What collectible market would you feel comfortable calling yourself knowledgeable on?

Mid century modern in these categories:
Pottery
Dinnerware
Lighting
designers

I feel I've been buying and selling this stuff long enough to be able to identify the more common stuff and some of the uncommon.
It would be nice to know what areas others are knowledgeable for possible help with identification when needed,I'd be more than happy to help when I can.

I can't think of any particular area that I would consider myself knowledgeable on, but I *do* have a few specific books that can be helpful. Maybe if we list the books we have, so if we need someone to look something up?

For example (without going to my bookcase) I have a book about Spoons and all of the hallmarks (really, a WHOLE book, thick too, about just spoons! LOL

I also just got "Miller's American Insider's Guide to Twentieth-century Furniture"

I've got some others but need to make a list. Should we make a separate thread for something like that?

Right now I'm focused on Eames era stuff, danish modern furniture, that sort of thing.

I have two spoons that came along in a box of old tinware and stuff from a New England estate. They look like pewter. The metal is very soft. There are no markings, but on the backside is a chicken foot type motif at the base of the bowl. I've never found anyone who could tell me anything about them. The visual style is the old look, with a wide rounded bowl. When I get a chance I'll scan them.

Oh. Sorry to hijack this thread.

I also have a thing for spoons. Spoons and chairs. I guess I can see the connection.

Anyway, recently I found a couple of what I thought were very unique large serving spoons. Wouldn't you know it, in both cases, I found an identical one on ebay. Just one, each time. But they are not there now, only during the period when I brought mine home. That happens to me way too often, it gets a little creepy. First thing I always do it check to see if the seller is located in my city or state, thinking they go to the same thrift stores I do. But they never are.

both American and European,also lots of interior design books from the 60s and 70s.
There are 2 web sites that I love for info on mid century designers, Moddish.net and the other is designaddict.com,both excellent sites with forums to boot.

in my travels and am amazed at some of the prices realized.That seems to be a very healthy market.I imagine it took you years to become expert.Very cool.

By the mid 90s it was pretty much over.

In the old days, you would find fountain pens everywhere, for very cheap. Only a few pen nerds had any interest in them. Today, the pens still out there "in the wild" are pretty much all later model stuff that, back when the hobby was new, no serious collector had any interest in. Nowadays they command a pretty dear price. The older stuff is VERY dear.

There was a time, when the ebay pen market was booming (it is pretty dead the last five or six years) when it seemed as if every pen collector would own every pen at least once. The market was simply turning over already collected pens; none were being found in the wild.

I haven't bought a pen in maybe 10 years. Occasionally I trade them (there might be some 'balancing' money involved) with other collectors or dealers (actually just glorified collectors) at a pen show,

Some knowledge of minerals and stuff like that.

and late 19th through late 20th cantury firearms. Also a little knowledge of pocket knives and an bit on books.
My dad was a book scout, and I started going with him on a few buys when I was about 8.
I love any flea markets, yard sales, thrift shops, and have evidently developed a pretty good eye, but I'm not really much of a specialist-more of an impulse buyer. It keeps me happy.

mark

able to ID it for me and estimate its value? I'm not sure of the particulars but I will ask her. Thanks

someone here will know what you need. Spent 25 years in the biz, will never know enough. All I can be sure of is that I'm glad to be out now. Not only am I too old but good stuff is too hard to find. Still stop at every antiques shop, every yard sale and flea market that I can find. Once in your blood, it never goes away.
I keep looking for the next Declaration of Independence but it seems not to be in the cards.

...years of looking for interesting vinyl records has given me a pretty good sense for which ones are valuable.

believe it or not.

I suppose "knowledgeable" is a bit of a stretch though, 'cause the field is so deep and so vast. I have a fairly decent reference library and an extensive collection of auction catalogs with results dating back to the 50's.

..along with music related stuff like concert posters, radio station memorabilia, etc.