How to identify and value Adirondack antiques and collectibles - slide show price report

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How to identify and value Adirondack items - slide show price report.

Antique Adirondack furniture, picture frames, signs and similar old hickory items have gained a lot of interest on the collecting scene as of late. Also called rustic, camp, stick furniture and other names, this genre has really just started taking off.

That means there are plenty of great finds out there yet, just waiting to be scooped up.

Below is a slide show price report with hammer prices from Fontaine's Auction Gallery of Pittsfielld MA.

Here are some tips for identifying and buying pieces to collect or invest in.

• Many pieces are signed with the artists name carved in an inconspicuous place. Look closely, as these pieces age, the patina can hide the signatures, making them very difficult to see, moreso than other signed collectibles.
• As with any collectible that becomes popular, reproductions find their way onto the market place. If the wood looks green or live, forget about it as an investment piece. Most pieces should be darkened with a patina of age.
• An Adirondack piece does not have to be very old to be collectible, it just has to be well made and interesting. However, the higher priced pieces tend to be the older ones. However, shoddy workmanship usually never makes for a good collectible, be it a new or an old piece.
• Although some of the stick bases and frames may  not look sturdy, Adirondack stands, tables and chairs should be extremely rugged. 
• Some  great places to find these treasures at affordable prices are hunting lodges when they are sold, change hands or are torn down, backwoods yard sales, local Church and estate sales in upstate New York.
• Don't just focus on the furniture, there are many unusual picture frames, racks and unusual accessories to be found in this genre.

If your thinking of selling your antiques or you are a collector, Fontaine's auction gallery is a major player in the auction world for fine antiques, below is their contact information.

They have a stunning clock auction coming up on May 30th & 31st of 2009.
 

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