How To Sell An Antique Collection?

[metice]

I have a friend who has a valuable collection of Buddha antiques from Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Burma. He would like to sell them but no longer has any connections in the antiques trade. I was wondering what might be the best way of going about it. He has no idea of their value so I think we need a professional who can put a price on them. Any idea where we might find someone? Any thoughts on trying to sell them here in Bangkok or perhaps overseas? Many thanks,

[canardo]

AFAIK it is not easy to export real antique buddha related stuff and you need an authentification / paper of origin for each piece...

[rak sa_ngop]

Lots of antique dealers in Rivercity. Pretty pricey stuff for rich farang tourists. Maybe you can find an honest dealer there who can give your friend an honest price.

[rgs2001uk]

Every shopping mall I have been in has at least one shop that, buys, sells and rents Buddha amulets etc.

If it were me I would visit as many places as possible for an appraisal, quite simple really, just walk in and say you want to sell them, wait for an itemised quote, say you will need time to thinka bout it, then move onto the next store.

I have seen whole markets that deal only in what you talk about, on certain days of the week there can be as many as 20 or 30 different dealers.

[RAZZELL]

http://www.thaiantiques.info/rivercity.htm

http://www.riversideauctionhouse.co.th/

RAZZ

[xen]

What about getting a valuation from an insurance assessor. Surely the collection is insured ?

[wayn3fon]

third level of pantip, ngam wong wan or motien plaza. There are shops dealing with Buddhist amulets and statues.

[wayn3fon]

Duplicate

[Naam]

AFAIK it is not easy to export real antique buddha related stuff and you need an authentification / paper of origin for each piece...

export of antique Buddha sculptures is legally virtually impossible and doing it illegally is extremely unwise! there's also no way to assess the actual value which might be a fraction in Bangkok compared to what collectors are willing to pay at an auction in Hong Kong, London or New York.

being a sculpture collector myself i have used several times an "online valuation" company which charges quite moderate fees. of course there is no way online to verify the age of individual pieces and all valuations are "indications only".

http://www.valuemystuff.com/pricing

[breadbin]

Get your friend to make the enquiries. If he's a collector surely he knows where he needs to get these things valued. If not, why?

Fair at for helping but if the collection is very valuable he must enquire on his own. What if you advise him and he sells to find he's undersold? Will he think you're at it?

Dangerous ground is friends and money. Give him the info and let him alone IMO.

[Suradit69]

Depending on what you are selling, check with River City auction http://www.riverside...n.php?lot_id=44 or

Eurseree Collecting http://www.eurseree.com/

I've used both with success. The former is for more general antiques and the latter deals more with coins, stamps, etc., although they also do sell Chinese and Thai antiques. Obviously both places have an Asian bias, but I have seen American and European items at both. They do have people who will help you with valuations or, within reason, will accept your reserve price so you'll know the minimum you'll get if things are sold.

I would NOT recommend you go about trying to sell things directly to dealers or shops in malls.

River City has auctions the first Saturday of every month. Their office and showroom is on the fourh floor at River City. If items are sold, payment is made to you after about one month.

Eurseree's auctions take place every three months in the Narai Hotel on Silom. Mr. Vitoon will visit you at home if you'd rather not haul everything down to his office. He also visits Pattaya from time to time.

Both have conducted sales on behalf of Royal sponsored charities in addition to more typical buyers/sellers.

[Suradit69]

Depending on what you are selling, check with River City auction http://www.riverside...n.php?lot_id=44 or

Eurseree Collecting http://www.eurseree.com/

I've used both with success. The former is for more general antiques and the latter deals more with coins, stamps, etc., although they also do sell Chinese and Thai antiques. Obviously both places have an Asian bias, but I have seen American and European items at both. They do have people who will help you with valuations or, within reason, will accept your reserve price so you'll know the minimum you'll get if things are sold.

I would NOT recommend you go about trying to sell things directly to dealers or shops in malls.

River City has auctions the first Saturday of every month. Their office and showroom is on the fourh floor at River City. If items are sold, payment is made to you after about one month.

Eurseree's auctions take place every three months in the Narai Hotel on Silom. Mr. Vitoon will visit you at home if you'd rather not haul everything down to his office. He also visits Pattaya from time to time.

Both have conducted sales on behalf of Royal sponsored charities in addition to more typical buyers/sellers.

Too late to add to my message above, but both websites have online auction catalogues so you can see the sort of things that have been sold and the prices fetched. (Although at the moment River City's is down because they are loading pictures etc for next Saturday's Sale). Also you can go to River City next Saturday, 5th January, to see what's being sold and the prices realized. They generally have a good deal of Buddhist art work for sale. Khun Noi is the contact person in their office.

[jamkh]

Hi,I am Jam from Afghanistan. I have recently arrived in Bangkok. I have two antique Buddah statues age 2000 years and 1700 years ( 100% authentic) They were part of the national museum there. Only interested and serious people please.. thank you 

[Liverpool Lou]

On 12/30/2012 at 12:12 PM, Suradit69 said:

auctions take place every three months in the Narai Hotel on Silom.

Not very likely since the Narai closed down at the beginning of this year and is being demolished.