Antiques

The history of table lamps relates to the history of inventions, society and interior design. For example, when the Argand lamp (patented by Aimé Argand in 1780) was first invented at the end...

To care for vintage hooked rugs, handle them gently, do very little cleaning, store them correctly and hang them carefully. When you use antique textiles in your home, you need to balance your...

The production of Pfaltzgraff stoneware began in 1811 by George Pfaltzgraff, a German immigrant who settled in York, Pennsylvania. He began making salt-glazed jugs and crocks for food storage and...

Gin is one of the world's oldest liquors, having been distilled from juniper berries in ancient Greece. Italian monks in the 11th century added juniper berries to distilled spirits and the current...

Antique pool tables are a treasure indeed. Quality pool tables--antique or not--have six legs and three pieces of heavy slate in the bed. If you're looking at a pool table that doesn't have these,...

Collecting antique beds is something that might not appeal to some, as they simply don't have enough room in their home to display the beds properly. Others like collecting the beds because such...

When I was little, my aunt always used to give me precious moments for special occasions such as birthdays, Christmas, First Communion, etc. They're absolutely adorable and they grow in value....

Have an antique or family heirloom you want to fix up? Dont want to throw it away. Well most pieces of furniture can be saved. This should help.

If you have just inherited a set of vintage dishware from your grandmother or found some beautiful dishes at a flea market, you may be interested in finding out more about them. Many older china...

Wedgwood is a well-respected ceramics firm in England that had its origins with Josiah Wedgwood in 1759. In 1987, Wedgwood merged with Waterford Crystal, becoming Waterford Wedgwood, but the...

Knives have been around for more than 5,000 years. Many types and variations have developed over time. With so many knives in existence, identifying an antique knife may be challenging. You will...

Have a family heirloom or you bought an old piece of furniture and want to fix it up. This should help you.

The most important thing to do in preparation for selling any silver plate is to make sure it's clean and looks presentable. Doing so will increase the perceived value of the item by potential...

Cuckoo clocks are popular novelties. Known for the cuckoo that calls the hours, cuckoo clocks are actually only one of several kinds of clocks made famous in Germany's Black Forest. A variant of...

To identify antique silver, collectors and enthusiasts examine and research their pieces to determine date, style, maker, and country of origin. Ease of identification depends largely on the...

The history of hammers dates back to the 4th century, from which archaeologists have found evidence of men using crudely made hammers as a tool. Hammers were later made by blacksmiths, who put...

Sevres porcelain was originally created during the early- to mid-part of the 18th century when a man began making pieces that mimicked the look of Saxon pieces. These pieces were popular because...

Bottle stoppers were once used as a way of sealing glass bottles, in the days before the invention of bottle caps. Most of these stoppers were made of glass or porcelain, with a cork bottom. The...

Enamelware dates back to the 1870s when it was sold in catalogs and offered for sale in certain types of shops. These pieces were used frequently because they were more lightweight and came in...

Wedgwood is one the leading producers of fine china and the company has existed in different forms since the 18th century. Today the company is well-known for bone china, which is a popular choice...

Vintage bear bows were used to hunt and catch bears, as well as other types of animals. This falls under the category of archery collecting, which is a fast-growing field. There were many...

Kitchen glassware is an all-encompassing term given to any type of glass pieces used in the kitchen. If you're new to the world of collecting, you might feel confused with terms like "vasoline...

Mardi Gras is a celebration that takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana every year. Part of the festival involves people riding on floats and throwing beads to people on the street and parade goers...

Appreciated and collected since the 1920s, antique Navajo rugs are found in museums, homes, and offices. If you have collected Navajo rugs and now want to sell them, begin by determining their value.

Antique hand painted Nippon China is both beautiful and fun to collect. When Japan (Nippon) opened its borders to trade with the West, in the mid 1800’s, they began producing china for export to...

American pottery has been collectible for over a century, and names like Rookwood and Grueby have been most desirable. American pottery tiles have been ignored by many of the pottery collectors,...

Ronson Varaflame Premier lighters were first produced in the 1950`s. Varaflame Premier vintage lighters were mentioned in James Bond stories by Ian Fleming; 007 had one. You can buy vintage...

HOW TO HUNT FOR TREASURE RIGHT UNDER YOUR NOSE. NOT ALL TREASURE IS BURIED, YOU JUST NEED TO KNOW WHERE TO LOOK. YES, I HAVE USED A METAL DETECTOR, AND I HAVE FOUND SOME INTERESTING ITEMS, AS I...

Convert an antique lamp into a functional piece to use in your home on a daily basis. Converting an antique oil lamp can give new life to a family heirloom or a great antique-shop find. This...

Serious collectors of antique bottles should beware clever fakes often found at antique shops and flea markets. Some of fake bottles are quite convincing and will carry price tags that might lead...

Cast iron was once used in the manufacturing of everything from pans to doorstops and antique toys made from cast iron are highly collectible. The value of these toys depends on the condition of...

Cast iron skillets and pans are among the most popular collectibles on the market. Visit any flea market or swap meet and you'll likely find dozens of sellers offering antique cast iron pans....

Antique linens are treasured heirlooms and prized collectibles. With the proper maintenance and care, antique and vintage linens can be kept in beautiful, functional condition for many years....

Just as a contemporary Rolex wristwatch is seen as a symbol of luxury and leisure, so too were expensive pocket watches once prized by the wealthy. Vintage pocket watches come in a variety of...

A caddy spoon is small spoon used to measure tea from a caddy. The caddy is a decorative tea container. Caddy spoons have become cherished antiques and hot collector items for their timeless...

Rene Lalique (1860-1945) was a French designer of fine jewelry during the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods. Revered as a jeweler, he is equally admired for his Art Deco glass object d'art and...

Ironstone, or stoneware, is made of porcelain and iron slag and was first patented in 1813 by Charles James Mason of Staffordrshire, England. Its durability and attractiveness are what made it so...

A colorful antique pot collection can liven up any corner of your house. Whether it's Fiesta or Bückeberg, antique pottery can be displayed in almost any part of your home with success. The...

Vintage enamelware is a hot collector's item in the vintage and antique market. According to Country Joe's Collectible Stuff, "Enameled kitchenware was first mass-produced in Europe in the last...

Learning the history of the Dutch tile-making tradition centered in the town Delft is necessary for identifying authentic tiles and is part of the enjoyment of collecting. Antique Dutch tiles were...

Ironstone is a sturdy, durable form of china that is usually undecorated. It was first produced in the 19th century by British potters who exported it to the U.S.

THERE IS GOLD, SILVER, AND PRECIOUS STONES IN "THEM THAR HILLS" BELIEVE IT OR NOT MOST GOLD AND SILVER AND OTHER PRECIOUS STONESARE REALLY RIGHT UNDER YOUR NOSE.

Identifying and pricing antique jewelry often requires some detective work. Perhaps the relative from whom you inherited the piece has long since passed on, and no other family members have clues...

In the late 19th century, bedpans were made of porcelain, but durable varieties were made of enamel-coated steel. These enamel-coated bedpans are most often stumbled upon in antique stores and...

Vintage table lamps are similar to modern lamps. Aside from being older, though, many times they have been made by companies that are no longer in existence or in styles that are no longer created.

Medical antiques are a popular collectible. Sometimes, a collector will find that a surgical instrument set has been coated in grease in the past to protect it from corrosion, and he or she wishes...

Antique Victorian tapestries are woven textiles, typically in wool. They can be floral, geometric or pictorial. Many antique tapestries have significant damage or wear from time, hanging weight,...

The name "Tiffany" is commonly used to refer to any lamp with a stained-glass shade, but don't be fooled. True Tiffany lamps were designed and manufactured by Louis Comfort Tiffany from 1892 until...

Scandinavian pottery has been very collectible since Danish Modern style became popular in the 1950s. It is a valuable collectible, and still available. There are many pieces of Scandinavian...