One Man's Art May Be Another Man's Loot...

We've been pretty lucky.

Perhaps because we're cautious by nature and perhaps because our business model greatly reduces the chances of theft from us or from one of our customers, we've escaped the sort of large-scale looting that does go on in some areas of the antiques world today.

We've seen it happen, and seen the effect it has on collectors. And we understand completely the devastating impact it leaves on a collector's psyche, being collectors ourselves. That some yobbo in a pickup truck could invade your home or off-site lockers and help himself to what it took you years to put together is not something we like to think about.

But we do. So, we take the usual preventative steps, install the usual safeguards and a few others to make thievery more difficult, try to live our lives, and help others who find themselves victimized by these no-necked, knuckle-dragging vermin pick up and, hopefully, get their precious items back.

Again knocking on that lucky nearby wood, we've never handled a stolen item or felt the bite when someone claims the piece you found under a dusty horseblanket in a Vermont barn is theirs, stolen from sweet aunt Maude in 1932. But we know folks who have.

As collectors of California art we were struck by the tale of Mr. Jim McCarty, who lost most of his beloved early California works to thieves many years ago. Jim took all the precautionary steps and still ended up losing his paintings, many by artists we collect ourselves. So we thought we'd post a picture of one of his paintings in hope you may recognize it and be able to return it to him.

We operate under the principle that if we all watch out for one another we come out stronger for it.

What A Year! Thank You From Antiqueswest...

It has been a nutty year on many fronts, with great change happening on the broader front of national and world news. We're hoping for better things in 2009, with our people back from foreign lands, some resolution to the attack on our country and a return to the value set that made this land great but which many seem to have lost sight of in recent years.

On the antique front, it was a good year, with many new things coming up out of the weeds - partly due to the "new economics" which changed the fortunes of many. We were pleased to handle many new items and move them along to happy new caretakers, helping out their former owners in the process.

What was moving? Antique arms did well, with concentration on flinters and muzzle-loading arms from the Civil War, and edged weapons selling briskly, especially the presentation-grade models.

With our Western focus, Gold Rush and Early California items did well this year, with buyers exhibiting interest from all over the world and not just the Golden State. As we have in years past, we were pleased to re-unite family pieces sold off and forgotten long ago with descendants eager to re-connect with their ancestors.

This was done on an almost regular basis and always added a sense of joy to what we do. We may be a business, but we like the idea of old things going back to the people who made or originally owned them. Antiqueswest was also pleased to find its photographica collection eagerly sought out by researchers, scholars, and writers looking for ways to illustrate their research. We were pleased to help with this where we could, as we appreciate the effort to study and learn from our past.

We rung in the New Year quietly, with an appropriate bottle of bubbly and time spent with family. A check of the computer this morning shows more people lining up to have their antiques hosted on the site so look for more fine things in the days to come and keep in touch when you can... we like to hear from you.

All best, and best wishes for our collective success in 2009!


J.D.

"No, really, business is booming..."

We had the pleasure of attending a Holiday cocktail party with friends over the weekend (okay, it was more than one party, I admit it) and I could not help but notice how our friends would peer at me, place a consoling hand on my shoulder and say: "So, how is business?"

The answer, I'm pleased to report, is that business is quite good.

It seems that the current downturn, while serious and certainly worthy of investigation at certain levels (ahem) has had only a limited effect on our sales and, in fact, is driving consignments as some people look to sell things they may not have under ordinary circumstances.

We've had some nice, early Gold Rush-era documents come in, as well as some other items which didn't last long, and seem to be enjoying a spate of contact with authors and researchers hoping to make use of our photos. We do help scholarly endeavors when we can.

But all this has had little impact on those who feel the market downturn has completely closed us down. That would explain why my answer of "you know, things are still pretty good" drew such disbelieving looks.

Well, that's the way it is. More things coming online soon, as well as a new dog in the family my wife promises will be hers and taken care of by her and the kids. It's okay, as unrepentant animal lovers more life in the house the better, but the resident cats will undoubtedly have some adjustments to make.

Stay in touch, thanks for all your calls and letters and emails. And good hunting!

J.D. O'Connor

Remembering this Sunday in 1941...

Remembering all those who fell on this day in 1941 and in the maelstrom that followed.
NEVER forget...

Antiques Company Joins the 21st Century

Yes, we've caved in to convention and technology and upgraded our Web site. Many of you were far too polite to ask in recent years, but we felt it was time.

We hope you have a moment to check out the site. We've added search functionality, one-click consignment buttons, one-click valuations and upgraded our e-commerce link, preferring to tie it in directly to our bank rather than PayPal.

We're adding more things every day. If you have anything you want to consign, let us know... and we are still buying nice old things from time to time so let us know what you have and what it will take for you to part with it.

Hope to hear from you all soon. Thanks for staying loyal and contributing so much, that's what makes this antiques game so much fun!

Best,

J.D. O'Connor