Antiques

If you own an antique wall clock, you are probably curious about where it originated and when it was made. Antique clocks are often passed down from earlier generations or bought as collector's...

Mechanical clocks date back to the early 1500s. Early clocks were inaccurate and did not improve significantly until the development of the pendulum about 150 years later. Weights drove the gears,...

Bone china is a kind of porcelain that contains bone ash. Its making was first developed in Britain and was borne out of the need to compete with the quality of imported ceramic products from...

There is no expert that has not got burned by a reproduced piece of pottery

Many times china dishes and other pieces get broken or misplaced leaving a collection incomplete. Discontinued china pieces from sets or pattern collections may be hard to find, but there are many...

Seth Thomas is the United States' oldest clockmaker and both their antique and modern clocks are in high demand. They are made from metal or wood, or a combination of both. Many of the older...

Clock collecting is a hobby of many antique lovers, and some prefer to acquire pieces made by one specific company or that are one specific style. Seth Thomas Mantel clocks are one brand of...

Silvermaker Reed and Barton was founded in 1824 in the United States. Today the company sells silver, crystal and china. For each year of silver production from 1928-1957, in addition to the words...

Fostoria Glass Co. created elegant, brightly colored glassware, sometimes referred to as "Depression glass." These beautiful heirlooms continue to delight their owners, and collecting the elusive...

Pendulum clocks are antique clocks that typically include a clock with a minute and an hour hand placed above a swinging pendulum within a wooden cabinet. Pendulum clocks can vary in materials and...

The pocket watch started out as a kind of miniature clock. Early watches were driven by internal springs. As the spring unwound, it supplied power to a series of gears that controlled the movement...

If you are lucky enough to have saved your toys and dolls from when you were a little girl or you inherited a selection of vintage dolls from a relative who cherished them, you could be sitting on...

Bisque dolls originated in Europe. They were made in Germany and France and eventually went to makers in China. Sometimes they are referred to as China dolls. Bisque dolls are one of the first...

Vintage chenille bedspreads are a popular collectible, reminding people of a simpler time. In good condition, chenille bedspreads can be used to create a sweet, romantic or country bedroom. Even...

So you've inherited a crate full of Grandma Victoria's dinnerware, but you haven't a clue whether it's Wedgewood or Spode, Royal Doulton or Beleek. Time to put on your detective cap and do a...

Oyster plates are valued collectibles that were originally created for a specific purpose. As oysters became popular, different ways of keeping them cold and presentable became necessary. These...

Keeping antiques in top shape is something many collectors enjoy. Some antique objects, such as jewelry, may require more care than others. Such is the case with items made of ivory. For example,...

Ancient oil lamps are a reminder of simpler days, and a favorite of collectors. As functional as they are beautiful, glass oil lamps warm up tabletops, fireplace mantles and dreary corners with...

Collecting oil cans can be a fun and rewarding hobby. Many models of oil cans are available for reasonable prices. There are only a handful of rare and hard-to-find examples that fetch in the low...

Perfume bottles come in a range of styles and colors, including glass, ceramic and atomizers, which have a small sprayer attached. Many collectors specialize in a specific style, such as...

Ironstone is a type of china popular with antique collectors. The china has a distinctive look and is usually easy to identify.

Book nooks. You find them hanging out at the local library or frequenting most yard and garage sales seeking bargains on books. You might just be a book aficionado yourself but, every so often,...

People young and old have collected artistic crafts of earlier eras for many years. Hull pottery pieces are prized and displayed in homes around the world. This style of pottery has a distinctive...

The Waterbury Clock Co., based in Waterbury, Connecticut, was an eminent American maker of household clocks beginning in 1857. Starting in 1890, they also made pocketwatches, and were later the...

Antique prints are pictures on paper, silk or other materials. Paper is most common. Unlike paintings, these prints have been created through a process that transfers the image to the printed...

Mechanical banks are a hot toy for collectors, especially those made of cast-iron. The toys feature working parts, such as a dog that does a backflip when you put a coin in the slot....

Hummel figurines are a type of collectible created by M.I. Hummel. This small statues and figurines are easily identified by the specific markings and trademark logos found on the bottom of the...

Wheaton miniature bottles are a favorite among collectors with prices (as of 2009) ranging from $2 to more than $100. The Wheaton Glass Company, founded in 1888 in New Jersey, specialized in...

Tiffany lamps are stained glass lamps created by Tiffany Studios that are highly sought after on the collectibles market. A large number of reproductions are on the market, which can be difficult...

Gorham silver flatware is timelessly beautiful with an interesting history. According to Gorham, Presidents throughout history, including Lincoln and Grant, served White House dinners with Gorham...

Finding the value of antiques can be somewhat tricky depending upon the specific items that you are trying to value, but with a little determination it is something that can eventually be...

Founded in 1974, the Royal Bayreuth factory created the Rose Tapestry pattern. By pressing fabric against the damp surface of the porcelain, the company imprinted the china with the textured look...

Even with the advent of the Internet, typewriters remain popular collector's items, reminding us of times gone by. Because they are outdated, however, it can be difficult to find typewriter...

After its defeat in World War II, Japan was occupied by U.S. forces. Ceramics made between 1945 and 1952, when occupation ended, was typically stamped "Occupied Japan" or "Made in Occupied Japan,"...

Three variations of the first world war German helmet.

Antiques are generally considered to be over one hundred years old. There are a lot of pieces out there that are not a hundred years old, but are still very nice. Reproductions can be expensive...

Connoisseurs of fine gold, silver and platinum handcrafted items spend large amounts of money for single pieces to add to their collections. Discerning the fake from the genuine precious metal...

Flush toilets first became common in the late 19th century. While many models of that era resemble modern examples, others are masterpieces of Victorian and early 20th century craftsmanship....

If you love antiques and have collected a few pieces over the years, you may know a lot about pieces of furniture, such as tables. If not, you should learn more about the subject. Although many...

If you want to sell vintage silverplate flatware or simply enjoy collecting it, knowing the flatware's pattern is very important. The search can be time-consuming, but if you have patience, a good...

Antique glass lamp shades date from the time of oil lamps. The glass shade protected the flame and helped the lamp to burn brighter. Over the years, as lighting materials changed, glass lamp...

"Limoges" porcelain ware is a generic term, because various factories and different studio artists manufactured and decorated a wide range of these wares during the 19th and 20th centuries. The...

Andirons were functional and decorative pieces popular from Colonial America through the early 19th century. They're also valuable collectors items---antique brass andirons have brought as much as...

Collecting antique radios can be a nostalgic journey--as well as a reminder of just how far technology has come over the last century. Radios have evolved in several different stages, with...

Antique safes evolved from the earlier iron boxes around 1820. Safes were essential pieces of office equipment, designed to protect against both fire and burglary. Safes did not do a very good job...

When Gladding, McBean & Co., a sewer tile manufacturer founded in 1875, decided to add dinnerware to the company's product offerings, principles expected modest success. They underestimated...

Bakelite is an early form of plastic from the early 1900s. It was often used in jewelery, toys, radios and kitchenware. Recently, Bakelite has become extremely collectible and valuable and this...

Thanks to renewed interest in antique china, collectors are scouring shops, garage sales and their attics to see if they can find that prized piece. Before you buy what looks like an antique plate...

Stamp collecting is one of the most popular hobbies in the world. It is a multimillion dollar hobby in the U.S. alone. Defining parts such as colors, watermarks, perforations and errors are what...

Antique wooden chairs encompass a variety of styles. The earliest chairs were little more than stools with backs. Arms were added, and rich carving replaced crude slats. The uncomfortable early...