FAQ
You will find a little bit of everything at Mitchell Sotka! Yes, that encompasses a lot - but it's true. We are an eclectic shop and celebrate great design from traditional to unusual. We always have a large selection of fine art paintings and prints, sculptures, decorative objects, accessories, barware, sterling silver, tabletop items, books, ceramics, porcelain figurines and objects, furniture, lamps, mirrors, carpets, jewelry and wearables, and some eclectic items sprinkled between. We continuously bring in exciting pieces that strike conversation or items simply worth enjoying. We also carry a wide array of fabric lines (Schumacher, Fabricut, Calvin, Clarence House and others) to help with any interior design projects you may have!
Mitchell has cultivated many relationships over the past twenty five years and his store is known by interesting people from all over the world: collectors, enthusiasts, and simply said, nice people. Our items are sourced through these relationships and referrals when people are downsizing, dealing with a family's estate, or just looking to part with a few select pieces. These important relationships lead to emails, phone calls or drop-ins at the shop. We have items made from all around the world, from several different centuries, and the fun is in curating these pieces for our customers and clientele.
Yes, we do! However, please keep in mind that the items we purchase are highly dependent on our needs and the space available in our shop, which varies month to month. We have to make sure that the items we purchase are in excellent condition, fit the aesthetic of our store, and add a little something "interesting" to our inventory. We value artfulness, craft, history, and interior design equally! The best way to know if we'd be interested in an item you have is to take some pictures of the item(s), attach the images in an email briefly explaining what you know about the item(s), and then send it to [email protected]. We will take a look at the photos and let you know what we can do from there!
The items we purchase are highly dependent on our needs the space available in our shop, which varies month to month. We are always happy to look at photos of high quality goods including furniture, lamps, jewelry, accessories, decorative items, and tabletop items for dining or cocktail time. We have to make sure that the items we purchase are in excellent condition, fit the aesthetic of our store, and add a little something "interesting" to our inventory. We value artfulness, craft, history, and interior design equally! The best way to know if we'd be interested in an item you have is to take some pictures of the item(s), attach the images in an email briefly explaining what you know about the item(s), and then send it to [email protected]. We will take a look at the photos and let you know what we can do from there!
If you have many items, or large/oversized pieces, please take wider pictures of the items in the room(s) where they are situated, attach those images in an email with a brief description of specific items to look for, and then send it to [email protected]. The wide room images are important to us, as they capture items that may have been overlooked by you or a family member. After reviewing what you've sent, we might propose scheduling a house call where Mitchell will walk through your home with you and select items of interest to us. Lastly, if we decide that your items are not for us, we will happily forward some recommendations/other local resources that may be helpful to you.
Determining a value for an item has a number of variables: market trends, geographic location, condition, and demand all play a part in this. Mitchell has over twenty five years' experience in the field, and we we subscribe to numerous international data bases for research, auction results, and public sales. The best way to start is through image(s) sent by email, as mentioned above. We may ask for you to bring in the item, or for us to pick it up. We may need to physically examine the item and that may take several days. The items you leave or that we pick up are fully insured, and any items you leave in our care are noted on a receipt for your records. Once the items have been received, examined, and researched, we will create an estimate of a fair value and what we would be willing to pay you for that item. Please keep in mind that we also consider offers at wholesale not retail. Upon accepting the offer, we would love to welcome the item(s) into our shop.
While the internet is an excellent resource, it can often be misleading. Researching items takes time. One can not find the highest price and conclude that is the value. Subtle differences in size or condition can greatly affect the value of items. Additionally, there are many online sellers that label items with a price that is not accurate or representational to our market. One way to compare pricing is to start with a simple search on eBay. Remember to use the filters "Sold" and "Show Only". These filters will allow you to see what the item was purchased for and will give a better understanding of what most people are willing to spend on it. However, keep in mind that the listing does not provide information regarding what the seller initially paid for the item or how long it has been listed. These factors play into our consideration of items.
We primarily buy outright; we've found this process to be much more efficient for our clients as well as for us. However, on rare occasions we may choose to consign high-end works of art, sculptures, or items outside of our typical scale or budget.