For quite some time, as a collector of original props, searching the Original Props and Original Wardrobe categories on eBay, I have had to navigate and filter out the many, many listings from eBay seller “Auction Depot LA” (auctiondepotla1) and their offerings of “original” and “authentic” props from “Gone With The Wind”, “The Wizard of Oz”, “The I Love Lucy Show”, “James Bond”, “Lord of the Rings”, and many items owned by John Wayne and other Hollywood stars.
It is quite staggering the number of pieces offered, month after month.
Using the eBay system, I did a search of what this seller has offered in just the last 30 days, limited to “Gone With The Wind”, and found 164 items (search conducted April 1st). 164 items from “Gone With The Wind”, which was filmed 70 years ago, listed on eBay in just a 30 day period.
Obviously, this raises many questions.
Who preserved hundreds, even thousands of set pieces from a film made so long ago?
How could such items be set aside and archived for so long?
Were these pieces used in “Gone With The Wind” only, and preserved as such for 70 years, to be offered on eBay at auction today starting as low as $0.99?
Circa 1938/1939, who would have attributed value to a “silver gravy boat”? Sailboat art? A fireplace screen? A handkerchief? A doily?
Every auction listing I read includes the following statement from the seller:
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do you know what scene this item was featured in?
A: Since this item was pulled from a large vault of props, exact scene details are not available. It may be recognized in a scene or it could be used in production off camera.
Q: How do I know this prop is authentic?
A: Global Antiques is the curator of all of the props available for auction through Auction Depot LA. They acquire these props from collectors and studio personnel. The item is authenticated by Global Antiques after its provenance has been validated and certified. Every prop we sell is accompanied by a Silver or Gold Certificate of Authenticity. No other documents are included with the auction.
Q: How can I contact Global Antiques or the original owner?
A: We act as an agent for Global Antiques and would be happy to answer any other questions you have. We cannot disclose contact info for our private sellers but you are welcome to call us toll free at (877) 337-6852
How does one validate and certify an unmarked, unremarkable doily purportedly from use in a film in 1939?
What is the difference between a “Silver” Certificate of Authenticity and a “Gold” Certificate of Authenticity?
Is there a conflict of interest if indeed both the seller/consignor and the authenticator of these pieces is the same company?
In reading this, one would conclude that Global Antiques is both the owner and authenticator of these pieces, but cannot be contacted for further inquiries?
Does the Global Antiques Certificate of Authenticity offer any guarantees?
In performing Google searches on the Internet, I could find no information about the company, Global Antiques.
I did contact Auction Depot LA, via eBay’s “Ask Seller A Question”:
Dear auctiondepotla1,
Of the hundreds/thousands of “Gone With The Wind” pieces you have sold on eBay, do you have an example of something available for purchase that can been seen on screen in the film? Could you send me details?
Thanks,
Jason De Bord
Their response:
Dear jdebord,
Please see our faq’s in the listing. btw, 100’s of 1000’s is exaggerating quite a bit. We have sold a few hundred at most.
– auctiondepotla1
My follow-up:
Dear auctiondepotla1,
Thanks for the response.
Reading your FAQ, I assume the answer to my question is “no”?
“[H]undreds/thousands” means hundreds or thousands, not hundreds of thousands. It is apparent that you’ve sold hundreds – I just wasn’t sure exactly how many.
Wouldn’t set pieces such as this been rented to many, many productions over the course of 70 years? How could such insignificant pieces be traced back to 1938?
Thanks,
Jason De Bord
I did not receive any further response to my questions.
I was also curious about the “consignment agent”, Auction Depot LA, and found this “About Us” description in their listings:
* Auction Depot LA is your one stop selling depot for all of your unwanted or unused items.
* We have local pickup and drop-off service in Los Angeles, CA and we ship to anywhere in the U.S.
* With more than 170 million people shopping on eBay, we take the hassle out of trying to sell your items by yourself. We take professional photographs, list your item, answer all potential buyer questions, process payment, pack and ship your item to the seller. Then we send you a check! It’s the EASIEST way to make money with eBay!
HOW ARE WE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER eBay DROP OFF STORES?
Check around and you’ll see that our commission fees are lower than any other eBay drop-off store in California! You deserve the most money for your items and you’ll get the most at Auction Depot LA.
We offer FREE local pick up of any item for sale!
In reviewing their auctions from the past 30 days, they offer a very wide range of items outside of original props and wardrobe from films dating back to the 30s, including: laptop and desktop computers, digital camera gear and lenses, laserdisc players, a Nintendo Wii, a rooster weathervane owned by Thomas Edison, Porsche factory rims, a vase owned by Al Capone, Seinfeld Seasons 1-9 on DVD, a James Bond fork, a single from Weird Al Yankovic, a towel owned by Lucille Ball, a Hallmark Star Trek Ornament, etc.
A Power Seller, auctiondepotla1 has 5,145 positive feedback and only 1 negative feedback since July 24, 2005. The most two recent positive feedback are for a creamer and sugar bowl, both owned by Sigmund Freud.
I’d be curious to learn if anyone knows anything about Global Antiques or has any understanding of how a company can authenticate a doily from a film produced in 1938, and how such an insignificant set piece could have been cataloged and archived for 70 years.
This is a list of items offered by Auction Deport LA from “Gone With The Wind” over the past 30 days:
High Resolution Archive: Auction Depot LA “Gone With The Wind” Listings March 1 – April 1, 2008
Jason De Bord