How to and Where to Collect Antiques

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Most people know the obvious places to look for antiques, but did you know that before you start out on your antique collecting journey, there are a few factors to consider before making a purchase. Learn what you need to do before purchasing your next antique.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Decide on what you want to collect
Research going prices
Learn hallmarks and how to spot forgeries

Step1

First, you want to decide what kind of antiques you wish to collect. Are you solely interested in one type of product (artwork, textiles, pottery, weapons, furniture, jewelry, etc.), or are you interested in a particular artist, time period, or collectible field (military collectibles, pop culture collectibles, etc.)? Deciding on what you are looking for will help you save time during your search and a narrower focus can help educate you on the going rates for your chosen collection’s acquisitions.

Step2

Now, you have to decide where you wish to purchase your antiques. Are you going to go through a dealer, check online auctions, or try local in-person searches (flea markets, garage sales, silent auctions) for your antiques. Remember when purchasing, especially online, that your antique item is authentic and not a forgery. Remember to educate yourself on prices of what the item should sell for and any special hallmarks, maker’s or studio marks commonly associated with that particular design house/manufacturer to ensure that your antique is genuine.

Step3

Finally, you will need to have you antique(s) appraised. This is important because you may upon finding out the value of the antique, wish to have it insured. During this process your antique will be photographed and the professional appraisal will be submitted. If you have any doubts on your antique’s value, you can always have a second appraisal completed. Remember though, do not attempt to clean anything before it is inspected, as sometimes, cleaning does more harm than good. Be sure to follow all care and instruction guides you are given, as you wish for you antique’s value to increase over time.