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Asked? Painting by the Hallein painter Peter Lochmann.
Objects in conflict with species protection are virtually unsaleable
Furs, for example. Many young women don’t want to put on grandma’s mink coat because it is primarily a political statement that nobody wants to make anymore. And old furs are often no longer flattering and therefore do not correspond to personal taste in clothing. So what to do with it? Often enough, the formerly expensive heirloom actually ends up in the garbage. “We don’t take furs,” stresses Philipp von Hutten, head of the antiques and furniture department at the Dorotheum in Vienna. This also applies to all other objects that might come into conflict with species protection, especially elephant ivory, even if they are historical pieces. “A piano with ivory keys is in fact not for sale,” says von Hutten.
What else is “out” on the antique market?
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Who wants me? Items made of lead crystal are less and less in demand.
Another example of “relegation” in the market is lead crystal. Glasses, vases, bowls or plates made of fine glass are becoming increasingly rare on the country’s tables. “Although there are still many people who value table culture,” says art dealer Markus Strassner from Schärding. The full lead crystal cabinet is less in demand, but individual beautiful pieces as eye-catchers. Nevertheless: “The market for lead crystal is overcrowded,” says Philipp von Hutten. “But maybe it will come once more?”
This also applies to silver cutlery, for example. It is still used for special occasions. “But for twelve and not six people and in a nice box. Then it costs a lot of money,” says Strassner. The basis is the pure silver price, i.e. the material value, which can reach 5000 to 6000 euros for a large cutlery box.
But just the fact that you can’t put silver cutlery in the dishwasher makes it impractical, doesn’t it? “Not necessarily,” says the expert. “You can put silver cutlery in the dishwasher, it just can’t contain any other precious metal.” The use of fine tableware also corresponds to the zeitgeist of sustainability: “Nothing is as sustainable as art and antiques.”
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Only quality counts: When it comes to carpets, the wheat is separated from the chaff.
What else is “out”? Von Hutten: “Periodical furniture, that is, made new on old, or the cumbersome study from the thirties.” Collectible items that were specially produced for an occasion, such as Christmas plates from a porcelain manufacturer, are just as slow sellers as pewter objects.
Things with history can still be sold
However, some of these things might be sold if there is a story behind them, says von Hutten. He was recently able to auction off an entire household that came from a prominent source. “A used silver hairbrush isn’t really sellable for hygienic reasons alone. But if it’s Sisi’s, it is,” explains the expert. Strassner and von Hutten emphasized in unison that there always had to be special pieces for which buyers might be found.
Many of the developments also have something to do with the advent of the Internet, says the Dorotheum expert. “This means that things can be searched for and acquired worldwide, which has ruined entire sub-markets in this country.” However, an evaluation by the Willhaben platform confirms the major trends: in 2022 there was a 30 percent slump in search queries for lead crystal. Compared to 2018, the winners were handicrafts from the Wiener Werkstätte, mid-century design, Art Nouveau objects (plus 50 percent!), Thonet armchairs, but also rustic cupboards, which were “out” for a while. Schuco model toys or pieces by well-known porcelain manufacturers are always in demand.
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Glasses, bowls, bowls: a lot depends on individual taste.
Von Hutten and Strassner recommend contacting the experts and asking them what a supposedly valuable piece is all regarding. A photo sent to a retailer or via the Dorotheum website is usually sufficient to gain clarity. If it’s something rare, buyers are happy to pay cash for it.