How to Collect Ancient Pottery

There's no single answer as to why ancient pottery remains a constant favorite among artifacts collectors. Perhaps it's because many pieces of pottery tell a story. Maybe it has to do with the humanizing element of the pottery itself. In any case, there are several things you can do to get started in the competitive world of collecting ancient pottery.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Ancient pottery research guides
• Insurance policy (recommended)
• Auction catalogs or price guides

Collect Ancient Pottery

1. Decide which area of the world you're interested in collecting from. Ancient pottery from Roman, Egyptian, Grecian and Pre-Columbian settlements are particularly in demand, but you can also collect from China, Japan or Persia.

2. Stock up on reference materials from the culture of your choice. Look for books with plenty of photographs clearly showing prime examples of ancient pottery. This will help you become familiar with the styles, themes and appearance of pieces you want to collect.

3. Study price guides for the ancient pottery you want to collect. Past auction catalogs are a terrific source for price information, and you can get a good idea of what pieces are part of an upward trend. There are also commercial price guides on the market that will tell you the approximate value of any piece in a variety of conditions.

4. Make your first purchase in person from an art dealer you can trust. You'll preferably want to find someone who specializes in the area or culture you're interested in, and who is recognized by the National Antique and Art Dealers Association or the International Association of Dealers in Ancient Art (see Resources below).

5. Set realistic financial boundaries. Keep in mind, though, you should always be on the lookout for the best pieces that fit within your budget. Just because your budget is $1,000 per year doesn't mean you should jumpstart your collection by purchasing 10 separate pieces of mediocre pottery for $100 while passing up that true investment piece for $950.

6. Be prepared to insure your pottery. You might think you don't need insurance because you store your pieces properly, and under lock and key. However, no one can accurately predict when a major disaster or theft is going to occur. It's better to be prepared ahead of time than to lose your investment completely.

7. Document the condition of the items you collect as soon as they arrive in your home. The best way to go about this is by photographing your pieces from every angle and keeping a detailed log about the history, appearance and transaction details of each. This will help you secure insurance for your collection and can be used as evidence should there be a claim of any kind in the future.

Tips & Warnings

• Be vigilant when purchasing pottery, especially when the dealer is overseas. There are many legitimate overseas dealers, but the danger lies in clearing your goods through customs. Some countries have very strict laws on the movement of cultural artifacts, and failure to comply with these laws could result in a large fine or jail time.

Resources

• International Association of Dealers in Ancient Art for further research
• The National Antique and Art Dealers Association of America for further research