Judith Miller is regarded as a world authority on antiques and antique collecting. She is co-founder of the international bestseller Miller’s Antiques Price Guide of which she was publisher until 1990. She has written over 80 books and is a contributor to BBC’s Homes & Antiques magazine. Her recent television work includes The House Detectives for BBC and It’s Your Bid for Discovery Channel.
This week Miller has arrived in Johannesburg where she is guest of honour at the National Antiques Fair. The occasion also marks the launch of her new Antiques Price Guide 2003.
Matthew Krouse emailed her and put what he considers to be vital questions for new and budding collectors to this heavyweight of historical objects.
In previewing the upcoming antiques fair and your visit, a local newspaper has advised that new collectors keep away from second-hand shops and avoid buying chipped or cracked articles since they are limited in value. Would you agree with this?
Depends why you buy. For love — the chipped and damaged pieces are a good way to learn and enjoy. For profit — they are not generally a good investment, but there are exceptions: ask to see my Worcester Cup.
For people who are not excessively wealthy do you think it is advisable to invest money in lower range antique collecting? Basically, will every item in your book increase in value as time wears on?
I have also warned against buying antiques as an investment although in the last five years they have held up rather better than stocks and shares, and at least you can enjoy them (more exciting than a share certificate). My advice is to make your antique collection more than 15% of your share portfolio. To answer the second part of your question: no, every item will not increase in value — but good quality, rare and desirable items will.
What are the brand names being produced today that will be the truly valuable antiques of the future?
I am afraid it’s the same as always: Cartier, Dunhill, and good quality porcelain — for example, Worcester, Tiffany, etc.
Is there anything that South Africa is particularly well known for in the antique collector’s marketplace that new (or experienced) collectors should look out for?
Chinese Porcelain – South Africa was a stop-off on trading routes.
The same newspaper article mentioned above hints at the fact that apartheid memorabilia may be of some value in the near future. By this I’m referring to items such as old identity documents and “pass books”, as well as signs saying things like “whites only” or “Europeans only”. Are these items actually classifiable as antiques? And should we have a moral stance in the way collectors make icons of oppression and cruelty into sought-after items of value? (In your new price guide, for example, one does not see Nazi regalia priced.)
Nazi memorabilia will appear next year as will slave memorabilia in the US edition. Without doubt apartheid memorabilia will become increasingly collectible. It’s not my place to comment on morality — for me it is part of the history of a country, good or bad.
Why are the following categories not listed in your Antiques price Guide 2003: Comic books (you have movie posters), pinball machines or jukeboxes?
Because they are all in my Collectibles Price Guide which comes out next year. Also, the world of antiques is vast — each guide will cover another 8 500 antiques.
Will CDs ever be as valuable as collectors’ LP records?
Probably not — because they have standardised production levels. Although I’m sure there will be desirable artwork on covers and CDs that were unsuccessful on release that were not popular, and then will become collectible. (But then I was the person that said that Kylie Minogue memorabilia wouldn’t last, flash in the pan… now she has a cult following).
Are you coming to South Africa with any plans besides visiting our antiques fair?
No they are keeping me too busy — last time I went to Durban and Cape Town and bought some Chinese Porcelain, some Treen (18th Century English small objects), a snuffbox and some wine.
Judith Miller will deliver to talks this weekend. Fakes and Forgeries: Restoration and Preservation takes place at 6pm on October 25 and Chinese Porcelain takes place at 10.30am on October 26. For information go to www.saada.co.za