What do the super-wealthy do with their money when both stocks and bonds take a nose-dive? Buy antique artifacts, of course. From goblets to jewelry, manuscripts to menorahs, connoisseur collectors of antiques are still raiding the treasure trove of the past. They are doing so, however, with modern tools, as the long lost world of antiques comes alive on the Internet.
Take New York entrepreneur Jonathan Greenstein, for example. The man who is widely acknowledged as the world’s leading expert on antique silver-made Judaica does not roam the musty old caverns that you would expect to find in an Indiana Jones movie. Instead, his premier collection of antique Judaica can be found online. Gone are the days of face-to-face haggling. Instead, now Greenstein’s reach is global in nature, with instant bidding and secure transactions that take place quicker than you can say ‘e-commerce.’
“Never before has the ability to access a world of antiques, art and collectibles been so easy,” notes Greenstein. “Unlike a few years ago when our sales were limited to the four walls of the auction, today we are able to attract Judaica collectors from across the globe via the Internet.”
Rich and Famous
Indeed, very few people understand the investment needs of the captains of industry as well as Jonathan Greenstein does. The Brooklyn native is not only a modern-day guardian of antique Judaica, but he is also an accomplished business owner and a self-made real-estate mogul. As such, Greenstein is able to effectively serve his clientele by bridging between the antique past and the online present.
“Our clientele ranges from first time buyers to serious Judaica collectors such as [prominent hedge fund manager] Michael Steinhardt. Attend virtually any major business or entertainment industry event, and you’ll certainly see many of our bidders in the room.”
Preserving the…