Art & Antiques by Dr. Lori: Celebrity Antiquers

In the news recently, many celebrities have been both buying into the antiques market and selling off their valuable and collectible stuff.

Musician and Medicine Bottle Collector

Taylor Swift, the beautiful Pennsylvania-raised songstress who struck musical gold from recording catchy melodies and heartfelt lyrics about her lost loves, has finally found happiness in her tabloid reported relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s son, Conor Kennedy. With Conor along for the ride, Swift has combined work with play as she enjoyed traveling to historic Cape Cod and trendy post-Olympics London where she purchased everything from real estate to pricey antiques. Always a bright young woman, Swift knew that it is a buyers market in the world of international antiques. While in London, Swift made purchases on the famed antiques enclaves of Portobello Road and Notting Hill including antique furnishings, collectible glass bottles (medicine and apothecary), and accessories dating from the Victorian period and beyond. Her purchases totaled well into the tens of thousands of dollars in a quick visit to only a few antique shops.

This is one lady who knows what she likes and doesn't hesitate to go after it. If she is looking for the next bargain in the world of antiques, I say she should be buying objects from the 1920s and the 1970s as those two decades will see the biggest jump in value over the next five years. It never hurts for someone like Taylor to ask for some sage advice of an antiques expert, namely me, when embarking on a shopping spree. It is sweet to hear that she is in love and happily shopping for classic antiques.

In my role as the expert appraiser on Discovery's Auction Kings, I often discuss sports collectibles and their value. Bobby Knight of NCAA basketball fame is trying to take advantage of his star coaching status and the sky high price of gold by selling off his NCAA rings. Ready to cash in on the gold market, Knight should remember that there is intrinsic value in the design of those rings, the achievements that those rings represent, and his celebrity status. That's right, all those years of Bobby on the sidelines screaming at players and misbehaving will impact the value of his collectibles on the market now that he is poised to sell them off. Often times, the antiques and collectibles market will give credit for bad behavior.

Jeter Stopped Short by Injury and Real Estate Deal

New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter #2 may not be playing in this late season's race for the World Series championship because of a severe ankle injury but that will give him more time to pack up his baseballs and trophies from his breathtaking penthouse residence in Trump World Tower overlooking New York City. He recently sold the desirable piece of real estate for $15.5 million which was approximately $5 million below the desired asking price. The gorgeous property which boasts views of the city that never sleeps demonstrates the issues surrounding the housing market--even at its highest levels. Instead, Reports indicate that Jeter will keep and possibly recouperate at his mansion near Tampa, FL where he is holding onto some of baseball's most coveted collectibles--most of which were achieved by Jeter himself and his teammates.

As a tremendous Yankees fan myself, I will be sorry to watch a season close out without Jeter's sportsmanship and zest for the game. As an antiques and collectibles expert, I know that his game-play jersey all the way down to his dirty socks from the 12th inning of the ALCS against Detroit would bring both cheers and cash from collectors. Here's hoping for his quick recovery.

When it comes to celebrities, both their collections and their collectibles sparkle on the market. Buyers will do well now as sellers make room for new collections.

Ph.D. antiques appraiser, author, and award-winning TV personality, Dr. Lori presents appraisal events nationwide, including around Tampa Bay. Watch Dr. Lori appraise antiques on Discovery channel’s hit TV show, Auction Kings. Learn about your antiques at www.DrLoriV.com, www.facebook.com/doctorlori or call (888) 431-1010.