Buy it a ticket to Paris. This is true not only for fine art but for indigenous crafts as well. People living with artisans nearby tend to understand and appreciate those crafts. A collector we know draws concentric circles radiating outward from northern New Mexico. The closer to Santa Fe, the higher the price commanded for fine pueblo pottery.
Fine goods trade at their highest price in their place of origin.
Separate the Steak from the Sizzle Visiting an elegant shop on Rodeo Drive, a foreign businessman may be willing to pay top dollar when he treats his favorite lovely to an antique brooch. That same antique brooch, offered in less glamorous surroundings, would fetch a somewhat reduced price. To raise the odds of turning a short-term profit, acquire your items at a price below the wholesale bid for them. Marketing is different from underlying value. Knowledge Is Profit Immerse yourself in one or two specialized areas through viewing items, handling them, turning over tags, talking with dealers and reading.