DB said

Rick C said
I guess the $1,500,999 price increase isn’t enough to procure the services of RIA, Christie’s, Southby’s, etc. Let’s go with EBay at $3,000,999. 
  

Rick C said
I guess the $1,500,999 price increase isn’t enough to procure the services of RIA, Christie’s, Southby’s, etc. Let’s go with EBay at $3,000,999. 
  

Rick , I took this mirror to the Cody show in 2015 and showed it to one person. He was the son of the owner of the major Texas auction house. He came outside to my vehicle and viewed it in the parking lot at which time he agreed on selling it with low 5 figure reserve. At the end of the day when it was time to do paperwork and consign the mirror the man I had talked to was not at there booth. The employee working the booth was aware of the verbal consignment deal but would not guarantee which auction of theirs it would be placed in. I decided not to consign it without a guarantee that it be sold in the Premier auction. 
  

If this mirror were worth a million or even 6 figures they would place it in a Premier auction in a NY minute! A reserve in the low 5 figures tells you they didn’t believe it was likely worth 6. Look even if this mirror is legit,respectfully it isn’t worth 7 figures. Prior to the recent #1 Henry selling we had what one Winchester go for over a million?  I will concede based upon vintage Winchester ads going for 5 figures that someone might give you that and given the right auction I think you could easily get that. However, Six figures is an unlikely dream, 7 figures much less multiple 7 figures is just unrealistic. The mirror is cool and no doubt many Winchester and Tiffany collectors would be happy to add it to their collection but not at the figure you believe it to be worth my friend. For what it is worth, I think Richmond Auctions and Reata Pass both do better selling antiques than Rock Island. No one can beat Rock Island for the depth of their buyers but I think Antique buyers are different than firearm buyers. Those guys get nuttier when bidding against each other and both Richmond and Reata Pass have more of those buyers than Rock Island. If you choose an auction let us know. I would be thrilled to see it and more than happy to eat crow if it goes into 6 figures and happy for you as well! Respect it is yours and respect your right to ask whatever price you desire and wish you luck finding the right buyer.

Rick C said
DB, I can understand your apprehension not to consign it if you feel it’s what you’re saying and not guaranteed it’s in the premier auction. Unfortunately, that may have been an opportunity missed. I come from a 32 year law-enforcement background, so if it was mine, I would be investigating and searching for provenance high and low. Maybe the world expo archives in Chicago or vintage literature somewhere still exist but I also understand It’s not easy like you said. I would really like to hear it’s the real deal and would be happy for you. Maybe there’s a company or organizations that investigate such inquiries to a dead end that can be accepted provenance does or doesn’t exist. 🤷🏼‍♂️
  

I totally understand what your saying. Since 2015 I have occasionally done research on the mirror. The most important information that I found came from the Met museum. They have the only two Tiffany embellished Winchester rifles know to exist. They researched the relationship between Tiffany and Winchester and discovered that only 4 rifles were ever embellished. The two from the 1893 expo are lost. They have the 2 from the 1901 expo. They discovered that Tiffany never offered Winchester rifles in there Tiffany catalogs. That being said I have also had the mirror scientifically analyzed using a process called Raman Spectroscopy. All the different materials used on the mirror were tested and were determined to be from the correct time period. Alot of the people commenting on the mirror saying it's worth 50 dollars and its not one of a kind are just wrong.  They say AI tells them it fake and mass produced from the 70s which is  ridiculous. I'm not expecting for the person that ends up buying this mirror will have seen this post but I have a feeling that sooner or later someone will inform a super collector of this mirrors existence. This mirror will no doubt be a important addition to an important collection. There is no chance of this mirror being misrepresented by me  and it not being 100 percent authentic.  The future owner will need to come to California to pickup mirror in person. They will have access to view it in person and have all the experts they want examine it to verify it's authenticity. The amount that it will cost to pick up in person will be a fraction of the buyers premium they would pay if they bought it at auction. 

Rick C said
I guess the $1,500,999 price increase isn’t enough to procure the services of RIA, Christie’s, Southby’s, etc. Let’s go with EBay at $3,000,999. 
  

Rick C said
I guess the $1,500,999 price increase isn’t enough to procure the services of RIA, Christie’s, Southby’s, etc. Let’s go with EBay at $3,000,999. 
  

Rick , I took this mirror to the Cody show in 2015 and showed it to one person. He was the son of the owner of the major Texas auction house. He came outside to my vehicle and viewed it in the parking lot at which time he agreed on selling it with low 5 figure reserve. At the end of the day when it was time to do paperwork and consign the mirror the man I had talked to was not at there booth. The employee working the booth was aware of the verbal consignment deal but would not guarantee which auction of theirs it would be placed in. I decided not to consign it without a guarantee that it be sold in the Premier auction. 

DB said

mrcvs said

DB said

mrcvs said

DB said

mrcvs said

DB said
Antique Winchester reverse painted, inlaid with abalone, advertising mirror made for the 1893 Columbian Worlds expo by Lewis Comfort Tiffany. 99.9 percent of Winchester collectors are unaware that this mirror exists.  There were only two Winchester rifles embellished and displayed by Tiffany for the 1893 expo. Tiffany did not offer Winchester rifles in there sales catalogs. This mirror was the advertising to help publicize the relationship between the two companies. 
  

What makes you think it’s worth $3,000,999?  Three million can still get you A LOT!
To be honest with you, your mirror was manufactured about 40 or 50 years ago, something you see at a flea market for $75, you negotiate to $50 and still question if you didn’t get burned on the deal.
There’s an almost identical one to yours on eBay now for $345 which hasn’t sold because it’s priced at 5 to 10 times what it is worth.
  

The original mirror from 1893 is inlaid with abalone, is reverse painted, and has gold leaf lettering. You are correct that there are copies of the original design that regularly sell on eBay. They were made in the 1970s by lucid lines. 

  

If you were a true collector, you would have some sense of what things are worth and valued.
A finely crafted Tiffany lamp, often one of a kind, with exquisite craftsmanship might bring anywhere from $10,000 to $300k+.  Your mirror is nowhere near the craftsmanship of Tiffany studios.  So, if this were a Winchester rifle, it would be valued similar to other known examples, with usually a footnote stating that if it has a certain rare variation, add 10%, 20%, 50%, etc.
So, if the painted Winchester rifle can be proven to be rare, maybe the only one in existence, you might compare with other known examples and maybe double the value on it.  That’s if anyone even cares and wants to pay more for it.  Which still makes your mirror worth under $100.
  

I appreciate your opinion. Thank you for your response. 
  

Thank you for your politeness and willingness to listen.
Sometimes folks have to hear what they don’t want to.  I want to think that everything I own could be sold for a lavish retirement, as in each individual item.  The reality is otherwise.  If I sold everything it wouldn’t allow me to stop working.
Heres what I would do if I were you.  Given it’s negligible value, I would keep it and enjoy it, if you enjoy it.
If not, I would list on eBay with a $1 start and let the market value it.  And let it go for that.  If you want to ensure you don’t completely give it away, you could list a reserve of $50 .
  

So you think I should list it with a 50 dollar reserve on eBay  when the remake sells on eBay for $100?  That doesn't seem to make much sense. Lol. 
  

Rock Island Auction is your huckleberry…

You’ll find out in short order what it’s really worth

mrcvs said

DB said

mrcvs said

DB said

mrcvs said

DB said
Antique Winchester reverse painted, inlaid with abalone, advertising mirror made for the 1893 Columbian Worlds expo by Lewis Comfort Tiffany. 99.9 percent of Winchester collectors are unaware that this mirror exists.  There were only two Winchester rifles embellished and displayed by Tiffany for the 1893 expo. Tiffany did not offer Winchester rifles in there sales catalogs. This mirror was the advertising to help publicize the relationship between the two companies. 
  

What makes you think it’s worth $3,000,999?  Three million can still get you A LOT!
To be honest with you, your mirror was manufactured about 40 or 50 years ago, something you see at a flea market for $75, you negotiate to $50 and still question if you didn’t get burned on the deal.
There’s an almost identical one to yours on eBay now for $345 which hasn’t sold because it’s priced at 5 to 10 times what it is worth.
  

The original mirror from 1893 is inlaid with abalone, is reverse painted, and has gold leaf lettering. You are correct that there are copies of the original design that regularly sell on eBay. They were made in the 1970s by lucid lines. 

  

If you were a true collector, you would have some sense of what things are worth and valued.
A finely crafted Tiffany lamp, often one of a kind, with exquisite craftsmanship might bring anywhere from $10,000 to $300k+.  Your mirror is nowhere near the craftsmanship of Tiffany studios.  So, if this were a Winchester rifle, it would be valued similar to other known examples, with usually a footnote stating that if it has a certain rare variation, add 10%, 20%, 50%, etc.
So, if the painted Winchester rifle can be proven to be rare, maybe the only one in existence, you might compare with other known examples and maybe double the value on it.  That’s if anyone even cares and wants to pay more for it.  Which still makes your mirror worth under $100.
  

I appreciate your opinion. Thank you for your response. 
  

Thank you for your politeness and willingness to listen.
Sometimes folks have to hear what they don’t want to.  I want to think that everything I own could be sold for a lavish retirement, as in each individual item.  The reality is otherwise.  If I sold everything it wouldn’t allow me to stop working.
Heres what I would do if I were you.  Given it’s negligible value, I would keep it and enjoy it, if you enjoy it.
If not, I would list on eBay with a $1 start and let the market value it.  And let it go for that.  If you want to ensure you don’t completely give it away, you could list a reserve of $50 .
  

So you think I should list it with a 50 dollar reserve on eBay  when the remake sells on eBay for $100?  That doesn't seem to make much sense. Lol. 

Maverick said

DB said

Maverick said
I don't even know what proof there is that said mirror wasn't made yesterday.
  

Maverick I believe you posted a response when I first submitted this mirror in 2011. 
  

Yeah, I can't find said response.
  

It looks like your posts only go back 13 years. It says you've been a member since 2009. I believe your post on mirror was in 2011. The system must have reset it self years ago and deleted your older posts

DB said

Maverick said
I don't even know what proof there is that said mirror wasn't made yesterday.
  

Maverick I believe you posted a response when I first submitted this mirror in 2011. 
  

Yeah, I can't find said response.

DB said

DB said

Rick C said
DB, as stated in the ad, the asking price is subjective, but seriously, why not try to acquire provenance and a bona fide appraisal if you’re convinced. If it was proven legit, I would be the first one to say wow congratulations and send it to one of the premier auctions to maximize its value. I think you were hoping this post would be positive, but like others have said, even if the real deal, they think it’s still only worth a tiny fraction of the asking price. A well advertised premier auction would confirm soon enough.
Respectfully,
  

The mirror has been scientifically analyzed using Raman Spectroscopy.  The provenance is not something you can just acquire. I know the provenance from 1970 until today. When the mirror was acquired in 1970 it was already considered an antique. It was  77 years old  and was described that way by Lucid lines when they copied the mirrors design for the remake. 
  

DB said

Rick C said
DB, as stated in the ad, the asking price is subjective, but seriously, why not try to acquire provenance and a bona fide appraisal if you’re convinced. If it was proven legit, I would be the first one to say wow congratulations and send it to one of the premier auctions to maximize its value. I think you were hoping this post would be positive, but like others have said, even if the real deal, they think it’s still only worth a tiny fraction of the asking price. A well advertised premier auction would confirm soon enough.
Respectfully,
  

The mirror has been scientifically analyzed using Raman Spectroscopy.  The provenance is not something you can just acquire. I know the provenance from 1970 until today. When the mirror was acquired in 1970 it was already considered an antique. It was  77 years old  and was described that way by Lucid lines when they copied the mirrors design for the remake. 
  

Rick C said
DB, as stated in the ad, the asking price is subjective, but seriously, why not try to acquire provenance and a bona fide appraisal if you’re convinced. If it was proven legit, I would be the first one to say wow congratulations and send it to one of the premier auctions to maximize its value. I think you were hoping this post would be positive, but like others have said, even if the real deal, they think it’s still only worth a tiny fraction of the asking price. A well advertised premier auction would confirm soon enough.
Respectfully,
  

The mirror has been scientifically analyzed using Raman Spectroscopy.  The provenance is not something you can just acquire. I know the provenance from 1970 until today. When the mirror was acquired in 1970 it was already considered an antique. It was  77 years old  and was described that way by Lucid lines when they copied the mirrors design for the remake. 

Respectfully,

DB said

mrcvs said

DB said

mrcvs said

DB said
Antique Winchester reverse painted, inlaid with abalone, advertising mirror made for the 1893 Columbian Worlds expo by Lewis Comfort Tiffany. 99.9 percent of Winchester collectors are unaware that this mirror exists.  There were only two Winchester rifles embellished and displayed by Tiffany for the 1893 expo. Tiffany did not offer Winchester rifles in there sales catalogs. This mirror was the advertising to help publicize the relationship between the two companies. 
  

What makes you think it’s worth $3,000,999?  Three million can still get you A LOT!
To be honest with you, your mirror was manufactured about 40 or 50 years ago, something you see at a flea market for $75, you negotiate to $50 and still question if you didn’t get burned on the deal.
There’s an almost identical one to yours on eBay now for $345 which hasn’t sold because it’s priced at 5 to 10 times what it is worth.
  

The original mirror from 1893 is inlaid with abalone, is reverse painted, and has gold leaf lettering. You are correct that there are copies of the original design that regularly sell on eBay. They were made in the 1970s by lucid lines. 

  

If you were a true collector, you would have some sense of what things are worth and valued.
A finely crafted Tiffany lamp, often one of a kind, with exquisite craftsmanship might bring anywhere from $10,000 to $300k+.  Your mirror is nowhere near the craftsmanship of Tiffany studios.  So, if this were a Winchester rifle, it would be valued similar to other known examples, with usually a footnote stating that if it has a certain rare variation, add 10%, 20%, 50%, etc.
So, if the painted Winchester rifle can be proven to be rare, maybe the only one in existence, you might compare with other known examples and maybe double the value on it.  That’s if anyone even cares and wants to pay more for it.  Which still makes your mirror worth under $100.
  

I appreciate your opinion. Thank you for your response. 
  

Thank you for your politeness and willingness to listen.

Sometimes folks have to hear what they don’t want to.  I want to think that everything I own could be sold for a lavish retirement, as in each individual item.  The reality is otherwise.  If I sold everything it wouldn’t allow me to stop working.

Heres what I would do if I were you.  Given it’s negligible value, I would keep it and enjoy it, if you enjoy it.

If not, I would list on eBay with a $1 start and let the market value it.  And let it go for that.  If you want to ensure you don’t completely give it away, you could list a reserve of $50 .

mrcvs said

DB said

mrcvs said

DB said
Antique Winchester reverse painted, inlaid with abalone, advertising mirror made for the 1893 Columbian Worlds expo by Lewis Comfort Tiffany. 99.9 percent of Winchester collectors are unaware that this mirror exists.  There were only two Winchester rifles embellished and displayed by Tiffany for the 1893 expo. Tiffany did not offer Winchester rifles in there sales catalogs. This mirror was the advertising to help publicize the relationship between the two companies. 
  

What makes you think it’s worth $3,000,999?  Three million can still get you A LOT!
To be honest with you, your mirror was manufactured about 40 or 50 years ago, something you see at a flea market for $75, you negotiate to $50 and still question if you didn’t get burned on the deal.
There’s an almost identical one to yours on eBay now for $345 which hasn’t sold because it’s priced at 5 to 10 times what it is worth.
  

The original mirror from 1893 is inlaid with abalone, is reverse painted, and has gold leaf lettering. You are correct that there are copies of the original design that regularly sell on eBay. They were made in the 1970s by lucid lines. 

  

If you were a true collector, you would have some sense of what things are worth and valued.
A finely crafted Tiffany lamp, often one of a kind, with exquisite craftsmanship might bring anywhere from $10,000 to $300k+.  Your mirror is nowhere near the craftsmanship of Tiffany studios.  So, if this were a Winchester rifle, it would be valued similar to other known examples, with usually a footnote stating that if it has a certain rare variation, add 10%, 20%, 50%, etc.
So, if the painted Winchester rifle can be proven to be rare, maybe the only one in existence, you might compare with other known examples and maybe double the value on it.  That’s if anyone even cares and wants to pay more for it.  Which still makes your mirror worth under $100.
  

I appreciate your opinion. Thank you for your response. 

DB said

mrcvs said

DB said
Antique Winchester reverse painted, inlaid with abalone, advertising mirror made for the 1893 Columbian Worlds expo by Lewis Comfort Tiffany. 99.9 percent of Winchester collectors are unaware that this mirror exists.  There were only two Winchester rifles embellished and displayed by Tiffany for the 1893 expo. Tiffany did not offer Winchester rifles in there sales catalogs. This mirror was the advertising to help publicize the relationship between the two companies. 
  

What makes you think it’s worth $3,000,999?  Three million can still get you A LOT!
To be honest with you, your mirror was manufactured about 40 or 50 years ago, something you see at a flea market for $75, you negotiate to $50 and still question if you didn’t get burned on the deal.
There’s an almost identical one to yours on eBay now for $345 which hasn’t sold because it’s priced at 5 to 10 times what it is worth.
  

The original mirror from 1893 is inlaid with abalone, is reverse painted, and has gold leaf lettering. You are correct that there are copies of the original design that regularly sell on eBay. They were made in the 1970s by lucid lines. 

If you were a true collector, you would have some sense of what things are worth and valued.

A finely crafted Tiffany lamp, often one of a kind, with exquisite craftsmanship might bring anywhere from $10,000 to $300k+.  Your mirror is nowhere near the craftsmanship of Tiffany studios.  So, if this were a Winchester rifle, it would be valued similar to other known examples, with usually a footnote stating that if it has a certain rare variation, add 10%, 20%, 50%, etc.

So, if the painted Winchester rifle can be proven to be rare, maybe the only one in existence, you might compare with other known examples and maybe double the value on it.  That’s if anyone even cares and wants to pay more for it.  Which still makes your mirror worth under $100.