Why I Like Antiques

antique furniture Article Of The Month

What Makes Antiques Valuable?

By Kent Sayre

We all know what antiques are. We see them epitomized in things as large as cars, tables, chairs and dressers, to things as small as ornaments, dolls, silverware and jewelry. One of the most popular places where people from all over the country display and have their antiques appraised is at the Antiques Roadshow. The Antiques Roadshow is just as the name describes--appraisers take their antiquing knowledge with them all over the country and locals have their items appraised(Arizona, Utah, Alabama, Wisconsin, Hawaii and Pennsylvania are the Roadshow's destinations this summer). These shows are then aired on PBS (the U.S. version has been around for over 10 years now!), where people watching from home share in owners' joy after being informed their oak table is worth tens of thousands of dollars. Viewers also share in owners' disappointments, wherein a piece believed to be of great worth is, in fact, worth less than what he or she bought it for.

Yet while know antiques are old, what makes an antique, an antique? Well, that depends on what item youre talking about.

If the item is a car, 25 years or more is considered to be an antique in the United States. For other things--like a table or vase--75 to 100 years worth of life is considered antique. Other characteristics of an antique include its rarity, its overall condition and how collectable it is, or was, considered to be.

For those who enjoy antiquing (i.e. going to various antique outlets to buy items that either adds to their collection or they sell to collectors) these are important things to consider. People who have unwittingly bought faux antiques can certainly attest to this. But by knowing what to look for and learning some of the tools of the trade that appraisers use when determining an antiques value, antiquing can be a fun and profitable hobby, sometimes yielding thousands of dollars. For example, when the Antiques Roadshow traveled to Arizona in 2003, a residents Navajo blanket was appraised at between $350,000 and $500,000. It remains one of the most valuable items featured on the show since its debut.

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Tips About antique furniture

Where to purchase antiques? For most people the only way to get involved in collecting is simple to collect. Get a good set of antique books, price guide information, and dive in by shopping for antique furniture, antique hardware, or other collectibles. Antique dealers can spot "newbies" so be careful not to get in over your head. Start slow.
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Inexperienced buyers, armed only with a smattering of book-learning and driven by a hunger for a home furnished with antiques, often payout substantial sums for pieces that take their fancy, but which carry no worth-while guarantee. At least until they have acquired a good working knowledge by dint of studying the things themselves, as well as by reading books. Buyers should ask themselves whether it might not be better to pay a little more - even a little too much - for the right thing, guaranteed by a reputable expert, than to grub around for so-called bargains that turn out to be 'fake'. Generally speaking, a detailed invoice from an established dealer is a much safer form of protection than any description in an auctioneer's catalogue.
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Your Latest antique furniture News

Updated: Pottery and Porcelain Marks Guide

I've recently updated my Pottery and Porcelain Marks Gallery to include more Limoges information, since that's always a popular topic here on the site. Perhaps you'll want to check...

Oriental and Persian Area Rug Styles - Patterns and Designs

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:21:57 -0600
The older an oriental rug is, the greater its value. In Persian Area Rugs, the hand made rugs are one of a kind but there are many, listed by the city of production, from Arak to Tabriz and Tribal, which are the rugs woven by nomadic groups. Perhaps the most well-known of the Tabriz works are the twin Ardabil carpets most likely made for the shrine at Ardabil, today in the collections of the Victoria and Albert.

Antique Musical Instruments -Vintage Guitars

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:24:06 -0600
Old player pianos, vintage guitars and Vintage guitars and violins, saxaphones, horns, grand pianos, old phonographs and vintage sheet music - instruments from the past .. a history of Les Paul Vintage Gibson Guitars and news about a Very Ancient Musical Instrument - the Bagpipe - did you know it wasn't invented in Scotland but goes back to the Babylonian Empire .. and its being revived in modern music.


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The Best Information On Antiques

Our Featured antique duncan fyfe furniture Writer

Antique Living Room Furniture

By Eddie Tobey

Antiques are objects that have extra value because of their age, like a piece of antique furniture or handicraft revered for its creativity, splendor and period of origin. Antique living room furniture is any piece of furnishing or decorative object produced many years ago. It is often considered invaluable because of its exquisiteness.

These antique pieces are generally very expensive and not affordable by the common man. They are found in exquisite shops dealing with only such ancient, vintage furniture. They are found in up- market locations, in big cities. They are also mushrooming in holiday spots, as tourists tend to look around for such antiques. They are also sold on online sites. The buyer can look for discounts and auctions at various sites. It is advised that the buyer should ensure the genuineness of the sites and the seller.

An antique hunting cabinet, among other pieces of antique furniture, serves as an example of exemplary skill. They are generally hand carved furniture with special features, such as relief-carved, floating panel doors. It can also have a typically hand-carved top pediment and engraved griffin center supports.

It is very important that proper care is taken of these antiques, as they are generally made of wood. It is advisable to get them polished regularly. It should be ensured that such antique furniture is kept away from the vagaries of weather such as excess heat and dampness.

Antique furniture is a feast for the eyes and makes the majestic grandeur of the yesteryears come alive. It gives a living room a traditional and unique look. Antique living room furniture scores over others, in its individual style, appeal and style. It has a never-ending appeal and aesthetic value. They come in a wide array of designs and finishes, such as dark brown, cinnamon lacquer and mahogany lacquer.

Living Room Furniture provides detailed information on Living Room Furniture, Cheap Living Room Furniture, Discount Living Room Furniture, Contemporary Living Room Furniture and more. Living Room Furniture is affiliated with Upholstered Ottomans.

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Never use rust-remover on china as it can remove the glaze or protective coating of the china. Also, calcium, lime or rust-remover products should not be used on gold or platinum-banded crystal because these items can stain or permanently change the color of the metal-banding.
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The condition of any piece has direct bearing on its value. But be careful that you understand what condition means. Often a piece of furniture with its original cracked and battered finish will be worth more than if you have it sanded and refinished. Condition vs. damage is relative to each individual piece. Research your areas of interest and understand what does and does not constitute value.
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Marble sculptures will discolor from pollutants if near a window or an active fireplace. They may scorch or crack near a heater.
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The larger firms of auctioneers retain specialists in various fields, who are willing to give advice if it is sought, but the laws affecting the sale of goods by auction vary greatly from country to country and are often very vague. The salerooms do, however, provide splendid opportunities for examining furniture in detail by taking out drawers and turning things upside down in a cavalier fashion that would annoy any self-respecting dealer, if it were to be attempted in his gallery without prior permission.
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As a general rule of thumb the beginning collector can take the year 1830 as a demarcation line. After 1830 many goods such as furniture and decorative items began to be mass produced. This is not to say that these items cannot be valuable or collectible but the criteria for judging their value will be different than that of earlier pieces.
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Antiques Poll of the Week - What's the Best Place to Find Bargain Antiques?

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Nautical - Maritime Antiques and Collectibles

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:23:32 -0600
Unused Nautical gear in the olden days was used for scrap so now it's scarce, valued as collectibles that are often in reproductions. Here are some tips to help you know whether you're buying an antique or a reproduction that's been tweaked to look like the real thing.

Wood Antiques and The Basics About Wood

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:22:06 -0600
Find primitive wooden crafts, old wood boxes, frames, magazine racks, rocking chairs, vintage signs and decorative art. Oak, mahogany, walnut, pine, rosewood, maple, elm - different uses were made of these throughout the centuries. Learn the basics about the different kinds of wood that are regularly seen in antique furniture and some common wooden decorative treatments.


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