posted on October 2, 2001 07:17:29 PM new
Last week, in the middle of the night, someone (had to be at least two people) walked into our yard and took an antique pewter pond statue.
We are trying to think of all the types of places the thieves might attempt to sell the statue. The obvious places are auctions and antique stores; I've even checked eBay but that seems really unlikely unless it were sold regionally, since it weighs 100 pounds and is over three feet tall.
We live in a small town and the newspaper was kind enough to run a front page story with a picture, but that has produced no leads.
We talked to our insurance company - they'd like to the be the next in line to rip us off. The adjuster is just sure that the company that finds replacements for them can come up with another one (the statue is a minimum of 91 years old but could be far older if the art expert who repaired it in the 60's was correct). Well, no big deal if they can't find one ...he is just sure that we have all these great artisans out here in Oregon (he mentioned woodcarvers as an example) - he thinks we can just have a new one made. Ugh.
If anyone has any ideas where else to check, or suggestions on what searches I should be doing on eBay, I would VERY much appreciate it!
posted on October 2, 2001 07:46:21 PM new
I am sorry to hear that this happened. I sincerely hope you find it.
I will say do not take "NO" for an answer from the insurance company. I will tell you that I pitch a COMPLETE FIT. I have had my car repaired with GENUINE FACTORY parts, I have gotten a QUALITY roof, and I have even had the power company send the PRESIDENT to my house and then totally restore my destroyed land in 24 hours with a bulldozer crew. If you drive them insane...they will not make you accept a wood carving.
posted on October 2, 2001 07:48:50 PM new
I think there's a newspaper called "Antique Weekly" ,or something similar, that has a column on stolen antiques. Maybe you could find their website. It's usually available and widely read around the antique malls in our area.
posted on October 2, 2001 09:37:48 PM new
My small suburban town has been recently plagued with lawn ornament thefts......and we're not talking Pink Flamingos, either. Upscale grecian urns, statues, etc.
The local newspaper has printed two theories.....one that they are going to the flea markets or even tag sales. The other theory is that it's bored teens. Good luck to you!
posted on October 2, 2001 10:13:14 PM new
I hate to say it, but your antique was probably resold on the sly, with a ready buyer in mind at the time of the theft. It's not unusual in my experience to encounter less-than-scrupulous dealers who see their regular customers at flea markets and go "Pssst, come have a look in the back of my truck. Got something special I've been saving for you."
Still, I hope I'm wrong and you recover your pond statue.
As for suspects, have you had anybody over to your house to do lawn work, anything like that lately? Strangers in the yard who might have had a chance to eyeball the statue up close?
posted on October 2, 2001 10:36:06 PM new
I knew this would be a good place to ask for help.
Jt: If it were just me dealing with the insurance company, it would be a disaster. I'm fortunate that my DH can make an absolute nuisance of himself and get things done - he is really good at wearing people down with logic (makes it a pain to have personal arguments with him though). I'd really rather not be victimized twice - the theft was bad enough.
Saabsister: great suggestion! I've seen Antique Weekly before - most of the antique shops here carry it. I will check into that right away - thank you.
gravid: ugh. I can't think of a worse fate for my statue. It's an awful thing to contemplate - but I suppose its something I should check on just the same. Thank you for mentioning it as a possibility- I sure hope that is not what happens to it.
Ohandrea: I just found out that two weeks ago there was another theft from a nearby yard - I believe it was some older cast lions. I'll have to check with the owners and call the PD again. I will also notify the folks around town with especially nice yard goodies to warn them.
Thanks for all the ideas - I DO appreciate it!
Argh
posted on October 2, 2001 10:37:04 PM new
Garden architectural pieces are in big demand, by all sorts, dealers, end users, architects, large garden centers. It is so big in the eastern part of the states that even newly made distressed to look old sell like hotcakes at Brimfield and other antique shows...and these are known to be repros.
posted on October 2, 2001 11:02:11 PM new
Spaz: Our house is really oddly situated on the lot (it's a third of an acre lot)...basically they crammed the house as close as they could to one side, in effect giving us a tiny strip of yard on one side, no back yard, but one hell of a yard on the other side. You really couldn't even see the statue unless you happened to look in the right place; we've had many friends over repeatedly that never noticed it. We do all our own yard work, haven't had any repair work done for several years. The guy that reads our electricity meter is the only person who has been in our yard that I know of.
The base of the statue is really shallow - I'm pretty sure that the pedestal was original or was built to fit the statue. I know its old, I have pictures of both pieces from 1910. Anyway, the pedestal is still here and I have no idea if they tried to take it as well. It needs to sit on something though... I wonder what kind of business could/would make something like that.
DH did make up a packet that we've been either taking in or mailing to anyone we even remotely think may be approached to buy it. It has good pics of the statue, old newspaper articles about it, etc.
The thing is that it doesn't strike me as obviously valuable. The friends we've talked to since the theft who had seen the statue were all surprised that it was pewter; none of them knew that it was worth much. I'm not sure what that means - did a dealer who guessed what it was nab it? Whoever took it had to have at least two people and a truck; not only was it heavy but it was unweildy to move. And it's a good 75 feet from the pond to the street in either direction. We had trouble moving it three feet!
Well, I will keep plugging away at contacting people, but the longer its missing, the less likely it is that we'll ever recover it.
posted on October 3, 2001 06:03:53 AM new
I have a story that is loosely related to this.
I competitor of mine who lives not far away, and shops many of the same places as I do for resale merchandise, recently had a very good find. A VERY good find. He bought the thing for $250 and it brought $4000.00 on ebay. The high bidder was the mother of the lady it was stolen from. She watched the auction for nearly a week and got the high bid. Then she called my competitor a couple of times to make arrangements (she wanted to drive to his home to pick it up, or have someone pick it up). I guess something about the conversations got him to thinking it was a "hot" item and he checked with the police. Sure enough, it was reported stolen (serial number match, and the seller probably had the s/n in the description because buyers want to know what the number is to determine the year it was made). He took the item back to where he got it, got his original $250 back, and the rightful owner got her item returned.
I'm not saying my competitor did anything wrong. Afterall, he bought the item from a licensed dealer and had a receipt for his purchase.
The same thing could have very well happened to me. Glad it wasn't me.
posted on October 3, 2001 06:09:41 AM new
I'm sure sorry about the theft. Unfortunately the insurance company has the law on it's side this time. Homeowner's policies provide for replacement with items that will serve the same purpose equally well. Although we know a reproduction is not the same as your antique, it will 'serve the purpose'.
Antiques must be scheduled, appraised, and a rider attached to your policy. Otherwise, the company has the right to replace it with new, similar items.
If you don't want to go to the expense of appraisals and riders, keep video records of every item, every open drawer or cabinet, in your house, and a record of the amount paid for that item. And make sure your contents coverage is sufficient to cover the total inventory. Also remember that you will have a deductible that applies to any theft, unless you have the appropriate riders and endorsements, and a limit on the amount covered for jewelry, antiques, etc. per item. I'm the first to admit the insurance companies are sneaky. Get your policy out and read it carefully-you probably don't have nearly the coverage you think you do.
posted on October 5, 2001 04:43:47 PM new
Thank you Femme......and welcome back! I haven't been a regular poster but as a long time lurker I remember you well!
posted on October 5, 2001 06:21:59 PM new
I was once doing an antiques show and was walking around prior to show opening. Lo! I came across a lovely dresden stamp dispenser...which happened to be mine I asked the seller when did she purchase it, and it was just about the time I LOST it at another show...I had one of my initials in black ink on the underside and showed her...
Well, I knew that dealer from years and years back, and knew SHE had not lifted it from me, so, I let it go...
Another time, I was doing another show and was selling a rather rare Art Glass lamp...when another dealer from San Francisco walks into my booth and starts yelling: That is MY lamp...You STOLE my lamp....
Well, I had purchased the SHADE from a dealer, and two years later found a base for it.
The point being: one can sometime trace an item through attending Antiques Shows, or going to live auctions...
Gosh Shosh
Moi
[ edited by shoshanah on Oct 5, 2001 06:24 PM ]
I asked the seller when did she purchase it, and it was just about the time I LOST it at another show...I had one of my initials in black ink on the underside and showed her...