Donating or Selling China and Crystal

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“ELIZABETH!! Where do I sell vintage China and crystal?” Well, the market doesn’t want MUCH of that stuff, but SOME folks out there do. There’s actually something for everyone. It so happens that ALL objects people my age and older LOVED are NOT treasured today.

  • A client owns a service for twenty-four place settling of Rosenthal China as well as Rosenthal crystal, present at each family celebration for YEARS. She wants to SELL.
  • Another client has good California Plein Aire Landscapes. He NEEDS to Sell, but at the best prices possible.
  • Another client bought a 1920’s house on the Eastside and wants to either sell or donate the lighting fixtures, which are Spanish Colonial.

Benefits of Donation

First let’s speak about the benefits of a donation of objects such as in the three categories above. CALL YOUR CPA, but know the value of WHAT you HAVE. Call me if you need help with value. Charitable Deductions Allowances changed due to the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. In some cases donating your objects to a public charity is a really good idea, but the decisions comes about when you discuss itemization versus a standard deduction. You need to follow RULES for such a person as me (certified) to write an appraisal if one work of art or one collectible object you want to donate is over $5,000, or if you are donating household objects worth over $500 per object. That may sound strange, and it is, because requiring YOU to have HOUSEHOLD objects and CLOTHING over $500 to be APPRAISED is a NEW IRS requirement. For a painting under $5,000 you DO NOT need an appraiser…. a coat over $500 you DO.

First, speak to a tax professional armed with the believed value of your objects, and KNOW that liquidation value (what you can sell an object for in this market) might be LOWER than Fair Market Value – which in the case of a donation is, in some cases, a hypothetical valuation of an object based on PAST sales. Therefore, donation, in the case of certain objects, might seem more beneficial than selling. BUT ask your tax professional for the specific rules on donating in YOUR OWN CASE, and hire me to help with the valuation to prepare you for that conversation.

Let’s say you decide to SELL something, and not donate….

My top choices for great people to help you sell:

  • Very modern art and midcentury Modern furniture, get in touch with Los Angeles Modern Auctions at consign@lamodern.com
  • Ceramics and art pottery including modern art pottery and all things turn of the 20th century contact David Rago auctions info@ragoarts.com or Wright Auctions in Chicago info@wright20.com
  • Asian anything contact I M Chait auctions chait@chait.com
  • Traditional Furniture contact John Moran Auctions info@johnmoran.com in Monrovia. They have a traditional Collector Division, but ONLY the BEST Traditional. Don’t email them with typical 19th century furniture. ALSO contact them for midcentury modern furniture. Moran’s is probably my favorite auction house ever! Or contact Abell Auctions Los Angeles info@abell.com
  • This Rose Medallion Chinese export porcelain punch set could be worth $200 - or $2,000!Jewelry contact John Moran Auctions in Monrovia…. Or locally, a buyer is Steve Brooks at Steven Brooks sbjewelers@gmail.com
  • California Plein Air and good paintings of all types contact Jeff at John Moran Jeffrey Moran jeff@johnmoran.com….Or my buddy Nathan Vonk nathan@sullivangoss.com at our local BEST gallery Sullivan and Goss.
  • Vintage China and crystal…a company that buys, and RENTS, vintage China and crystal for weddings, located in Nipomo, called Embellish Vintage Rentals Judi@embellishvintagerentals.com
  • Persian rugs locally try “Rugs and More” – they DO buy – speak to Michael Kourosh (805) 962-2166.

Donating Locally

Now let’s say you WANT to donate, and you WANT to donate locally. If you decide to donate to an organization that DOES NOT resell your items, try The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara at (805) 965-1071. In the PAST, clients donated household furnishing to them.

The rules for disclosing what a charity thrift store SELLS your items for SHOULD be reported if they sell ONE item of yours for over $500. This receipt is great because you file it with your return for a deduction. Less than $500, they do NOT need to report.

My very favorite thrift stores who do an excellent job of record keeping:

All the above are classified under the 501(c)(3) designation, which makes your donation tax deductible.

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