Let me begin by saying I am not a prognosticator about the economic future of the country or the planet. I leave that to all the folks who are constantly blogging and writing about how it is either a moment of great opportunity or time to hide under your bed. I am simply offering a few observations on the antiques world.
I have been out to some of my favorite antiques malls in the last couple of weeks and must confess to being depressed at what I see. When the malls reopened, the booths seemed fine, albeit a bit dusty, but now I am watching the hemorrhage of the dealers. I can usually tell the levels of mall dealers from the casual hobbyist to the large dealer using the mall to sell excess, and I have to say that the shutdown seems to have impacted all levels of the trade. Some of my favorite dealers are now gone, and that makes me sad for sure.
Another observation is that with new restrictions in malls about access and social distancing, furniture is being sold at give-away prices. This may be truer in some areas than others, but lots of aisle-blocking pieces seem to be now offered at a fraction of their worth.
The good news is that I observed things selling. Beyond the furniture tagged out, I noted a fair number of smalls heading for the door with happy customers. My guess is that there are many like me who have been suffering from collector withdrawal these last few months.
I do not think the antiques market is dead, and certainly reports from some auction houses is that strong prices are being paid for good quality items. The aging collectors who are now selling their lifetime assemblages are bringing back to the market many great items that have not been seen in decades. Collectors have long memories, and so a chance to acquire a once-missed item is often too good to pass up.
My sense as well is that the online market is very strong. During the lull I spent a lot of time with favorite dealers who have an online presence. The response by online dealers has not been consistent. Some post new treasures every day, while others, particularly the military dealers, took a long time to realize that people were at home and looking for updates. Most now seem to grasp that posting as often as possible ensures that more people are looking at your website. I will say that a few military dealers have tried, I gather unsuccessfully, to repost their existing stock as newly arrived. Again, collectors have a long memory, so not a smart idea.
I think like much of America right now, things are unsettled but will return to normal sooner than later. And perhaps all those folks trapped at home for those long months have decided that redecorating or updating their look with antiques will make a lot of sense.

Peter Seibert, a native Pennsylvanian, grew up in the antiques business and remains closely tied to auction houses, collectors, and dealers. Professionally, he has served as a museum director and public historian in Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Virginia, and Wyoming. He holds a Master of Arts in American Studies from Penn State and has authored two books and numerous articles on decorative arts, interior design, and history