Antiques are timeless - they
never go out of style. They're versatile and blend well with everything.
We use them to decorate our homes, offices, restaurants and shops. We
collect them for pleasure or use them in our everyday life. Antiques can
be an investment, provide an income, or just be a way to pass the time
as you browse through that Mom & Pop shop next to your camp site.
So, what is an antique? Webster gives numerous descriptions: of an early
period; old-fashioned - out of date; any old object, prized for its rarity,
style, or craft. Technically, to be an antique an item needs to be 100
years old. Just think, every day, month and year something else becomes
an antique. Over the years, this thinking has dramatically changed as
many items from the 20th century are now eagerly sought and collected.
This new genre of collectibles provides the antiquer a greater variety
and availability of items from which to choose.
Everybody has an antique or collectible whether they know it or not. It
could be an heirloom, a piece of jewelry from a loved one, the pocket
watch Grandpa checked every hour, a piece of furniture lovingly crafted
and handed down, linens grandma spent hours embroidering or crocheting,
a book, even old marriage certificates or pictures. It might be as simple
as a favorite toy from childhood, like that Lionel train Dad took an hour
to set up and make sure it worked before you ever got to play with it.
Remember the sad iron Grandma slaved over to iron clothes or the bright
colored aluminum water glass that always sat by the sink? And that fancy
glass bowl Dad won for Mom at the carnival? It's these kinds of fond memories
that bring back the past and give antiques & collectibles their desirability
and charm.
If you're starting a new collection or expanding an old, there a few basics
to remember while acquiring new pieces:
§ Watch for reproductions.
Reproductions are copies of originals produced at a later date. Some are
very good and it is difficult to decipher authenticity. Honest dealers
will always mark a reproduction as such. Having reproductions in your
collection is okay. If you cannot find or afford the original and you
like the item, buy a reproduction, but know what you have.
§ Watch for chips and cracks. All items have signs of wear
- rounding of surfaces that were once pointed, fading of color and design.
Know the condition of your items and their corresponding value. Buying
an item that is chipped or cracked and using it for display is fine, but
you shouldn't have to pay full price for a damaged piece.
§ Buy the best that you can afford. If you can only
afford the damaged piece and it's important to you to have that particular
item, then purchase it. If there are several pieces that you would like,
be patient and buy one nice item now and one more later. There are always
bargains somewhere else. As antiquers, we are continually changing, increasing
and upgrading our collections. You can always try and replace a damaged
item later if your funds should increase.
§ Be informed. Now more than ever before there is
information on just about every possible collection. There are web sites
on the Internet, books in the library, magazines and local antique dealers
that can all assist you in learning as much as you can about your chosen
collection. Knowing the history of your collection will assist you in
determining appropriate value when purchasing items.
Just as important as collecting antiques is collecting the stories that
go with them. We all heard how the cast-iron skillet is what made Grandma's
fried chicken the best, and how she used to threaten Gramps with it sometimes
when he got out of line. And there was Grandpa's Bible, the one he read
with regularity, where he jotted down all the special events and dates
and kept by his bed. It wasn't fancy or expensive, but it was loved and
became weathered from wear. History was passed down through these treasures,
but like many things, in our busy, mobile world, the stories are getting
lost.
So, take a moment to remember, and tell your children about that favorite
vase or special china in the cupboard or even those silly, fuzzy dice
that dad dangled from the rear view mirror of his '57 Chevy when you were
dating. And, while traveling across this great land, don't hesitate to
take a side trip through the mysteries of washboards, egg timers, hat
pins and so much more. There will always be treasures and stories to discover.
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