Most of us, as we're beginning to collect and appreciate art pottery, will begin our collections with smaller pieces. Perhaps we started with a few McCoy cookie jars and realized somewhere along the way a real passion for American pottery. We become more comfortable with recognizing true McCoy and know what to look for. We learn how to differentiate between natural swirls in the glazes and attempts to repair damages and certainly can spot a fake almost instinctively. Our confidence increases and we're far more comfortable with the process as a whole.
Now what? If you're like me, you realized long ago that satisfaction that comes in finding a great buy on a piece you've patiently waited to come available. But now that you're more confident in the process, maybe it's time to upgrade and expand your collection with a few
higher end pieces. It can almost feel as though you're beginning the learning process again. And in a way, you are. Before, you might have taken a risk on a particular McCoy vase with the knowledge that even if you discovered it wasn't genuine, you still had a that perfect vase that completed your mantelpiece. You hadn't invested too much money in it, so you still could rest assure it was something you truly wanted and if it wasn't authentic, it'd be a lesson learned in the process. Sometimes, it's those kinds of risks or "leaps of faith" we take that provide the best learning curves. But now, you've discovered a particular cookie jar that's going to cost significantly more than what you've spent in the past. It's time to upgrade.
Take those lessons learned and apply them to this new-found McCoy pottery piece. Use the same precautions you're now accustomed to. It's important to be confident in your decision making process.
Let's say you've carefully researched a McCoy Mammy Jar. You know its value; you've carefully studied the colors and every detail and are confident that you can recognize a fake from an authentic jar. And you know if you find one, it will become your biggest single pottery investment. Oh, but it would be stunning in its place amongst your other McCoy jars. This would be the perfect upgrade for your collection.
A few tips to keep in mind before you sign the check:
· Ask the seller or dealer about his return policy
· Do your homework – research the height and weight of the true Mammy Jars and use that as a guide
· If you're on eBay, read the feedback – it can be your first best clue as to how the seller does business
· If the seller has ten of the same McCoy cookie jar that you know is becoming difficult to find, this could be a sign that this isn't the kind of upgrade you had in mind
If you're uncertain, have doubts or just a gut feeling that something's not quite right, take a step back and rethink it. You want to upgrade, but you don't want to be taken.
