Tag: Miriam Haskell

An Interview with Vintage Jewelry Dealer Erik Yang

Q. How did you get started?

A. I started by accident. Initially my career choice was in bio-chemistry and molecular bilology. I was working for my PhD and I did a flea market just to get rid of some things in the house and it ended up being very lucrative. I was extremely unhappy working in the field I was going into. It was very demanding and stressful. A week after the flea market I just quit the program and the head of the department was like ‘what are you going to do?’ I said ‘I don’t know- I sold a toaster I bought for $2 for $200. I think I’m just going to get rid of some stuff.’ So I’ve been doing it ever since. I started in art deco accessories, small furniture and bar ware then reinvested. I became known as an art deco dealer and started selling in Dallas. Over time it morphed into jewelry.

The jewelry started with Bakelite because it was of the 30s. It looked nice with the cocktail shakers and things. Over time I realized that you can have more quantity in a smaller space and not break your back, and deco did dry out. Now I am 95 percent jewelry. I do pick up a cocktail shaker occasionally. READ MORE