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Coveted collectibles. In honor of the season premiere of “Antiques Roadshow” on PBS Monday, one of the show’s appraisers, Lark Mason, made these predictions about the antiques business in 2010. This season of the show will include the late March airing of an episode filmed in Denver last summer.
Large D-flawless diamonds and finer-quality jewelry will be strong sellers, serving as a hedge for wealthy collectors in the turbulent economy.
Postwar fine art by such top artists as Andy Warhol and Claes Oldenburg will be in demand.
Lower-end collectibles, such as mass-produced, commerically created ceramics and glassware, won’t be great sellers, so look for bargains there.
Items under $10,000, also known as middle-market items, including decorative English, American and European furniture, will continue to have a tough time as this segment of the market competes against mass-market retailers offering affordable reproductions.
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Quick household fixes. The January 2010 issue of ShopSmart, a magazine from the publisher of Consumer Reports, includes an article about the items homeowners should always have on hand for speedy DIY repairs. They include:
Assorted pins. These are good for temporarily fixing all sorts of things, so keep a few types on hand. Upholstery T-pins are great for shoring up the hem of a chair or sofa until you can get to a needle and thread. Use corkscrew pins to anchor shifty slipcovers and droopy bedskirts. And safety and stick pins are good for cleaning out the stopped-up holes in salt and pepper shakers and the clogged ports on a gas range’s burners.
Nail polish. This is handy for restoring a shiny finish to painted walls, furniture, and anything made of patent leather. Clear polish is great for sealing cracks on fragile objects, such as Christmas ornaments. Need to fix a small gouge on the leg of a lacquered chest or chair? Bypass the wood filler and reach for nail polish. It creates a dollop, so it plugs a hole, as well as colors it. And because nail polish mimics the gloss of paint and patent leather, it’s ideal for patching up glossy surfaces and trim work, and for coating worn spots on belts, shoes and bags. In a pinch, you can even use it as touch-up paint on scratched appliances.
Duct tape. It can be used to seal cracks and gaps. It comes in a range of colors to match the job, not just industrial looking silver. Use duct tape to conceal a chip in a room vent, tuck in the fraying edges of needlepoint rugs, keep a loose shower handle from popping off and hold car parts together until you can get to the repair shop. But keep in mind that it’s not air- or water-tight, so for certain jobs, such as a loose drain pipe, it’s only temporary.
Hair dryers. Use one to quickly dust intricate, tough-to-clean things like lamp shades, silk flowers, decorative pottery, and even window treatments. (Use the cold setting of the dryer, or you risk burning the fabric.)
Felt-tip markers. They can mask and minimize scratches on wood furniture, fixtures, and trim, from thresholds to shutters. But they’re also great for tile, including ceramic and linoleum, and fabric.
