We constantly get e-mails from folks wondering what the value of an item might be, or wondering about how to sell an item(s) that they may have in their collections.

Here are some tips and considerations for you.  There are many ways to sell your piece, but each has an upside and a downside to it.

Our first tip: Know what your asking price is for your item.  Or, at least what you would like to receive price wise for your item.  Then go to work and look at your options.  Here are several of them for you to consider.

Sell your item directly to a collector.  This is the way that you can realize the greatest return possible.  But it also is the most difficult to find that "buyer" unless you do a garage sale.  And that isn't the answer.

Sell your item to a gallery.  You can sell your item to a gallery.  Typically you and the gallery will determine a likely market (retail) price for your piece, based on the recent sales of comparable items.  A gallery will probably offer you 50% of the prevailing retail market price for your item.  Most galleries don't buy outright, but may consider taking your item on a consignment basis. (The upside of selling is that you will realize an immediate payout...but not as much as if you consign your piece to a gallery.)

Consign your piece to a gallery.  You can consign your piece to a gallery.  But be aware that it can take a while to sell your "very special piece."  Maybe even a few years
But your odds of selling you piece are much greater on a consignment basis, even it it takes time to do it.  And, in the long run, you will realize a greater return than you will from selling it outright. Usual consignment fees from a gallery range from 35% to 45% of the selling price.

Place your piece at auction.  If you have a serious quality item, (one that you believe is worth $10,000 or more),  you can place your item for sale at an auction.  There are but a few auction houses that we would recommend (Bonham and Butterfields, Cowan's, Sotheby).  The great thing about auctions is that you might have a quick sale for your item.  But you have to be prepared to pay sellers fees, and other fees charged to you by the auction house.

How River Trading Post Can Help You

If you have an item, or a collection, of fine Native American pieces that you wish to liquidate, call us.  We will be happy to discuss alternative approaches to selling your items that will best suite your own needs, including simply placing your items at one of the top auctions.  And, we will even co-ordinate all of that for you from start to finish.

If you consign your item to River Trading Post, you item will be featured in one of our galleries (Chicagoland, Santa Fe or Scottsdale), will be featured on our website, and in our quarterly Trading Post Times.

There are ways to market the item that you want to sell.  If it is a quality item.

If you believe that we can help, just call us.  Toll free -866-426-6901.