Going to Poland and looking for some antiques

Anybody been buying antiques at fleamarkets like that one in Kole, Warsaw?
The pictures from the market is amazing, but is it cheap? How can I bargain to get
as fair price as possible? Could it be any legal issues if the Police stop and check my car
on the way back to Sweden?
Anybody can help me with the negotiation if I go there?

Thanx a lot for your comments and suggestions,

Krister from Sweden

It's illegal to export any item made before 1945 from Poland without the right paperwork, but that all depends on how good you are at hiding broken watches, bent cutlery and candelabra in the back of your car. That's the sort of tatty ***** that's on offer at Kolo, priced ten times more than it's worth.

I used to enjoy walking around Kolo when I lived in that area, but there are no bargains to be had there.

Kolo is overpriced. For the Swedish krona it is probably peanuts. I was there about 3 weeks ago and I couldn't believe how expensive things were. Over twice the price.

there are better place, however- kolo is quite fun.
you will not get stopped. don't worry.
do you speak any Polish? this is important because you are an easy target at Kolo.
What specifically are you looking for? maybe I can help you.

Yes and there's reason for it.

Hey guys!
Thanks for your fast replies!
My car is like a police magnet in Germany, and in Poland I was stopped twice on the same day I was going back from Warszaw to Germany... So I have quite a fear built up. I will not take any chances.

I've found the Kolo market on google... I think I know exactly what you are talking about when you say it's 10 times overpriced. I know for example in the clothes business it's cheaper to buy Polish womans blouses in Stockholm then to buy them at the wholesale market in Lodz.....

Anyway, is there any other way to find nice cheap brassware, silverplated stuff, rococo furniture and clocks? I am going to sell it at the antiques fairs in Sweden next summer. I don't wanna take any risks with the Police..

Thanks a lot! Krister

lets be realistic shall we. How many Polish companies are importing antiques? double standard, no? This is part of my business- I deal with this regularly. You will not get stopped, you shouldn't worry too much about it.....unless you are looking for the Arbeit Macht Frei sign.

And I have nothing against someone buying antiques in Poland and selling somewhere else but do it the legal way.

I'm not looking for that sign... don't worry... It's already been stolen by some Swedes, but that wasn't me I promise :P

Well, I'll be going to Thailand now for the winter, but if you want to help me find some nice brassware and furniture next spring,

I'd be very greatful!
We could exchange emails and I could send you some pictures what I look for and you could get an approximate price!

Thanks, Krister

Wish I could have come across some great antiques in Warsaw. Only antiques I saw were watches in over-priced shop in Old Town. Saw an antique shop in Lublin. It was closed for a holiday. Kept hoping they'd open!

right because all the antiques bought by Poles and driven or imported into Poland are all legal. still a double standard. There are businesses in Poland that are solely based on the import of antiques from France, Germany, Holland, Belgium and England. Get off your soap box. If you don't want others to do it--then do something to regulate the import from other countries to Poland. We all know how law abiding Poles are.

Probably not but I would act the same no matter who wrote it.


?


I'd be happy to but I don't have legislative power.



And as we can see you're all integrity.

It has nothing to do with integrity. It is about what is fair. what is good for the goose is good for the gander.

It is the same crap over and over again. Poles can do what they want in any foreign country but if it were the reverse then Poles are up in arms.

Ever been to the Kolo market? I have. It is full of foreign items. How did they get there? don't answer because I already know.

What about the antiques from other parts of Europe? How did they get to Poland? don't answer because I already know.

EU borders are open so goods can pass freely from one country to the next and antiques are one of them. many people in other countries don't appreciate their antiques being sold in Poland--but that is the way it goes.

Actually you're doing it.I told you I have nothing agaist it if it was LEGAL.


If Poles brought them here ILLEGALY I'M NOT OK WITH THAT.
All I'm arguing is that it should be done in the proper way.

but it will never happen so the point is moot.

Can you see anybody of any culture wanting to pay more in taxes because something is an antique? don't think so.

Actually I would.And this is about something else-we have so little antiques left that we choose to control it.It's our right.As well as other countries have the right to make their laws.

you are missing the point. No Pole abroad is going to claim their importing antiques. that I can almost guarantee. so why should Poland expect others to do the same?

I'm sorry , I had to pipe in; your entire view on this subject makes you sound quite unsavory for first time since I started hanging here!

My question..how many countries even HAVE this type of law that happen to have these legions of native Polish, using their mighty buying power of their current coinage to illegally obtain fine antiques? What double standard?

Are you taking specifically of import /export law? Or the raping of national treasures (regardless of tatty post war condition) to make ..PROFIT. Using western economic strength to make a predatory market because inability to pay fair market price? Or straight up raping of antiquities?

My maternal grandfather was Import /Export dealer in rare items and coins.Every true foreign antique we have left from him has paperwork trail.

Very FEW countries even have such a law..usually ones that have been rolled over and sacked constantly so have so very little of their precious past. Obtaining anything illegallly is WRONG. Especially to float a business. Ethically , morally and of course by law.

So point out the NATIVE polish ring of antique thieves that operate in countries desparate to hold to treasures like Iran, Afghnastan, Egypt. The Syrian war is directly connected to illegal antiquities trade. And there was a reason for agreements like the flawed old GATT as well as it's replacement VER. To protect countries newly opened into Int'l market from predation from richer countries is just ONE. A sovereign nation has the RIGHT o make whatever law they like in their borders. If you break it in their borders you area criminal. No matter how large or small the offense. I doubt any WTO data shows Poland as some major offender in antiquities theft. But I will look into it in normal hours (am up to take allergy med)

If one is worried about police or customs, then one is intending to obtain things they should not have. I have a personal disgust against the type of people who look for illegal baragins of heritage pieces. Plenty of interesting stuff to buy the right way. And if real? it should never be let go 'cheap". I have no qualm against obtaining an older, well made piece of furnishing or art/jewelery type of antique. Even older pieces, if obtained legal with proper tariffs..regardless of "fairness" .

Looking for bargians in illegal antiquities is neither cute, amusing or even clever. It is all just wrong.
And fuels events like happened to my family personally.
A business acquaintance of my grandfatehr hired thugs to rob my father's house to get Stewart linked possessions he heard about in passing casual conversation and THIS: And other antiques, but THESE were personal heirlooms that would have become nameless "finds" had they slipped past the (?French..I think it was? this was 70s) border after the reports. It was luck and a sniffy official and a squealing hireling. He was caught selling these items on the sly market. And damn straight we PROSECUTED!

example A
example B
Egyptian Cultural Heritage Organization
Small blog by expert

I don't care what you think. I don't buy and sell antiques so it is not really a concern of mine, however, slamming some person because he would like to seems to be quite hypocritical seeing as there are loads of so called "antique dealers" in Poland who, without a doubt, have managed to smuggle antiques into the country for their own personal gain.

In fact if you are in Warsaw, I can tell you where they are located- because I have been to most of them.

I have never said I agree with it, but there is no way of stopping it. I don't support it- but it happens so unless you would like to step off your pedestal and actually do something then keep your critique to yourself because I am stating a fact.

Is it just possible that they were bought years ago, just brand new back then? realy.. Like there were no people who could afford to buy furnitures.. or travel


I'm sure you do..


They actuly did. They made a law regulating the export of national heritage. Executing it is a different matter. There will always be somebody who would do it illegaly and others giving them a hint how.


for the reason of.. why exactly? What if they were bought back there, brought to Poland and resold here, than it makes it wrong ..because?

Merged: Antiques / Vintage, Krakow - any tips?

Hi All

I am planing an Antique / Vintage / Old stuff buying trip to Krakow

I will need about a cubic meter pallet taken back to Norwich,UK can anyone help

I also need to know were the Antiques shops are

I know of the Flea Markets in the city are there more ?

All suggestions/help gratefully accepted

Regards Mike

Don't bother. Anything which was made before 1945 cannot be exported unless you have authorization therefor from the relevant Curator of Art Works or the National Museum in Warsaw. And you will need a separate authorisation for each and every item. I knew a bloke who moved to Poland with some furniture that had been in his family for generations: the company that shipped his stuff over to Poland didn't fill in the paperwork correctly and so this poor fuker had to get authorisation to re-export each piece. He said that given a choice between doing that again and removing one of his testicles with a spoon, he'd be reaching for a spoon.

Hi, you can export antiquities from Poland each category has a value threshold which runs into the thousands of pounds. If you stay under this threshold you can take it out of the country within the Eu. Look at the polish government guidance on export of antiques new rules introduced 2010

if You are still interested in Polish antiques please let me know. Maybe I will be able to help You...

Hi im interested can you help ?