Photos by Tabitha Hoyer

During the holidays, you may have missed the fact that the world’s oldest-known Ten Commandments tablet sold Dec. 18 for $5 million at Sotheby’s. Or that seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady sold his collection of watches and memorabilia on Dec. 10 for $9 million.

Historical, rare, quirky, and regular, commonplace items sell at auction every day. For sellers, the key is to understand the value of what you own.

“Many people mistakenly discard old items, thinking they have no value,” says Erik Hoyer, CEO of EJ’s Auction & Appraisal. “Whether you’re downsizing or helping a loved one liquidate an estate, take time to research the value of your collectibles.”

Hoyer acknowledges that the decision to hold onto or sell antiques, fine art, collectibles or a family heirloom can be confusing. It’s one reason why the Glendale auction house hosts free quarterly appraisal fairs. And there’s never a charge for EJ’s consignment specialists to visit an estate to provide a pre-auction verbal assessment for larger collections.

EJ’s Auction & Appraisal averages more than 100 auctions per year, with most of the online auctions taking place Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. and at noon every other Friday. With registered bidders worldwide, EJ’s reaches qualified bidders who have a strong interest in purchasing fine art, antiques, jewelry, furniture, firearms, and other collectibles.

Bidders can preview each week’s auction items at EJ’s Auction & Appraisal, 5880 W. Bell Road, in Glendale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, or view photos online and request condition reports prior to the auction.

Exciting Bidding Frenzies
Over the past decade, Hoyer and his team of 30 employees have witnessed several exciting bidding frenzies over everything from fine art and cherished antique heirlooms to vintage toys, motorcycles, gold and silver coins, and even unusual pieces, such as vintage carnival freak show items and antique medical oddities.

“I’m always fascinated to learn the story behind a collection,” Hoyer says. “Many of our consignors spent a lifetime collecting, and they often keep their valuables in mint condition.”

Cars, motorcycles, boats and other vehicles can do well at auction, depending on the year, model, and condition. In July 2024, a 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 Fastback sold for $89,000. In June 2023, a 2001 Honda Cr500r Motocross Bike realized $10,500 at auction. And sometimes an old clunker may do well at auction because of its parts.

Because EJ’s often represents full estates, the auction house has sold a variety of fine art. In 2020, an acrylic Keith Haring painting sold for $75,000. The image measured 35.75” x 25.5” and it was signed on the bottom right with a personalized note on the back of the canvas along with a second signature. Hoyer retained the services of a forensic document examiner and an experienced expert witness to examine the handwriting prior to the auction.

Asian antiquities continue to be in demand. In November 2019, an antique Chinese painted porcelain table screen sold at EJ’s for $95,000. More recently, in September 2024, a Chinese Loong Feng Shui dragon bronze pillar realized $22,500 at auction.

Hoyer says there are many factors that influence consumer behavior at auctions. Sometimes it’s pop culture, other times it’s nostalgia, and trends can also be affected by the economy and world events.
He offers these tips for estate owners interested in selling their collectibles:
• Don’t hold onto collections too long. Just because someone spent a lifetime collecting, doesn’t mean their items will always be valuable. For example, there’s a big demand for toys and other items from pre-1990 right now, but that may change as time goes by.
• Do your research. Check auction history records for similar items and research artists or manufacturers, unique markings, brand logos and other details that can help you determine what is considered fair market value in today’s market.
• Organize and bring in any provenance, or a record of ownership. These can include original receipts or documents showing where items originated, past owners, past repairs, photographs and other important information.
• Don’t rely on older appraisals. A written appraisal from 10 or 20 years ago may not be valid today.
• Don’t attempt to clean antiques. Sometimes cleaning can harm the item and bring down the value, especially if certain chemicals are used.

EJ’s Auction & Appraisal will conduct a free appraisal fair on Friday, Jan. 31. For more details, or to schedule a free consultation, visit EJsAuction.com or call 623-878-2003.