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Heart of EuropeAntique Buying TourWhere is the best place for collectors and dealers to find fresh inventory to help boost their business or find unusual treasures for their collection? “Central Europe is a terrific source for affordable antiques, collectibles and furnishings in every price range right now,” says Philadelphia-based dealer Tom Conrad who just returned from the region and will lead a buying tour in early fall.
The tour covers a large area of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire and the old kingdoms of Saxony, Franconia and Bohemia. “It would be hard to find another region that is as rich in such extraordinary furniture and outstanding art, glass, crystal, porcelain, pottery, toys, dolls, folk art, primitives, jewelry and textiles,” says the company.
The group will be up and out early to get good deals at local antique and flea markets along the way. They are among the best in Europe. In addition to markets, the group will visit retail shops, antique wholesalers and warehouses on the back roads and blue highways of Franconia, Saxony and the Bohemian Highlands. They will stay in small, family-run hotels that capture the character and flavor of the region.
“We make it possible for collectors and dealers of all sizes and stripes in the U.S. to buy antiques at the source – the same place large European wholesalers buy from,” says Heart of Europe Tours.
Buyers from the U.S. have an added benefit: They are exempt from the local value-added tax as long as they export the items they buy. In addition, tour participants escape the exorbitant shipping costs that make it prohibitive to send an individual item back to the States. “Container shipping is included in the tour – our participants can buy in quantity since there is no extra charge for shipping merchandise home.”
“Whether it’s a hall tree, a credenza, a painted bench or a piece of tramp art – whether it’s a Bohemian crystal goblet, a piece of Loetz, a painting, Meissen vase, a handmade wooden doll, a set of Christmas ornaments, a zinc watering can or a $4 apothecary jar – whether it’s Baroque, Biedermeier, Classicist, Art Nouveau, Modernist, Mid-Century or Country, we will see it all on the Heart of Europe Antiques Tour.” The Heart of Europe Tour includes airport transfers, travel by chartered bus or minibus, a professional guide, hotel and full breakfast, visits to antique markets, retail shops, trade sources and wholesalers, ongoing support during the trip, ground freight within Europe for large pieces, packing and transatlantic container shipping, export documentation and U.S. customs clearance. Space on the tour is still available, but people who are interested should reserve a spot soon because the size of the group will be kept small. The tour is designed for seasoned antiquers and people who are newer to the field. Information is available at www.heartofeuropetours.com by phone at 215.991.9892 or by email at info@heartofeuropetours.com Edited by Erika Wright |
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TM
The twelve-day
“Heart of Europe Antiques Tour” will take dealers and collectors from across the
U.S. on a buying trip through Central Europe from September 6 -18, 2005.
Container shipping is included to make it easy for participants to get their
wares home. The group will visit Nürnberg, Prague, Dresden and several smaller
towns. 
“The Heart of
Europe Antiques Tour gives dealers, decorators and collectors access to
overlooked sources that few Americans are aware of,” according to Conrad. “The
sheer variety and volume of antiques and collectibles alone make the trip a
winner. That, plus the great prices, makes the tour unbeatable for antique
dealers and collectors who are looking for affordable new finds.” 
Most U.S. dealers who import collectibles
and antiques from Europe in large quantities buy from wholesalers in Belgium,
France, the Netherlands, Italy or England. But many dealers in Western Europe
get their antiques from Central Europe where the supply is immense and the
prices are relatively low. 
“Central Europe
is one of the best-priced markets right now, despite the strong Euro. Prices
are very friendly. The local economy is in a downturn and European dealers are
eager to move their inventory. They are motivated to sell,” explains Conrad.
The tour is
designed to take the stress out of antiquing. “We take care of all the details
so participants can focus on ‘the hunt,’” says Conrad.