Antiques, Collectibles, Vintage Interchange

Antiques, Collectibles and Vintage objects Buyers

What to consider when buying!

Occasionally, some worthwhile antiques, collectibles or vintage objects will be found, but not always at an affordable price.

Searching antiques, collectibles or vintage objects can be a truly hit-or-miss adventure, so it pays to gain a little knowledge before you shop.

Before buying any antiques, collectibles or vintage objects, consider if they are authentic or reproduction. Some reproductions do have intrinsic value of their own, especially furniture. However, real antique, collectible or vintage objects are certainly better.

Ask about the history of the objects you are considering. If you are not sure of the authenticity, look for other signs of aging or original manufacturing dates.

Authentic antiques with metallic elements often develop a patina-- a discoloration caused by years of exposure to the outside air. Antique copper items, for example, may appear greenish.

Manufacturers of reproduction antiques may use paint to artificially, create a patina, but it should be easily detected. In addition, look for unique trademarks or manufacturing stamps, which can date real antiques to a specific time. Reproductions may not have any identifiers at all, or use those from other eras.

Another consideration before buying antiques, collectibles or vintage objects is conditioning. Many experts advise collectors not to clean certain pieces because the signs of age are part of the value. Other antiques can be restored or cleaned by experts before display. Whether or not the antiques in question can be restored safely is an important thing to know, since the price does not include restoration or cleaning costs.

Many times the value of paintings or other artistic objects increases dramatically after a professional cleaning. Other times the value is ruined by the removal of the patina or other amateur repairs. Ask an expert if you'll need to perform expensive restorations before buying artistic antiques.

Another element to consider when buying antiques, collectibles or vintage objects is provenance, or the actual history of ownership. Knowing precisely who originally owned the pieces and how they ended up in an antique store in a small town can prove to be valuable during a resale. If the seller can provide ownership papers or photographs of the antiques, collectibles or vintage objects with recognizable ancestors, so much the better.

Antiques, collectibles or vintage objects with provenance almost always retain their value better than similar items of unknown origin or ownership. It's much easier to authenticate these antiques if the original owner can be identified or a bill of sale still exists.

Buying antiques, collectibles or vintage objects can be an exercise in ''buyers beware,'' since many sales are conducted as-is with no refunds. Carefully inspect each piece and use whatever official reference materials are available to authenticate it. Once the deal has been made, and money has exchanged hands, there may be only a short cooling off period before the sale becomes final.

What is antique, collectible or vintage object Shopping?

Antique, collectible or vintage object shopping is an activity in which people pursue antiques to collect or resell. Antiquing, as it is also known, can be conducted in person at antique stores, or online at various Internet retailers.

Certain skills are required to make antique shopping successful and enjoyable, to ensure that the genuine article is being purchased. Skilled shoppers can sometimes make a living with their antiquing, by finding high-value items and reselling them.

Some people enjoy using antiques, collectibles or vintage objects to decorate their homes. A home may be entirely furnished and decorated with antiques, especially in the case of a home where people are going for a period look where antique, collectible or vintage objects may be used as decorative accents.

Antiques, collectibles or vintage objects are also of interest to some museums, and in some instances, they can be quite valuable. Other individuals just enjoy working with antiques, restoring them to their former glory and then reselling them to collectors.

Antiquing requires a great deal of skill, as it is easy to pick up an inauthentic, worthless, or badly damaged antique if you don't know what you are doing. Most people gain their skills through years of practice, and by working with people who are experienced at identification.

If you are a beginner, you may want to visit a library or bookstore and take a look at books, which are devoted to the identification and valuing of antiques, collectibles or vintage objects, to ensure that you will be more confident in the field.

You may also want to consider focusing on a specific type or period of antiques, collectibles or vintage objects, like Victorian glassware, Shaker furniture and Toys of the 50th’s.

Shopping for antiques, collectibles or vintage objects can be a great a deal of fun, especially when you make a real find. As a general rule, look for things, which show obvious signs of decades of use and wear, such as discoloration, stains, rounded corners, and so forth.

An antique, collectible or vintage object, which looks perfect, is probably too good to be true; avoid “antiques” which have obvious modern construction materials like particle board, screws, and so forth.

Antiques, collectibles & Vintage Interchange