: Antiques in America have, for the most part, been native objects
for the last 100 years or more. In Europe, too, notions about
antiques include native objects, but they can be much older and
geographically more distant.
Vienna was the capital of the Austrian Empire and home to the
ruling Hapsburgs from about 1200 AD through the early Twentieth
Century. As such, there developed a cultural heritage far deeper
than that in America. There were churches and cathedrals, castles
and mansions; there was theater, opera, art and museums for
centuries, although for many generations only the privileged were
granted access to them.
Austrians love their cultural heritage, which includes antiques
and fine art. When coupled with its neutral status in world
politics, Vienna has been since World War II a trade center for
people from the Eastern countries to come to sell and where
Westerners could buy otherwise unattainable goods. It made Vienna
an open market for trading, a tradition that continues to this
day.
Buying and selling antiques here is carried on in much the same
manner as in the United States, except for the language and the
differences in the goods. There is a constant back and forth
between the sellers and prospective be buyers to come to a deal -
price, willingness to compromise and the quality of the goods are
all in the equation, and with all the different ethnic and
national groups meeting here, the attitude of the characters also
comes into play.
Saturday morning in the Nasch Market.
This is especially true in the Nasch Market, in what locals
call "The City," the old downtown area of Vienna. For those who
have been to the open markets in New York's Chelsea neighborhood
this will seem very familiar: similar merchandise, similar
characters (Damon Runyon would enjoy them all) and, generally, a
good many deals are to be made, even for an American dealer.
Shops in The City are at the other end of the spectrum, with most
catering to high-end furniture and accessories, but, here, rococo
means from the Fifteenth or Sixteenth Century. A chair found in
one such shop was Italian from about 1600 with carved wooden legs
and arms, similar to a William and Mary piece, but the price was
9,000 euros, or about $12,000. There was a tall chest on stand in
the next shop, also very early by American standards, circa 1500,
which was tagged at 50,000 euros.
The best source found for shopping furniture was the auction
company Dorotheum. The business is housed in an attractive old
building in the heart of The City with several floors of antiques
of all kinds, generally segregated by type, i.e., art, jewelry,
dining table accoutrements and furniture.
While there, a furniture auction was in progress, one in which
about 300 lots were sold in just one hour. The reason for this
remarkable speed was that only about a dozen of the items had
bids from the floor and a few dozen had phone bids. The majority
of items were sold for the opening bid, which was listed on the
item's tag.
This represented a great many sales, which could have been sold
to American dealers, who then would have had the ability to
resell the item in the United States.
Early wing chairs in very good condition were $800 each.
Bear in mind, however, that there is a premium on everything
added to the hammer price, bidding is in euros and the language is
German. This addition to furniture was 22 percent, so if an item
went for 100 euros, the total in dollars would come to about $160.
As to the language, this auction house offers the services of an
English-speaking staff member to do the bidding. They will also
assist in obtaining bids for packing and shipping. They seemed to
be very accommodating for the customer.
Vienna for the antiques shopper is a very lively and active
marketplace. Then, too, there is Vienna itself. The city boasts
two symphony orchestras and a philharmonic, two opera companies
and more clubs and cabarets than just about anywhere. Museums,
churches and cathedrals are open for all to visit, but generally
for a fee.
Shop for air travel, hotels and even rental cars on line, but a
car is not necessary if staying in town, for there are guides to
rapid rail and buses available in English. And nearly everyone
there speaks some English, so getting around is easy.
