We are so pleased to announce our nomination in the Creative and Visual Arts category for LuxeLife Magazine Awards.
It would be so great if you would Click Here to give us a vote! The voting form is a tad daunting, but do your best, please? We need you!
We're happy to have this prominent magazine give us a thumbs up, even if we don't win.
Abstract: In this article we will look at why original artwork in all its forms may be the best hedge on investment in our unstable economy.
Throughout history, people have searched for ways to protect and increase their wealth. The traditional and one new means of investing wealth include a number of forms:
Let's examine each way in a bit more depth:
What you buy usually needs to be in the right place. You know what they say, "Location, location, location."
And the building needs to be amenable to your purpose for buying it. It may appreciate, if you buy wisely, but ordinary folks don't really know what properties that might be.
Sure, they listen to their realtor, but realtors don't have crystal balls either. They're making educated guesses.
You never know quite where you stand with stocks and bonds unless you're a conservative investor.
If you are one to take chances, it can pay off or on the downside, you'll lose your savings. This is still a means of accumulating wealth that needs some expertise or some luck.
Silver, Gold, Platinum, and these days even Nickel are investment vehicles. With this method, you again have to take a chance that the metal will increase in value. You may not take a hit, as you would with ill-chosen stocks or over-priced real estate, but risk is still present.
In years gone by, savings accounts paid more than they do on average today. But even in retrospect, though this might have been the safest investment, it certainly wasn't one to help people accumulate wealth.
Unless you make an enormous investment, you won't get a big result. Right now, the average rate of interest in the US is a mere 4.5%. You can find some institutions that pay a whopping 5%, but they're few and far between.
People who bought lots of BitCoin when it was $6 a share are now probably very wealthy, unless they divested at the wrong time. Yet, most folks don't understand crypto at all, and those who do know that if you want to seriously invest, you have to keep on top of the markets. Crypto is highly volatile.
The antiques and collectibles market can be up or down depending on consumers' level of discretionary income. Today, with the price of gas, food, and all other necessary goods skyrocketing, this market will always depend on availability. A Ping Dynasty Vase, for example, will always be scarce. One sold recently for $80.2 Million. People who are already wealthy can afford to invest.
But there are many forms of investment. Some are dear, such as the above mentioned vase, to simple items people, they may have gold lying around in their attics.
Vintage baseball cards, furniture, coins, currency, stamps, and even toys are just a few areas that people will always hold interest in. And yet, folks collect many things from rubber girdles of the 1950s to old condom tins. It's all about the demand, just as it always was.
Though we're here last, collecting original fine artwork is not the least. Again, these items take many forms from paintings to sculptures, jewelry, photography, and even prints can be included. Some works can be seen as refined genius and yet, some expensive works are primitive. Think a DaVinci when compared to American Arts & Crafts furniture. These are very different in subject and quality, however, both areas have a rabid following.
Art is the product of human genius and it can range from oil painting to digital artwork. Fine art provides solid, increasing value as a hedge against inflationary times. The most valuable and sought after works can provide large tax shelters, as well.
Fine art can also be used as collateral for business loans, and aside from the economical benefit, it can provide an esoteric value for as long as it is owned, even across generations.
Marcello Galleries is all about the broad exposure of relatively unknown artists of great talent. When viewed in their entirety, the collection of works by Frank G. and Irene Veronica Marcello emerge as testimony to the Great Silent Generation, which followed the generation of World War II.
When one views their works, as they evolved over time, you can see their maturity blossom. You get a window into their lives via their great bodies of work.
These two wonderful artists represent a very clear opportunity for discerning investors to get in on the ground floor, as their work is bound to become more popular and collectible over time.
Sadly, both artists died within three weeks of one another -- first Frank and then, Irene. She had lost interest in a life without her husband of 70 years. To say they were close is a gross understatment.
Now is the time to collect Frank & Irene's work. Then sit back and watch your investment grow as they are discovered by the world.
We have only begun.
Lo siento means, I'm sorry, in Spanish. I'm thinking in Spanish right now because I'm listening to some great Reggaeton from Columbia. Acutally, from the Netflix series, The Queen of Flow. I didn't expect to like it, pero me encanto mucho! I loved it! So, now and then, Spotify plays one of the songs form the series and I end up thinking in Spanish.
But that's not why I'm writing today. I'm writing to apologize for no new additions to the store. I do plan to have a winter theme, but it will begin in February, which is still winter in Pennsylvania. I feel for folks still dealing with the weather.
We have actually had some low temperatures for Florida, but what 59 means to us has a far different meaning up north. When you live here for 23 years, your blood thins, and colder temperatures (meaning down to 35 at night) set the arthritis in motion. But that never keeps me from posting and getting new products up in the store. My cat actually did that.
I had a small scratch from one of our new fur babies. We adopted two kittens in September -- Kai and Alex. Kai has a lot of British Blue Shorthair in him, and he was 7 months when we adopted him. He's quite the proper gentleman, much like a teddy bear. He's great.
But Alex? He's a heller. He was 8 weeks, and four months later, he's almost bigger than Kai already. We think he must have some Maine Coon in him. He has the tips on his ears, fur between his toes, which are black, and he's growing at a rapid rate. But he's also got some Bengal. He has the spots on his tummy and he totally acts like a Bengal. But he's harder to train because he's deaf. We didn't know it until a day or two after we brought him home, but c'mon. That wasn't a deciding factor one way or another. We just had to take him.
Alex started screaming at the top of his lungs the instant we entered the animal area. Manatee County's Kitty Town rescue keeps the cats wonderfully well. They have big cages that fit multiple cats with plenty of room for them to play, and they're all clean. Wonderful people volunteer just to help the animals. They're truly wonderful people.
But I digress. I have a penchant for that.
Anyway, Alex gave me a small scratch about three weeks ago. I thought it was nothing, but I had a hair appointment and it was bleeding. I put a bandage on it and then, opened it up again when I got home. It healed pretty quickly, but... Under my skin was lurking an infection.
I woke up last Monday with a huge swollen, red arm that hurt. I thought it was arthritis, but ended up at the doctor. I'm taking big antibiotics and it's almost gone now, but what one tiny scratch can do! I'll be much more careful in the future and never again think that a scratch is nothing. I've had cats for almost 50 years and never had anything like this, but there it is -- Alex. He's a little bum, but we love him. He'll learn eventually.
I'll be adding new products February 1. Be ready!
- Patricia
