Dig It - 5/25/23

Ode to a Great Collector, Joel Chaseman. 

Well Fellow Seekers, As a Dealer and Prospector, every once in a while you get treated to a wonderful client, who is also a wonderful person. That was the case with Joel Chaseman. He was some how connected with Hollywood, but without the flash or attitude. I forget how I met him but I had just left my job with Morning Star, and was out on my own. Yes, I knew the material but frankly I had no clue about business, other than “buy low, sell high.” 

Joel wanted to put together a collection of early Navajo bracelets, which was very possible back then. The deal was I would find them and sell them to him at a small profit and he would get me on the backend. Usually on those types of deals, there is never a backend. Anyway, for two or three years Joel bought most of my great bracelets. He was not concerned if they fit as I’m not sure he ever wore them, it just mattered whether he liked them. It was almost a regular pay check and it really helped get me started. 

After about 3 years, Joel stopped buying and I did not hear from him for a while. Then out of the blue I got a call from Joel, he was ready to part with his bracelets, he wanted to make a fair profit and I could have the rest. The timing was perfect, he had somewhere around 15 or 18 bracelets, all of the quality of the one below. I sold all of them within a month or two except for this one which I bought back and have kept. I am eternally grateful to Joel and others like him who lent me a helping hand when I was in need. I will try to do the same for others. Adios Amigos!