We love treasure hunting!!

My fiance, Holly, has been picking nearly as long as she has been walking, long before the History Channel's American Pickers made it cool. We share in this love and often will spend our weekends scouring yard and estate sales, looking for under-appreciated items with special value, meaning , or history. We don't limit ourselves to any one niche(although we do love art and music). We find meeting interesting people, and in fact sharing or listening to stories will often give you some special insight into an item, and may ocasionally even lighten up the price. Whether the person is enjoyable or difficult to speak with there is always a lesson to be learned, and we find that most of the time it is the former. Moving from Tennessee to a metropolis like Oakland, on the east side of the San Francisco Bay, there are many opportunities to find treasures that people are parting with for various reasons. Give us something quirky, unique, oe special we will take it and appreciate it.

In this blog I hope to share some great finds, interesting history, and general tips for picking. First of all, If you love something and you can afford it, it is worth it. Secondly it is important to examine your motive in purchasing an item. Will it hang in your home for thirty years? Are you planning on taking it home and selling it on Ebay? Do you have connections to collectors willing to pay top dollar for top quality, rare items? Or will it just make somebody else smile? All these should guide you in your strategies while scouring for your personal treasure. If you are planning on selling things it is important to be well informed. It is also imperative that you realize that ebay is somewhat like selling fine art... an item is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. Just because someone is selling that Star Wars figure for $2000, doesn't mean someone is willing to buy it for that amount. Research, research, research.

Here is one of the treasures we have found since moving to California.

I picked this at an estate sale near Piedmont Ave. in Oakland. Holly and I just happened to stop at this sale the last hour of the last day and the gentleman said, "Grab a box and I'll make you a great deal." We also shared our story of recently moving to Cali from Tennessee with no more than would fit in our Jeep, including our 60 lbs. dog. What this amounted to was roughly $1 per item on things that had been marked anywhere from $2-$20. I spotted this small, cast iron corn bread pan in with about six others. What struck me about this particular item was its size and that it had the patent date of  July 6th, 1920, the maker: Krusty Korn Kobs, and number 1317. Easily identifiable markings make looking up an item for research much easier. Sure enough a goole search led me to a listing on http://www.goantiques.com/ with a price tag of $65. Not too bad for a $1 purchase.

The following information was also provided.

Unusual Size Wagner Ware Muffin Tray. Handle to Handle Tray measures about 8 1/2" and a width of about 4 1/4". Underside of the Tray says Krusty Korn Kobs "Reg. In U.S. Pat. Off" Tea Size Wagner Ware Sidney 0 1317 C Pat'D. July 6, 1920.  Would make a nice addition to any Wagner or Muffin Tray collection.