say the least. I purchased a wonderful Jack Frost figure painting an oak leaf which probably was a paint advertisement at one time and was found in the booth of a dealer in advertising and funky display items. 385.00 was quite reasonable for the item and he was kind enough to deliver it to me on the other side of the show.

V.J. Collectibles had some wonderful games some of which I left the show with, including fortune telling ones for Castle Halloween and a three puzzle with box of individually framed cats doing people things that I haven’t had or seen in years. He had just purchased a large collection and some of the early Santa games were incredible and are destined for a game exhibit at one of the museums.This show was full of reasonably priced treasures in all value categories. It also, had some outrageously overpriced items and reproductions, but then what show doesn’t?

We did notice a new trend which has been escalating the past few years, which very much dismays me. This is when you purchase items from a booth and tell them to work up the bill and you will either be back or they may deliver it to the booth, and when you get it the prices have gone up. I write down what I purchase and when a 500.00 item which had been priced in the booth for 550.00 is delivered to your booth at 650.00 it is outrageous. “She made a mistake she wants more for it” saith he. Well that isn’t good enough. If I make a mistake, and I do, I eat it. I certainly don’t up the price and to top it off, not inform the customer thinking them so stupid they won’t notice. I did notice and this occurred in four booths one of which had actually changed the tag! The others all returned to their original prices when I showed them my notes except one. I told him he could keep the item and his attitude was not only unprofessional but unethical. Heck I haven’t been in this business for 35 years, full time, to let these guys get away with it. I also, note who they are and never shop their booths again. Erasing prices and changing tags happens quite a bit these days even in shops.

One dealer brought me over an item and inquired what he should price it at. I told him when I appraise that is what I do, but for me to tell him the retail price of an item I was interested in wasn’t what I wanted to do, unless he was paying for the appraisal. “Well, what would you pay for it?” I told him.” I was really going to put it on Ebay, I’ll send you a link. “

I no longer am an Ebay buyer after having not received items I paid for eight times in three months and Ebay not even bothering to respond to my complaints. I much rather buy from real people at shows where I can touch the item, admire them, and know what I am purchasing. I told him this.” Well it did sell on EBay and for less than half of what I offered him. A friend of ours purchased it! I was delighted.

Atlantic City had some great dealers set up like Joan Kay and Ronnie, whose booth is always well worth perusing. There were also, some serious collectors like the Parolas who found some interesting pieces including a beautiful Swakari crystal articulated skeleton pin. It might not have been the busiest it has ever been at Atlantic City but most people were satisfied they had either stalled out or come to shop the show. The Halloween exhibit was a big success and Mary Ann Torres said they had many complements on it. Claire and I were very pleased with the reception we received by the viewers. How different from years ago when vintage holiday items were not welcome at most shows. How I should love to set up an exhibit of Folk Art or fortune telling for them.

There were items in everyone’s price bracket which make for a nice show as did the wide variety of material. I was disappointed there wasn’t any Southern folk art but I over spent at the show and that can’t be too bad, can it? Those who stayed at the Sheraton might have seen two people in the pouring rain sitting in the outdoor hot tub. Only an antique dealer would do something like that and it was delicious with the wind blowing in our faces!

Thanksgiving weekend is the Morlatton, Pa postcard show. Because none of us wantto drive on Thanksgiving day some of us have began a tradition. We visit Jim Morrison’s Christmas Museum on Thanksgiving day and wallow in the glories of the best Christmas museum in the world and then we kidnap Santa and we all go to Good and Plenty, a Pa. Dutch style restaurant, sit at long tables, talk to people we don’t know who border us at the family style served spread, and overeat! Each year different people join our group but the core is always the Cavalari’s, Morrison (known to many as Santa) and ourselves. It really is quite festive.

The Morlatton postcard show is fairly low key and pleasant to do. It is very good for buying. After the show we all head off to a restaurant and talk about postcards, ephemera, and antiques. This year we were all saddened that Flying Rabbit has retired and Sandy Waters will no longer be producing her incredible hand colored cards, as her health will no longer permit it.

Gwen Goldman celebrated her eightieth birthday with a rousing chorus of happy birthday by our rather large and noisy group. Gwen is one of the few dealers who have been dealing in ephemera even longer than we have and that was way before the term Ephemera was coined. I still feel this is a misused word and the mispronunciations can make one cringe! Effie Marie? I thought the man was talking about a show promoter!

Fred Tenny, who had recently had his personal, and prestigious collection ofrare Nippon auctioned off, was one of our party. He told us all about experience and about some of the top lots. He will continue dealing in Nippon. He was on his way back to Arizona from his Maine residence.

Lakewood Fairgrounds, Atlanta Ga. Dec. 9-11^th was cold as a polar bear’s nose. Not that I know that a polar bears nose is cold from experience but trust me it was cold out and damp in Atlanta. The show was slow and the amount of dealers was down but I reiterate this is par for all the shows. However, there was some great items to be bought and at some great prices. 140.00 for three signed face jugs, a contemporary cast iron green man grate for 85.00, a large embossed tile by California artist Wayne Gao for 40.00 and Christmas decorations from vintage to contemporary beginning at ten cents and going up from there. Atlanta is a city that loves decorator, Victorian, and kitsch and this show had plenty of it.

Ed Spiva, owner of this original and longest running show in Atlanta sent around a note to the dealers quashing the nasty rumor that the show was closing and all but guaranteeing it will run for at least another two years. This man is a gentleman and it is hoped that the vicious rumors that have been circulating about the show can be squelched.It is always unfortunate when hubris takes over and dealers and promoters are hurt. I for one still feel this is one of the best buying shows in the south and hope to set up there once a year and shop it for many a year to come. It would behoove the promoters to do joint advertising as it would be to everyone’s benefit.As at all the other shows, even though the gas prices have come down everyone was complaining about the high cost of gas, home heating,etc. etc. as well as the high cost of food in certain areas. We mentioned that we are able to get large Amish eggs fresh, at our local stores and often only for a dollar a dozen. Some how this brought on a discussion of the healthiness of eggs, whether brown or white ones were better, and if fertilized eggs were okay to eat. One dealer had absolutely no idea that eggs got fertilized and that was what roosters were for, not to wake up the entire barnyard in the morning! Oh my goodness we moaned. “That is almost as bad as the day someone thought mice were baby rats!” I said.

They looked at me in surprise “Well of course they are!”Yes, you never know what you will hear at an antique show!

The Florida run was an eye opener this year and I was not only dismayed but depressed that the shows have declined so badly. The New Year Show at Pride of Dixie was a real surprise. One third less dealers set up, set up and customer entry at the same time and such a small attendance that it was mind boggeling. Many of the dealers spent much of their time in our booth playing with our feline owner, Bahron Muhrchoom the Magnificent who was in his holiday finery hamming it up and charming everyone. Unfortunately, even he could not cheer up the dealers who were not doing any business. The architectural dealer across from me who had I think, eight booths, only did a few hundred dollars.And the jewelry dealer beside me only sold one small ticket item.Our long time friend Mike from Maine was set up and he wasn’t dancing a Gavotte to say the least, especially, as he was having vehicle problems. I did not hear one person say they had a good show. Even Claude Miller who deals in Indian Items and folk art pottery as well as his own pottery was feeling very depressed. He had not been making folk art jugs and figures since I saw him in April as he had fallen at a motel and broken his wrist. He was just getting back to potting as his wrist slowly recoveres. Many dealers are grumbling that they are caught in a quagmire fueled by the economy, gas, rising motel and booth rates, gas, higher tolls, gas, and low attendance at the shows. “Lets face it if you have been laid off or taken a cut in your pension or wages, and the show admissions have gone up along with gas prices you stay home and read a book.” Said one of the dealers to a group of agreeing dealers. Another felt promoters in general were not doing enough advertising and their advertising was basically to the trade not the general customers, as if they were preaching to the converted. At the end of the show a four piece bedroom set vintage 1930s was still sitting there priced at 1,200.00. An equivalent modern, if there is such a thing because of quality, would cost a person, from a furniture store about 4,000.00 and not be as good. What the promoters need to do is go to the general public and let them know they can but better for less and not use the word cheaper but inexpensive. There are many words of wisdom out there from the dealers who are set up but does anyone listen to them? No dealers no shows, and if the dealers don’t sell because the customers don’t come, well that is how the merry go round turns.

How did we fare? I left the show with a check from another dealer, who was sharing a booth at the show] which has bounced, the account being closed, and the phone turned off. On top of a far from productive show this was like putting soured milk into my coffee! We did find a great Vietnamese restaurant right near by which was very reasonable in price. The waiter was fun and the food yum. However, even that and being able to shop the fabulous farmers markets wasn’t sufficient in making this a productive show. So what happened in one year to change this show for us and all of the dealers I spoke to.Have we become dinosaurs?

We did two postcard shows in Florida. Fort Myers was very badly attended, the porters that the promoter said would be there were non existent, which, with the Englishman on crutches made for a very difficult show for us. Buying was difficult because of condition of the merchandise and prices. Tear or bend a postcard is like chipping or cracking a piece of glass or china but that doesn’t bother some dealers they just price it like it was mint. Some even try and disguise the damage. You see this seldom with the quality dealers but often with the lower end dealers. Why I do not know.

Pompano Post card club was forced into moving their date this year because of a larger show wanting their date. The change really hurt the show. However, I was able to buy sufficiently that the show wasn’t a loss for us.I predict that if the small shows do not stop the bigger shows from walking all over them they will deteriorate. The Englishman and I were judges this year for the Pompano club shows competition of postcards-display boards and it is always an enjoyable task. One of the boards was so outstanding that it took my breath away. Even these wonderful boards that collectors have put together isn’t enough to ward off the politics and games others play and the club shows everywhere need to persevere and prosper or the entire hobby-business will be in jeopardy.

Perhaps, the entire show circuit is in trouble already. How many remember that years ago, during mid week, there were wonderful small shows run by people like Center Chimney, that would be set up in churches and halls all over New England? How is it that you can find many shows every day of the week in England and you can’t here in the USA? So many questions to ponder, so few willing to try and fix the broken pieces.

As I give talks, lectures, slide shows, and set up displays and exhibits at shows and museums I bring up subjects like these,just as I will when I speak in front of the Ephemera Society convention and show this March. I for one don’t agree with the man who thinks the country wouldn’t know or care if the antique world continues on, and pray I am not a minority in my thinking, then again perhaps dumb dumber and dumbest have won and the age of beauty, museums, interesting stimuli, and Mozart are just a dream of the past.

January 6^th was Armenian Christmas and regardless of what religion you are or are not or what holidays you observe, the Englishman and I wish 2006, one of peace, tolerance, health, wisdom, and love to you and the whole world. May your heating bills be low and may you dreams and desires be fruitful. Health, happiness and peace to all Gavel readers and the world.