Northwest Sellers

We are still here!

2010-02-08T12:04:00.001-08:00

Just keeping so busy it has been difficult to find the time to blog.

Returning from the Arizona trip this week and we will be back to normal hours next week.

Be sure to stop in to see what treasures we've brought back.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

We are highlighted in a local magazine!

2009-12-10T14:38:00.000-08:00

We are highlighted in the latest issue of Mix Magazine. Click on the image to read the feature on Downtown Hillsboro!

A couple of great 1950's Vintage Dresses

2009-08-31T15:43:00.000-07:00

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
NorthwestSellers.etsy.com

Wall of Baubles

2009-08-22T12:03:00.001-07:00

The wall of baubles at Sellers' Emporium. Lots of fun jewelry and more is being upacked.

French Bisque Doll Sells For Over a Quarter of a Million Dollars

2009-08-14T16:35:00.000-07:00

This rare French doll, circa 1914, sculpted by artist Albert Marque (Mark) sold for $263,000 and set a new world record July 12, 2009 at a Theriault’s auction. The French bisque doll is one of a set of 100 commissioned by Marque in the early 20th century. It is believed that only 20 to 25 of these dolls still exist today. The previous record was $215,000 in 2003 for a similar Albert Marque doll.

With it's original human hair wig and elaborate silk and velvet clothing, this is an example of the highest quality a collector can expect to find.

One might think it's crazy to try and sell this doll at auction in the current economic conditions, but quite the opposite. The top quality always brings the top prices, no matter what the economic climate. Truly serious collectors are focused on obtaining the highest quality possible and to them it isn't about the numbers or the dollars, it is about the quality. This doll is certainly the top quality and that was proven by the record breaking price. The auction was won by a collector from Boston.

I would have loved to have been at that auction!

Fourth Annual Main Street Madness Antique Faire

2009-08-10T12:29:00.001-07:00

(click on photo to enlarge)

Some early morning scenes from the 4th Annual Main Street Madness Antique Faire. It was a great day, perfect weather, lots of deals and great customers. Looking forward to next year!

**We had so much fun with our half off sale at Sellers' Emporium we are doing it again today.

Hurry in for some amazing deals! We want to unpack more great stuff and need the space.

Main Street Madness Antique Faire Today

2009-08-09T08:07:00.000-07:00

9:00 am to 4:00 pm, come downtown for the 4th Annual Main Street Madness Antique Faire.
Vendors are set up with great antiques, collectibles, and vintage items.
Sellers' Emporium is having HALF OFF storewide
Sellers' Antique Company having 25% off Sale

All other downtown antique stores are open, some having sales also.

Don't miss this event.

Free admission and parking
MAX to 3rd & Washington and walk one block north to Main St.

Celebrate Hillsboro continues today with family fun activities.

Hillsboro Antique Faire - Antique Madness

2009-08-06T10:06:00.001-07:00

This Sunday, August 9th, downtown Hillsboro's Main Street will be lined with vendors selling all kinds of wonderful antiques and vintage items. Sponsored by the Hillsboro Downtown Business Association, this is our Fourth Annual Antique Faire and is held as part of the Celebrate Hillsboro event. Come downtown for a day of family fun. Antique vendors will be set up on Main Street between 2nd & 3rd.

The downtown Hillsboro antique stores will all be open and most are having sales!
We will have a space in front of our Main Street store with some great deals. We are pulling many items out of the back rooms and the warehouse that have not been seen in our stores and they will be offered at great prices out on the street. We will also be having a sale inside the store. Don't miss this great once a year chance to stroll Main Street and shop for all kinds of antiques and vintage items - Furniture, glassware, toys, dolls, Christmas, primitives, kitchenware, pottery, jewelry and everything in between.

The faire opens at 9:00 am and vendors will stay set up until 4:00 pm. Parking and admission is free and remember, MAX stops just a couple of blocks away.

Hillsboro Estate Sale This Weekend

2009-07-30T11:47:00.001-07:00

Just posted info over on our Oregon Estate Sales Blog for Hillsboro Estate Sale we are holding this weekend.

Why Do We Collect Antiques?

2009-06-25T10:42:00.000-07:00

My personal reasons for collecting are probably equal to or greater than the number of collections of I have. There are some things I collect for the novelty of them. My collection of tin lithograph noise makers for example. I have well over 500 now with few duplicates. It is a silly collection really, and I have no reason to collect them other than I just like them. I started collecting them about 20 years ago because they are colorful, fun, were easily found, and I could pick them up for 50 cents to a dollar each. Within a few years, as my collection grew, the hunt for the unusual started to take over and as that happened the prices of those unusual noise makers rose higher.

I think that is typical for collections. In the beginning you are happy with just about everything you find related to your collection. You get to a point quickly where your collection is full and the missing pieces are the rarest and most expensive. You start to get very choosy and with some collectors the hunt becomes the obsession. It is obvious that we are all as passionate about our collections as we are about the hunt.

I frequenlty say, “Everyone collects something”. I love uncovering treasures and watching customers discover something to add to their collection. To me, that is one of the best parts of this job. I feel like a match maker of sorts, matching antiques with those who collect, appreciate and love them for what they are. I often refer to it as finding the perfect home for an antique item.

Each day, when I talk to others about their collections, I hear many different reasons but all of them come down to one thing – Value.

It may be sentimental value, a set of grandma’s pink depression glass dishes that she only used for special occasions. Today’s collector continues to add to the set, finding a piece here and there and learning what is easy to find and what is hard to find and what they can expect to pay.

Investment value. A smart collector will research antiques, learning how to spot an original from a reproduction or fake, how to determine quality, condition and eventually price. Having good knowledge of what you are doing, buying quality, and paying a fair price will always turn a nice profit for the collector, no matter what the economy. Of course we all look for those "sleepers"* even if it isn't something we collect.

Historic value. Many antiques are items that have historic significance. Some can show the evolution of our history.

Decorative value. Some of our best customers are those that collect to decorate their historic home or office. There are also a large number of jewelry collectors who like to decorate themselves.

I am interested in hearing, what do you collect and why? Leave me a comment and tell me have your collections changed over the years? Do have one consistent thing that you have always collected? Tell me your best “find”, that exiting moment when you added something to your collection that you had been searching for. Those are the best stories, don’t you think?

* A "sleeper" is something being sold by a dealer that doesn't know what they have and has priced that item way below it's perceived value.

Things have been busy

2009-06-23T12:14:00.000-07:00

This has to be our busiest time of year. I know, I say that over and over. We had a wonderful Saturday with the Farmers' Market in full swing and Fathers' Day to follow. Lots of new customers wandering in which we just love to see.

Over the weekend we moved an estate out of a downtown Portland highrise and it is awaiting some space to unload it. Lots of rearranging will be happening this week so that we can add these treasures. Some of the highlights of this Portland estate are 70's furniture including some great nightstands and a cube table and chairs perfect for a small dining area or just off the kitchen.

We will be looking at another estate today and hope to find more interesting items. A few estate sales are in the near future in the Portland, Hillsboro and Salem areas.

The Sellers' Emporium store continues to evolve and more items are displayed daily. Don't forget we have a great selection of vintage clothes and vinyl records at the store on SE 2nd. One of these days we will have signs up on the windows, in the mean time, just look for the stuff out on the sidewalk - you can't miss it.

Sellers' Antique Company continues to add more beautiful glassware, pottery and porcelain, as well as a variety of fine antiques. Really, a selection you won't find anywhere around. All of these items are direct to you from estates.

Happy Monday!

2009-06-15T11:17:00.000-07:00

I am hoping to get myself on a schedule of posting more regularly here. Things are crazy as we continue to sift through boxes from the huge estate we have been working on. We've actually added pieces from two additional estates in the last couple of months so there is LOTS to see and uncover both at Sellers' Antique Company and Sellers' Emporium.

Did someone say owls?

We are still here.

2009-05-28T15:19:00.000-07:00

We have been super busy with all of the unpacking, sorting, pricing and cleaning of estate merchandise. Come on in and see what we have added to both stores.
The 2nd Street store is really shaping up.

I've just set this blog up for mobile posting so I hope I can share some recent great finds with you.

Remember, the Saturday Farmers' Market is in full swing every Saturday 8:30 am to 1:30 pm, Main Street, downtown Hillsboro. We like to open early on Saturdays though out the market season for you early shoppers.

The Tuesday night market will be starting soon too so there's lots of reasons to head downtown.

Hope to see you soon!

Third Anniversary Sale!

2009-02-14T10:58:00.000-08:00

Can you believe it? It is time to celebrate. Sellers' Antique Company has been in the downtown Hillsboro location for three years this week.

So to celebrate we are having a huge sale! A store-wide sale, 30% off your entire purchase at Sellers' Antique Company. Tuesday February 17th through Saturday February 21st. 10:00 am to 5:00 pm each day.

Sellers' Emporium will join in the celebration on Saturday, February 21st, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Don't miss it, we have been adding lots of great merchandise to both stores daily. Click on the mosaic below to see pictures from both stores.

We continue to unpack . . . . .

2009-01-06T18:00:00.000-08:00

Boy, the snow on Sunday was quite a surprise wasn't it? For a few minutes we thought we were back to being under a layer of ice. Luckily, the snow melted overnight and we are back to our regular schedule. Lots of new arrivals each week at Sellers' Emporium. Open Mondays and Saturdays only, stop in to see what's been uncovered.

At Sellers' Antique Company we are also adding new arrivals daily. Open Monday through Saturday, there's always something you haven't seen before.

All the Christmas items are going away this week and it's time for a new theme. How about weddings? The Valentine season will soon be upon us.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T12:33:00.000-08:00

Not 1908, but I love this old postcard.

Happy 2009! We look forward to what this year will bring our way.

A Second Store, A New Blog

2008-12-31T11:40:00.001-08:00

With the addition of our second store, I thought it would be best to have a blog dedicated to the retail store activities. This new blog will have peeks into each store, new arrivals, sales, announcements and you get the idea.

Our current blog Oregon Estate Sales will continue to focus on our upcoming estate sales.

Bookmark them both so you are certain to not miss a thing!

So visit one of our retail stores soon. For fine antiques, glassware, pottery, porcelain, jewelry, watches, fountain pens, german bisque dolls, Steiff, visit Sellers' Antique Company at 247 E. Main Street. Open Monday through Saturday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. For furniture, books, vintage clothes, vinyl records and general vintage and estate finds visit our new store Sellers' Emporium, 147 SE 2nd Avenue. Open Mondays AND Saturdays only, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Both are located in Historic Downtown Hillsboro and easily accessible from the MAX line or there is plenty of free parking in downtown Hillsboro.

This Saturday and Monday at Sellers' Emporium all vintage Christmas items are 50% off.