How to Start Collecting Antiques

I think all of us realize that antiques are old, but what is often no understood is that age alone does not create value or desirability. This means that not every old thing is necessarily an antique. Additionally, even in antique collecting fashion plays its part and different types of items become considered an antique at different ages.
 
The original manufacturer’s quality has a lot to do with the value of antiques For instance an item of furniture by Chippendale or pottery by Josiah Wedgwood is likely to be far more valuable than a piece by a lesser know manufacturer of the same period. However, what finally decides the value of any item is individual taste of the collector. When someone mentions the word antiques most peoples first thoughts are of furniture especially the type seen in the museums and stately homes. Most items are considered antiques if they were originally made by hand.

You cannot help wondering what people of future generations will consider of our manufactured efforts. In one hundred years time many of today’s furniture products will be poor representation of antiques as most are made primarily my automated machines. Whether future generations will rate the products of our age along side those of our Georgian and Victorian ancestors is doubtful. Another example is the case of glass, Right through from Victorian to Art Deco beautiful glass products were produce by the likes of Rene Lalique But today the majority of glass products are mass manufactured. Unlike a century ago a glass bottle was blown by hand, using a pontil rod to blow air into molten glass. It was shaped as it was blown.

Today, many glass items, even replicas of older bottles, are made in a mold with the molten glass poured in. A hundred years from now those bottles will be 100 years old, but they will not necessarily be classified as antiques.

Knowledge Required to Recognize Antiques

Antiques of any type, glass, bottles, toys or furniture takes a trained eye to recognize their value. For this reason it is important that all would be collectors arm themselves with as much knowledge as possible by reading books, visiting museums and exhibitions to view examples of the items they are interested in. In this way you can avoid being overcharged or even worse sold a fake. Many counterfeits are being made everyday and most are made with acceptable quality. However, when someone attempts to sell one as being an original, unless you understand what to look for, you could be swindled.

For example, authentic blown glass would have evidence of the pontil rod. Antiques, which were hand-blown, have a spot, usually on the bottom showing where the pontil rod was snapped off once the item cooled. Glass shaped in a mold will show lines along one side or an uneven lip where the mold was over or under filled.

Some antiques, like sewing machines, are wanted simply because of their style or their fit into a person’s décor. A working sewing machine will usually have a higher value but someone looking for one just for decoration; will not care whether it works.

For people just beginning to think about antiques it is best to go through a reputable antiques dealer. If you intend to buy antiques online either through eBay or dealers web sites to show caution. Because you don’t have a chance to physically view and touch the antique before you make your purchase you should try and deal only with people you totally trust. Additionally, subscribing to a quality antiques magazine or directory can help you spot the real thing.