Is Technology the New Antiques Market?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the pricing and value of an owl lamp listed for sale on eBay, with participants expressing skepticism about its high asking price of $89,000. The conversation touches on themes of collectibles, market valuation, and the nature of antiques.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question the rationale behind the $89,000 price tag, suggesting it may be a typo or unrealistic given the lamp's appearance and materials.
  • Others humorously speculate about the lamp's value, with one participant joking about it granting wishes.
  • A few participants express disbelief at the lamp's price, stating they wouldn't pay anything close to that amount.
  • Some participants note the seller's high rating and positive feedback, implying that this might not reflect the actual value of the lamp.
  • There are discussions about the lamp's age and uniqueness, with some suggesting it looks like a mass-produced item rather than a rare antique.
  • Participants share links to other owl lamps with lower prices, further questioning the original lamp's valuation.
  • One participant mentions the possibility of the lamp being a product of a small company that produces similar items, indicating it may not be one-of-a-kind.
  • Concerns are raised about the integrity of seller feedback on eBay, with one participant sharing a negative experience regarding misleading product descriptions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally disagree on the value of the owl lamp, with multiple competing views on its worth and the seller's pricing strategy. There is no consensus on whether the lamp is overpriced or if it holds any significant value.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty regarding the lamp's materials and age, with some suggesting it may not be an antique at all. The discussion also highlights the variability in collectible pricing and the potential for market anomalies.

Math Is Hard
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I want to buy this owl lamp:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-collectible-one-of-a-kind-lighted-OWL-rare-piec-/120654099625?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c178b74a9#ht_2141wt_122

!BvG!iYw!Wk~$(KGrHqQOKk!EvPnWIPp+BMDEluV-qw~~_3.JPG
 
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Math Is Hard said:
I want to buy this owl lamp:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-collectible-one-of-a-kind-lighted-OWL-rare-piec-/120654099625?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c178b74a9#ht_2141wt_122

!BvG!iYw!Wk~$(KGrHqQOKk!EvPnWIPp+BMDEluV-qw~~_3.JPG

Why is it 89k?
 
ME_student said:
Why is it 89k?
Because when you rub it a genii comes out and grants you three wishes. I'd go a head and lend her the money if I were you. She'll be good for it after her first wish for 89 trillion dollars.
 
The seller doesn't even know what it's made out of, and doesn't seem to understand the English language very well.

I'd give him $50 for it. $100 tops.

Not that it isn't an awesome owl lamp, but he seems to be under the impression that, because there isn't an exact duplicate of an owl lamp like it, that he's going to be able to sell it for nearly 100k.
 
I wouldn't take it for free. You'd have to pay me 89K to own it.
 
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You don't have to give it back.
 
The seller is pretty active and has a top-rated e-bay seller rating with 2570 ratings and 99.6% positive feedback.

He must be rich!
 
It must be a typo. Clearly, it's not worth more than $8,900.
 
Collectibles >
Animals >
Birds >
Ducks

This is a duck?
 
  • #10
Vanadium 50 said:
Collectibles >
Animals >
Birds >
Ducks

This is a duck?
Well, if it sits-passively-on-the-end-table like a duck,
and lights-up-bright-and-stable like a duck...
:smile:
 
  • #11
If you don't have the funds for the owl, you can still get a http://www.ebay.com/itm/AWESOME-DUST-BUNNY-/360300506572?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53e3956dcc for a reasonable price - just $14.99 plus $3.95 S&H!
 
  • #12
Borg said:
If you don't have the funds for the owl, you can still get a http://www.ebay.com/itm/AWESOME-DUST-BUNNY-/360300506572?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53e3956dcc for a reasonable price - just $14.99 plus $3.95 S&H!

That would go perfect on my shelf next to my dead moth collection!

By the way, I'm willing to part with one of my moths for $236.43. It's very cool! Incredibly, it's shaped almost exactly like a live moth!
 
  • #13
Tell them they're dreaming
 
  • #14
Is this another of e-bays pricing glitches?

*Wonders what MIH was searching for originally* :bugeye:
 
  • #15
I have sold a LOT of antiques on-line and at auction, and I wouldn't give $89 for that crappy-looking lamp. It must be a typo of some kind.
 
  • #16
Evo said:
Is this another of e-bays pricing glitches?

*Wonders what MIH was searching for originally* :bugeye:
Ugliest lamp?
 
  • #17
For the hell of it I searched for "owl oil lamp" (which is hard to say) and came up with this for only $6,500.00:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DRESDEN-TOWN-OF-MEISSEN-ANTIQUE-PORCELAIN-CERAMIC-OWL-OIL-KEROSENE-OLD-LAMP-/220741525684?pt=Antiques_Decorative_Arts&hash=item33653860b4#ht_1153wt_1185

edit: This one's a bit steeper at $15,000.00:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTIQUE-DRESDEN-GERMAN-PORCELAIN-OWL-PARLOR-VICTORIAN-KEROSENE-OIL-OLD-GWTW-LAMP-/220808194938?pt=Antiques_Decorative_Arts&hash=item336931ab7a#ht_750wt_1185
 
  • #18
I'm in the wrong business. Who knew the easiest way to riches was to make Owl lamps?
 
  • #19
zoobyshoe said:
For the hell of it I searched for "owl oil lamp" (which is hard to say) and came up with this for only $6,500.00:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DRESDEN-TOWN-OF-MEISSEN-ANTIQUE-PORCELAIN-CERAMIC-OWL-OIL-KEROSENE-OLD-LAMP-/220741525684?pt=Antiques_Decorative_Arts&hash=item33653860b4#ht_1153wt_1185

edit: This one's a bit steeper at $15,000.00:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTIQUE-DRESDEN-GERMAN-PORCELAIN-OWL-PARLOR-VICTORIAN-KEROSENE-OIL-OLD-GWTW-LAMP-/220808194938?pt=Antiques_Decorative_Arts&hash=item336931ab7a#ht_750wt_1185
The owl in the OP is just a plain electric lamp, doesn't appear to be old either, based on those lights in it's body. I'd be surprised it if was more than 30 years old. Maybe someone's pottery assignment in class.
 
  • #20
Evo said:
Maybe someone's pottery assignment in class.

Wonder what grade they got...
 
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  • #21
$89,000?!
I could buy 8,000 box canvas prints of Paul Ross for that :(
 
  • #22
Evo said:
Is this another of e-bays pricing glitches?

*Wonders what MIH was searching for originally* :bugeye:

Your Christmas present. :smile:
 
  • #23
Math Is Hard said:
Your Christmas present. :smile:
What a wonderful gag-gift, MIH!
 
  • #24
zoobyshoe said:
I wouldn't take it for free. You'd have to pay me 89K to own it.
Free Shipping...hey hey?
 
  • #25
I am amazed to see many people ready to pay large amounts of money for their loved things. Whenever I go out for dinners or attend any parties with my friends which I have to pay, I always try to ask myself if I ever treat my parents, my siblings any good meals like this, by what attitude etc.
 
  • #26
Evo said:
The owl in the OP is just a plain electric lamp, doesn't appear to be old either, based on those lights in it's body.
I know, and it's doubtful they'll get what they're asking for the antique Dresden ones, either.
 
  • #28
Owl always love you! Still the price is a "bit" high.
 
  • #29
I think Evo's got it right: get someone to make the lamp in art class and pay them a few hundred bucks or a little more for their time and materials.

This kind of thing unfortunately makes me respect the practices of original snake oil salesman, and unfortunately this is not a positive realization.
 
  • #30
edward said:
It may be a one off, but it isn't worth more than it would take to make another one.
Highly unlikely it's one of a kind. It looks molded to me, 50's or 60's style. It's conceivable, but unlikely, that it's the only one of its kind left, though.

There's a little company in a town nearby to San Diego here that makes lawn ornaments. I notice they often advertise for sculptors: all their pieces are original to them, but they make as many copies of any given piece as they think they can sell.

I imagine this owl lamp was made by a small company like that. Depending on how well it sold there could have been from 10 to 300 of them made.
 

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