1. This 32.01 carat square emerald cut diamond sold at auction for $7.7 million. Billionaire and philanthropist Leonor Annenberg, who died in March, bought it for his 90th birthday. The Christie's auction house did not want to disclose the name of the buyer. The ring was expected to sell at a price of 3 to 5 million dollars.

2. Lucian Freud's painting "Benefits Supervisor Sleeping" was sold at Christie's in London on May 13, 2008 for $33.6 million. The picture became the most expensive work the artist's art during his lifetime.

3. This globe, once owned by Adolf Hitler, was auctioned by Greg Martin in San Francisco for $100,000 in October 2007. American soldier stole this souvenir from the Fuhrer's house in 1945.

4. A rare stamp of Audrey Hepburn with a cigar went at auction on May 26 in Berlin for $93,800 - more than two minimum prices. There are only five copies of this stamp. Most of them were destroyed after Hepburn's son refused to sell the copyright to the image in 2001.

5. This 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso, once owned by actor Steve McQueen, sold for $2.31 million to an anonymous buyer in October 2007.

6. This rare 7.03 carat blue diamond was auctioned in Geneva on May 12, 2009 for a record price of $9.49 million. This lot became the most expensive of precious stones. The stone was discovered in 2008 in the historic Cullinan Mine in South Africa.

7. A rare stamp with a portrait of Abraham Lincoln sold at auction in New York for $431,250 on June 13. The lot is known as the "Refrigerator Stamp" because the envelope containing the stamp was shipped from Boston in cold storage to India in 1873. The stamp was stolen from its original owner in Indianapolis in 1967 and found in a Chicago home 39 years later.

8. A rare miniature of Peter the Great in a diamond-encrusted frame was sold at auction in New York on November 2 for $1.3 million. George Roberts of Arizona bought it from a London dealer in 1951 and was unaware of its importance until he had it appraised this summer.

9. A New York City surgeon paid $12,713 for a September 1966 issue of Datebook signed by John Lennon. There is in the newspaper famous quote Lennon that the Beatles are more popular than Jesus.

10. A bottle of Lowenbrau beer and a milk jug from the wreck of the Hindenburg airship, which burned in New Jersey in 1937. Andrew Eldridge of the English auction house Henry Aldridge and Son says that about 80% of the drink remains in the bottle. This bottle is considered the most expensive bottle of beer in the world.

11. An unused life jacket from the famous Titanic was auctioned in New York for $68,500 on June 25, 2008. The vest was found on the Halifax shoreline after the ship sank off Newfoundland in 1912.

12. Claude Monet's painting "Pond of Water Lilies" was auctioned in London for more than $80 million on June 24, 2008. This 1919 masterpiece is one of four paintings in a series dedicated to water lilies.

13. This golden thicket, kept for years under the bed of a ragpicker's grandson, was sold at auction in the UK for $100,000 on June 5, 2008. This cup is a Persian artifact depicting the two-faced Roman god Janus.

14. The 1961 Ferrari California Spyder, once owned by actor James Coburn, was sold in Italy on May 18, 2008. The car sold for $10,894,900 and became the most expensive vintage car.

15. Claude Monet’s painting “Railway Bridge at Argenteuil” was auctioned at Christie’s in New York for $41 million on May 6, 2008. This price broke the auction record for a painting by the French impressionist. The previous record was set last year for the painting “Nymphaeas” - it was auctioned for $36.5 million.

16. A rich man from Abu Dhabi forked out money for a license plate for a car with only one digit “1”. He paid $14 million for it, beating the previous record of $6.8 million for a "5" license plate.

17. This copy of the Magna Carta of 1297 was sold at Sotheby's in New York. It went to auction for $21,321,000 in December 2007.

18. This prototype 10-cent coin was created by the US Mint in 1792. She left the auction with others rare coins into the collection of a private buyer for $30 million in November 2007.

19. This 1804 Adams-Carter silver piece is one of only 15 coins that were never released into circulation. The coin, purchased for $2 million at a private auction two years ago, sold at a Cincinnati auction on April 30 for $2.3 million.

20. This daguerreotype, dating from 1848, shows a lone house on what is now known as the Upper West Side of Manhattan. This one of the oldest photographs in the world was sold at auction for $62,500 to an unknown buyer on March 30 in New York.

Cast iron figurine “Clown with a bag of gifts”, USSR, 1960s. The figurine depicts a famous Soviet clown 50-60s “Pencil”

Trotsky figurines are considered valuable, since there are very few of them left - after his deportation, it was ordered to destroy all paraphernalia dedicated to this politician.

№2

Records, paintings

The price of records varies from 10 thousand to tens and hundreds of thousands of rubles. Some sell them in whole albums. The cost of such a selection is about 700 thousand rubles.

Alla Gorskaya, cats and people, soviet painting

Engravings, drawings and paintings Soviet artists have a very wide price range. This is influenced by the popularity of the author of the work, the material used, and the period of creation. The theme of the plot is also important. Industrial views of Soviet cities, the Kremlin, portraits of party leaders, and propaganda subjects are considered more valuable. The cost of such images can reach several tens of millions of rubles.

№3

Toys and models

Christmas decorations are not considered a rarity on the antique market. But if you have glass jewelry from the first decades of the USSR lying around, you can count on an increase in their price.

They also make money by selling toy cars, tanks and other “equipment”. The better the safety of an item and the more complete the equipment, the more valuable it is. Soft toys and dolls cost less, but if you find a very keen collector, you can negotiate for more.

№4

Radios, TVs and players

The first Soviet TV

Such devices can be sold at a high price only if they have retained good appearance and working condition. For example, one of the first TVs of the KVN-49 type with a magnifying lens for the screen (working) can be sold for several hundred dollars and several tens of thousands.

№5

Decorative items made of cast iron

Cast iron figurines, watchstands, ashtrays and other things are not a cherished goal for antique dealers. However, they are willing to pay a lot of money for exclusive items.

For example, a figurine of Voroshilov with hands in gauntlet gloves and on a horse is considered very valuable. Due to the limited edition of this batch, the figure is valued at up to $30,000.

Figurine of a Horse in the freedom of the USSR Kasli 1940s

Objects from rare collections of Kasli casting (Ural) are in demand among collectors. Prices range from several hundred to a couple thousand dollars.

№6

Cup holders

Something as common in Soviet times as a cup holder may now turn out to be a small treasure for its owner. This is especially true for silverware that belongs to original works and is marked with the artist’s mark.

An example is the “Swans” glass holder made of 875 sterling silver (marked MYuZ, 1932) for sale at a price of almost 650 euros. Ordinary products can be found for several hundred thousand rubles.

№7

Porcelain products

Porcelain dishes in sets, as well as in the form of individual elements, are of considerable value to collectors. Products from Leningrad, Minsk, Kirov, Baranovsk and other Soviet factories are in demand. Belonging to the product of one or another is determined by the presence of a mark on the bottoms (sometimes with the author’s signature of the artist or sculptor).

Prices range from several hundred to several thousand dollars. For example, the “Golden-Maned Horse” tea set with cups painted “Red Cockerels” from the 1960s (E. Krimmer, A. Vorobievsky, LFZ) is valued by antique dealers at about $600.

In principle, you can even sell collections of chewing gum candy wrappers, the main thing is to find a hunter for this product. But before that, be sure to study the offers of the antique market and ask the price so as not to lose where you could win

In this section we answer the questions: how to sell antiques in Moscow as expensively and comfortably as possible, how to correctly evaluate an antique item, what antiques or objects are antique stores interested in buying, what can be safely attributed to the concept of “antiques,” and what after 200 years never will be.

Where to start if you want to sell antiques

Where does any sale begin? That’s right, from the assessment of the value of the item itself or the market value of copies on the market that are similar in parameters and condition, in our case, antiques.

What are your options?

• 1. Find something similar icon, porcelain figurine or silver cigarette case on the Internet. On the forum or on Avito. And see how much they are trying to sell it for. A little disclaimer: “trying” is the key word here. Because it is unknown how long they have been trying to do this and with what success.
• 2. Write down addresses all nearby pawn shops in the area and call with the question “how much will you give for a porcelain figurine?”
  The answer is predictable: until we see it with our own eyes, we won’t say anything, just say it.
• 3. Take with you your antique masterpiece and take a tour of the pawn shops in your city.
  It's already warmer. But unfortunately, in most pawn shops, which mainly practice the purchase of gold, watches and telephones, there will not be a connoisseur of Soviet porcelain or, say, an expert gemologist to appreciate a figurine, icon or amber jewelry. The key word here is "worthily". And not “for a thousand”.
• 4. Calculating person going straight to the antique store. And he's on on the right track. Why? Because antique stores are focused on selling expensive antiques. Few people are interested in phones and gold chains there. That is why we have a client base built up over decades.
  For a specific client-collector of porcelain or ancient Tsarist coins, your copy has every chance of being purchased five times more expensive than the price quoted in the “metro” purchase.
• 5. Save time. Before you go on a trip with your samovar to antique salons in the center of the capital, it makes sense to take a photo of it and send it to email address antique store photo. Thus, finding out for yourself whether there is any interest at all on the part of antique dealers in your goods. If there is, great. We find out the price order and hit the road.

Valuation of antiques from photos online

With the advent of online valuation of antique items from photographs, selling antiques in Moscow has become incomparably more comfortable. Instead of going to all the antique sales and pawn shops in Moscow, it is now enough to take a photo of an icon, figurine or piece of silverware with a camera or smartphone and send the photo to the antique store’s website. After which, wait for 10 - 15 minutes for a response. Having chosen the maximum purchase price among the stores that responded to the offer, go to the address with confidence.

What do antique stores buy?

1. Ancient icons. Yes, Russian icons have always been in enviable demand among collectors and common people who wants to join spirituality

2. Gold and gold jewelry. Let the reader know that in some places gold jewelry is ready to be valued not “per gram,” but at its antique value. And this is several times higher than what they are willing to give for an antique brooch at the nearest purchase or pawn shop.

3. Soviet porcelain. It is collected and willingly bought by people “in the know.” And antique stores, acting as intermediaries, willingly buy porcelain figurines from the times of the USSR.

4. Silverware: Forks, spoons, glass holders, shot glasses, salt shakers made of silver - all this has the highest liquidity among connoisseurs of hoary antiquities. The antique store is right there. And I’m ready to buy expensive antique silver and put it up for commission at your price. Collectors of antique silver are frequent visitors to antique commissions. And an item made of enameled silver on display will not stay on the store shelf for long.

5. Tula samovars: These are the ones with a pipe. In those ancient times, they heated themselves with coal or wood. Not to be confused with electric ones (nobody needs them except summer residents who want to add ambience to a tea ceremony in their garden plot). They have value. And, sometimes, a considerable amount.

6. Amber beads:. It would seem that,; amber is not a diamond. It's not expensive. The result of evaluating antique amber beads will pleasantly surprise you. We promise:) Yes, but the key word here is “antique”, and not just “amber beads”. Antique, by the standards of the antique market, these are amber beads produced in the last century. A characteristic visual feature are beads made of opaque amber

7. Bronze figurines of Buddha: they used to be brought to us from China. There are very few of them in the hands of the population. The owner of such a figurine has every chance to exchange it for substantial capital. Collectors of Buddhist themes highly value Buddha statues and are willing to offer good prices. Throughout Moscow, only in 3 places there are specialists who can appreciate a 19th century bronze Buddha statue and assign high price buying up a well-preserved copy.

8. Paintings: due to the impossibility of promptly, on the spot, determining the authenticity of the canvas, the price assigned, as a rule, is underestimated. There is a great risk of purchasing a fake and staying with it forever. Therefore, it is very difficult to urgently sell a painting, even if it’s from the 19th century, “at a high price.” And the examination, quite likely, could cost more than the painting itself. Not unless, of course, you are sure that this is Savrasov in the original...

Let's say more: even having an expert opinion from an authoritative commission in hand, the chances do not increase one iota. What to do? If you have time and desire to put it up for sale “to the maximum”, we agree on a commission sale. In a reputable antique store located in a crowded place, the chance that an object of painting will quickly find its new owner is quite real.

How to evaluate antiques in our antique store

There are several options:

• 1. You can easily find out how much antiques cost by calling the phone number indicated in the “contacts” section. If in an oral dialogue both parties decide that cooperation is interesting, we ask you to send a photo of the antique item to e-mail or through one of mobile applications(WhatsApp, Viber) for a more accurate assessment of your copy.
• 2. Send a photo of an antique item by email [email protected] . It is advisable to indicate your phone number for feedback
• 3. Ask a question through the “question-answer” form in one of the sections of the site on the subject of your copy.
• 4. Use the blue “Call Back” button located on the right. In the daytime and evening, the expert calls back within 5-10 minutes

The assessment is carried out with the seller. It takes from 5 minutes to an hour. The valuation of an antique item of great historical and artistic value can be increased over time.

If you live far from Moscow

• If you live in the near or far Moscow region and do not want to waste time traveling to the center of Moscow, but at the same time have a strong desire to sell an old, antique item at the price of buying it in antique stores in Moscow, contact our manager. The appraiser will come and meet at a place convenient for you completely free of charge.
• This offer is valid for owners of valuable and rare antiques.

How to sell antiques profitably

Directly to an antiques collector? But where to find it? Generally speaking, serious collectors, by nature, are very distrustful people and prefer to add to their collection only in trusted places and from people with a reputation.

Accordingly, you are not their client. A private person who wants to decorate his apartment with an expensive figurine or an attribute of spirituality? But without being an expert, who is willing to set a high purchase price? Without wasting time, bypassing small resellers from bulletin boards, you can contact an antique salon that specializes in consignment trade in antiques. Which you, in fact, have already done.

How can we be useful to you?

A group of specialists in the field of ancient Russian culture and art works in the store’s acceptance department. Everyone has a unique experience. Today, our experts advise about 30% of antique salons and shops throughout the country, and constantly participate in all Russian exhibitions and antique auctions. Many famous collections were formed with their direct participation. Often, absolutely free of charge, we are ready to give you all the comprehensive information on your copy. Give an initial assessment of the market value of antique porcelain or icons, directly in your presence. Antique masterpieces, of course, require more detailed analysis and, accordingly, time.

Payment and transaction confidentiality

Payment is made in cash or, at the client’s discretion, by transfer of funds to bank card. Payment of the entire amount due for the antique item is carried out immediately after both parties agree on the mutually beneficial acquisition of the subject of the transaction. The purchase agreement is accepted after a visual inspection and assessment of antiques within the walls of a given antique store in Moscow or at the meeting place of our representative with the client.

The Antique store strictly follows the policy of non-disclosure of personal data and commercial information about the transaction. The content of correspondence with the client and his contact information are not stored in the database of the antique store for longer than 3 days and are not transferred to third parties under any pretext.

I was clearing out the rubble in the apartment and found antique spoons. Not some tiny ones for tea, but straight scoops: heavy, good quality, long - 30 centimeters each. With monograms. Maybe the 18th or even the 14th century. Looks like cupronickel. “Spoons - an antique store - a new car,” instantly flashed through my head. “We just need to wash them.”

I typed “big old spoons” on the Internet. Utensils similar to my treasures were exhibited for only 1.5 thousand rubles, but I did not find them with exactly the same monograms. “Let the professionals evaluate it,” I decided. “And at the same time, maybe they’ll buy it right away.” And I went to the antique shops.

TIME IS NOT WORTH ANYTHING

Oily grandfathers in pince-nez or seasoned men in expensive suits remained in vulgar movies. In antique shops on Arbat I was greeted by hipster-looking young guys. Here is Alexey - you can never tell from his red beard and ripped jeans that he is an experienced art critic.

No one needs cutlery, even silver. Especially if it is not a set, but separate things. And your spoons are not even silver, they will never be bought. - He appreciated my spoons without even looking up from playing tanks on the computer.

Ilya from another shop confirmed the diagnosis:

It's not silver... So what if it's ancient? They don't give you money for your time!

Antique dealers work quickly and uncomplicatedly. Either they immediately determine the cost of the item or take a photograph of the item and send it to a specialist. And he says whether to take the thing and at what price.

PENSIONERS ARE THE MAIN SUPPLIERS

The main resource of antique shops is elderly pensioners. This is understandable: can you really live on a Russian pension?..

One brought a figurine to evaluate - a boy with a dog. This is in memory of my wife. Left with nothing. Antique dealers have a lot of such figurines; why take more?

Then an elderly woman came in. She brought a bag of amber.

When I lived in the Baltics, I bought a lot of this stuff. My granddaughter is getting married, we need help,” she explained.

Lekha, look, do we need such stones? - antiquarian Sergei photographs amber and sends the photo to his partner. Lekha refuses. The woman nervously puts away her supplies and promises to look at something else interesting at home.

I still hope for luck. And, reassuring myself that intermediary antique dealers will still give less than a collector, I decide to find a buyer directly.

Including crazy and aggressive ones.

In order for me to take such spoons, you must first pay me! We'll buy it for just a couple of rubles! - they were excited.

I posted an ad on Avito. The girl immediately called, introduced herself as Svetlana and said that she was ready to give 10 thousand for the spoons.

I want to be sure that the spoons will not go to anyone, so I will make an advance payment. Give me your card number, I’ll transfer the money,” she suggested.

“This is a scam,” I guessed. Fraudsters look for sellers on online platforms and promise them advance payment. First they will ask for your card number. And then, under various pretexts, the code on the back of the card, the password received in SMS, etc. This is enough to pay with your money in the online store.

There was an idea to put spoons up for online auctions like Bag, but to register there you have to take a selfie with a passport, which I didn’t want.

I left the spoons at home. I will use them myself.

OPINION OF ANTIQUES

Treasure under your nose

If you search properly, you will find that many are the owners of treasures.

Modern coins are worth decent money if they were issued in limited editions. For example, one five-ruble note from 1999 of the St. Petersburg mint sold for 150 thousand rubles, 5 kopecks of the same year - for 200 thousand rubles,

1 ruble of 2003 costs 30 thousand rubles.

Sergei Koronevsky recalls how one day his grandmother brought a vase to an antique shop and asked for at least a thousand rubles for it. And the vase turned out to be a work of art from early Holland of the early 18th century, which was eventually bought for $15 thousand.

The inexpensive segment of antiques will become more expensive only if the dollar grows very much, and then it’s unlikely,” sighs antique consultant Grigory Pyatov.

And he gives the example of the Soviet stamps, which were produced in millions of copies. There are so many of them that they will never cost much.

What antique items can be sold for high prices now?

Lifetime editions of classics - Pushkin, Gogol, Lermontov. The price of a book can range from $2 - 3 thousand to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Chekhov's lifetime editions, but not all. This is because during his lifetime he was produced in large quantities. First ones are highly valued. lifetime editions, - says the antique dealer.

He advises paying attention to books from the 20s of the last century, which were illustrated by famous artists. The thicker the book, the worse it is. More rare specimens found among thin publications.

Look on your bookshelves - maybe there are books by Mayakovsky with illustrations by Lissitzky. They can be sold for 300 thousand rubles. and more expensive.

Pre-revolutionary publications on history and military affairs are valued.

Grigory Pyatov spoke about ephemera - ephemeral things. For example, a ticket to the opening of the Moscow metro can now be sold for several hundred dollars. There will also be a demand for an advertising napkin from a pre-revolutionary confectionery, old candy wrappers.

Many people still have old photo albums; maybe there is something worthwhile there? - I ask the antique dealer.

He says that about 30 years ago such things went with a bang. In the 90s, new Russians wanted to “make a biography for themselves” and bought various old portraits for a lot of money. Nowadays, no one except her descendants needs a pre-war photograph of some Aunt Motya on vacation. Of course, portraits made by Rodchenko, Nappelbaum, Khaldei (famous photographers of the 20s and 30s of the last century) will always be in value.

Porcelain Soviet figurines cost from a couple of hundred rubles to several tens of thousands. Size doesn't matter. In an antique shop I saw a modest figurine of a sailor for 20 thousand rubles, and next to it a large sculpture of two lovers for only 5 thousand.

These were made in Ukraine, they are not valued, antique dealers explain.

Figures from the first edition and products from the LFZ (Lomonosov Porcelain Factory) are prized.

The first series of LFZ figurines are easy to identify. There is a hole at the bottom through which the porcelain is blown. It should be no more than 3 mm in diameter. If it is wider, it means that this is the third or fourth edition,” adds antiques expert Sergei Koronevsky.

Today, antiques are of interest not only for museums and art exhibitions. If for you antiques are not just interior and household items, if you understand how important it is to preserve these values ​​for our descendants, you will probably want to purchase antiques as an original gift, testifying to your special relationship with a person, or to decorate your own home . Antique interior items are traditions in material form, which is why they are usually passed down from generation to generation as a great value. Each antique thing expresses the originality, phenomenality of culture and real story. Such items are considered true works of art. They are able to create a special atmosphere in your home and emphasize the chosen design style.

Vintage antiques

In the catalog of the online auction "ARTLOT24" you will find a large selection of antique products and items contemporary art of high artistic and cultural value. The pages of our website present starting prices for antiques in the following categories:

• collection of paintings and graphics by Russian artists;
• rare furniture;
• icons;
• lamps;
• antique decorative items: candlesticks, candelabra, figurines;
• dishes;
• watch;
• mirrors;
• vintage and modern designer jewelry and other antique items.

All lots presented in our antiques catalog undergo careful expert selection, so you can rest assured of their authenticity. Each lot has a photo and detailed description, which will help you get acquainted with the products you are interested in in detail and make your choice. Please note that the catalog shows starting prices for antique items. You can participate in the auction and purchase any lot you like, then pick it up in the exhibition hall in St. Petersburg or order delivery to Moscow or any region of Russia.