topic Re: What To Look Out For When Next Browsing The Oppies in Community Spirit

What To Look Out For When Next Browsing The Oppies

icyfroth — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 01:44:53 GMT

$4 Bowl Sells For $75,000

An anonymous buyer who purchased an op shop bowl for $4 has sold it at auction for $75,640.

The vase, a 17th century Chinese ‘Liberation Cup’ from the Qing dynasty, is carved from rhinoceros horn and has been known to sell for as much as $200,000 on international markets.

The lucky buyer, who reportedly peruses op shops for hidden gems just like this one, thought he may have spotted a bargain when he saw the vase sitting on a Sydney op shop’s shelf.

A quick online search and an email to Sotheby's Auctioneers consultant Ann Roberts, who specialises in Asian Art, revealed the $4 'bowl' was worth substantially more than that.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/nsw/latest/a/-/latest/17737702/4-bowl-sells-for-75-000/

With a large chip on its side, the bowl was initially valued at $20,000 - $30,000, but sold for much more. ($62,000 plus buyer's premium)

"He was very pleased”, Ms Roberts told Fairfax of the anonymous seller. "They don't look immediately attractive to the untrained eye."

The bowls are prized by collectors of Asian art, who will pay top dollar for objects carved from ivory or rhinoceros horn, which hold special value in Asian culture.

Among other items sold at the auction were two white jade pendants, sold for $19,520, and an ‘unusual’ dragon dish for $31,720.

In March, a Chinese ‘ding’ bowl, purchased in New York for $3, sold at Sotheby’s for $USD2.225 million.

Re: What To Look Out For When Next Browsing The Oppies

latina4621 — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 01:50:43 GMT

sounds like they got a bargain.

Re: What To Look Out For When Next Browsing The Oppies

freakiness — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 02:00:30 GMT

Who else wishes they found that :^O

Re: What To Look Out For When Next Browsing The Oppies

icyfroth — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 02:02:33 GMT

Now I know why I love browsing the oppies. 🙂

The best I found so far was a Swedish leaf shaped bowl for $3 got a bit over $200 for it from a buyer in England.

Re: What To Look Out For When Next Browsing The Oppies

the_hawk* — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 02:50:58 GMT

Looks like there are still some treasures out there, I would have thought all the good stuff would have been snapped up already

Re: What To Look Out For When Next Browsing The Oppies

debra9275 — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 03:14:21 GMT

Icy, some of the Asian antiquities are worth an absolute fortune as you've just shown, I wouldn't know a valuable one if I fell over it

I wish I knew more about them

Re: What To Look Out For When Next Browsing The Oppies

icyfroth — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 05:10:01 GMT

There's not as much around as there used to be, Hawk. The people running op shops have become quite internet savvy these days lol.

Re: What To Look Out For When Next Browsing The Oppies

latina4621 — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 05:12:41 GMT

some even have antique dealers that they take stuff to

Re: What To Look Out For When Next Browsing The Oppies

icyfroth — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 05:14:30 GMT

Icy, some of the Asian antiquities are worth an absolute fortune as you've just shown, I wouldn't know a valuable one if I fell over it

I wish I knew more about them

I'd probably have a better idea now after seeing the pic of that bowl in the link, Deb :^O

It even had a chip off the side! I don't think I'd had have bought that. I never knowingly buy chipped or cracked things.

I have seen those bowls on antiques roadshow before they estimate them quite highly.

Re: What To Look Out For When Next Browsing The Oppies

icyfroth — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 05:21:13 GMT

some even have antique dealers that they take stuff to

I believe some have antique dealers come in to appraise their donations for value, Latina.

There's a glorified op shop in Marian just out of Mackay on the highway that fancies itself a antique shop who price their antiques and collectable at fairly high prices.

It's just a huge tin shed, but they have some very select items and designer clothes.

Fair enough, I suppose, they want to get top dollar for the various charities they represent. Not much good for resellers like me, of course 😄

Re: What To Look Out For When Next Browsing The Oppies

latina4621 — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 05:23:34 GMT

yes but are they helping the needy, more like helping the greedy

Re: What To Look Out For When Next Browsing The Oppies

twinkles**stars — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 05:25:46 GMT

Love watching those antique shows and seeing the amazed looks on faces when told their 5 pound buy is worth thousands.

Never walk past what may look like costume jewelry either.....a ring that had 3 huge stones found by my ex on Toorak Rd was thrown in the drawer being thought as a piece of costume jewelry. No markings on the band either showing it was gold. Years later a friend said to get it valued.....those stones were diamonds and valued at $9000!!!!!! We turned in to the police station but it was returned 3 months later after no one claimed it and no lost report was found. Sold it for $3000

Re: What To Look Out For When Next Browsing The Oppies

icyfroth — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 05:28:03 GMT

yes but are they helping the needy, more like helping the greedy

We can only hope. I'm sure the people on the ground are sincere. What happens in the higher echelons is anybody's guess.

Re: What To Look Out For When Next Browsing The Oppies

mugssy65 — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 05:57:38 GMT

All I ever find in junk shops is other people's junk 🙂

Re: What To Look Out For When Next Browsing The Oppies

polksaladallie — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 06:05:35 GMT

Did you see this on the news?

Don't know how to send a proper link....

9 News | Facebook..

https://www.facebook.com/9News‎9 News · 2 hours ago. CASINO WAR: The Star has today unveiled a "re-vamp" plan worth more than a billion dollars. ..... HANDBAG HOLY GRAIL: Tonight, the $17,000 handbag discovered for sale in a local second-hand store. All the keen ...... Brendan Swift the $17 designer knock off will be available soon. 23 · Thursday at ...

Re: What To Look Out For When Next Browsing The Oppies

debra9275 — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 06:10:15 GMT

A lot of the OP shops do have appraisers now, but occasionally something slips through. wow Twinks! what a great find was that! I don't think I've ever been lucky enough to come across any good jewelry.

Icy I would'nt buy that either, lol,

i tend to mainly stick to buying what I like & haven't made a fortune yet, not likely too either

Re: What To Look Out For When Next Browsing The Oppies

bright.ton42 — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 06:44:53 GMT

I remember years ago in a St Vinnies op shop seeing two genuine Persian rugs , very dirty but

absolutely beautiful, selling for $20 each. Me and my big mouth told them they

were valuable and to get them appraised, and they thanked me very much.

They didn't appear back in there. Wonder what happened to them.

Me and my big mouth!

Re: What To Look Out For When Next Browsing The Oppies

icyfroth — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 06:50:49 GMT

Hi Bright :-x

You did the right thing.

I wouldn't know a valuable Persian rug from any old Spotlight one lol.

Re: What To Look Out For When Next Browsing The Oppies

latina4621 — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 09:06:22 GMT

most oppies are way to pricey now, people can go to kmart ect and buy same priced stuff brand new.

Re: What To Look Out For When Next Browsing The Oppies

icyfroth — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 09:54:24 GMT

Yes that's true.

There's a Salvos at Gladesville here in Sydney that charges top dollar. I bought a (new unused) handbag there a cpl years ago, $15 from memory, the handle broke 3 days later, they have a no refund no exchange policy. The Vinnies just around the corner is just as pricey. I know they have overheads to meet, but geez...

I rarely go there.