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<p>[QUOTE="Bluebutterfly55, post: 510531, member: 4297"]Thanks so much for your informative response. You make some good points. No, it's not from a bordello lol...in fact, quite the opposite. Let's just say it's from a "church", and that's as specific as I want to get here. (and no, not church of satan lol). </p><p><br /></p><p>The large items that would require special shipping include a large heavy wooden trunk, an antique chair, a decorative heavy wooden podium, and several other heavy wooden items. The interest in this collection would probably be mostly of a local So. California nature however, since there are national overtones involved, it's highly possible that it could have national interest. International interest would be less, but not zero, depending on the person or circumstances. </p><p><br /></p><p>These items would primarily be coveted for WHO owned them (a particular person), where they came from, and what they were used for, however, some would be valuable without provenance. But overall, it's primarily coveted because of who owned them and also some "notoriety" factor involved (newsworthy factors).</p><p><br /></p><p>Yes, I've seen the signage in museums and most of the time, a family will donate a few items out of memory of a loved one or just for the satisfaction of honoring someone that way, with no thought of compensation. I have done that once myself (donated a very rare yearbook of my grandfather's to a museum collection, with no thought of compensation.) But thanks for clarifying how museums function and their overall approach. And I will read the other links in the forum re: museums. </p><p><br /></p><p>As you say, unless they have a special group of wealthy donors, they won't purchase. One museum I contacted hinted that they will look around and see what turns up among their Board of Directors and let me know if anyone is interested in buying what I have or portions of what I have, but I doubt that will come to fruition..It's a little early in the game to know for sure. </p><p><br /></p><p>I don't think the museum would be a "whole lot richer" with my collection. BUT...I DO think it would bring in more people to view it and boost their bottom line in some way. I just get a bad taste in my mouth when I think of giving up all these things for nothing, after putting expense into it for decades. I realize they have costs in maintaining a display, but I also feel they will publicize that they have this unique collection and generate buzz for their institution at some level. Among some of the items I have is a rare film strip that was deteriorating that I had professionally restored and put on DVD which cost me over $300. And that's just one tiny thing. So, I probably won't pursue the "donate to a museum" concept much longer because I need to recoup the expenses I've already had with this collection. I feel that it's only fair to me and to my family. </p><p><br /></p><p>And Yes, I probably would stipulate that the owner is not to deaccession my collection, because if I were to place it somewhere, I would want it to stay there, once and for all. I would also be concerned about them selling it off to unknown parties down the line in the future.</p><p><br /></p><p>You make an excellent point about provenance with auction buyers vs. ebay buyers. I tend to agree with what you say. In this collection, provenance is everything or just about everything. It is a very "niche" collection, BUT, the person or persons who want it, will throw money at it. Whereas the majority of people who have no emotional connection to it, won't want it at all, at any price. Yes, the local museums would chomp at the bit to get it, because they do have local emotional ties to it of a deep nature. But ebayers who would need to be "educated" about what it is would not be as willing to pay top dollar. </p><p><br /></p><p>So, my next step probably will be to talk to some auction houses in Los Angeles and surrounding area and get a feel for what I am really dealing with here and what is possible. I will say, however, that Ebay isn't off my radar as a potential. I have sold things on Ebay for prices I doubt I would get anywhere else for particular items, so I don't necessarily look down on Ebay as a way to make this happen. Again, it's all about finding the RIGHT buyer for the item. The right buyer will literally throw money at something if they want it bad enough. It doesn't happen that often, but when it does, it's GREAT!</p><p><br /></p><p>If I do go the Ebay route, absolutely I will notify every entity I have contacted so far and tell them about an Ebay auction and see what happens! I'm pretty nervous about handling the shipping on the large items, but I'd figure it out somehow. It would be great if a wealthy donor or patron of one of these institutions would fall in my lap, and who knows, maybe that will happen! I feel that I do have some bargaining power here, because the curators of several museums have indicated an instant desire to have the collection, with one of them calling it "very compelling ". I know what I have, it's just a matter of getting it from Point A to Point B, in a way that's a win/win for all parties. Soooooooo, wish me luck![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Bluebutterfly55, post: 510531, member: 4297"]Thanks so much for your informative response. You make some good points. No, it's not from a bordello lol...in fact, quite the opposite. Let's just say it's from a "church", and that's as specific as I want to get here. (and no, not church of satan lol). The large items that would require special shipping include a large heavy wooden trunk, an antique chair, a decorative heavy wooden podium, and several other heavy wooden items. The interest in this collection would probably be mostly of a local So. California nature however, since there are national overtones involved, it's highly possible that it could have national interest. International interest would be less, but not zero, depending on the person or circumstances. These items would primarily be coveted for WHO owned them (a particular person), where they came from, and what they were used for, however, some would be valuable without provenance. But overall, it's primarily coveted because of who owned them and also some "notoriety" factor involved (newsworthy factors). Yes, I've seen the signage in museums and most of the time, a family will donate a few items out of memory of a loved one or just for the satisfaction of honoring someone that way, with no thought of compensation. I have done that once myself (donated a very rare yearbook of my grandfather's to a museum collection, with no thought of compensation.) But thanks for clarifying how museums function and their overall approach. And I will read the other links in the forum re: museums. As you say, unless they have a special group of wealthy donors, they won't purchase. One museum I contacted hinted that they will look around and see what turns up among their Board of Directors and let me know if anyone is interested in buying what I have or portions of what I have, but I doubt that will come to fruition..It's a little early in the game to know for sure. I don't think the museum would be a "whole lot richer" with my collection. BUT...I DO think it would bring in more people to view it and boost their bottom line in some way. I just get a bad taste in my mouth when I think of giving up all these things for nothing, after putting expense into it for decades. I realize they have costs in maintaining a display, but I also feel they will publicize that they have this unique collection and generate buzz for their institution at some level. Among some of the items I have is a rare film strip that was deteriorating that I had professionally restored and put on DVD which cost me over $300. And that's just one tiny thing. So, I probably won't pursue the "donate to a museum" concept much longer because I need to recoup the expenses I've already had with this collection. I feel that it's only fair to me and to my family. And Yes, I probably would stipulate that the owner is not to deaccession my collection, because if I were to place it somewhere, I would want it to stay there, once and for all. I would also be concerned about them selling it off to unknown parties down the line in the future. You make an excellent point about provenance with auction buyers vs. ebay buyers. I tend to agree with what you say. In this collection, provenance is everything or just about everything. It is a very "niche" collection, BUT, the person or persons who want it, will throw money at it. Whereas the majority of people who have no emotional connection to it, won't want it at all, at any price. Yes, the local museums would chomp at the bit to get it, because they do have local emotional ties to it of a deep nature. But ebayers who would need to be "educated" about what it is would not be as willing to pay top dollar. So, my next step probably will be to talk to some auction houses in Los Angeles and surrounding area and get a feel for what I am really dealing with here and what is possible. I will say, however, that Ebay isn't off my radar as a potential. I have sold things on Ebay for prices I doubt I would get anywhere else for particular items, so I don't necessarily look down on Ebay as a way to make this happen. Again, it's all about finding the RIGHT buyer for the item. The right buyer will literally throw money at something if they want it bad enough. It doesn't happen that often, but when it does, it's GREAT! If I do go the Ebay route, absolutely I will notify every entity I have contacted so far and tell them about an Ebay auction and see what happens! I'm pretty nervous about handling the shipping on the large items, but I'd figure it out somehow. It would be great if a wealthy donor or patron of one of these institutions would fall in my lap, and who knows, maybe that will happen! I feel that I do have some bargaining power here, because the curators of several museums have indicated an instant desire to have the collection, with one of them calling it "very compelling ". I know what I have, it's just a matter of getting it from Point A to Point B, in a way that's a win/win for all parties. Soooooooo, wish me luck![/QUOTE]
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