Collecting

Just as the mantra for real estate is "location, location, location," the key factor in determining the value of an antique car is "condition, condition, condition." A 1948 Nash that's rusty and...

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...

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...

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...

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...

From the occasional Star Trek collector plate purchased by a loyal TV fan to Grandma's extensive collection of scenic and Christmas china, there's big money in the collectible plate market and a...

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...

The phonograph was used as the world’s first machine to make and later play sound recordings. Today the phonograph has been replaced with modern inventions such as the CD players, radios and DVD...

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.

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...

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....

Let's face it, marbles are awesome. If you played with them as a kid, you know how alluring these tiny orbs of glass, metal or stone are. According to the Antiques Journal, marble collecting is...

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...

When it comes to collecting, there are numerous things in which a would-be collector might choose to take an interest. A popular collector's item is currency. While this usually comes in the form...

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...

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...

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...

Wondering how much a certain rare coin is worth? Coins can have significantly more value than their monetary worth. Here are a few tips on how to find rare coin prices.

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,...

Antique tapestries can add warmth, color, and depth to any living space. They make a beautiful addition to any room and are extremely valuable and fragile, some antique tapestries are considered...

Antique needlepoint pieces remain a testimony to the skill and dedication of needleworkers. Antique needlepoint pieces may be unfinished, framed or used as pillows or rugs when you find them....

Antique mantel clocks are among the most decorative of collector items. These clocks originated in the mid-1700s in France. The clockmakers incorporated many different decorative elements and...

The hallmarks on antique sterling silver are often nearly impossible to decipher. Decades or centuries of polishing, besides the fact that they are often very small to begin with, can make them...

Collecting and restoring antique tractors is a growing hobby. According to American Collectors.com, some old tractors have been valued at $100,000 or more. If you own or are planning to restore an...

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,...

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...

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...

If you have old magazines that you have been holding onto for years, there is a possibility that you can make a small profit from them. Some of the factors that cause a magazine to become valuable...

The first things one should know when collecting vintage audio equipment is where to look and what to look for. People have different preferences and thus will search for different items that are...

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....

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...

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,"...

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....

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...

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...

Ever thought of using an old calendar next year instead of buying a new one? You can recycle calendars into new ones, and perhaps have an interesting and nostalgic item in your home or office. ...

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...

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...

Antique sheriff's badges are true symbols of the Old West, when the country's westward expansion brought riches to some, through cattle or gold, and a whole new breed of outlaw dedicated to...

Stoneware was once an almost universal material in American homes. The versatile, nonporous ceramic made ideal containers of all kinds, including the ubiquitous stoneware crock. Stoneware is made...

Tables are considered antique when they are found to be made before the early 19th century. The types of wood used in many antique tables are varied and may depend upon the country of the table's...

The telephone was invented in 1876, and has greatly changed in design since its invention. Antique telephones are hard to come across, especially in good condition. These antique pieces can be...

Old milk cans are the large metal containers into which cow's milk was gathered before machines and other electronics took over the process. Now, outside of a few individuals who still milk their...