Frequently Asked Questions

Where are you located?
What are your hours?
Do you purchase items outright or take them on consignment?
If I have very high-value items that should be sold through an auction house like Sotheby's, can you arrange that for me?
Do you hold auctions? (Will you hold an estate sale for my belongings?)
How long have you been in business?
What do you buy? What items are of particular interest right now?
Will you pay more than just gold or silver value for my jewelry or silver flatware?
How can I make an appointment?
How much does an evaluation cost?
Do you provide written appraisals?
Do you provide insurance appraisals?
If you don't want something, can you tell me who would buy it?
Can I send you pictures of my items?
How many items can I bring in for an evaluation?
How long will my appointment take?
Do you make House Calls?
How far do you travel?

Where are you located?
We have two locations at 492 Maple Ave in Saratoga Springs and 3 Computer Drive West in Colonie. Easy directions can be found here.

What are your hours?
Mr Lawson is available for appraisals in our Saratoga Springs office Monday - Friday 8:30am to 11am. He is available in our Colonie office Monday - Friday 1:30pm to 3:30pm. An appointment can be scheduled for either location by calling our office at (518) 587-8787.

Do you purchase items outright or take them on consignment?
For items that have an individual value of greater than $1000, and for which there is a ready market, we can consider taking them on consignment
For items that have an individual value of less than $1000, and for which there is a ready market, we can consider purchasing them outright at their current market value.

If I have very high-value items that should be sold through an auction house like Sotheby's, can you arrange that for me?
Yes. Through our long-term formal professional association with the major auction houses, we can place select items for sale in those venues.

Do you hold auctions? Will you hold an estate sale for my belongings?
Yes, we do hold auctions and estate sales. We are always on the lookout for exceptional groups of antique furnishings, decorations, fine art, and rare collectibles that can comprise a sale on their own, or are of sufficient interest to build a sale around.
A complete list of our previous auctions can be found on our Auction Archive page. To discuss an auction or possible estate sale, please call us at (518) 587-8787.

How long have you been in business?
Mark Lawson has been buying, selling, auctioning, and appraising antiques as a full time occupation for twenty years.

What do you buy? What items are of particular interest right now?
We are interested in and purchase a wide variety of interesting or unusual items of fine quality. A brief list includes fine jewelry and watches, gold, sterling silver, coins and currency, fine art, Oriental rugs, antique firearms and swords, art glass and art pottery, vintage musical instruments, antique advertising and promotional items, and historical memorabilia. A more detailed list of items we may be interested in can be found on our Selling Your Items page.

Will you pay more than just the gold or silver value for my jewelry or sterling silver flatware?
Yes, for items that we can resell for more than simply the gold or silver value, we will pay more than the gold or silver value.

How can I make an appointment?
Appointments can be scheduled for Saratoga Springs or Colonie by calling our office at (518) 587-8787. The best time to call is Monday - Friday between 8am and 5:30pm.

How much does an evaluation cost?
We are happy to provide free verbal appraisals in our Saratoga Springs and Colonie offices. There is no charge to bring items into the office for an appointment.

Do you provide written appraisals?
Yes, we can provide certified written appraisals. Please call our office at (518) 587-8787 for more details.

Do you provide insurance appraisals?
We do not provide insurance appraisals but we are happy to refer you to a reputable local business who would be able to help.

If you don't want something, can you tell me who would buy it?
Yes. If they are not items we are currently purchasing, we are happy to refer you to a reputable local business who might be interested.

Can I send you pictures of my items?
Yes, if you would like to mail or email images of your items, Mr Lawson is usually able to provide an accurate idea of the items' value. If sending images, please include a view of any markings. Images can be emailed to marklawsonantiques@gmail.com or mailed to:

Mark Lawson Antiques
492 Maple Ave
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.

How many items can I bring in for an evaluation?
Generally, we are happy to look at any items you would like to bring in. As a courtesy to our other appointments, we do ask that you not bring in an entire carload of items.

How long will my appointment take?
Appointment length can vary depending on a number of variables. On average, most appointments generally take about 15-20 minutes.

Do you make house calls?
Yes, in certain cases Mr Lawson will travel to the home for an appraisal. Please call our office at (518) 587-8787 for additional information.

How far do you travel?
We serve the entire Capital Region and will generally travel to any location in the Northeast.