Please post away! This place is full of people who love to look at olds tuff and try to figure out what it is.
I Can't wait for your first group of pictures!
Linda C

a lot of that stuff is probably collectible.

Sort the stuff into categories and box it up. Pick a category, get some books about it from the library and start identifying.

You will need a good magnifying glass to look for marks, some tags to label things with.

Oh My Goodness!
I figured because of the long holiday weekend, I wouldn't get a response 'til possibly Monday, most likely Tuesday.
Imagine my surprise...Thank you soooo very much LindaC and LazyGardens for your replies; a real load off my mind knowing there are kind people like you out there to point me in the right direction!

I played around with Picture Trail and have a few pix posted (I think) so with any luck you can click on the link.
My apologies - some things I can't get close enough to take a good picture because there is so much stuff piled in front of it. I'll post more pictures tonight after the extended feasting family leaves.

I will go to the library Friday and see what types of books they have on identifying markings on pottery/China/porcelain and I will look for my lupes; I have several because I was in the micrographics field for years (why didn't I think of that?! lol).

Thank you both so very much!
Amity

Here is a link that might be useful: Mom & Dad's Things

Post more!!....The cup and saucer are English Bone china.....very nice....don't know what else to say
The corh jar looks to Be Shawnee corn....there was somes tuff made that looks like that but isn't....but that looks really liks the real stuff!
For what it is....worth several hundred....I haven't kept up on the values....but it's fairly big bucks.
What else have ya got?
Linda C

You need an appraiser. Antique shops are not in that business, they are for buying and selling. If you want to sell your items, most will give you a fair dealers price, which is usually about half of the value. Some antique dealers will do appraisals on the side, but for a fee. If you want to do the work yourself, ebay searching is the best place, because in the end, an item is worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

Betty

I am very "anti-appraiser" since I debated getting my license and found that all I needed to do was buy and sell "antiques"...and pay a license fee.
To prove that I was buying and selling antiques, all I needed was a tax number.
So...because someone calls themselves an appraiser, means simply that they buy and sell...even just a little, and have paid the fees to be "certified". No one can know about everything....and while some appraisers are very knowlegable and honest, many will guess about things they know nothing about.
If you want to know what your things are worth...you need to know what they are ( post pictures and ask here and other places) then look and see what people are paying for such things.
Linda C

Hi Mrskjun,

I didn't know there was a difference...I just figured an antique shop, the owners would know what the item was and what it's worth.

Looking through the yellow pages, we found we are pretty limited when it comes to actual appraisers.
Some ads state they will come to the house and BIL immediately refused that idea... he didn't give me a reason but I could tell he was absolutely opposed to it.

As far as selling, BIL hasn't decided exactly what he wants to do. He was more looking for prices so that he could insure and store until he knows what's what and what he wants to do with everything.
Looks like I have my work cut out for me.
Thank you for your response!

Linda,

The information about appraisers and license is worth it's weight in gold to me.

I just felt "funny" when I would ask questions about price and the subject was skirted (and rather cleverly, too! *s*) by several folks...you know that uncomfortable gut feeling that tells you something ain't right?

We had two guys tell us they would rather come to the house and one of the guys said they would like to appraise the "lot" and set us up for an Estate Sale on the property.

I told him we didn't want to sell the property (shows you how much I didn't know! lol) and he said no, he'd come and evaluate, tag things and then have an estate sale right there at the house.
BIL is not going for that, especially since he's not sure what he wants to do with any of the stuff.

And Linda, for your viewing enjoyment, I posted a few pictures we took late yesterday. *s*

I must confess, I ate so much that I wasn't much in the mood to lift and haul piles and stacks of stuff just to get to other stuff.
I did get a far-away pic of an old rocker and a two-part pic of a chair that belongs to a 6-piece set.
If I can get them off my camera (they refused to budge this morning lol) I will put them on the Picture Trail site too.

Thank you both so very much for all this info!!

Blessings,
Amity

Amity--there are a number of good estate sales outfits in and around LA. I haven't used them, but I've gone to a number of their sales, and both outfits seem to really know what's going on andget good prices for the items.
You might want to take a look at their sites and see it they're right for you.
One is EstatesalesLA.com and the other is Sharon Yost in Pasadena--estatesaleshop.com.
The book might be of interest to a collector, and you might call around to the various rare book dealers in Los Angeles. Medical knowledge has grown, but if the books have engravings, illustrations, etc, they might valuable.

That cooky jar looks like it is worth money, along with some of the other items. I know finding what things are worth is a pain, I have done it though. One thing at a time. Had a blue flo blue platter and did research, and found out it was worth $370. So don't let things slip through your hands fast, do your homework. I think the antique dealers just want a fast dollar, and to get things cheap. My sis sold her mil basement full of Roseville and Hull pottery, for $50. I almost chocked. Can't touch one piece for that. Here is one site with a lot of stuff on it for research, although there are many.
http://www.antiqnet.com/
Darlene

Darlene, of course antique dealers want to make a dollar. We either pay a mortgage or rent on a shop. We also have to pay utilities at a higher rate than a homeowner, insurance is also more expensive, advertising, employees, etc. We buy the books for research. A piece may also sit in the shop for a year or more before selling. If a dealer paid you what an item is worth and turned around and sold it for what it is worth. He can close his doors at the end of the first day :).

Betty

Dealers in anything buy wholesale.....and sell for a profit. The selling price of an antique or collectable is ( or should be) to a person who will re sell it, about 1/2 to 2/3 of it's value.
So....the price you can sell your antiques, to a dealer is about the 1/2 of what they should be appraised at, for replacement. When seeking an appraisal on anything, from jewelry to antiques, to clothing, you should always specify whether the appraisal is for insurance or estate pourposes. If you are insuring an item, you want to insure for what it will cost to replace it, for estate purposes, youw ant to insure an item for what you can sell it for. One is a wholesale price and the other retail.
However, you can very often find a collector who will be willing to pay you more than a dealer will, for an item they are collecting
That's why you do the research your self.....and never sell an tiem to the person who appraises it !!!
Linda C

Amity:
Here's the economics of running a retail shop ... if you pay more than 1/2 of what you plan to sell it for, you GO OUT OF BUSINESS! They weren't trying to cheat you, but they can't pay you $90 for something that will sell for $100. The only stores that can have really low markups are grocery stores, and they turn their inventory (sell it ALL) at least once a week or more.

How much did you pay for that stuff? Any money you get from it is "found money" at this point.

To get this over with FAST: call in a professional estate sale manager.

To maximize the money you get, be ready to spend a LOT of time identifying items and selling them on eBay, packing and shipping ... that corn cooky jar, for example, might bring $100 or so IF it's in perfect shape. How much time do you have to spend?

For now ... minimize the damage to what's there by sorting it and storing it carefully. What is "hot" varies, but onl medical and nursing books sell, as do vintage magazines (old enough that they arent't cluttering thrift shops).

Look for a antique dealer that is registered with some association. Can't remember which one--Also check with your local museums they have people who specilize in antiques. On PBS there is a show called Antique Road Show. You might email them for ideas. Like you say, most dealers only want to give you a token of what it is worth. Are you near San Clemete? There is a big store near the mission which sells items on consignment. They might help.
I too have some items i would like to sell,

You have recieved a lot of good advice here already. I did want to add that eBay has some very good message boards (go to community) as well and pictures can be posted there too so that you can get help identifying your items.

If you do not care to sell the items yourself on eBay, there are several businesses that will list them for you (usually taking about 50% in commision). You just need to decide how much time you want to put into selling the estate.

Good luck!

I found a couple of listings for your Shawnee Corn King cookie jar on collectible websites - prices range from around $200-$350. There's an ebay auction (7367762321)ending today that is up to $255 with 6 hrs to go. The one on eBay still has its foil label. And, of course, condition makes a difference.

Check the bottom of your jar - should say "Shawnee USA 66."

Corn King = Yellow kernels
Corn Queen = White kernels

Here's a link to an online newsletter that has some info about Shawnee, and the Corn King series in particular.

Here is a link that might be useful: Shawnee newsletter

Until I see the mark on the bottom of the cookie jar I am not convinced it's "King Corn"....there was one product, made earlier that the shawnee stuff....made out of stoneware not pottery.....and brings a lot more.....when you can find it.
Linda C

I feel like 'Guess where I spent my summer vacation', only it's 'Guess where I spent my Thanksgiving 4-day holiday'.

Ideefixe,
Thank you SO VERY MUCH for the web sites and information about books with engravings, illustrations etc....so much appreciated!!!!

Darlene,
I didn't know about www.antiqnet another one to add to my list...Thank you so very much!
I got interested after seeing the Staff cup and saucer. I remembered an elderly neighbor who used to tell me if there was ever a fire in her house, rescue her Staff collection first. That's what gave me the idea it was something either precious or of monetary value.
And no kidding it's a pain. When BIL asked me to help, I had nooooo idea...
I figured, wrap stuff in old towels, put in box, mark box with wide felt tip pen. Done. Nope! lol

Hi Betty,
Oh, I understand that store owners of any kind have to keep their doors open by making a profit. And the bigger the profit, more power to em!! *smile*
My family have all been in the catering business and I understand about overhead and insurance, etc.
I guess I was looking for more of a "homey-let's help each other" approach, you know, kinda like here at the board. *smile*
I wouldn't have minded so much had someone been up front, honest with the value of some of the things I showed them instead of hemming and hawing.
I would have rather had someone say "I'll give you X dollars for that right now and I can probably sell it for XX because the average going price is XX."
Heck, at that point, being tired and all, I would have handed it to him and said "Sold!!". After spending almost 4 hours yesterday at the library, this collectors research stuff is hard work and my eyes are still burning. lol

Lazygardens,
You are so right!!
Besides being cross-eyed from reading so many research type books, and having a red nose from all the wiping because of all the sneezing because of all the dust, the only real problem I'm having is BIL.
I will start to pack something and he'll say "Wait, can you research that for me because I'm not sure if I want to sell that or keep it for one of the -nieces, nephews, grandkids-."
So, out of the box it comes and into another box that goes home with me and I stay busy researching until the next time I go to the house, with more dust, more nose blowing, more...... well, you get the idea. *smile*

MarieND,
You too have some items? Neat!
I am not too far from SC and we do go Mission Hopping several times a year so now I have even another option....Thank you so much!

Lydia,
Thank you so very much about the Ebay Antiques board!!!
Wow, it's an active board, that's for sure!
And about selling the stuff myself on Ebay.....ssshhhhhh!
Don't let BIL hear you say that!!! LOL
But dimes to noduts I bet that's where you'll find me in 6 months...Ebay. *smile*

Cecilia,
I hadn't thought about checking the bottom of the jar when I was there over the 4-day holiday.
The Corn cookie jar is on a counter that hasn't been cleaned in what looks like years and there is old, dried coffee stuck to the back of the jar and then the jar looks like it is stuck in the dried coffee, right to the counter.
Wow, thank you for the links and information!
Although, I don't think a sticker would have survived on the cookie jar on the counter. *smile*

Linda,
After seeing Cecilia's link, you betcha I'm going to be checking the bottom of that dern cookie jar! LOL

I've added three more pictures to the album....A chair top, a chair bottom and a rocking chair top.
Sorry, it was either as close as I could get without tripping on stuff or I was too tired to move any more stuff to get a better picture.

This researching is gosh-dern hard, tedious work and my hats off to all of you that do it regularly!!

Here is a link that might be useful: Dining Chair and Rocker

Hey, LindaC - who manufactured the stoneware corn cookie jar you mentioned? Wouldn't that be something if Amity's cookie jar turns out to be the older one instead of the Shawnee!

Shawnee made the stoneware ones.....I believe...
It's a heavier stuff....less shiny and feels heavier.
I need to talk to my friend who collected a full kitchen full of the stuff.....and sold it all.
I'll see what I can find out.....And as I recall, it doesn't say "Shawnee" on the bottom of the old stuff.....but I'm rusty about corn dishes....
Linda C

"the only real problem I'm having is BIL. I will start to pack something and he'll say "Wait, can you research that for me because I'm not sure if I want to sell that or keep it for one of the -nieces, nephews, grandkids-.""

So hand it to HIM and say ... "when you have made up your mind, let me know."

THE FIRST GOAL IS TO GET THE STUFF SORTED AND PACKED SO IT CAN'T GET FURTHER DAMAGED, and so you can start thinking about selling the house. Just sort by general classification, pack it and research it later.