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?2@
Cey|||| |e l|e |ewe| e| YOU
Cea|ea|s
Chapter 1 What Makes an Antique? 4
Chapter 2 - Interview with Nicole Neville 10
Chapter 3 The Basics of Antiques 13
Chapter 4 Shopping for Antiques 21
Chapter 5 Furniture 35
Chapter 6 Fine Art and Antique Prints 50
Chapter 7 Antique Jewelry 56
Chapter 8 Antique Appliances 63
Chapter 9 Glassware, Porcelain and Pottery 68
Chapter 10 Other Antiques 79
Chapter 11 Selling Your Antiques 89
Chapter 12 Resources 99
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C|e|e| | \|e| Ye|es ea Aa||ae!
Kindling a Passion
|
| always starts somewhere. Maybe it was a necklace handed down through the generations,
or your great-grandmothers bone china. It could have been an antique desk at a neighbors
house or 10-gauge southern arms gun from your grandfather. In every antique lovers life
there is that frst object, the frst thing that made you appreciate the unique beauty of items
that are steeped in history. In antique lovers life, there is an object that made them want
more.
|
e| me, it was the empty, but beautiful antique French perfume bottles that my great-
great aunt kept on her vanity as decorations. They were amazing, some covered in tiny
gemstones, and others in elaborately shaped glass. My sister and I would argue over which
was the prettiest and pretend that we were applying the perfume. That was where it started
for me.
\
|e||e| it is a recent interest, or a lifelong passion, there is certainly plenty to learn
about antiques. It is a huge feld that covers an enormous variety of things. With so
much information available, it can be diffcult to know where to begin. This book will offer
you a basic primer for how to begin antiquing - from where to fnd them and how to judge
the value of an object to appraisals, care and selling.
b
e|a an educated, informed antique collector will help you fnd the items you are looking
for and help you establish a valuable investment. Learning about antiques as you collect
is one of the most enjoyable aspects of this activity.
|
| you are new to antiques, then welcome. You are embarking on a great adventure that will
bring beauty and history into your life. If you have been collecting for years and are just
looking for some fresh perspective, thank you for joining us. Regardless of your experience
with antiquing, the following pages will be able to help you on your journey.
?5@
Antiques Defined
l
|e word antique comes from the Latin ante, meaning before and anticus mean-
ing former or ancient. When the word antique was frst used in the 15th century, it
referred to artifacts from the days of the Romans, Greeks and Egyptians. Those rare relics
were many hundreds of years old and could only be afforded by the very wealthy and the
nobility. Today, these types of artifacts are referred to as antiquities.
\
|e| is meant by the term antique is not without debate. There are several standards,
and a well-informed antique collector should be aware of each of them.
l
|e word antique is simply defned as a collectible decorative or household object,
often a piece of furniture, which is valued because of its age. This defnition, while
descriptive, does not actually provide much of a true reference for determining whether or
not something can actually be called an antique.
l
|e frst specifc defnition of the term is known as the purist defnition. This defnition
came about in the 1880s. At that time it was decided that any object from before the
1820 was an antique. The reason for this was simple. The 1820s marked the beginning of
the industrial revolution in Europe and America. That meant that many of the objects once
made by hand were now made by machines. This purist defnition is considered the highest
standard because now, objects from before the 1820s are very expensive because of their
rarity.
b
eyeaJ the expense of antiques that fall into the purist defnition, there is also the prob-
lem that this defnition takes for granted that something that is made by hand is of higher
quality than one made by a machine. Many collectors would argue that this is not always
the case.
l
|e U.S. government has created a less strict defnition of the word antique that has been
widely adopted. They have determined that any item over 100 years old can be called
an antique. The defnition became necessary because the U.S. customs department allows
antique items to be brought into the country duty-free. In order to do that, they needed to
have a fexible standard that would defne antiques.
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C
eae|e||y speaking, the 100-year rule is accepted by most in the antiquing world, though
many have actually broadened the term to refer to anything dating before 1920. Objects
that are not yet that old are often called collectables.
A
a object does not have to be antique to be of value. Many collectables already hold
signifcant value that is likely to rise as they age. You need not dismiss a beautiful item
simply because it does not meet the 100-year rule. We will discuss a number of things in
this book that do not meet the 100-year rule, and yet antique collectors prize them. How-
ever, dont forget about the 100-year rule entirely, understanding the difference between an
antique and a collectable will make you a more educated buyer.
How Old is It?
\
ew that you understand the general defnition of an antique, you may begin to wonder
how you can look at an object and be able to have a rough idea of its age. At frst it
may seem overwhelming, but the more antiques you look at, the easier it will become for
you to identify the period it comes from. Eventually, you will be able to spot certain key
characteristics and recognize what period an item comes from without much diffculty.
For specifc details on dating different types of antiques, refer to the specifc chapters. Here
we will just introduce the basic style periods that you will be hearing about. Please note that
the list contains periods in which items are not yet considered antiques. Also, this list certainly
does not cover all of the movements that have occurred in the last 400 years. However, it does
address the most important ones.
Period Years
Jacobean 1600-1690
Early American 1640-1700
William and Mary 1690-1745
Queen Anne 1720s-1760s
Chippendale 1750-1780s
Federal 1780s-1820s
Empire 1800s-1850
Victorian 1840-1910
Arts and Crafts 1880-1910
Art Nouveau 1890s-1910
Art Deco 1920s-1930s
Mid Century 1950s and 1960s
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Does it Matter if it is Antique?
\
|ea confronted by the problem of learning that an object cannot yet be called an an-
tique, many begin to wonder if it truly matters at all. After all, isnt beauty in the eye
of the beholder? And what about reproductions and fakes?
l
|e answer to this question really depends on an individuals reason behind collecting
antiques. If you are collecting them for the personal enjoyment of the objects, it may not
matter to you what year it was made and if it is more than 100 years old. Reproductions,
although not as valuable as originals, satisfy many peoples desire to have an object that
represents a specifc period. However, for many people, the distinction between antique and
collectable is an important one, and they only wish to collect items that are truly considered
antiques. Others may enjoy collecting both true antiques and collectables, but stay away
from reproductions. People have different reasons for collecting antiques. The important
thing is to fgure out what works best for you.
l
|e other concern, beyond personal preference, is the investment potential. Antique items
are, generally speaking, more valuable than collectables. However, there are a number
of instances in which this is not true. Another consideration is that all collectables will
eventually become antiques.
|
e|seae| preference and investment potential also come into play with regards to repro-
ductions of antique items. In some cases, it can be quite diffcult to tell if an item is a
reproduction or not. For a casual collector, this may not be of extreme importance, because
the piece may hold other qualities that the collector enjoys. Keep in mind that it is a hobby
that should bring you enjoyment, not stress.
O
a the other hand, even a casual collector will want to be aware of reproductions so as
to avoid over-paying for an item. There are reproductions and forgeries of antiques
everywhere these days, so a good collector learns how to spot them quickly.
What this Book will Cover
l||s bee| |es beea se| up to give you the most valuable information and advice you will
need on your journey in antiques. It has been organized by looking at the most common
questions that people ask about antiques and setting out that information in a clear format.
?@
We have cut out a lot of the excess so that you can learn all the basics quickly and be ready
to get started.
l|e seceaJ c|e|e| |ee|a|es ea interview with Nicole Neville, who is an expert in antiques,
art and restoration. She explains some of the most general rules and some of the myths about
antiques. She also shares some valuable tips about how anyone can pick out something that
may be of value from the things that are not. She gives some great advice for those starting
out with antiques; those rules to live by that you should never forget.
C|e|e| l||ee, l|e bes|cs e| Antiques, will serve as your basic primer for all your antique
collecting. It discusses developing a plan for your antique collection and doing research
before you shop. It also discusses how to have an experts eye for value when you shop and
how to go about determining and verifying the value of an item. Finally, the chapter looks
at how to tell if an item is a fake or reproduction.
C|e|e| |, S|e|a |e| Aa||aes, looks at the various ways of purchasing antiques at
auctions, antique stores, private sales, thrift stores, garage sales, fea markets and online.
The most important issues that arise in antique shopping in each of these forms will also be
covered.
C|e|e|s 5 |||ea| b|ee| down antiques into several major categories including fur-
niture, fne art and prints, jewelry (both costume and fne jewelry), and a chapter on glass,
porcelain and pottery. There is also a chapter that covers some of the smaller categories of
antiques.
Oae e| ||e mes| cemmea questions beginners ask is about how they can determine the
value of an object. If you are having diffculty with determining the value of an object, re-
view the basic rules frst, and then have a look at the case studies that you will fnd in each
of the chapters about a specifc type of antique. These can be a great starting point for ideas
on how to fnd out more about your object.
A| ||e eaJ e| eec| of these chapters, you will fnd a list of web and print resources to help
you fnd more information.
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|a c|e|e| |O |ew |e sell antiques to dealers, through auctions or online is explained.
||ae||y, |a ||e |es| c|e|e|, the various resources you can turn to for further help in the
United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand are listed.
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C|e|e| 2 |a|e|v|ew w||| \|ce|e \ev|||e
Nicole Neville has an MA in Art Curatorship from the University of Melbourne, Australia She is currently
working towards her PhD in Art Administration at Florida State University She specializes in antique
and modern painting and print identification and has a strong interest in antique books and jewelry
What is the first piece of advice you would give to someone collecting antiques,
especially if they are just starting out?
To me, the most important thing is to buy things that you like. If you are going to buy something
because you think it is valuable, you better make sure that you like it, because it might not be
worth anything.
What else? How should someone get started?
You need to know why you collecting. Are you doing it for money, or because you like having
the antiques yourself? Most people see it as a little bit of both, but you need to work it out
for yourself.
Especially when you are getting started, it is a good idea to specialize. Collect something that
interests you. Something that you really want to learn about.
If you are really serious about antiques as an investment, then the way to do that is to know
more about something than the dealer knows. That way you will be able to spot the things that
are under priced. Antique dealers dont always know what they have, and you need to know
enough to spot the great deal.
You can specialize in a number of things. Once you know, you can focus on it and learn to
recognize what is going to be valuable.
Look at original things frst. Go to museums and stores and talk to experts frst and learn what
you are looking for. You need to look at a lot of things. You need to be able to spot what period
things are from. If you study something, you learn to see the changes that occur over time.
How can you tell if an item is valuable?
A valuable antique will have something special about it. It will draw your eye because it is
not only unique, but also well made.
Beyond that, it is a matter of training your eye. Look at items you know are authentic. Visit
museums and talk to people who know about what you are interested in.
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Also, remember, there are many kinds of value. An old family photograph will not be valuable
at all to another person. However, I know for myself that my familys old photos are invaluable.
I value them more than anything else I have collected.
Some people rush to sell off family heirlooms because they think they might be valuable. Be
careful if you are doing something like that. Many times these things arent worth much at
all, except to the family.
If something is really old, does that mean it is valuable?
Age doesnt determine value. Sometimes something is just old.
If you are into history and something that is really old interests you, then it might have value
for you. It could have intellectual value, but not monetary value.
Generally, only things that are in good condition are going to be considered valuable to col-
lectors.
Are there any tricks or general rules that you follow when you are browsing through an-
tiques?
I have a lot of little tricks actually. One is to go antiquing with an older relative, if you can.
It sounds silly, but they can help you see which things are of higher quality, because they can
remember back further. They know what things were valuable then.
In general, I look to see if I can see a good example of an older item. So if I am looking at a
glass urn, or some silverware, I check to see if it has a country of origin on it. In 1890, the
US government passed a law that said that any item being imported had to have the country of
origin printed on it. This is helpful, because if you are looking at a something that is in great
shape, and you know it is older than 1890, you may have found something worthwhile.
I always look for Depression glass at yard sales and thrift stores because a lot of people dont
know that it is valuable. It was really cheap back when it was made, but now it has value
because people collect it.
I also look for original prints. If you see a print you like at a good price, and it has a seal, get
it. You will be able to research the seal and fnd out about the print.
What should people look for in an antique and what should they avoid?
Look for what you like. As I said before, you should never buy something you wouldnt want
to own. If you cant see the value in it, dont assume that someone else will.
Avoid things that are obviously copies of something else. If you are looking at a Chinese vase
and it has English stamped on it, there is something wrong
If you are looking at antique books, check the paper condition. There is so much that can go
wrong with paper and many times it cant be fxed.
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Check to see if something has been refnished. That really has a negative impact on the
price.
Dont always steer away from an antique chair that has a newer cushion on it. If the chair is
in good condition and the wood hasnt been altered, it could be very valuable.
Any last bits of advice?
If you arent sure and it is cheap, buy it
If you arent sure and it is expensive, dont buy it.
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C|e|e| 3 l|e bes|cs e| Aa||aes
Knowing What You Want Research and Preparation
\
|e||e| you are at the very beginning of your journey into antiques or have been col-
lecting for years, it is always a good idea to take some time and look at your goals
for your antique collection. By taking the step of looking at the specifc types of items you
are interested in collecting and the time periods you are most interested in you will become
better able to recognize these items when you come across them.
l
|e|e are many reasons to take some time to think about what your antiquing goals are.
For example, it is also important to consider the amount you are willing to spend over a
given period of time. By coming up with a good plan, you can ensure that you dont over-
spend right as you are getting started.
l
|e antiques that are available to shoppers are in a state of constant fuctuation. Because
of this, it is important to take the time to seek out that item which suits your tastes and
budget. There is no need to settle for less than what you are looking for. One of the great
joys of antiques is to fnally fnd something that is just right.
Y
ea probably already have some idea of the items that are of interest to you. As you
become further involved with antiquing, your interests may branch out as well.
A
a excellent way to start tracking your antiquing goals and progress is through the use
of a simple binder that allows you to move and add pages in it. This will allow you to
change and update the information as time goes on.
O
ae of the frst questions you may want to address in your plan is why you are collecting
antiques? Consider if you wish the items to be simply decorations for your home or if
you want them to serve a functional purpose as well.
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\
ex|, write out a list of the types of antiques you are interested in. Be sure to note if you
are interested in a specifc time period or a number of time periods. If there are specifc
items you are looking for, list those as well.
|
|ae||y, consider the amount of money you are willing to spend. It may be that you want
to collect a few expensive pieces, or you may wish to collect a number of less expensive
pieces. Knowing your intentions early on is important. If you have a number of items to
purchase and you spend your entire budget on one very expensive item, you may end up
having regrets.
O
ace you have your initial plan written out, it is time to do some research. The specifc
chapters of this book will give you an excellent introduction to the major categories of
antiques and also their time periods. You will eventually want to do further research into
your areas of particular interest. Take notes on what you learn and bring your binder with
you when you are shopping.
Having an Experts Eye for Antiques
O
ae of the most common questions asked by casual antique collectors is How can I tell
if an item is valuable?
\
e one is born with the ability to spot valuable antiques. It is the result of research and
experience. While it can be a diffcult and frustrating experience for a novice, the more
you explore and are exposed to the antiques you are interested in, the more you will learn
about them.
S
|aJy|a antiques may not seem like the most exciting thing in the world, however, it is
one of the best ways to learn more about antiques so that you can recognize when some-
thing is valuable. The good news about researching your antique interests is that they are
just that -- your interests. In your research will learn about historical facts from different
time periods, the ways in which different items were crafted and the different brands and
manufacturers.
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A
ae||e| phase of research is to look at antiques without buying them. Check the prices
and the quality available from different time periods. You will quickly develop an eye
for spotting value in this way. Talk to shop owners about what items come in regularly and
what items are more rare.
l
e further develop your Experts Eye, you may wish to explore some museums and
historical homes. These are excellent places to view examples of different types of an-
tiques. The staff and curators may be able to give you advice and tell you about the items
and the time periods as well.
A
ae||e| option to consider in learning how to spot value is to join a collectors club.
You will fnd websites that can help you fnd an appropriate club in your country in the
Resources chapter. These organizations, while not free, provide and excellent opportunity
for like-minded collectors to offer each other advice and socialize.
A
s you become more educated, you will fnd yourself being able to spot those items that are
of value whether you are at a garage sale or an antique shop. There is no secret method
to being able to pick out valuable antiques. It is the result of learning enough about a time
period and type of antique to recognize when it comes from, its condition and its rarity.
|
|ems sold through antique shops and dealers are typically recognized for their value and
priced accordingly. Of course, a well-educated buyer will be able to spot when an item
has been over or under-priced and make their purchases accordingly.
O
ae thrill of collecting antiques is looking for the hidden treasure, some overlooked
item from a garage sale, fea market, estate sale or thrift store that is of signifcant
value. Although there is no substitute for learning about antiques through experience and
study, there are some general guidelines you can follow to help you determine if an item is
possibly valuable.
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Finding the Hidden Treasure
A
|||ea| the specifcs of determining value in different types of antiques vary, there are
some general rules that can be used to at least recognize the possibility of something
being valuable. When trying to decide whether or not to purchase an item you think may
be of value, be careful not to spend more than you wouldnt mind losing. Looking for the
hidden treasures can be fun and exciting, but there is an element of chance involved. An
item may be valuable or not, so dont gamble excessively. Pay attention to the following
features to help you when trying to judge an item.
|
|em condition: The value of many antiques decreases remarkably if the item is in poor
condition. You should work to develop a standard of quickly judging the condition of
an antique. The usual standards of judgment are Mint, Nearly Mint, Excellent,
Good, Fair and Poor. What exactly is meant by these terms depends on the category of
antique; however, it is not diffcult to learn how to judge the general condition of any
item. When looking at condition, it is important to remember that the rarity of the item
may affect the impact of condition on its value. An extremely rare item in fair or poor
condition may still be of value. On the other hand, an item in mint condition may
not be worth much if they are common.
|
ee||s, restoration and modification: As you examine an antique, be on the look-
out for signs of repairs, restorations and modifcations. A professionally restored
item will generally hold its value, however, items that contain replacement parts or
unprofessional repairs will decrease signifcantly if value. Additionally, keep an eye
out for signs that the item was modifed from its original condition.
S
|ems, marks and signatures: Generally speaking an item that has been stamped or
otherwise marked with the manufacturers logo or artists name or is of more value
than one that is not. This is why one of the frst things any experienced antique col-
lector does when looking at an item is to check and see if it is marked. You may wish
to bring a magnifying glass or jewelers loupe (a special high powered magnifying
glass) with you to examine for marks that may be too small to spot easily. Bear in mind
that the marking or signature maybe somewhat worn and hard to read, but it will be an
excellent place to start researching the items origin.
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A
e and demand: Learning to recognize the period an antique comes from is an
important step to determining value. You may not be able to tell the precise year,
but by becoming educated on the major periods, you will learn to see the key char-
acteristics that can tell you roughly when the item was made. While the age of an item is
a factor in determining its value, it is important to remember that an item being old does
not necessarily make it valuable. Value is determined by the demand for an item.
A
a||ea||c||y. An important consideration when trying to determine if an item is
valuable is whether or not it is authentic. Many popular antique items have been
reproduced in more modern times and are not of the same value as the original item.
Certain telltale characteristics can be identifed after enough research. If you are unsure,
look for signs that the item is as old as it is supposed to be. Sloppy craftsmanship can
be another sign that an item is not authentic. An additional method of determining
authenticity is through the use of a long wave black light. For more details on what black
light testing can identify, refer to the chapters regarding specifc types of antiques.
Researching a Particular Item
|
| happens to every antique collector. You have an item that you have found or inherited. It
may be of value or it may not. How do you go about getting a rough estimate of its value
before spending money on an appraiser?
l
|e answer is simple: research. There are a number of price guides available to help you
identify and price a number of antiques. If you have access to a library, you can use their
price guides. Keep in mind that some of the price guides are intended for more experienced
antique collectors. While they can be a bit confusing at frst, taking the time to work out
how to use the price guides is well worth the effort. Some of the best price guides available
are listed at the end of the book in the Resources chapter.
\
||| the ever-growing resource of the Internet, it is also possible to identify a number
of items quickly and easily through online resources.
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D
ea| be dismayed if an item does not have a serial or model number, there are still a num-
ber of ways to fgure out about it. You will improve your skills at researching an item
as time goes by. It is really a process of trial and error. As there are different approaches
to researching different items, look to the chapters on specifc types of antiques for more
details and case studies that break down identifying a particular item.
Appraisal
A
|e|s|a your antiques is an important aspect of being a collector. Especially if you
view your antique collection as an investment, having a trustworthy appraiser is critical.
As your collection grows you will want to ensure that your antiques will be covered by your
insurance in the case of theft, fre or other damage.
Y
ea may also need an appraisal in the case of inheriting a large number of items that are
of possible value. In such instances, the task of identifying all of the objects may be
too great. It may be that you will add some items to your collection and sell the rest. An
appraiser is the quickest way to learn the value of the items.
A
JJ|||eae||y, there are some antique dealers and private sellers who do not guarantee an
items authenticity. Particularly if the item represents a signifcant investment, you may
wish to consider having it appraised prior to purchasing it. Purchasing an expensive item
and discovering later that it is not authentic is a costly lesson that can be easily avoided.
\
|e|eve| your reasons for appraisal, fnding an appraiser you can trust is the most impor-
tant step of the process. You are spending your money on the appraisal, and it is up to
you to take the time to fnd an appraiser who will provide you with accurate information.
What to Avoid in an Appraiser
|
a the case of appraisals, it is generally agreed that Internet appraisals (where photos are
submitted online) are not a good option. An appraiser needs to see the object in real life
in order to scrutinize it and determine the value.
?|9@
l
|e|e are two signs that always indicate that you should avoid a particular appraiser. The
frst is if the appraiser charges a percentage of the total value of the items. This can lead
to over-infated numbers so that the fee will be higher. Appraisers should charge for the time
spent. The second indicator that you should avoid a particular appraiser is if the appraiser
is going to be buying the items. This is a clear confict of interest that no ethical appraiser
would engage in.
How to Find an Appraiser
\
ew that you know what to avoid in an appraiser, you will need to know where to start
looking. If it is at all possible, attempt to get a personal recommendation for an ap-
praiser. If you know someone else who collects antiques, you can ask them. If you do not,
try to cast a wider net. Talk to your friends and family. There is a good chance that they
will know someone who has had an appraisal done.
|
| that fails, try looking at Internet message boards and newsgroups involving antiques.
These will often contain recommendations from others. Post a question asking for recom-
mendations.
|
| all else fails, you can turn to one of a number of appraisal societies. Look in the Resources
chapter for the appraisal societies in your country. These societies have set standards and
certifcations for their appraisers. You can call for a reference to an appraiser in your area
or check to see if they offer an online database that you can search.
The Appraisal Process
A
a appraisers job is to identify how much a given item is worth. The process of appraisal
involves frst inspecting the item. The appraiser will take notes or use a tape recorder
to create a detailed description. Measurements will also be taken.
|
e||ew|a the inspection, the appraiser will do research into the item. This will include
research into the recent selling prices of other similar items through auction catalogs and
antique dealers.
?2O@
A
||e| researching, an appraisal report is created which contains a description of the item
and its history. The appraisal report will state the methods used to determine the value
and also detail whether the value being determined is the fair market value, a liquidation
value or some other value. The appraisers qualifcations and signature are also included in
the report.
?2|@
C|e|e| | S|e|a |e| Aa||aes
O
ae of the most enjoyable aspects of antiquing is shopping. There are a number of dif-
ferent places to shop for antiques. In this chapter we will be reviewing how to fnd
and purchase antiques through shops and shows, auctions, online auctions, online dealers,
private sales, antique malls, thrift stores and fea markets.
Antique Shops and Shows
\
|ea people frst think of purchasing antiques, a traditional antique shop is usually the
frst thing that comes to mind. Generally containing a wide range of items representing
many different periods, the shops are an excellent place to begin antiquing. Antique dealers
both run shops and display their antiques at shows.
|
a pursuing antique collecting as a hobby, it is valuable to build some relationships with deal-
ers. They can be an excellent source for information and help you fnd specifc items.
S
eme of the benefts of purchasing antiques through a dealer are a guarantee of authentic-
ity, delivery of larger items, the possibility of a layaway plan and the ability to tell you
the history of an item. If you are unsure of an items origin, always be sure to check with the
dealer, they may know something you do not.
Antique Shops
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ece||a antique shops is easy enough using either the phonebook or the Internet. There
are now a number of online directories that list the locations of antique shops around the
world. Refer to the Resources chapter for the websites specifc to your country. Now with
the added ability to map directions from one place to the next, planning an antique shopping
trip is easy.
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|
| you have very specifc categories of antiques you are looking for, you may wish to contact
the shop ahead of time to ensure you will not be disappointed on arrival. Often antique
shops are located within close proximity of one another, making it easy to visit a number of
locations on the same trip.
Antique Shows
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|e other way of purchasing through antique dealers is at shows. Shows give you the
opportunity to view antiques from a number of dealers. While some shows are general
in nature, displaying a wide variety of antiques, other shows are specifc to certain types of
antiques.
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ea can learn about when an antique show will be held in your area by reading antiquing
publications or by looking at the websites of local antiquing society. Of course, you can
also look to word of mouth to let you know. Ask at antique shops if any shows are coming
up.
Bargaining and Etiquette at Shops and Shows
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|e|e are some general rules of etiquette that should be followed when visiting a shop or
show. Following these guidelines will mark you as a good customer and endear you to
dealers. The largest area of etiquette involves bargaining over the price.
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a|||e many retailers, antique dealers price tags are not always fxed. The price of an
antique is hard to defne, and so there is some room for negotiation. The frst rule of
bargaining is to be polite. A dealer is more likely to give you a better deal if you approach
bargaining in a polite, non-pushy way. Shouting across a shop or interrupting a conversation
with another customer is never going to equal success.
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ea will not need to question the price of every object, but if it is higher than what is
listed in the price guides you have every right to question it. Again, politeness is critical.
Approach the dealer and discreetly ask how they came to that price for the item and explain
how much you had been under the impression an item like that was worth.
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|e dealer will not want everyone in the shop to think that every price is negotiable, so
try to have these conversations quietly, out of the earshot of other customers. You can
approach the dealer and ask them to come look at an item with you and tell you if it is the
best price. You can also give the dealer an offer and see if they are willing to accept it.
There are some other general rules to follow in shops and shows.
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|||e most people love children, antiques can be easily damaged. If your children are
of an age where they are hard to control, an antique shop or show is not the right place
for them. Of course, children who have been taught not to touch items without permission
and do not run around will be welcomed.
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||a|a food and drinks around antiques is another thing to avoid for fairly obvious
reasons. Dealers are protective of their merchandise and having food or drink near the
merchandise will mark you as a careless beginner.
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| a display case is closed, you should not open it without permission. The items inside may
be fragile and the dealer should be responsible for bringing them out for you to look at.
While you are able to pick up items, you should ask for help. Handling delicate antiques
is a skill that needs to be learned. Items can fall apart if lifted improperly. A dealer will
always be willing to help you learn to properly handle antiques and they will appreciate your
consideration.
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| an item has a sign saying Do Not Touch or Fragile, there is a reason why. Listen to
the sign and bring the dealer over to show you the item.
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ea should also ask the dealer before doing any of the following: taking photographs,
lifting furniture items to examine the construction, tapping glass, using a magnet to
check plastic or glass.
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es|ce||y it boils down to this: until an item is sold it belongs to the dealer. Consider how
you would feel if a guest in your home who you had only just met were picking up your
valuable possessions without asking and handling them in a careless way.
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Antique Auctions
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|ve antique auctions can be intimidating for beginners. It is easy to be overwhelmed
by the speed, jargon and other bidders. However, armed with a bit of knowledge a live
auction can be exciting and entertaining.
|
| is a good idea to attend an auction or two without the intention of buying anything. This
will help you get a feel for how things are done. Auctions are usually listed in newspa-
pers. Increasingly you will fnd them listed online as well. The website craigslist.org lists
classifed ads for a wide range of purposes including auctions. There are different sites for
metropolitan areas all around the world. Another option, of course, is word of mouth.
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|ea you look into attending your frst auction, you will discover that there are two
types of auctions. The frst is an estate sale. Estate sales are generally held in a home.
The purpose of an estate sale is to liquidate all of the assets in a home. The second type of
auction is a consignment sale, which is generally held in an auction house. A consignment
sale will bring together items from many different sources to sell for a commission.
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|e|e are a number of differences between these types of auctions that you will want to
know about. In estate sales, there is usually no minimum price set on any item. The
purpose of the auction is to sell all the items. While the auctioneer will attempt to get the
highest price, the quantity of items to be sold means that no matter how low the highest bid,
the item will be sold.
|
|ems sold at consignments sales can be there for a number of reasons. It may have been
bought and restored and now the buyer wishes to sell it in the hopes of making a proft. It
may be that someone is in need of the money from the sale or no longer needs the item. The
item may come from a shop where it remained unsold for too long. The other possibility is
that it is the property of the auctioneer or the auction house.
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a|||e estate sale, in a consignment sale an item may not be sold if the bids are not high
enough. The consigner may set the minimum price. Additionally, the auctioneer may
use a house number to purchase an item that has not attracted a high enough price.
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Before You Bid
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e|e|e bidding begins, you will usually have the chance to examine the items to be auc-
tioned. Take the time and to look over items you are interested in to ensure that they
are worthwhile. Follow the same rules of etiquette in handling items at an auction that you
would follow in a shop or show.
A
|se before the beginning of the auction you will want to ensure that you know some
basic information about the conditions of the auction. Check to see whether returns
are possible or if all items are sold as is. Also fnd out if a buyers premium is charged.
This can be a fee of 5-15% over the purchase price, so you will want to take it into account
when bidding. Finally, check to see if the sales tax is included in the price or will be charged
after and what the sales tax is. These things can add up quickly, making your end total much
higher than you had thought it was going to be.
A
ae||e| consideration is what form of payments are accepted. Cash is always an option,
and most auctions take credit cards as well, although some may have a minimum charge
in order to use a credit card.
Bidding Strategy
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|ea the auction is about to get underway, it is time to consider some strategic points.
If you have watched a few auctions, you will have noticed that it is a subtle form,
much like poker or blackjack. Seasoned bidders prefer to be discreet with their bidding. In
fact, you may be surprised that the bid keeps rising without any real shows of who is doing
the bidding.
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|e|e you choose to sit will depend on personal preference. Some bidders like to sit
in the back, where it is easy for them to view everyone else, but they are not as easy
to be seen. Others sit next to the center aisle where they can hold their paddle down and to
the side without attracting much attention. Those who sit in the front row are able to bid by
holding a fnger up, which means that only the auctioneer can see their bid.
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|e|e are a number of ways to place a bid. Some experienced bidders use very subtle
signals like winking or making eye contact with the auctioneer and nodding. Beginners
should stick to the more standard methods such as raising a bidding paddle, bidding card,
their hand or fnger. There is no need to wave it in the air, simply lift it high enough that
the auctioneer will see it. Most auctioneers are very seasoned and are quick to recognize a
bid.
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||| the frst bid you place it is a good idea to ensure that the auctioneer has seen you.
If the auctioneer seems to be unaware, saying simply here, will ensure they see you.
After that it is unlikely that they will miss a subsequent bid because they are aware that you
are in the game for this round.
A
cemmea cautionary tale involves an expensive item mistakenly purchased at an auction
by an inadvertent hand gesture or nose scratch. While this makes for excellent sitcoms,
in real life auctioneers are quite skilled at recognizing the difference between a bid and a
nose scratch. If a movement is misinterpreted as a bid, simply explain that you were not
bidding. No one would be forced to buy something they did not want.
A
eeJ general rule, once the bidding has begun on an item that you are interested in,
is to not bid too early. Wait until the bidding has slowed down and if the item is still
under your limit, make a bid. On the other hand, if no opening bids are placed, go ahead.
Sometimes auctioneers will end an auction suddenly if no one is bidding. It is a way to let
the people who prefer to bid at the last moment that he is sick of it.
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a any auction, be wary of engaging in a bidding war. Decide your absolute maximum price
for an item and do not go above it. The satisfaction of winning will be quickly diminished
upon realizing you have overpaid for an item.
Online Auctions
S
|ace the spread of the Internet in the 90s, online auction sites have become a huge industry.
They have become a popular way to sell a number of items, including antiques.
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|e|e are pros and cons to purchasing antiques through online auctions. The most obvious
downside is the fact that you are unable to view the item before purchasing it. A major
positive aspect of using online auctions to purchase antiques is the ability to have access to
antiques being sold all around the world.
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|ea looking at antiques being sold in an online auction, it is important to take a number
of things into consideration.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Online Auctions
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| is a good idea to sign up at the auction site if you have not already. This ensures you will
be able to bid when you are ready and also that you are able to use features like a Watch-
list. This allows you to save an item for easy access while bidding is open.
A
ae||e| feature to familiarize yourself with is the ability to search completed listings.
On ebay, this is located in the advance search window. To view only completed listings,
enter your search and check the completed listings only. This will allow you to see how
much items similar to what you are looking for are being sold for.
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a searching for antique items, it is best to search within the antique category. Typing An-
tique Dolls will give you many antique dolls, but there will also be many modern dolls
made in an antique style. You will still encounter some of that in the antique category, but
not as much.
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eeaJ|a on how specifc you are in your search, you may come up with anywhere
from a few items to page after page of items. Generally, you will browse down, look-
ing at photographs and descriptions of items. When you see something of interest, click on
the item.
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Y
ea will be tempted to read the item description frst, however, it is actually better to
have a look at the sellers feedback frst. You can read the comments of others who have
done business with them to ensure that they have satisfed customers. Review any negative
feedback but keep in mind that just as there are bad sellers, there can also be bad buyers. A
couple negative feedbacks are to be expected, particularly if the seller has hundreds or even
thousands of transactions. Be wary of anyone who has almost no feedback and many items
for sale. They may have opened a new account because of bad feedback. On the other hand,
just because someone doesnt have much feedback does not mean that they will be bad sell-
ers, everyone has to start somewhere.
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|ea you look at the item and its price, you will see different information depending
on the type of listing. There are 3 main types of auctions online.
Reserve Auction: A reserve auction is one in which the
seller has set a minimum price on an item. This minimum price
is not visible to potential buyers. If the reserve has not been
met, that will be indicated under the currant high bid.
No Reserve Auction: In a no reserve auction, there is no mini-
mum price, and the item will be sold to whoever is the highest bidder.
Buy it Now: A Buy it Now auction is not really an auction at
all. It is a fxed price that the seller sets for an item. When a buyer
ends a buy it now auction, they must pay for the item immediately.
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eme|||a to remember with all online auctions is that once you place a bid, or select to
buy something through Buy it Now, you have entered into a contract with the seller. If
your bid wins, you MUST pay for the item. That is why you should be very careful to read
all of the item description thoroughly and ask any questions you may have. Especially look
at details like measurements. A friend of mine won an auction on what she thought was
a vintage designer briefcase. It really looked like a briefcase in the photo. When she got
it, however, it was as big as a medium sized handbag and she was kicking herself for not
reading the measurements. Also pay close attention to any faws or problems the item may
have. You should also look at the payment options, shipping costs and whether or not the
seller accepts returns.

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|ea you place a bid, the online auction system will calculate the lowest possible bid
that will make you the high bidder, even if you have put a higher maximum bid. This
is called automatic bidding. It means that if someone else places a bid that is still under your
maximum, your bid amount will increase.
O
a||ae auctions can last for a day, several days, a week or even longer. It is important to
remember that many people will wait until the very last minute to bid. You may have
placed a bid and been the high bidder for days right up until the fnal moments of the auction,
only to fnd it swept away for just a little over your maximum bid.
A
beae||| to online auctions is the ability to pick your absolute highest price and then let
the automated system take care of the rest. Of course, it is still possible to be involved
in bidding wars that can raise the price of an item dramatically. Remember when you bid
that every time you tell yourself you will bid just a little higher, you are making a deeper
commitment to an item you have never seen. Dont full into a bidding war while sitting in
front of your computer-you will only regret it later.
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| you win the item you have been bidding on, you will need to pay for it. Make sure to
follow the sellers instructions as they are listed on the page. Sometimes you will need to
wait for them to send you an invoice with the actual shipping charges. There are a number
of payment options that online auction sellers will accept, and you should have checked
these before bidding. In addition to checks and money orders, most sellers accept payment
through a separate company called Paypal.
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eye| is a way for people and businesses to send money to each other in a safe and se-
cure way. If you have a credit card, debit card or bank account you will be able to make
payments using Paypal. Many sellers will not take payment and ship the item to you unless
Paypal has verifed your address in order to avoid fraud. Because of this, you may wish
to sign up for your Paypal account before you begin bidding. A big advantage of Paypal
payments is that they are almost instantaneous, which means your item will be shipped that
much sooner.
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Online Antique Dealers
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a many ways, an online antique dealer shares their major drawback with online auction
sites. You cant see the item in real life! Online antique dealers will tend to be better
about accepting returns within a limited time frame, although you can expect to pay for the
shipping and a restocking fee.
O
a||ae antique dealers are often antique shops that have decided to extend their business
to the Internet. Because of this, you can do some research into their reputation on your
own. Customer service is likely to be better with an online antique dealer than through an
online auction. They will be willing to take phone calls and answer questions for you.
Y
ea can fnd online antique dealers by browsing the Internet search engines. There are
also some dealers who use larger website malls to sell their products. They list their
antiques through classifed ads and wait for people to make offers. Because these are still
individual dealers, you can expect the same level of customer service that you would fnd in
an online antique dealers shop.
Private Sales
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||ve|e antique sales are when an individual is selling an item or multiple items. The major
ways in which private sales occur is through classifed ads and garage or yard sales.
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a both types of private sales, you can count on a few things. Firstly, and on the negative
side is that returns are virtually non-existent. You would not have much success ring-
ing the doorbell of a house you had been to for a garage sale and asking to return an item
because it was not authentic. Unless you work something out with the seller in advance,
all sales will be fnal. The positive side of private sales is that very often people will not
know what they have. They are just clearing out their basements and attics to make more
room. This is a great opportunity for novice antique collectors to take a chance on an item.
If something looks like it could be worthwhile, and doesnt cost much, buying it and then
doing the research on it is a good way to develop your skills. If it isnt valuable, you wont
have lost much money.
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a private sales, negotiations are common. The sellers want to get rid of the items and they
will be willing to take a lower price. As with antique dealers, be polite. Everyone responds
to good manners. Also, remember to be kind. Trying to haggle someone down to a fraction
of an already low price can backfre if that item carries some sort of family history.
C
sec|e||y with larger items, making a strong cash offer is a good way to quickly negotiate
a price. Showing them the money and saying What if I give you ____ for it right now?
They want to get rid of the item, and they may jump on the offer even if it is less than they
had hoped just because they fear no one else will make any offer at all. Another word of
advice is to always use the word old instead of antique. People associate antiques with
value, and you dont want the price to suddenly rise.
b
e|| garage and yard sales as well as private sales are usually listed in classifed ads.
Craigslist.org, which I mentioned before as a resource for classifed ads, is an excellent
supplement to newspaper classifed ads, especially because the listing is free of charge.
Y
ea will have to learn what to look for in the ads to tell you if a garage or private sale
might have some antiques of interest. Key words like old and unique, might be
indicators, as are indications of materials like oak, iron, brass, and cherry. The location may
also have some clues. A yard sale in an older neighborhood is likely to bring out more things
that have been buried for years than in a newer home. Dont discount newer neighborhoods
however. Mixed in with used baby toys being discarded by a growing family, you might
fnd some items that have been held onto because of their beauty, but must now be sold to
make more room.
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|s|||a yard and garage sales can be a great deal of fun. The general rule is to go early
for the best selection. Remember that not every one of these sales will have some hid-
den treasure. Sometimes a classifed ad description can far exceed what is actually there.
Remember, people always like their own things.
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|
w||| never forget when three of my antique-inclined friends and I woke up very early to
drive to a yard sale in rural Australia. It claimed to be a huge sale with items going back
many decades. Among the items listed were art, ceramic items, books, stemware, and fur-
niture. Filled with thoughts of rare Japanese prints and frst edition books, we arrived at the
sale. We discovered in about three minutes that the description had been grossly overstated.
A large stuffed purple dinosaur may have been the greatest fnd there. I dont think there
was anything at the sale that dated before 1975. The lesson from this: dont go in with high
expectations. That way, if you do go to a great sale, you will be pleasantly surprised.
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||| private sales of specifc items, you will need to arrange a time to meet with the
seller and view the item. With the convenience of the Internet and digital photography,
it is worth asking the seller if they are able to send you a couple pictures. This can avoid
wasting time with an item you are not at all interested in. If pictures are not an option, ask
for a good description on the phone. Remember, this person is not an antique collector, so
you will need to ask specifc questions about age, construction and condition.
Thrift Stores
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||||| stores are sometimes, but not always, a place to fnd antiques. Many factors come
into play in determining whether or not a thrift store will have something of value. Many
thrift stores sell apparel for the most part, but they may also have jewelry and other small
home items. Other thrift stores focus on furniture and decorative items. Because these items
are usually donated for charity purposes or sold at a very low price, you should not expect
much.
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|aJ|a a good thrift store is a tricky business, but once you fnd one you will remember it
forever. Word of mouth is great for this; so dont be afraid to ask around. Beyond that,
the phonebook will provide you with addresses. If you dont want to do a lot of unneces-
sary driving around, then you may want to call ahead. The staff at a thrift store probably
wont know much about antiques, so be sure you are able to describe specifcally the kinds
of things you are looking for.
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Antique Malls
A
a antique mall is a place where a variety of dealers can leave their merchandise for
customers to browse through. The dealers either take turns working the mall and sell-
ing the items or a manager and staff is hired. They can range from a few dealers to many
dealers. One thing to note is that the term antique is used loosely by antique malls. In
this situation, anything old is being called an antique.
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|aJ|a an antique mall can happen in a number of ways. Signs on highways are common,
but you can also turn to the phonebook or the Internet.
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|ea shopping in an antique mall, you can take an item you are going to purchase and
leave it with the sales person in the front while you continue to shop. If you are think-
ing about an item, make a note of the stall number so you can fnd it again.
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ee||e||ea is a little different in an antique mall because the dealer isnt there. However,
often the dealer has left terms and conditions with the sales person stating if there is a
discount available on a specifc item or if the price is frm. It is always worth asking, just to
see. Occasionally, the clerk may be willing to call the dealer to see if a further negotiation
is possible.
A
ae||e| possibility in antique malls is to place a bid on an item. Many dealers will ac-
cept bids. You can leave the amount would be willing to pay with the sales person and
the dealer will get back to you. Please do note that you should not bid unless you are serious
about making the purchase. Also, bidding less then 75% of the marked price will generally
not be viewed favorably
Flea Markets
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eybe it is the name, but fea markets are not the gold mine for antique collectors that
they once were. Unfortunately, for the most part, fea markets have become places
where poorly constructed modern items are sold. That said there are still some upscale fea
markets that are defnitely worth the time and energy they take to seek out.
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|e rule of the day at a fea market is buyer beware. Modern day reproductions are
sometimes passed off as originals in fea markets because the seller has no reputation to
protect. If you return the next week, they may not be there.
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ee| for fea markets that specialize in antiques, especially if you have not developed a
good eye for spotting reproductions yet. Word of mouth is excellent for this. Talk to a
local dealer and see if they have any recommendations. Have a look in the Resources chapter
for some online directories that list fea markets.
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C|e|e| 5 |a|a||a|e
A
a||ae furniture is one of the largest categories of antiques. Volume after volume has
been devoted to the topic, but here you will get a basic introduction. You will learn
about the styles of furniture in the different time periods, about researching specifc items,
some shopping advice when buying antique furniture and also how to care for your antique
furniture. The research section will contain a case study that will walk you through the
process of researching an item step-by-step.
Styles and Time Periods
A
| frst glance, the vast array of furniture styles and time periods can seem staggering.
However, there are simple tricks that antique experts use to identify and date furniture.
I am going to begin the Jacobean period and continue through to Mid-Century Modern
styles. For each period certain infuences and themes will be discussed as well as the most
important manufacturers of the period. Furniture styles are infuenced by the world around
them. Understanding a little of the history of the world will help you recognize furniture
from a specifc period. Pay attention to words written in bold. Those are keywords that you
can learn to help you remember what to look for in a certain period.
Y
ea may notice that many of the early styles are named for the monarchs who were rul-
ing England at the time. This is because, especially in those earlier times, royalty set
the fashion for the rest of the country. The infuences would extend out into other countries
as well. So, a monarchs particular taste in decorating would eventually spread out, giving
birth to a new style.
Jacobean 1600-1690
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|e Jacobean style of furniture, named for King James I of England developed in the Early
Modern period of England, sometimes called the English Renaissance. It developed as
England was coming out of the The Golden Age of Queen Elizabeth I rule. The Jacobean
style had a heavy infuence on the early furniture used by the pilgrims when they came to
America.
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e||y Jacobean furniture was largely made of oak and the fnish on the furniture is dark.
Solid and sturdy with straight lines, some of this furniture has been described as having
a slightly inward appearance. It is noted that carvings and ornamentation, while still ornate,
are more ordered and purposeful in the Jacobean period, which represents a change from
earlier times. Common motifs included acorns, carved heads and geometric shapes.
|
e|e| Jacobean furniture is noted for giving more thought to comfort, with upholstery
becoming more common.
Y
ea are unlikely to come across Jacobean style furniture in excellent condition in casual
antiquing. Much of it is housed in museums or by wealthy collectors. You can still,
however, come across pieces that are less expensive, although even these represent a sig-
nifcant investment.
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ea may come across some Jacobean pieces that were part of the revival of the style in
the early 1900s. While these can be very beautiful, ensure you are not confusing them
with the original Jacobean style.
Early American 1640-1700
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|e Early American style of furniture developed as the American Colonists were creating
a foothold for themselves in an unknown land. Heavily infuenced by the Jacobean style,
it also shows infuences from the furniture styles of other parts of Europe.
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e||y American furniture is often described as utilitarian. It has less ornamentation than
its European infuences, which can largely be seen as a refection of the struggles of the
live of the colonists. The furniture is simple and functional.
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|||e there were some talented carpenters, for the most part, Early American furniture
was made by the people who were using it. Though ornamentation was minimal com-
pared to Jacobean standards, many examples show low-relief carving. A maple leaf pattern
was one of the most common.
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C
e||y American furniture is noted for the excellent quality and variety of in the wood
used. Forests were abundant at that time and maple, walnut, cherry and oak were all
used extensively.
H
|| quality wood and excellent craftsmanship combined with the simple, understated
elegance of the Early American style make it much sought after by antique collectors.
If you have ever seen a piece of early American furniture, you can understand why; because
it looks like it will last another 300 years without any problem. Because demand often far
exceeds the supply, this furniture can be quite expensive.
William and Mary 1690-1745
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|e William and Mary furniture style was named for William and Mary of England.
Williams Dutch background played a heavy part in infuencing the style named for them.
There is also a French infuence noted in the style that is based at least partially on the arrival
of French Protestant refugees in England. An Asian infuence has also been noted, which
may be based on the fact that this was around a period of heavy imperial infuence in Asia
by both the Dutch and the English.
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||||em and Mary furniture is noted for its graceful lines. Ornamentation is ornate, but
tasteful. Veneer and lacquer play a heavy role. A major characteristic of the period
is furniture legs involving elaborate turns and end in a ball or an ornate design know as a
Spanish Foot. Common motifs seen in this style involve fowers, Asian designs, scrolls and
shells. Ornamentation is through carving, gilding, inlay, Marquetry, Oriental lacquer work
and Parquetry.
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||s style of furniture is quite expensive because of its relative scarcity. However, some
small pieces of William and Mary furniture are still within the range of a casual collector
who is willing to make an investment.
Queen Anne 1720s-1760s
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|e Queen Anne style of furniture, named for Queen Anne of England, is generally thought
to be between the 1720s and the 1760s, although some examples of the style can be seen
earlier, especially in England.
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|ew|a a clear development from the William and Mary style, the Queen Anne style
continues the trend towards graceful lines. It is noted by furniture experts that prior to
the Queen Anne style, both England and the American colonies had not been as advanced
in their design as France and Italy. The Queen Anne style, rather then imitating European
design, combined many different elements to create something new.
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a addition to its refned appearance, several distinct features characterized the Queen Anne
style. Many things, such as lacquer and Asian infuences carried over from the William and
Mary style, however there were many new features to help you identify this type of furni-
ture. A major feature is the development of the cabriole leg, which remains an infuence in
certain classically designed furniture. This is a leg which swoops out and then in again in a
graceful curve. The legs often ended in a drake (carved animal paw), a pad (simple curved
foot) or a ball and claw (A claw grasping a ball).
O
||e| characteristics of this style are fddle-backed chairs, in which the center slat of
the chair was shaped like a fddle and bat-wing shaped drawer pulls. Highboys and
lowboys were very popular in this period.
S
eme of the most expensive antique American furniture comes out of this style. Of par-
ticular note were the items produced by Townsend and Goddard, two furniture makers
in Newport, Rhode Island. An excellent Newport piece designed by one of them can go for
millions of dollars at auction.
O
aeea Anne furniture is typically quite expensive, though older reproductions are also
an option that captures the style.
Chippendale 1750s-1780s
O
ve||e|a in time with the Queen Anne style, the Chippendale style is named for
Thomas Chippendale. An English furniture maker, he published a book in 1754, the
Gentleman and Cabinet Makers Director, that would strongly infuence furniture design,
both in England and in America.
?39@
|
a England, Chippendales infuence translated into elaborations of the French Louis XV
style. Cabriole legs are noted from this period, but are often gilded. Elaborate scrolls are
combined with fowing curves.
b
e|| the English and American Chippendale style show a move from the feminine to a
more masculine furniture design. In the American style, the look is more pared down.
The styles development from the Queen Anne period is still evident. A focus on symmetry
of line can be noted. Rich, deeply colored woods like cherry and mahogany were typical.
O
|aemea|e||ea of Chippendale style furniture was through carving, decorative fnials,
and fretwork.
A
a||ea||c Chippendale style furniture is in high demand with collectors. Pieces in good
condition are very expensive.
Federal - 1780-1820
l
|e Federal style of furniture in America coincided with the English Neoclassical move-
ment. Furniture designers Hepplewhite, Adam and Sheraton had major infuences in this
period. Although America was now separated from England, these English designers still
held a heavy infuence over furniture design. The political feeling of this period is captured
in the patriotic symbols that were sometimes a part of the furniture design.
l
|e look of the Federal style is graceful, with a clean and elegant straight line. The ornate
feet that ended the legs of previous styles has faded away and been replaced by feet which
are a continuation of the leg. Some ornamentation common in this style was banding, reeding,
futing and stenciling. Dark woods like cherry and mahogany continued to be popular.
S
eme popular designers in this period were Duncan Phyfe, Charles Honore Lannuier,
Michael Allison, John Shaw, John Dolan, Samuel McIntire, and George Woodruff.
A
a||ae furniture in the Federal style is very valuable today because of its excellent con-
struction and refned beauty. It represents an important time in the history of the United
States, which adds to its appeal for collectors.
?|O@
Empire 1800-1850
l
|e Empire period of American furniture corresponded to the Regency period in English
furniture, however, the English infuence on American design had decrease signifcantly
by this point. The French Empire period had a far greater infuence in American furniture
design in this period. This was the day of Napoleon, and the style was heavily infuenced
by his interest in Greek and Roman times.
C
|ess|ce| ornamentation was characteristic of this style. Grecian columns and other hints
towards the classical period are in evidence. Mythological scenes were often portrayed.
Dark woods continued to be used.
|
a many ways the Empire period builds on the simple elegance of the Federal period. While
the classical motifs represent the fashion of the day, the underlying utility that is so com-
mon to American furniture is still the guiding force. Items from the Empire period are much
sought after by antique collectors and very valuable.
Victorian 1840-1910
\
emeJ for Queen Victoria of England, the Victorian style of furniture is seen by many as
the beginning of a decline in the design of furniture that lasted throughout the middle of
the 19th century. Dark and somber in appearance, this style of furniture represents a return
to gothic infuences.
A
aambe| of revivals occurred during this period, however these often lacked the quality
of craftsmanship and the refnements that had made the originals so desirable. Heavy
proportions are noted in the furniture, along with elaborate ornamentation. Because of the
renewed interest in furniture styles from the past few centuries, there are not many identif-
able features that are strictly Victorian.
|
| is rather important to note that this period marked the time when furniture was beginning
to be mass-produced.
?||@
Arts and Crafts 1880-1910
l
|e Arts and Crafts movement was a response to the industrial revolution. The style was
originated with William Morris and John Ruskin. This handmade furniture was simple
in design by comparison to the Victorian style.
C
|e|ec|e||zeJ by simple straight lines, Arts and Crafts style furniture was a return to
the utilitarian style. Minimal ornamentation was the rule of the style and the focus was
much more on the quality of construction.
A
a||ae collectors value the excellent and simple construction of this style.
Art Nouveau 1890s-1910
O
||ea considered to be the frst truly modern movement in design, Art Nouveau was the
frst style that did not rely on the designs of the past for its inspiration. The arts and
crafts period was a heavy infuence on the style, but only in that it too valued handmade
construction over the mass produced.
\
e|a|e and the natural world are primary infuences on this style. Asymmetrical lines
typifed this organic focus. Additionally, furniture lines were fowing and feminine.
Floral and foliage motifs were stylized.
l
|||eays Japanese-inspired glass was of major importance. Beech, black walnut, mahogany
and oak were dominant woods in use.
A
|| nouveau items in excellent condition are valuable antiques.

?|2@
Art Deco 1920s-1930s
b
a||J|a on the foundation of the Art Nouveau movement, the Art Deco period was one
in which the modern was thoroughly embraced. Like the Art Nouveau movement, Art
Deco was infuential on art, architecture and anything else of visual importance.
C
||eme and plastic were used as important elements of furniture design for the frst
time. Curving lines often made use of plant imagery. Along with the abstract, Asian
infuences are seen. There is a modern angularity that develops in the later years of the style
and is easily recognizable.
A
|||ea| it does not yet meet the 100-year mark for being defned as an antique, most
antique collectors recognize their value. Unique art deco items in excellent condition
are a valuable investment.
Mid-Century Modern 1950s-1960s
Y
eJe|a furniture took a new turn in the 1950s and 1960s. The furniture of this time
showed the infuence of the post-war era with new materials and a sleek look.
l
||s contemporary furniture was free of ornamentation. Smooth lines and distinctive
shapes ft well with the new era. A major aspect of mid-century furniture is the focus on
the functionality and comfort of the items.
S
ceaJ|aev|ea designed furniture, noted for clean lines and light colored woods was a
major infuence on the Mid-Century style.
Y
|Jcea|a|y furniture by the premier designers of the time could be very expensive,
however the style was widely adopted, meaning that many inexpensive items were
produced. Collectors should be on the lookout for some of the major names: Aero Saarinen,
Arne Jacobsen, Alvar Aalto, Rudolf Schindler, Richard Neutra, Charles and Ray Eames,
George Nelson, Hans Wegner, and Craig Ellwood.
?|3@
What to Consider When Shopping
\
ew that you know a bit about the styles of antique furniture, you will want to know what
to look at when you are shopping. Good antiquing requires the ability to evaluate an
item base on your objectives.
|
e| furniture, use the following checklist of items. After a while you will know it by heart
and examining furniture based on these aspects will be second nature to you. Remember
not to rush into judging anything too quickly. Take your time with the item and make sure
you are seeing it exactly for what it is. This will help you avoid costly errors
Does it catch your eye
Doe it demand a closer look?
Are the shape and lines pleasing?
Do you like it?
What condition is it in?
Does it show signs of repair? Professional or unprofessional?
Has the wood aged well?
Is it well constructed?
Does the piece still function well? Do the draw-
ers and doors open and shut correctly?
b
ecease of their age, it is rare to fnd a true antique in mint condition. Items are moved
over the years and damaged in the process. For many antique collectors, the signs of age
are an important, character-giving aspect of the items.
Y
es| valuable furniture items are hand made. Collectors look for ripples and uneven
markings on furniture as signs that an object has been hand made.

?||@
A
a item with a label or a marking will normally be sold at a higher price than a similar
item with no marking. This is because the marking will allow a positive identifcation
of the item.
l
|e more you learn about antique furniture, the more easily you will be able to recognize
the unique from the mundane. The important thing to keep in mind is to trust your own
judgment.
Spotting Reproductions and Fakes
\
||| the many furniture revivals that happened in the 19th century, how can you tell the
difference between a reproduction and an original?
|
ey|a attention to construction is invaluable to determining whether an object is a modern
reproduction or not. Make a point of looking at a number of items both older reproduc-
tions and originals. Eventually, you will learn to easily spot the differences.
l
|e circular saw was not adopted into wide use until 1830, which can be helpful in spot-
ting reproductions. If an item has circular saw marks it must have been made after 1830.
Examining interior boards of furniture can help reveal this and help you more accurately
date furniture.
A
ae||e| thing to look at is nails. Any furniture made before 1790 will use blacksmith
forged nails called rose-headed nails. As their name indicates, their heads are shaped
like roses. From 1790 to 1830 nails were cut by a machine and then fnished off by a black-
smith. These nails were called square-headed nails because of their squared off heads.
From 1830-1890, machine cut, headless nails were used in furniture construction. It was not
until 1890 that the modern nails we know today came into use. Learning to spot the differ-
ence in different types of nails is an excellent way to date furniture.
?|5@
Researching Antique Furniture
\
|e||e| you are trying to fnd out about a beautiful mirror found in the home of a
relative or wondering if that small table you found at a garage sale might be worth
something or if it has an interesting history, researching can be a very fun part of the antiqu-
ing experience.
|
e|e| about the kind of research you did in school. Trying to learn about your antique
furniture is fun and exciting. The more you do it, the better you will get. The goal here
is to work out more than just the time and the style in which an object was created. If pos-
sible, you want to fnd out where it was made and by whom. You will also want to know if
it is rare or common.
l
|e|e is no one right way to research an object. In addition to books you might purchase
for yourself, the library and the Internet are both valuable sources for fnding out about
any antiques. Personally, I use the Internet as much as possible. I just fnd it easier and
more convenient. However, when I feel like I have exhausted the Internet, I am not afraid
of researching in the library as well.
l
|e frst step in any research is to try to name what it is that you have. In some cases,
it will be fairly obvious. In other cases it may not be as clear-cut. This is where your
knowledge of styles will come into play as well. You may also want to consider that if they
item came from a source that might not be as knowledgeable, they may have misidentifed the
objects purpose. Be as detailed in this initial identifcation as possible. If you have a chair,
what kind of chair is it? Was it a dining room chair, a desk chair or a sitting room chair?
Consider less likely alternatives. Perhaps it was a chair that matched a vanity table?
Y
ea may need to consider several options for what the object is as you research. It is
better to cast too wide a net than too narrow.
O
ace you have decided what you have, or at least have some possibilities, try to think
about how to describe the object. This will help you narrow down what you have.
Think about the words you would use to describe it. If you fnd yourself at a loss for words,
you might want to consider looking at http://www.artworkers.com/glossary/. They provide
an excellent glossary of terms to do with antique furniture.
?|o@
In describing the object, look at the following items and make a list
General Appearance
Proportion
Resembles
Line
Wood
Finish
Motif
Ornamentation
Foot
Hardware Material
Drawer Pull
Joint
Chair Back Shape
Chair Leg
Chair Seat Material
Chair Seat Shape
Fabric
Upholstery
l
|ese are the key features that will help you narrow down what you are looking for to a
specifc period. If you are lucky, you will also be able to use them to narrow down to
specifc regions or designers. The more your practice doing this, the better you will get at
identifying furniture.
l
|e website http://www.maltwood.uvic.ca/hoft/timeline.html contains a timeline of the
history of furniture. If you are unsure about the period of your furniture, you can use
this to help you pinpoint the details.

?|7@
|
| the item has a mark that indicates the manufacturer, you may be able to identify it more
quickly with an Internet search or through the price guides. However, writing out the
details is still a very good practice as it gets you in the habit of identifying the specifcs of
different styles.
Case Study
A
Jes| with a original round, red/yellow company label which reads Skandia Furniture
Co. Rockford, ILL.
|
a examining the photo of the desk, I notice that it is the desk style called a secretary or
secretaire. This means a closed desk with a surface that either folds down or pulls out.
Drawers are usually under the writing surface, and a bookcase and other storage are usually
on top.
|
a looking at the photos, the secretary has a formal quality to it. The ornamentation is mini-
mal. The wood is has a dark fnish, although there seems to be an inlayed piece of lighter
wood. The desk, when closed, appears as simple box mounted on very unique legs. They
turn in multiple ways and end in a curled foot.
A
a|c| history of the Skandia Furniture Company in Rockford, Illinois, reveals that it
was founded in 1888. This city was home to a number of furniture manufacturers.
b
eseJ on the characteristics of the secretary, it seems to be from the Victorian style. Be-
cause it does have the feeling of moderating some of the most overblown tendencies of
that period, I feel that it may be more towards the end of the period. It does show some early
Art Deco characteristics. I think it probably dates anywhere from 1900-1920.
\
|||e I was unable to locate any specifc information about the desk, using the eBay
completed listing function and the price guide at www.kovels.com, I would guess the
selling price to be anywhere between US$150-600 depending on the condition, which cannot
be measured by the photos available.
?|@
Antique Furniture Care
C
e||a for antique furniture well is of critical importance to maintaining the value and
beauty of the piece.
|
a general, with antiques, you want to be the least invasive you can be. This means using
gentle products to clean and taking your time. If you have just acquired an object and it is
really dirty, you will need to get most of the dust off before you get down to the fner work.
First, remove as much of the dirt as you can using just a soft brush or a vacuum cleaner with
a soft brush attachment. Especially if you are unsure of the fnish, you dont want to use a
cloth that might catch on an unfnished surface.
|
| the object requires further cleaning, use a cloth and gently clean with a small amount of
furniture cleaner. It is preferable to use one that is made especially for antiques and to
clean off the cleaner using a fresh cloth and some distilled water.
C
e|||a into all of the nooks and crannies may require some more delicate work. Try
using a toothbrush and toothpicks to get to those hard to reach spots.
A
||e| you have cleaned the object, you can maintain it with regular dusting with a lint free
cloth and a once a year application of beeswax polish (twice a year for items in heavy
use). Apply a small amount of the wax with a cloth and then use a lint-free cloth to polish.
Less product and more time polishing will yield the best results.
|
| you have a valuable item that requires refnishing or other repairs, you will want to consult
a professional. Taking on these types of tasks on your own can dramatically decrease the
value of an item.
O
a the other hand, if you are certain that an item is not especially valuable, taking on
minor repairs can be acceptable. Just remember to do as little as you need to and keep
the item as close to original as you can.
?|9@
Resources for Antique Furniture
Antique Trader Furniture Price Guide (Antique Trader Furniture Price Guide) by Mark F.
Moran (2001)
Identifying American Furniture: A Pictorial Guide to Styles and Terms, Colonial to Contemporary
(American Association for State and Local History Book Series) by Milo M. Naeve (1998)
The Book of Antique Furniture: An International Sytle Guide from the 16th to the 20th Century
by Francis Rousseau (2000)
The Bulfnch Anatomy of Antique Furniture: An Illustrated Guide to Identifying Period, Detail,
and Design by Paul Atterbury, Tim Forrest (1996)
Web Resources
http://wwwwinnet/~larrivee/hardware_historyhtml
This is an excellent source for identifying period hardware throughout the years.
http://wwwmedievalwoodworkingcom/articles/joineryhtml
This site has everything you need to know about how furniture was put together in medieval
times.
http://wwwcabinetmakersearchcom
With over 36,000 records, this database allows you to look up information by the makers
name, location or form of cabinetry.
?5O@
C|e|e| o ||ae A|| eaJ Aa||ae
|||a|s
C
ve| see a painting or a print at a thrift store and wonder if it is worth anything? Art as
a category of antiques is hugely complicated by the sheer amount of art that has been
produced throughout history. If collecting fne art or antique prints is appealing to you, be
prepared to do your homework.
|
| is a rare person indeed who is able to identify art quickly and easily. Nicole Neville, the
expert interviewed earlier in the book, can look at a painting with the artists name covered
and track down when it was produced, and identify the artist. Of course, she was only able
to do that after years of training. But if she saw a valuable painting sitting in a thrift store,
she would be sure to notice it.
|
e| those of us without years of training, we have to learn about evaluating fne art and
antique prints with limited knowledge. Using good resources and exposing yourself to
as many genuine, high-quality pieces of art will be critical in developing your skills. It is
also important to learn how to do the research that will tell us more about an item.
Evaluating Fine Art and Antique Prints
\
|ea you are looking at a piece of artwork or an antique print, it is important to keep
a few things in mind.
U
a|ess you are very skilled at identifying art, be extremely cautious of purchasing an
item simply because you think you will be able to make money selling it. It is better
to purchase items that you will enjoy. If it does happen that the item is valuable, then that
is an added bonus.
?5|@
\
|ea looking at a painting or a print, there are some basic questions you should ask
yourself.
Can I see the artistic value in it?
What is the condition?
How old is it?
Can I identify an artistic movement it might be associated with?
Is it signed?
For prints, does it have a seal?
If there is a frame, what condition is it in?
O
ace you have answered all of these questions, consider the price of the item. If you
are unsure, it is better to leave it behind. If an item looks oddly familiar, be careful,
it may be a forgery or reproduction of a more famous work. Experts have been trained to
look at details like brushstrokes to identify forgeries, but to the untrained eye, it may look
very similar.
Y
eay people think that if a print or artwork is on yellowing paper that shows how old it
is, it will be worth more. However, this is not always the case. As paper has changed
over the years the quality of it has dropped substantially. Often times, truly antique paper
will be white or almost white. It is more modern paper that goes yellow with age.
O
ae way to spot a modern forgery or reproduction is through the use of a black light.
Modern paint and paper made after 1930 will usually glow under black lighting. This
is also a good way to check for hairline damage on a painting, or to see if some modern repair
or touchup has been performed.

?52@
Antique Prints
C
e||ec||a antique prints is an inexpensive alternative to fne art that can contribute to
the beauty of an antique themed room. It can also be proftable. Antique prints are
increasing greatly in popularity and the demand for authentic prints is raising the prices.
A
a original print is a piece of paper that has had a design applied to it in any of a variety
of ways. Key factors of an original print are that the artist must either do the printing
or supervise it. An original print can only be produced in an artists lifetime. Original prints
can be identifed and valued by a seal. There are several books available for identifying print
seals and pricing the print.
S
eme big names in prints currently are Maxfeld Parrish and Bessie Pease Gutmann.
Original prints of some of their more popular or rare designs can be worth a consider-
able amount
l
|ea| they lack the power of name recognition, cottage prints from the beginning of the
20th century are steadily increasing in value. These prints feature idyllic settings and are
soft, but colorful. These prints can still be found at very low prices because they were very
popular. Despite the number available, the price on these prints is expected to rise because
of the currant demand.
l
|ese prints that I have been talking about are relatively modern in origin and for the most
part, American. However, antique prints can be found from all over the world and can
date back centuries. Some prints were done with stone and other with metal as the printing
plate.
A
|ey factor in the value of a print was the time and artistry required to produce it. For
example, the prints created by John James Audobon were carefully engraved based
on his original work, like for line. After the printing, the prints were painted by hand with
watercolor to exactly replicate the original. This painstaking effort has made these prints
some of the most valuable around.
b
e on the lookout for other nature prints like the Audubon prints. There are many collec-
tors of these prints and they can attract a surprisingly high price.
?53@
A
s with so much in antiques, it is a good idea to pick an area of specialization. By doing
this, you can learn about a specifc type of print in detail and you will be able to recog-
nize something of value when you see it.
b
y learning just a few names, you will know what to look for. Most people do not know
what an original print is, and dont realize what they have. I have bought prints for $20
and sold them for $200. Of course, bargains like that dont come around every day, so you
need to know what to look for when they do.
Researching Fine Art and Antique Prints
\
||| the resources now available on the Internet, researching art has become much simpler;
however there can be complications. Whether art research is simple or complicated
largely depends on whether or not you know the name of the artist.
l
|e|e are a number of online databases that allow you to search artists by name. One of
these, http://web.artprice.com, does not even require that a whole name be entered, which
can be important if the artists name is hard to read. Additionally, a simple search engine
query using the artists name can be surprisingly productive.
|
| the Internet turns up nothing, or the artists name could not be found on the work, it is time
to turn to books. If you are going to the library, be sure to bring a picture of the artwork
for comparison. If you know the artists name, you will have a place to start.
|
| you dont know the artists name, you will need to try to identify the period that the art
came from and hopefully where it was produced. Look for clues in the work that might
help you.
|
| all else fails, going to an art museum with your picture is something to consider. As the
people who work there if they have ever seen anything like it. They will probably be able
to help you narrow down your search.
?5|@
O
ace you fnd out the period, you can look through art books and try to pinpoint where
and when it was produced. Although it is always better to have signed art, unsigned art
can still fetch an attractive price at auction if it comes from an important movement.
Case Studies
#1 I just bought a signed, colored etching by V Carre (1930s?), A French artist who I cannot find a
thing about
C
e||e was not listed in any of the online databases, so I turned to the search engines.
There was not much information available. What I learned was that V. Carre, an art-
ist from outside of Paris, was known for his etchings, which depicted scenes from France,
Belgium and Holland. His work comes from the 1920s-1930s.
|
wes able to fnd one Carre etching online at a gallery. It was on sale for US$95. There
were no records of other sales that I could fnd in the previous auction listings either.
#2 I need information about an oil painting by E Gruenthaler
|
wes not able to track down much information about Gruenthaler. What I did learn is that
one of his paintings was sold at auction in 1999 for US$350. The name Gruenthaler, or
Grnthaler is found originally in both Germany and Sweden, though it is not especially
common. The fact that the English form of the name is used indicates the painter may have
been an immigrant or was born to immigrants in England or America.
Caring for Fine Art and Antique Prints
|
|ae art and antique prints lose their value rapidly if they are damaged. So, what is the
best way to go about caring and cleaning for them?
\
||| fne art, you are best off leaving real cleaning to an art conservator. Unless you
really wont be bothered if damage occurs, this is simply not a task to try at home.
The most you should ever do is take a soft brush called a squirrel or badger and lightly brush
dust away. Never use water or anything wet on a painting. You should not need to dust a
painting more than once or twice a year.
?55@
A
a||ae prints that are dirty or damaged are worth so much less for a reason; it is very
hard to clean paper. Even a trained professional may not be able to accomplish the task.
If you have purchased a print that is dirty or damaged because of the good price, it is prob-
ably best to just enjoy it as it is. Attempting to clean it may destroy it.
|
| your print is in good condition, avoid handling it as much as you possibly can. Be sure to
use acid free materials for matting and framing. Dont use glue, tape or any other adhesive.
Never cut or trip the print. You may want to use a type of Plexiglas to cover the print that
will block harmful UV rays.
\
||| both fne art and antique prints, heat, humidity and light are all dangers. You need
to exercise your judgment in placing them on display in order to avoid damage.
Resources for Fine Art and Antique Prints
Audubon Art Prints: A Collectors Guide to Every Edition (2003)
Collectors Value Guide to Early Twentieth Century American Prints by Michael Ivankovich
(1998)
A Guide To Collecting Antique Historical Prints: A Guide To Collecting Antique Historical
Prints by Christopher W. Lane, Carolyn Cades, Donald H. Cresswell (1995)
How to Identify Prints, Second Edition by Bamber Gascoigne (2004)
Millers: Antiques: Art & Collectables On the Web by Phil Ellis, Simon C. Edwards (2000)
Oriental Antiques & Art: An Identifcation and Value Guide by Mark F. Moran (2003)
Web Resources
http://askartcom
This site has information on 52,000 American artists.
http://webartpricecom
21 million auction prices and indices covering 342,000 artists. Unfortunately you have to pay
to see a lot of the information, but it is still useful.
?5o@
C|e|e| 7 Aa||ae Jewe||y
Y
y own interest in antique jewelry began when I inherited a wide variety of costume
jewelry going back to at least the 1890s. Many of the items were not of much interest
to me, but the ones that were captivated me.
A
a||ae jewelry, whether it is fne or costume, is an excellent thing to collect. It is both
valuable and very much usable. It is also possible to fnd rare and valuable antique
jewelry, especially costume jewelry, for very low prices.
C
e||ec|e|s of antique jewelry like to think about the possible history of an item. Won-
dering who wore an item, and where they wore it to is one of my favorite things about
owning antique jewelry.
|
a this chapter we will be looking at the most common periods of antique jewelry, how to
evaluate antique jewelry, some of the current trends in antique jewelry, how to research an
item and how to care for it.
Styles and Time Periods
|
||e all antiques, the design of antique jewelry was infuenced by the major design move-
ments of the era in which it was created. We are going to briefy look at the time periods
of antique jewelry you are most likely to come across and some of their defning character-
istics.
Victorian
J
ewe||y dating from 1837 to 1901 is known as Victorian. There are many identifying
features of Victorian jewelry. Flowers, trees and birds were used in the creation of
jewelry with a heavy, somber and elaborate feel. Gold and gold plate were frequently used,
however, diamonds were always set in silver or white gold as this was thought to enhance
their beauty.
?57@
Art Nouveau
A
|||ea| the Art Nouveau movement in jewelry was short-lived, lasting from 1890-1910;
it is prized among collectors for its unique and imaginative beauty. Drawing inspira-
tion from the natural world, these pieces made use of animal and plant motifs. Graceful
asymmetrical lines were common. A wide variety of enameling techniques are a major
defning feature of this style.
Edwardian
l
|e Edwardian period of jewelry was short, from 1901-1920. It is characterized by
a delicate appearance. Platinum was favored as a material, and diamonds and other
gemstones were regularly used. The overriding feeling in Edwardian jewelry is of fne lace
and fligree.
Art Deco
l
|e Art Deco movement in jewelry lasted from the 1910s-1930s. In this style, geometry
and symmetry combined in with color and daring design to create truly unique pieces.
The stylization of the Art Nouveau movement was imitated, but instead of the curving lines,
Art Deco was based on an almost harsh geometry. The Edwardian preference for platinum
was continued in this style.
Evaluating Antique Jewelry
\
|ea purchasing antique jewelry, there are some key considerations to take into account
when you are deciding if you are going to purchase it.
Look at the workmanship. Is the piece well
crafted with attention to detail or not?
Note what condition the piece is in. Are there cracks,
chips or missing stones? Some simple repairs may be ac-
ceptable, but you want to bear it in mind.
Look at the color of the piece. In antique costume jewelry, cur-
rent trends will affect the price of the piece. In fne jewelry, the color

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of the stone is one of the major indicators of the quality of the stone.
Try to see if the piece shows obvious signs of being
from a particular era. The most valuable pieces will always
be those that carry defning traits of a particular time
Consider whether or not the item is currently in vogue. There
are trends in antique jewelry. An item that is much in demand will
have a higher price. Remember also that just because an item isnt cur-
rently in demand does not mean that the market will never change.
Look at the item and see if you remember seeing many oth-
ers like it. If the market is fooded with a particular style, yours
might not be worth much. Be warned that simply because a seller
calls something rare does not necessarily mean that it is.
Look for a signature or manufacturer on the item. This can
help you research and items that are marked are worth more.
l
|e other big consideration is whether or not you like it. As with all antiques, dont buy
something in the hopes that you will be able to sell it for more. Always buy what you
love.
\
e|c| out for reproductions. If something looks a little too modern, it probably is. After
a while you will be able to easily spot the difference between a modern reproduction
of a Victorian style necklace and a real Victorian style necklace. It is important to be care-
ful. Especially on the Internet, there are many unscrupulous sellers who dont have a single
vintage or antique item.
Current Trends in Antique Jewelry
A
|||ea|, in general, a piece that has been signed is worth more money, there are a num-
ber of factors to consider beyond just the signature.
A
s you begin looking at antique jewelry, you will begin to recognize certain names. Barclay,
Coro, Trifari, Eisenberg, Napier, Hobe, Weiss, Kramer, Whiting Davis, Sarah Coventry
and Lisner are just a few of the names you will come across. It is good to recognize these
names because very often they do indicate quality.

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D
ea| ever purchase something simply because it has a name. Many of these designers
were very prolifc, so the item may not be unique or rare. Also, simply because it is
marked does not indicate that the quality of the item is high. There are many beautiful, valu-
able unmarked pieces of jewelry.
|
ecea||y, there has been a big trend towards boho jewelry. This refers to the bohemian
styles that were popular in the 70s. Vintage jewelry collectors took this opportunity to
be stylish at a much lower price than new boho items would cost. Of course, because of
the rise in demand, the cost of boho jewelry also rose.
|
ey|a attention to current trends will help you determine which antique and vintage items
are going to come into fashion.
|
e| a number of years, jewelry made from a plastic known as Bakelite has been very popu-
lar. The demand has raised the price. Some excellent examples of Bakelite have sold
for astonishingly high prices at auction. Despite this, outside of collectors, most people are
unfamiliar with Bakelite. There are a number of ways to distinguish Bakelite from cheaper,
less valuable substances like Lucite.
Bakelite is heavier than other plastics. Go to a store that sells an-
tique jewelry and handle a few items so you can get a feel for them.
If two pieces of Bakelite tap into one another, they
make a distinctive sound. Learn to listen for it.
Bakelite has a formaldehyde or camphor smell. Rub it with
your fnger to warm it and smell it, or run it under warm water.
A
a||ae wedding rings have also become a trend in jewelry. In particular, unique styles
found in the Art Deco period are very popular. Antique wedding rings provide a creative
alternative for those who are looking for something that is more than just a diamond.

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Researching Antique Jewelry
l
|e best way to identify antique jewelry is to have a good understanding of what jewelry
from different periods looks like. Go to antique jewelry stores and look around. Visit
jewelry exhibits in museums to see the fnest examples from different periods. Once you know
about a particular time period, you will be able to identify the characteristics that defne it.
If you have a specific item you are trying to learn more about, the first step is to work out what it is
Is it costume or fne jewelry?
What materials are used?
Can you identify the period?
How would you describe the design?
Is it marked?
A
bes|c Internet search may help you turn up a lot of valuable information. There are a
number of jewelry terms that may be unfamiliar to you, but knowing what a particular
style is called can help you learn more. The following website, http://en.mimi.hu/jewelry/
index_jewelry.html, has an extensive list of jewelry terms that will help you.
|
esee|c||a the mark on an item can also be helpful. Some marks may be unfamiliar
names and may indicate that the item is rare. Also, many designers changed their marks
over the years, so researching the mark might allow you to work out when it was made more
closely. A website that lists a number of important jewelry designers is http://www.antiqu-
ingonline.com/jewelry-designers.htm.
O
ae of the best sites I have found for information on antique and vintage jewelry is
http://www.morninggloryantiques.com/. There are plenty of photos and some very
informative articles.
l
|e|e are also a number of excellent books that can help you in identifying a mark.
Sometimes, browse through a book for a signature mark is easier than trying to do it on
the Internet.

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Case Studies
# 1 I have a cameo pin that is over 100 years old I wanted to ask about the value of it
C
emees have been popular for centuries, and they can be quite valuable. Their value de-
pends on a number of things. Firstly, the quality of the carving is of central importance.
Is it detailed? Is the craftsmanship and time spent obvious as you look at it? Secondly, what
materials are used? Coral, shell, lava, stone, bone and ivory are all possibilities. The more
rare the material, the more valuable the cameo will be.
b
ecease there are many cameos in existence, condition is a major factor in the value.
Examine the item closely. Are their any chips or crack?
|
|ee|eJ up the auction prices of cameos both on ebay and through some online auction
listings. Cameos from the late 1800s to the early 1900s can range from US$100-3000 and
above depending on the rarity, condition and size of the piece.
#2 I have a necklace The pendant drops down from an elegantly scalloped necklace and has an
enamel oval with a flower painted on it What can you tell me about it?
b
eseJ on your description, the item sounds as though it belongs to the Art Nouveau period.
Floral motifs and enamel were very popular during this period.
|
see|c|eJ online antique jewelers for items similar to the one you described. Costume
jewelry from this period remains relatively low-priced and I found a number of examples
ranging from US$50-100.
Cleaning and Caring for Antique Jewelry
\
|ea cleaning antique jewelry, make sure you fnd a cleaner that will not damage any
type of possible jewelry material. Using that, and the softest toothbrush or cloth you
can fnd, clean the surface of the item. Ensure that you dont leave any residual moisture
when you are done. This can lead to problems like pitting in metal.
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|
| you notice any loose ftting parts, take the item to a jeweler before you wear it again.
b
eyeaJ cleaning, you can maintain your antique jewelry in excellent condition by stor-
ing it carefully. Dont put it somewhere where it will be scratching up against other
jewelry items
Antique Jewelry Resources
Answers to Questions About Old Jewelry: Covers 1840-1950 by Jeanenne Bell (2003)
A Connoisseurs Guide to Antique Jewelry (Connoisseurs Guides) by Ronald Pearsall
(1999)
The Offcial Identifcation and Price Guide to Antique Jewelry by Arthur Guy Kaplan (2005)
Warmans Antique Jewelry Field Guide: Values and Identifcation by Jeanenne Bell (2003)
Web Resources
http://wwwvalleyfairjewelerscom
This site contains a glossary of many commonly used terms in antique jewelry.
http://wwwallaboutjewelscom/jewel/glossary/
The is an excellent illustrated dictionary for jewelry
http://illusionjewelscom/costumejewelrymarkshtml
Need help working out what the signature on your piece of costume jewelry means? This site
can help.
http://wwwantiquingonlinecom/designershtm
This site has detailed information about a large number of antique jewelry designers
http://wwwsparklzcom/indexChtm
This is a great resource for a number of excellent articles about antique jewelry.
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C|e|e| Aa||ae A||eaces
A
|ew|a trend in antiquing is capturing the feeling of a specifc time through the tech-
nology of the day. Antique appliances are unique, historical artifacts that can make
beautiful collectors pieces.
S
eme, though not all antique appliances can be restored to working order. As most people
have been told by their older relatives, things were just made better back then.
l
|e|e are any number of antique appliances that are of value to collectors ranging from
antique stoves and refrigerators, to sewing machines and vacuum cleaners. These items
carry both historical signifcance and aesthetic appeal. In particular, antique stoves can be
remarkably beautiful.
|
a this chapter, we will go over some of the highlights in the history of appliances. This
can help you identify objects that may be of the most value. We will also look at how to
go about researching an antique appliance and restoring and caring for them.
Highlights in the History of Appliances
|72 Cast iron stoves are becoming common.
|33 Jordan Mott invents a coal stove that is practical for home use.
|3| Jacob Perkins built frst practical refrigerating machine.
|5O A man by the name of Joel Houghton patented the frst dishwasher. It was a wooden
machine. Using a hand-turned wheel, it would splash water on dishes. It did not work
well.
|5| A patent was issued to James King for the frst washing machine to use a drum. The
machine was hand powered.
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|o9 Ives McGaffey patents a sweeping machine. It was not electric, but rather, used
the rotation of the wheels on the foor to turn a round brush that swept up dirt.
|7olhe telephone is invented.
|o Josephine Cochran, frustrated by the fact than no one had yet made a working dish-
washer, set out to make one herself. She Cochran invented the frst working dishwasher.
Her invention did not catch on with the general public, and was mostly used in hotels and
restaurants. The company that she founded to make the dishwashers eventually became the
famous KitchenAid.
|5 The frst patent for an electric mixer was issued to Rufus M. Eastman.
|93 The frst electric toaster is invented by Compton and Co.
|92 Crompton and Co. and the General Electric Company introduced hand-held clothing
irons that used electrical resistance to heat.
|9o The frst patent for an electric stove is issued to William Hadaway
|9O| Hubert Cecil Booth received a patent for a vacuum cleaner. It was a large device that
had to be drawn by horses to the building it would clean. It was fueled by gas. It functioned
by the use of long hoses going into the building that were then used to clean it.
|9O7 A janitor in Canton, Ohio James Murray Spangler, invented the portable vacuum
cleaner as a result of attempting to come up with an alternative to the carpet sweeper he was
using so that it wouldnt cause him to cough. A fan motor, a soapbox, a broom handle and
a pillowcase were used in the frst version.
|9O by the Hurley Machine Company of Chicago introduce The Thor. It was the frst
electric-powered washing machine.
|9|| General Electric Company revealed two the frst home refrigerators in Fort Wayne,
Indiana.
|9|5 Electric clothing dryers appeared.
|9|9 The modern toaster, with a timer and pop-up function was invented by Charles
Strite.
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|92O Radio broadcasting becomes more widespread.
|922 The blender was invented by Stephen Poplawski.
|927 Architect and inventor John W. Hammes built the worlds frst kitchen garbage disposal
for his wife. He spent ten years improving the design before offering it to the public.
|92 The frst television, with a screen half the size of a business card, is introduced.
|92Os 1930s-The frst refrigerators that had freezing capacity were introduced.
|93OsFreon 12 replaced other, potentially lethal refrigerants and became the most com-
monly used.
|95OsDishwashers catch on with the general population.
Evaluating Antique Appliances
\
|ea evaluating an antique appliance, the frst thing you need to consider is whether you
are using it for its historical and aesthetic value, or if you actually want it to function.
Using antique appliances in your home is possible, but you need to do your homework and
fnd out about restoration costs and practicality.
|
| you are considering an antique appliance for your home, you will need to look into a
number of things. In addition to the restoration costs, consider how the piece will look in
your home. Consider if the proportions will actually ft well into the available space.
A
|se, safety is a big concern. Remember that antique appliances do not have the safety
features we are now accustomed to. Those who have small children may need to consider
if this is the best option for them. Many people who have working antique stoves switch
the gas off entirely when it is not in use. You should consider if you are going to be able to
commit to that.
O
||e| things to consider:
Is it one of the frst of a new form of appliance? A mod-
?oo@
ern toaster made the frst year that they were available is
worth more to a collector than one from a later date.
Is it in good condition?
Does it capture the historical feeling of the time in which it was made?
|
a|e|es||a|y, unlike with so many other types of antiques, modern reproductions being passed
off as antiques are not really a problem. This is because the modern reproductions are actu-
ally at least as expensive as their historical equivalents. It is a rather small and specialized
market, and there are only a few craftspeople that produce actual working reproductions.
Researching Antique Appliances
|
esee|c||a antique appliances is a bit different than researching other types of antiques.
To start with, most antiques will have marking indicating their manufacturer. This was
a time when everything was being patented, and companies were very careful to mark that
information on each item that they produced. If you cant fnd the patent labels, keep look-
ing; they are bound to be hidden around there somewhere.
l
|e other interesting thing about researching antique appliances is that the companies that
manufactured them are often still in business today. That means that you may be able to
go directly to the company to fnd out about the item. Additionally, advances in technology
like appliances are found in history texts.
S
ec|e||y guides that focus on specifc types of antique appliances are also available to
help you in your research.
Case Study
|
|eve a Quick Meal Stove from 1929. It is a gas stove, but I dont know if it works. It says
Magic Chef on the back.

|| is in decent condition. Is it worth anything?

?o7@
b
ecease you have the name of the company, I did some research on that frst. I was able
to fnd out quite a bit about the company. The Quick Meal Stove Company was very
successful in the 1880s and 1890s, and it merged with several other companies to make the
American Stove Company. They were the frst company to introduce a temperature device.
In 1929, they frst used the name Magic Chef. Later, in 1951, they changed their name to
Magic Chef, because of the overwhelming popularity of their stoves and the name.
S
|ace that time there have been several mergers, and they were sold to the Whirlpool
Corporation, which was sold to Maytag in 2006.
|
|ee|eJ at some closed auctions for similar items and found prices ranging anywhere from
US$300-1000.
b
ecease of the importance of the company, especially in that time, I would say that your
stove would probably sell at the higher end of that spectrum.
Caring for Antique Appliances
S
eme antique appliances will not be as fragile as other types of antiques; however, it is
always best to error on the side of caution. Avoid abrasive materials that may damage
surfaces.
A
se|a||ea using two parts vinegar and one part water is excellent for removing rust. You
can allow removable rusted parts to soak in the solution for a few hours if necessary.
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C|e|e| 9 C|esswe|e, |e|ce|e|a eaJ
|e||e|y
A
a||ae glassware, porcelain and pottery is a vast category of antiques. Collectors of
these items value them for their unique beauty and fragility. Collecting glassware, por-
celain and/or pottery becomes, for many, something of an antiquing obsession. Collectors
seek out rare pieces and look to complete sets of their favorites.
l
|ese three substances are made from different things. Glassware is made from silica and
alkali. The silica used to make glass is sand. The alkali used in antique glassware was
either wood ash or burnt seaweed. Glass made using wood ash is called potash glass. This
glass hardens very quickly when it is cooled. Because of this, it is often carved or engraved.
Glass made using burnt seaweed is called soda glass. This glass can be manipulated more
because it does not harden so fast. Lead glass is potash glass which has had lead added to
it. It is heavier than other types of glass and is well suited to cutting.
|
e|ce|e|a is made using a white clay called kaolin. This substance can be heated at much
higher temperatures than earthenware and stoneware during production. This produces
a tougher ceramic that can be made into more delicate shapes.
|
e||e|y refers to other objects made from many different types of clay. Pottery can be
distinguished from porcelain by holding it up to the light. Pottery is opaque, while por-
celain is translucent.
|
a this chapter, we will at how to evaluate items of glassware, porcelain and pottery. We
will also address how to go about researching items of glassware along with porcelain and
pottery. A case study for each of the three types will be presented. A special section will
explore the popularity of Depression Glass. Finally, we will look at caring for your glass-
ware, porcelain and pottery.
?o9@
Evaluating Antique Glassware, Porcelain and Pottery
|
| you are interested in collecting glassware, porcelain and/or pottery, it is important to
consider up front what it is that you are looking for. Collecting these items should not be
random or haphazard. Find a particular style and branch out from there. It isnt possible to
learn everything at once, so select a particular type and start learning. Check out books from
the library, visit museums and learn about the different manufacturers and their marks.
O
ace you have sorted out what you are looking for, there are a number of things to take
into consideration when deciding whether or not to purchase it. Antique glassware,
porcelain and pottery are very frequently reproductions, and you will need to pay attention
in order to spot the difference.
A
|se, the price of these items drops considerably if they are damaged. Even hairline
fractures will dramatically reduce the price of an item. Because of this, you will need
to exercise caution, especially if you view your collection as an investment.
?7O@
When looking at an item of antique glassware, porcelain or pottery, consider the
following questions.
What condition is it in?
Does the items construction suit the period it is from?
Is the item rare?
Does it ft with your collection?
Does it have aesthetic appeal?
Taking the time to examine an object close-
ly can save you money and disappointment.
Researching Antique Glassware, Porcelain and Pottery
A
s with all antiques, the more you learn about a specifc area, the better you will get at
recognizing value and researching items. Especially in the case of glassware, porcelain
and pottery, you will probably want to invest in a few books to help you with identifcation.
Many of these items will not be marked, and having a visual guide will really help you in
your search. Some of the best printed sources for identifying antique glassware are at the
end of this chapter, along with a listing of web resources.
Researching Antique Glassware
\
|ea researching antique glass, it is important to know a few basic terms that can help
you describe what it is you are holding. As you collect more glassware and gain more
experience, you will learn to quickly identify both styles of glassware and the characteristics
it displays. Here is a quick rundown of some of the basics to get you started:
Blown glass
This is glass that has been shaped by air being blown through a hollow rod to a glass bubble.
An artisan shapes the glass by spinning, rolling and the use of iron tools.
Cut glass
This is glass that has been shaped or decorated through the use of grinding stones or other

?7|@
abrasive tools.
Direct carving
This is glass that has been carved, chiseled or sculptured in some other way.
Enameled glass
This is when glass colors, usually opaque, are melted onto the surface of the glass. The colors
are powdered glass.
Engraving
This is when a sharp point is used to cut or scratch the glass. Engraving work can be more
complicated and intricate than cut glass work.
Gilded
This term describes when metals like gold are fred onto a piece of glass.
Iridized glass
This describes the iridescent or rainbow effect seen on glass that has been treated with a special
chemical.
Kiln
This is an insulated oven that is used to fre pottery or fuse glass.
Lost wax casting
This describes a process in which a wax model is create of an object and a mold is created
around it. The wax is melted and allowed to flow out so that powdered or molten g l a s s
can be poured in.
Mosaic glass
This describes objects that are made by placing preformed elements in a mold and then heating
it until they fuse together.
Thermal shock
This describes when glass breaks because of rapid or uneven cooling or heating.
l
|ese are only some of the most basic terms. You will learn more as you go along, but
these should help you in researching.
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\
|ea you are trying to research glass, the frst step to take is to see if you can identify
any markings at all. Even if the marking doesnt give you the name of the company,
you may be able to use it to learn more.
|
| you fnd a marking, consult a resource to help you identify it. An excellent website for
identifying markings is at http://www.heartland-discoveries.com/dictionary.htm. The mark-
ings are sorted by shape, to help you quickly narrow your search.
|
| you cannot fnd a marking, do not despair. There are still a number of ways to go about
identifying your piece. If you can, try to get some information about when the glass was
produced from the person you are buying from. There are a number of excellent guidebooks
that can help you narrow down what the glass item is by the pattern.
O
ae trick I have learned it to just type a few key words about the object into a search
engine or auction site. While much of what comes up probably wont be like what you
have, you might recognize something similar. Then you can see if the person selling that
similar item has identifed a manufacturer.
|
| was doing just that which helped me discover one of my familys heirlooms is also of
value to collectors. In the special section on Depression Glass, I will explain more.
Antique Glassware Case Study
|
em trying to fnd info about a vase made of iridescent blue glass that is at least 100 year
old. The markings are an o with an n inside.
\
|ea I started looking for information about iridescent glass that was being made in the
time period mentioned, I came across a lot of information about carnival glass.
C
e|a|ve| glass was given away as prizes at carnivals in the early 1900s. Most of the
pieces were not marked. Carnival glass is very popular with collectors, and some very
rare pieces sell for very high prices.
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l
|e|e are many color varieties that determine the value of the piece, as well as the type
of object it is and the manufacturer. I was able fnd the name of the manufacturer of this
piece by researching the trademark.
A
cemeay by the name of Northwood probably created this piece. I was able to fnd
several vases of this color that had sold from between US$150-250.
Researching Antique Porcelain and Pottery
|
e|ce|e|a and pottery are often categorized together as ceramics. Before you start re-
searching an object, you will need to know how these two substances are defned and
what is included.
|
e|ce|e|a, as was mentioned before, is made from a very fne clay that can be fred at
high temperatures. There are two types of porcelain, hard-paste porcelain and soft-paste
porcelain.
H
e|Jes|e porcelain is made using the white clay kaolin and petuntse, which is also
known as china stone. The object fred, glazed and then fred again. The high temperature
means that the object obtains a translucency and has the consistency of glass. All porcelain of
Chinese origin is hard-paste. They began producing hard-paste porcelain in the 9th century.
European production of hard-paste porcelain did not begin until the early 18th century.
S
e||es|e porcelain is made using fne clay and a variety of other ingredients. The por-
celain is fred and then glazed. Soft-paste porcelain has a lighter, warmer feel to it. It
is also more easily scratched.
b
eae china was developed at the end of the 18th century in England when bone ash was
added to hard-paste porcelain ingredients.
C
eme|eJ to the fne delicacy of porcelain, pottery can seem coarse. There are two
types of pottery: earthenware and stoneware.
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C
e|||eawe|e describes ceramics that are fred in a kiln at a relatively low heat. Earth-
enware was one of the frst pottery forms used by mankind. Earthenware is porous and
unless it has been glazed, it is not waterproof.
S
|eaewe|e describes ceramics that are fred at a high heat. Unlike earthenware, stoneware
is non-porous and is waterproof even without glaze.
|
| is fair to say that most antique porcelain and pottery will carry a company trademark,
making it easier to research them. Additionally, unlike glass trademarks, most trademarks
appearing on antique porcelain will give the manufacturers name. This makes researching
them much easier.
b
e|e|e you start researching the manufacturer, there are a few things you can tell about the
date of an item just from the trademark alone. If an object has a mark that incorporates
some version of the word Limited, that means that the object was made after 1861. A
mark that includes the word trademark was made after 1862. Marks that include the royal
arms are of 19th or 20th century origin. A mark that states that an item is bone china is
of 20th century origin.
O
ace you have the name of the manufacturer, you can begin sorting out what it is that
you have.
O
a||ae auctions are an excellent place to check for what similar items are selling for.
Additionally, a number price guides are devoted to antique porcelain and pottery.
Case Studies
#1 Porcelain-I have a beautiful cake plate marked RS Prussia Is this valuable?
A
a|c| search on the Internet revealed that R.S. Prussia is one of the most prized names
in porcelain among collectors.
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|
.S. Prussia porcelain was produced in a factory in what is now Germany from the end
of the 19th century through the beginning of World War I. The porcelain is well known
for being incredibly delicate looking. The most valuable pieces are those that have designs
other than the normal foral patterns. These unique pieces often contain portraits or classi-
cal motifs.
l
|e amount of detail that has gone into an R.S. Prussia piece is one of the biggest factors
in its value. Collectors will pay thousands for truly unique pieces, while more standard
pieces will sell for less than US$50.
#2 Pottery- I have been searching everywhere I can think of for information on a John Dewar & Sons
Limited Distillers stoneware decanter It has 2 portraits, 2 landscape pictures, and says By Royal Warrant
to her Majesty the Queen on it There are stamps on the bottom with KS initials
\
|ea I researched John Dewar & Sons, I found that that was an earlier name for Dewars
Whiskey, a brand of scotch whiskey still popular today.
|
wes able to learn by looking at various closed auctions that major pottery makers crafted
bottles, pitchers and decanters bearing the Dewar & Sons and Dewars name. A number of
these types of decanters are valuable to collectors. They typically did have some statement
referring to a royal warrant.
l
|e value of the item will depend on a number of things including the condition and the
rarity of it. These bottles can range from US$50-500.
Depression Glass
D
e|ess|ea Glass, produced in America from the late 1920s through the 1940s by a num-
ber of large manufacturers, has become a major trend in collectables. Depression glass
was cheaply made in a wide number of colors and patterns. It was popular at the time, and
also affordable enough that even those who were suffering during the Depression were able
to afford it.
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|
a searching for Depression Glass, collectors must consider what colors and patterns they
are interested in. Obviously, some colors were not as common as others, and glass in those
colors is more valuable to a collector. Pink, light green and blue are especially prized among
collectors, while yellow and amber are less valuable.
D
e|ess|ea Glass is an excellent starting point for a new collector. The fact that you can
fnd nice pieces at a low price is of value. Also, because many people do not know that
it is valuable, you can fnd it in garage sales and thrift stores.
|
|eJ no idea, until I was introduced to Depression Glass through a friend, that my family
owned any antiques that others might collect. One day, as I was looking through some
online auctions, I saw something surprisingly familiar.
|
| was a juice glass like the ones that I had only ever seen in my mothers dining room. It
hadnt even occurred to me that my great-grandmothers set of glassware was Depression
Glass.
\
ew, the color and the pattern, from my research, dont seem to be terribly rare. Even if
they were, it really wouldnt matter. Those glasses are something our family will keep,
but I like having the extra knowledge about what those glasses are, and where they came
from. This early discovery was something that really cemented my interest in antiques.
Caring for Your Antique Glassware, Porcelain and Pottery
\
|ea dealing with antique glassware, porcelain or pottery, the frst concern is to prevent
things from breaking or chipping. Remember that any damage at all can seriously affect
the value of an item, so take as many precautions as you can. Carry items with two hands,
just to be safe. Remove stoppers or lids and carry them separately to prevent accidents.
A
s with all antiques, avoid direct sunlight, or placing items near heating units. If you are
using an antique vase, be sure that you take the fowers out and rinse the vase to avoid
stains every two days. Consider where you place them in your home. Are they somewhere
where pets, children or adults can knock them down?
?77@
\
|ea washing glassware, never use the dishwasher. Some antique glassware is too
delicate for normal washing. Cut, engraved and painted glass are all special risks. If
you are not sure, consult a conservator.
|
| your glass is strong enough to wash, dont ever put it in the dishwasher. It is better to
avoid the sink as well. A plastic tub with just enough water to wash one item at a time is
better and lowers the risk of breakage. Make sure to remove all bracelets and rings. Place
plenty of soft cloths all around the wash area to pad it. When washing, only have one item
in the water at a time to prevent them from bumping into each other. Dont place a glass in
very hot or very cold water, it might crack. A soft brush can help you reach diffcult spots.
Use a lint-free cloth to dry the glass completely. Be careful that you dont break anything
when drying.
\
|ea washing glassware, take care where you set the pieces before and after washing,
as that is a prime time for accidental breakage. Personally, I take the items from their
display one at a time as they are being washed and then replace them before taking the next
one. It may be a bit time consuming, but I prefer that to the risk of breaking something.
\
|ea cleaning ceramics, the frst rule is to never use anything abrasive or bleach. Most
household cleaners are too harsh. If all you need to do is dust, an aerosol can of com-
pressed air is recommended. If a more thorough cleaning is needed, then a small amount
of gentle dishwashing liquid should be mixed in a bowl with warm water. A soft brush can
be used.
Antique Glassware, Porcelain and Pottery Resources
Antique Trader Ceramics: Pottery & Porcelain Price Guide by Kyle Husfoen (2003)
Florences Glassware Pattern Identifcation Guide: Easy Identifcation for Glassware from the
1920s Through the 1960s by Gene Florence (1998)
Elegant Glassware Of The Depression Era: Identifcation and Value Guide by Florence Gene
(2004)
Kovels New Dictionary of Marks : Pottery and Porcelain 1850 to Present by Ralph Kovel,
Terry Kovel (1986)
Kovels Dictionary of Marks -- Pottery And Porcelain : 1650 to 1850 by Ralph Kovel, Terry
Kovel (1995)
?7@
Starting to Collect Antique Porcelain (Starting to Collect Series) by John Sandon (2003)
1100 Marks on Foreign Pottery & Porcelain
Web Resources
http://wwwddotycom/patternshtml
This is a great place to start looking at Depression Glass patterns
http://wwwmygrannysatticantiquescom/porcelain_pottery_china_marks_htm
Find a lot of good information about porcelain and pottery trademarks on this site.
http://wwwheartland-discoveriescom/dictionaryhtm
This site has trademarks used on glass. They are sorted by shape to make them easy to look
up.
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C|e|e| |O O||e| Aa||aes
l
|e|e are so many different types of antiques to collect; it would be impossible to cover
them all. The previous chapters have given you an overview of some of the major cat-
egories, but what about all the rest?
|
a this chapter we will look at a few of the smaller branches of antique collecting. The great
thing about antiques is that there are so many possibilities. You will be surprised at how
many people may share your interests.
S
|m|y because a particular type of antique is not one of the most widely collected does
not mean that you will have a harder time. To the contrary, you may fnd that information
is more easy access and understand because there is less of it.
|
a this chapter, we will review antique weapons and militaria, antique books, antique musical
instruments and antique vehicles. Each section will provide an introduction to a particular
type of antique. If there are any specifc research tips, that will be brought up, and there will
also be case studies for many of the items.
Antique Weapons and Militaria
C
e||ec||a antique weapons and militaria is a surprisingly vast category. Weapons have
existed since the beginning of civilization, though most of what is being collected today
is from the 16th century onwards. Weapons and militaria carry a rich history along with
their aesthetic value.
A
a||ae weapons and militaria can be divided into four basic categories. The frst is ar-
mor, like that made in the middle ages. Though wildly popular with collectors, antique
armor is very expensive because of its scarcity. Many of the best examples are in museums
or part of private collections. Remember that armor doesnt only refer to that worn in Eu-
rope. India, countries in Asia and the Middle East and other regions produced their own,
unique forms of armor.
?O@
l
|e second category is edged weapons. This includes swords and daggers and is not
limited to the distant past. Swords from the US War of Independence and Civil War, for
example, can be very valuable. Sword decoration can be very elaborate and plays a major
role in determining the value of an item.
l
|e third category is uniforms and decorations. Complete uniforms in good condition can
be hard to fnd, however medals and military decorations are an excellent way to grow
a collection.
l
|e last category of antique weapons is frearms. The frst frearms were introduced in
the early 16th century and were very different from what we know today. Early frearms
and those in more recent times are of great interest to a number of collectors.
\
|ea looking to purchase antique weapons and militaria, collectors must be cautious
of marriages. That is when pieces from different periods have been combined. As
this was often a result of events that occurred long in the past, when armor was recycled for
new wearers, pieces that are marriages are not out of the question, however it is important
to spot the difference to avoid being ripped off.
|
e|e engraving on edged weapons is another thing to be wary of. Because decoration
can play such a large roll in the value of a piece, sometimes engraving is added on. This
more recent engraving will have a brighter harsher looking edge than something very old
should have.
Case Study
|
|eve a Marlin 22. It has a NO.25 on it and patents 1889,1890,1892,1904. It has a round
barrel, straight stock, tube feed, pump action, open hammer...I was wondering the worth.
|
J|J some research on Marlin Firearms and discovered that they were founded in 1879.
Many of the original models were considered breakthroughs and have continued to be
developed over the years.
?|@
l
|e fact that the most recent patent mark was 1904 indicates that the gun was made some-
time after that year.
|
|ee|eJ at a number of closed auctions and saw a wide variety of prices. Then I happened
across an antique frearms site where someone had asked the price on their Marlin 22 with
the same patent numbers on it. The appraiser responded that depending on the condition the
gun could be anywhere from US$50-450.
Care and Cleaning for Antique Weapons and Militaria
A
s with many antiques, part of what makes an item of antique weaponry or militaria
valuable is that it appears old. Cleaning the signs of aging off can have a major impact
on its value.
A
a||ae frearms require some consideration for safety. Remember that they are weap-
ons and many of them work. Never assume that a gun is not loaded until you check it
yourself. Never point a gun at anyone. Children should not have access to guns, even if
they are antique.
C
JeJ weapons require some consideration as well. These too should be kept where
children cannot get to them. Also, be aware that old weapons can fall apart suddenly,
causing injury.
C
|eea|a antique frearms will very depending on the usage. Firearms that will never
be used would beneft from a trip to a conservator. They can take measures to protect
the frearm from its environment. If you will be fring the gun occasionally, you will need to
clean it as well. It is best to consult a conservator for advice on how to treat your particular
frearm.
?2@
Antique Books
l
|e Chinese were the frst to develop printing technology, but the complexity of the language
characters limited its usefulness. When print technology fnally did reach Europe, the
impact was enormous. The simple linear alphabet of the west was well suited to the printing
press. Very quickly, books that had to be hand lettered were replaced by books that could be
mass-produced, meaning that it was not only the wealthy who could afford books.
l
|a|y rare books that go back to those early days of printing are priceless, however for
many, antique books hold their own appeal. Antique books can be far more beautiful
than their modern day counterparts, with leather bindings, gold-leaved pages and detailed
illustrations.
l
|e|e are a number of different types of books that a collector may focus on. Childrens
books contain vivid pictures and often carry familiar stories. History and reference books,
especially in the early days of printing, were valued for their utility. Literature and poetry
books are one of the most common focuses for a collector, for the obvious reason that those
are some of the names that people are most familiar with. Other categories of books popular
with collectors are religion and philosophy, science and technology and travel and leisure.
\
|ea you begin collecting books, it is easy to be drawn in by the age and beauty of
antique books. If you are only looking for decorations for your home, then go ahead.
However, if you are looking to build a collection that is an investment, you will need to go
in knowing a few things.
|
emembe| in the beginning of the book, when we spoke to Nicole Neville? She said that
things arent valuable just because they are old. Sometimes they are just old. For some
reason, people fnd it very hard to remember that when they are looking at antique books.
They see something that is 250 years old, and assume it must be worth something because it
is so old. Age enough will not make a book valuable; it needs to have something else.
l
|e other thing to remember is that some things will only be valuable to you. A family
bible, for example, is worth little to anyone but the family. The only exception to this
rule is if the family is somehow connected to a famous person.
?3@
|
ee||a for valuable antique books is not easy. You will need to learn which books are
considered rare and are sought after within your area of specialization. When you are
considering a purchase, pay close attention to the condition of the book. There are a number of
things that can go wrong with the paper of the book that will negatively impact its value.
Case Study
|
|eve a small collection of E.P. Roe novels I have found over the years, and theyre beauti-
fully bound with carvings and colors. Are these worth anything?
|
|ee|eJ up the name of the author online to see what information I could come up with
frst.
C
.|. Roe was very popular in his time. His books actually sold more than Mark Twain, who
was publishing at the same time. Of course, the fact that there were more of his books
means that they are actually less valuable to collectors.
|
ee||a at closed auctions online, I found that a single volume of E.P. Roes generally
sold for around US$15-20.
Caring for Antique Books
l
e||a care of antique books is a tricky task. There is so much that can go wrong with
paper. For example, some people think that they might be better off putting antique
books in some sort of plastic, however, this is wrong. When a book is wrapped in plastic,
condensation will form inside the bag because of the changing temperature. The condensa-
tion will eventually cause mold to form on the book.
l
|e best place to store antique books is in a glass door bookcase. It should be positioned
so that it is out of direct sunlight and away from any heating source. If an open bookcase
is the only option, dust weekly with a lint-free cloth. Lastly, dont cram too many books on
one shelf because it can damage them.
?|@
Antique Musical Instruments
\
||| origins going back to the beginning of mankind, musical instruments take many
different forms around the world and throughout history. Because such objects are
usually made with the utmost in care and craftsmanship, they tend to endure very well, in
spite of their sometimes-fragile nature.
|
e| a music lover, antique instruments can be a natural extension of their existing passion.
Researching the instruments of the past ties in well for those who enjoy learning about
music.
l
|e|e are a number of ways that one can narrow their focus when collecting antique instru-
ments. You can focus on instruments from a specifc time and place. You can also focus
on instruments from a particular country. Another option is to focus on a type of instrument,
picking either brass, percussion, string or woodwind, and select objects that come from a
number of different cultures but share a common theme.
O
ae of the frst things to consider before purchasing any antique musical instrument is
what you want it for. Are you planning on playing the instrument, or simply using it
for its decorative purposes? While this may seem like a small, incidental question, it will
make a big difference in the items you look at, and the price you will pay for them. An
antique musical instrument that is still in playable condition will attract a much higher rate
than one that is not.
A
ae||e| aspect of collecting antique musical instruments is the possibility of getting an
item that belonged to a famous musician. If this appeals to you, remember that you
can never take someones word on the ownership of an instrument as justifcation for the
price. Always insist on having written documentation that shows evidence of what they are
saying.
Case Study
|
|eve a very old violin. It is labeled GIOVANNI PAOLO MAGGINI BRESCIA 1695
It is in excellent condition and I have had it checked over and restrung by a professional.
Can you tell me a bit about it?
?5@
|
wes able to fnd plenty of information about the violinmaker who made your violin. A
simple search engine query turned up quite a bit of information
l
||s violin, as long as it is not a reproduction, is from a very famous violinmaker. Mag-
gani was one of the best-known violinmakers of his day, and his craftsmanship has stood
up over the years. Some of his pieces had delicate inlay that added to their appeal. He was
noted for being a master craftsman.
A
cce|J|a to what I learned by looking through closed auctions, the price this would
fetch at auction would depend mainly on the condition of the violin. In excellent condi-
tion, it would fetch at least US$1500. The price could go higher if it was a good example of
Magganis inlay work. On the other end of the spectrum, if the violin is in poor condition
and has a number of scratches, it may sell for less than US$500
Antique Vehicles
\
||||a the feld of antiques, collectors of antique vehicles are something a bit different.
Collecting antique vehicles can make for a pretty large collection, even if there are
only a few. Collectors of antique vehicles appreciate the older, simpler beauty of the past,
but they also usually have a heavy interest in restoration.
l
|e| is the thing that really separates antique vehicles from other types of antiques. With
all other kinds of antiques, restoration is discouraged unless it is by the hand of a profes-
sional conservator. The whole goal there is to cause as little invasion as is possible. This
is simply not the case with antique vehicles. Antique vehicle collectors seek to restore their
cars to their original condition as much as is possible.
S
|ace buying an antique vehicle represents a large investment of both money and time, it
is certainly not something to jump into. Consider a few questions:
?o@
Can I afford to buy a vehicle that will not be my primary vehicle?
Can I afford to restore this vehicle?
Do I have the knowledge to restore this vehicle?
Do I have the time to restore this vehicle?
Do I have a place to store this vehicle?
Y
e|e sure you know the answers to at least those questions before you even think about
buying an antique car or truck.
Case Study
|
em looking for information on a 1950s something Massey Ferguson 65 tractor. I would
like to fnd a colored picture of it since I want to restore it. Any other information about
the company would be helpful.
|
|eaaJ a website called The Antique Tractor Shed. (http://www.tractorshed.com/) In their
photo gallery they had thousands of pictures of restored antique tractors. I typed Massey
65 and got about 25 pictures of restored tractors.
l
|e Massey Manufacturing Company was founded in Ontario, Canada in 1847. They began
manufacturing some of the frst mechanical threshers in the world. In 1879, the com-
pany relocated to Toronto. They were an important company to city, and one of the leading
employers. The move helped the company to begin selling their equipment internationally.
In 1891, a merger changed the name to Massey-Harris. That merger made them the largest
agricultural equipment maker in the British Empire. The company opened its frst US fac-
tory in 1910, becoming one of Canadas frst multinational corporations.
l
|e company merged again in 1953 and became Massey-Harris-Ferguson. In 1958, the
name was changed to Massey-Ferguson.

?7@
A
s that is the name on your tractor, I would imagine that it dates either in the late 50s or
early 60s.
|
ee||a at some of the prices of similar tractors that have sold separately, I would think
your tractor is worth between US$2000-2500 and will be worth US$4000-5000 after it
has been restored.
Antique Textiles
l
ex|||es are simply not intended to last through the ages. That must be a part of their ap-
peal to collectors. Very old textiles, like those from 17th century England, are never used
for their original purpose. Instead, they are displayed and hang like art. Types of antique
textiles include carpets, rugs, embroidery, stitching, quilts and patchwork.
\
|||e the very old textiles are quite expensive, textiles from the 19th and 20th century
are very affordable. Appreciating antique textiles gives you the opportunity to really
examine the beauty of other cultures. Some beautiful examples have come out of China,
India, Japan and the Middle East. If you want to decorate a room with antiques, but not
have it look typically antiquey antique textiles from around the world could be just what
you are looking for.
l
|ea| it can take many forms, most antique textiles fall into the category of either be-
ing woven or embroidered. Woven fabrics include tapestries, which were needed in the
17th and 18th centuries to stop drafts. Fragments of tapestries are not too expensive. So a
casual collector can afford to have a piece in their collection. Of course, the most beautiful
examples are still very expensive.
A
ae||e| antique textile to look for is Paisley. This heavy, soft woolen cloth came into
fashion in the mid 1900s because the large skirts women wore in those times made it
diffcult to wear coats. So instead, they wrapped themselves in Paisley shawls. Rich, dark
colors were used in these, and there was an Indian motif. Though the shawls are somewhat
expensive by todays standards, they offer an interesting slice of history.
?@
C
e||y, handmade lace is an especially valuable woven textile. It is quite rare, but was
usually made using linen, which is a strong fber. Framing pieces of handmade lace and
displaying them on a wall has been a recent trend among antique textile collectors.
l
|e|e are also a number of different forms of embroidery. English stump work involves
using padding to raise certain portions of the decoration.
A
ea|e| form of embroidery with collectors is a sampler. These are created using
brightly colored silks and are meant to demonstrate a broad range of embroidery skills.
Samplers generally have the name of the person who embroidered them as part of the design.
Samplers which are stitched with wool are actually more valuable than those stitched with
silk. For a collector, samplers that show houses, alphabets, birds, insects and fowers are
particularly desirable.
Case Study
Y
y friend has several Navajo rugs/blankets... I was wondering how to fnd the value of
them?
\
|||ea| seeing the rugs it is impossible to guess. Some Navajo textiles are worth al-
most nothing, while others are considered priceless. It would be best to consult a few
books. If the patterns seem rare and they are in good condition, it might be a good idea to
take them to an appraiser with a good knowledge of textiles. Some books you can try are
Navajo Rugs: The Essential Guide by Don Dedera and Navajo Weaving: Three Centuries
of Change by Kate Peck Kent.
?9@
C|e|e| || Se|||a Yea| Aa||aes
|
| is pretty much inevitable that if you start collecting antiques, at some point or another, you
will want to get rid of some of them. There could be any number of reasons for this.
You bought something(s) in a rush and didnt con-
sider how it would ft in with the rest of your collection.
You didnt plan on keeping the item in the frst place, but
rather bought it with the intention of selling it for a proft.
You have enjoyed the item for a while, but now need to get
rid of it so that you can have more room for other things.
You inherited a number of items that are of no real in-
terest to you and are just taking up space.
S
e|||a your antiques doesnt have to be some nightmare scenario. It can actually be as
fun as buying them if you go in with the right attitude. There are a number of ways you
can go about selling your antiques, and we will cover all of them, but frst, lets consider what
items you are going to get rid of.
Cleaning House
Y
ea might have known it was coming, or you might have been surprised. At some point in
your antique collecting, you have just collected too much! Maybe there isnt any room
left on your shelves for more glassware, or maybe you dont have anywhere left to put a new
item of furniture. Something made you realize that you have collected too much and before
you buy anything else, you need to get rid of some things. If you are getting rid of anything,
it might be worth it to taka the time to see if there are other items you want to get rid of.

?9O@
l
|e frst step should be the easiest. If you are like me, you probably have some antiques
that you have never even put out. The frst thing to get rid of is the impulse purchases
that seem so perfect in the moment, but then when you get home you wonder what you were
thinking.
\
ew, selling your antiques will go easier if you are organized from the start. Take a
notepad with you and write out a detailed description of each item. Note any faws or
errors. If you have a digital camera, take some photos of it. Then wrap it appropriately and
put it in a box, unless it is a large furniture item.
S
eme people will have found enough things to get rid of right then. For the rest, you will
have to dig a little deeper. Look around your home. What part of your collection do you
care about the least? Is there something you thought you would be using more? Take a mo-
ment and think about whether or not your really need those things. Look at your collection
and try to consolidate. Maybe you have been collecting both pink and green Depression
glass. Consider if you would be better off just collecting one.
|
| you start to feel anxious about getting rid of some of your things to make room, dont.
Just think about how you will be making money from the sale and have more room to put
things. Getting rid of your excess can actually be very exciting.
\
ew that you have your list of items that you are going to sell, and your digital photo-
graphs, you are ready to fnd out about what you have, if you dont know already.
l
|e more information you can gather about an item, the easier it will be to convince
someone else that it is of value. Making sure you know how much an item is worth is
also important so that you can avoid giving something away too cheaply.
|
e||ew the advice in the preceding chapters for ways to learn more about an item. Re-
member, just because you cant fnd something right away, doesnt mean you should
give up.
?9|@
|
| all your attempts seem to be leading you to dead ends, try to fnd an active message board
or web forum. Dont just post your question without reading to see what kind of message
board it is, and if people are willing to be helpful. Make sure you have all of the relevant
information on hand about the item. It is helpful to have photos as well. The people on the
board may not have all the answers, but if they can steer you in the right direction, then at
least you are making progress.
\
|ea all else fails, consider appraisal. If the item isnt expensive enough to merit a
full appraisal, you can consider some of the other options. While Internet appraisals
do not have much value in terms of telling you what an object is worth, they can at least tell
you what you have. At least most of the time they can.
Ways to Sell Your Antiques
J
as| as there are a number of ways to buy antiques, there are also a number of ways to sell
antiques. It is best to research your options and see which will combine convenience
with value for you.
C
ve|yeae will have their own preference in terms of the manner in which they sell their
antiques. Some people prefer the speed of the Internet, while others prefer face-to-face
negotiation.
\
e are going to go over the basic ways in which you can sell your antiques. I would
recommend trying out a few different options before settling on one. You may fnd
that what works best is to use multiple selling options.
Antique Dealers
l
|e|e are usually two options for selling antiques to dealers. The frst is selling an item
outright and the second is selling it by consignment.
S
e|||a an item outright to a dealer can be tricky. You will never make a big proft off of
a dealer, because they will generally have a pretty good idea of what things are worth.
However, this can be one of the quickest ways to get rid of things and get money fast. But
that only happens if the dealer agrees to buy what you are trying to sell.
?92@
l
|e other alternative, selling an item by consignment, is often more agreeable to the
dealer. When an item is sold on consignment, you and the dealer agree on a price that
you will be paid when the item is sold. The dealer keeps anything above that price. This
arrangement works well for the dealer, because it means that they arent putting money up
for an item they arent sure will sell. Consignment does mean that you may have to wait a
while to get your money, but all things considered it isnt a bad deal. Having the item in an
antique shop will most likely mean you will get a better price for it.
b
e selective about the dealer you go to. Make sure they have a good reputation and are
genuinely interested in what you are selling. It was mentioned earlier in the book that
it is a good idea to build up relationships with dealers in your area, and this is the perfect
chance to work on that. A dealer who feels they are working with you can be of enormous
beneft, from helping you identify an object to making sure your consignment items go for
a high price.
Live Auctions
Y
ea may remember that when we discussed places to shop for antiques, we talked about
the two kinds of live auctions that exist. The frst of these is an estate sale.
|
| you fnd yourself in the position of needing to liquidate a large number of items, an es-
tate sale can be a fast way to do that. There are two options with estate sales. The frst
is basically to hold an overgrown yard sale that is managed by someone else. The second
option is to have an auction. If you are trying to sell a large number of antiques, this is a
good option.
D
ea| be afraid to ask the auctioneer plenty of questions. You need to be able to trust what
is going on, and it is better to ask questions early than to have lingering doubts later.
?93@
Some questions to ask the auctioneer:
What percentage of the total sale do they charge?
Who is responsible for setting up before the sale?
Is the auction going to be held at the home or somewhere else?
If it is held somewhere else, who is pay-
ing for the delivery and the location?
Are you able to set a minimum price on some items?
Will documentation of the sale be provided?
How long will it take for you to get your money?
Does he have references?
A
s||a these questions will help put your mind at ease and it will also show the auction-
eer that you are an informed seller. Another tip is to make sure that the more expensive
items go up for auction earlier in the day. People tend to leave, and delaying the best items
can mean that you dont get a good price for them.
l
|e other type of auction is a consignment auction. The nice thing about a consignment
auction is that you just deliver you items to the auction house. You dont need to be there
for the actual auction unless you want to.
l
|e way that a consignment auction works is that a percentage of the total purchase price
will go to the auction house. Sometimes there is also a set fee that must be paid. If you
have a valuable item or two that you would like to sell, going through an auction house can
be an excellent way to sell your item for a good price. Generally the people who bid in
auctions at an auction house are fairly educated buyers and they well recognize if you have
something valuable.

?9|@
Online Auctions
S
e|||a your antiques through an online auction website can be a quick and relatively
painless way to get rid of a few items. Even if what you have isnt worth much, you can
at least get something for them.
|
| you already have an account set up at one of the online auction sites, then you have the
frst step done already. The rest isnt hard, but it can be a little time-consuming at frst.
S
|e|| off by having a look at some other peoples antique auctions. Who sounds profes-
sional, and who doesnt. Look at the people who have sold a number of things and have
very high feedback scores. A mistake many beginning sellers make is to only enter a brief
description of the item and have one or two badly shot pictures.
Creating Your Auction Listing
Y
ea want to make your listing as appealing to people as possible, and I have some tips
for how to do that.
\
|ea you are photographing your item, take several shots. Put it on a surface that wont
cause glare. Having a light colored sheet and a dark colored sheet, and using those as
a backdrop is a good idea. Take a few pictures showing various angles of the item. If the
item is signed or marked be sure you get a good picture of that. Also, try to photograph any
damage so you can point it out in your description.
O
ace you have your photos, you are ready to set up your auction. Find the part of the
website that is for sellers. They will lead you through the steps one-by-one.
b
e sure you select the appropriate category for your item. There is a special section in the
online auction sites for vintage and antique items.
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Y
ea will also have to select what type of auction you want to have. You can decide if you
are going to have a No Reserve auction, where the highest price wins no matter what,
a Reserve auction where if the minimum is not met the item does not get sold or a Buy it
Now auction where you set a price and the frst person who accepts it wins the item. You
will also have to decide how long of an auction to have. The longer the auction, the more
chance people will become interested in it, however you may not want it to drag out that
long. Sometimes a short auction can get people excited.
|
| you have been paying attention to other auctions, you will have some idea what headline
to put on your auction. There is no need to get too overblown with your headline. Instead,
think of what words people are likely to put into the search so that they will fnd your item.
People often search for antiques by things like period, material, color and motif. You will
want to make sure you include those things in the headline.
l
|e item description is very important to making a sale. Describe the items physical
appearance in as much detail as possible. Make sure you include the measurements.
Note any faw that you can see. If there are faws, try to refer to the photograph that shows
them. Do not make the item sound better than it is, or you will have your feedback score
negatively affected.
C
x|e|a everything you know about the item and its origin. For example, if you are sell-
ing piece of Victorian mourning jewelry, explain what that is. It lends an authenticity
and excitement to your description.
l
|e last part of your item description should include your terms and conditions. For this,
you may want to actually imitate what other sellers have written. Someone who has sold
a few thousand things will have worked out everything that needs to be included. Make
sure you include your return policy, when you expect payment by, how you take payment
and how you will ship the item.
Y
ea will have a number of selections to make regarding shipping costs and where you
are willing to ship and item to. You will also have to decide what payment methods to
accept. I recommend choosing Paypal as your preferred method because it is the quickest
and the easiest.
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O
ace you have gone through everything, you will be able to preview your auction list-
ing. Check it carefully and then off you go.
O
ae thing to note with online auctions is that they are not free. Depending on the options
you select, your cost will vary. Reserve auctions carry the highest fees. The higher the
reserve, the higher your fee is going to be. Having to relist items can be costly, so you need
to consider what the absolute lowest price you are willing to sell an item for is.
|
| was mentioned earlier in the book that reviewing completed auctions is a good way to get
a feeling for the price of things, and it is a good idea to do the same thing now.
During the Auction
\
|||e your auction is running, you can check to see who has bid on the item and who is
watching it. Sometimes there may not be many bids early on in the auction. Oftentimes
people wait until the last minute to bid. This is called sniping. If you have two bids, but 20
people watching an item, chances are that they are all waiting until the last minute to bid.
Y
ea may want to look at the people who are bidding on your item and see what their
feedback rating is. The main thing to look out for is people who have had problems with
paying. You can also check and see if they seem to constantly have problems with the people
they are buying from. There is an option that allows you to block specifc users or block
certain types of users. Some sellers post a note saying that buyers with negative feedback
or no feedback need to contact them before bidding.
After the Auction
A
||e| your auction has closed, if someone has won, you may need to send them an invoice,
unless shipping is a fat rate. After they pay you, you will need to ship the item. Take
extreme care in packaging up delicate antiques. The buyer may have purchased shipping
insurance, but it is still your job to try to ensure that the item doesnt get damaged.
O
cces|eae||y it happens that someone will not pay for an auction they have won. If this
occurs, notify the auction site. They have a procedure to follow to help you resolve
the problem.
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l
|e fnal step is to leave feedback for the buyer.

Online Antique Dealers
A
|||ea| it may not happen all the time, in some cases you may be able to fnd an antique
dealer that is willing to purchase your item. Be on the lookout when you are shopping.
The dealer may have a note up saying to contact them if you have a certain type of item
because they may be interested in purchasing it. If you do chose this path, make sure you
know what you have and what it is worth, to avoid giving something away too cheaply.
A
JJ|||eae||y, there are some online antique consigners. Some of these will sell you item
through their online store, and others will use an auction site, but handle all of the details
for you. With each of these, the consigner takes a percentage of the total sale price.
b
e warned, in the case of online consigners, some have fees as high as 50 percent of the
sale price, which may be more than you are willing to spend.
Private Sales
|
| you just have an item or two to get rid of and you dont want to bother with an auction,
you can always place a classifed ad and have a private sale.
A
||ve|e sale is a great way to get rid of an item without a whole lot of personal incon-
venience. In addition to the local newspaper, you can also place an ad on Craigslist.org
for your region. You will need to set aside some time to meet with prospective buyers, but
if your price is reasonable, it shouldnt take more than a day or two to sell.
l
|e best part about a private sale is that you can specify that the buyer is responsible for
picking up the item and taking it away.
?9@
Garage and Yard Sales
|
| you have a whole house full of things you dont need anymore, your best bet is a garage
or yard sale. This is a way to quickly get rid of everything. If you have some antiques that
are valuable, be prepared to sell them in some other way if there are no good offers.
C
e|ee and yard sales are great for clearing out all the things that you picked up at the
same kind of sale hoping that it was going to be worth something.
A
| the end of the day, a good garage sale accomplishes two things. Firstly, it clears out
your house, and secondly, it gives you cash in hand fast.
Final Options
|
| you just cant seem to sell an item, or you need to get rid of it fast, you can always give it
away. There are a number of charities that will pick up donations at your house. Remem-
ber, the cost of the item can be deducted come tax time.
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C|e|e| |2 |esea|ces
J
as| like I promised at the beginning of the book, this chapter is going to be devoted to all
the resources you can use to learn more about antiquing. I hope you have enjoyed learn-
ing about antiques and are ready to get started on your own collection. Good luck!
Print Resources
Antique Trader Antiques & Collectibles Price Guide 2006 by Kyle Husfoen (2005)
Kovels Antiques & Collectibles Price List, 38th Edition, 2006 by Terry Kovel and Ralph
Kovel (2005)
How to Sell Antiques and Collectibles on eBay... And Make a Fortune! by Dennis Prince and
Lynn Dralle (2004)
Price It Yourself! : The defnitive, down-to-earth guide to appraising antiques and collectibles
in your home, at auctions, estate sales, shops, and yard sales by Joe L. Rosson and Helaine
Fendelman (2003)
Warmans Antiques & Collectibles Price Guide by Ellen T. Schroy and Tracy L. Schmidt
(2006)
Antiques Roadshow Primer : The Introductory Guide to Antiques and Collectibles from the
Most-Watched Series on PBS by Carol Prisant and Chris Jussel (1999)
Antiques 101: A Crash Course in Everything Antique by Frank Farmer Loomis IV (2005)
Web Resources
International
http://wwwappraisersorg/
American Society of Appraisers-The International Society of Professional Valuers.
http://wwwcollectoronlinecom
Collector Online. Has an alphabetical international listing of collectors clubs and organiza-
tions.
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http://wwwconsignmentshopscom
Consignment, resale, thrift, and antique shops across the US and internationally.
http://wwwrubylanecom/
Independent shops showcasing antiques, collectibles, fne art, jewelry and handcrafted Items from
around the world.
http://wwwtiascom/
Antique and collectable online mall.
http://wwwebaycom
The largest online auction site.
http://wwwicollectorcom/
Online auction resource for antiques, art and collectables.
http://wwwgoantiquescom/
Antique shopping and live auctions.
http://wwwkovelscom/
Antiques and collectables online price guide.
http://wwwantiquecastcom
A listing of prices from recently closed auctions
http://wwwcyberatticcom/
Antique and collectables classifed ads.
USA
http://wwwnaadaaorg
The National Antique & Art Dealers Association of America.
http://wwwacguidecom/
The Antiques and Collectables Guide. Contains a categorized listing of specialty clubs and orga-
nizations collectors may wish to join.
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http://wwwappraisersassocorg/
Appraisers Association of America
http://wwwana-appraisersorg/
Appraisers National Association
http://wwwpbsorg/wgbh/pages/roadshow/
Antiques Roadshow Homepage
http://wwwantiquesandtheartscom/
Antique and arts news and events
http://wwwantiqnetcom/
Antiques on sale and a database of antique dealers, insurance agents, auctioneers, appraisers, repair,
and restoration shops.
UK
http://wwwlapadacouk/
The Association of Art & Antiques Dealers in the United Kingdom.
http://wwwinterantiquescouk/
InterAntiques contains a UK business directory, antique guides, web guides, clubs/societies and a
glossary.
http://wwwantiques-ukcouk/
Directories of dealers, auctions and collectors.
http://wwwantiques-scotlandcouk/
A resource for dealers and collectors in Scotland.
http://wwwantiquesbulletincom/
UK listings of dealers, fairs, auctions and other news of interest to antique collectors.
?|O2@
AUS
http://wwwaadaorgau/
The Australian Antique Dealers Association
http://wwwantique-artcomau/
Antique and collectables dealer listings for Australia and New Zealand
http://wwwantique-artcomau/servicescfm?service=artapr
Australian art and antique appraisers
NZ
http://wwwnzadaorgnz/
New Zealand Antique Dealers Association
http://wwwnzscom/business/shopping/antiques/
A list of Antique, Appraisal, Appraisals, Auction, Auctions, Collectable, Collectables and NZ Web
Sites.
http://wwwgalesconz/fairshtm
A list of the best antique fairs in New Zealand.