Will the antiques market ever make a comeback?

Question

I inherited my parents' 2500 sq ft Victorian home packed with antiques, art prints, vintage china and glassware and many household items. I've had very little success trying to liquidate the contents. Antique dealers and auctioneers say the items aren't "high end" enough for them to bother with. I even tried having an estate sale, but only three people stopped and didn't buy. I've been asking people I know what they think the problem is and I've had answers like the impact the pandemic is having economically and that antiques are out and minimalist decor is in. The old collectors are dying off and young people aren't interested in antiques which they see as old used junk. Even the thrift shops aren't taking donations of material items now because they aren't selling anything. Will the interest in antiques and estate items ever recover?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

It is the IKEA generation.  No money for and no need for antiques.  People want a 65 inch TV, a TV stand, a couch, a dinette and a fridge, maybe a microwave. Everything else is not required.

Anonymous · Answer

Put the stuff on a folding table in the driveway.
A sign saying free might get rid of it once and for all.
Otherwise rent a dumpster
3 dimensional decorative junk items from garage sales and thrift stores require unnecessary dusting.

oil field trash · Answer

You said it. "the items are not high end enough" There is always a market for real antiques but not for just old furniture.

Anonymous · Answer

There is always a market for good quality antiques. That doesn't mean everything old is worth much just because it is old, there is enough old tat around to prove that.

Trending News

Will the antiques market ever make a comeback?

4 Answers