Judge — July 26, 1924 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Quest, Charm and Fascination of the Antique" This satirical cartoon by John Held Jr. illustrates the commercial chain for selling antique furniture. It depicts how a single piece—here, an old chair—passes through multiple hands, each person marking it up: 1. A mother sells it from her attic to a junk man 2. The junk man sells it to an antique dealer 3. The antique dealer sells it to an interior decorator 4. The interior decorator sells it to a wealthy consumer The satire mocks the antique trade's inflated prices and the notion that "antique" status justifies tremendous markups. Each middleman profits substantially while the item itself remains unchanged. The cartoon suggests consumers pay premium prices largely for the prestige of "antique" designation rather than genuine value.