It's unlikely that you will find a million-dollar painting at the flea market.
But at Sotheby's, the famous auction house, appraisers say about 5 percent of letters they get contain photos of paintings or furniture worth $10,000 or more.
Furniture
* The item should impress you and stand out from other items at the sale.
Look for great workmanship on the legs, arms, handles and doors.
* Imperfections: Don't worry about chairs that are missing upholstery.
Much of the value of great furniture is in the frame. The legs should be in good condition.
Paintings
* Small tears are OK unless they run through the face on a portrait.
* Check the back for labels and stamps from a museum or gallery.
* Don't believe the signature. All forgeries have a famous signature.
* Content. Paintings of women and still lifes of fruit or flowers, that have an intrinsic decorative value, recoup the purchase price better than hobbyist paintings of hunters, for example.
Collectables
* Ask why the item is being sold, and where it came from. Any information about its history could help to establish authenticity.
* Smaller pieces are more valuable. Whether they are models of trains or antique furniture, collectors have a limited space to display them.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.
