How to Identify Antique Items

lynnYou already know that an antique is something that is no less than 100 years old, but how exactly can you be certain that the particular piece you are looking at was truly crafted that long ago? Learning to identify antiques is not difficult, it just takes a little bit of know how and understanding of what qualities make an antique an antique.

Regardless if you are not sure of the age of a piece, want to check the accuracy of an age claim, or wish to be certain the antique has all of its original parts, there are various nuances that should stick out to you. Ask these questions of yourself in order to determine whether or not the item that you are dealing with is in fact an antique.

Question #1 - Is the piece in question made out of materials that are uncommonly or even rarely ever used in modern day production?

Question #2 - Do the details on the piece in question appear to be hand painted, or does it seem as if they were created by a machine?

Question #3 – Does the particular style of the piece in question reflect a certain period of time that may give away hints as to its origin?

Question #4 – For items that are made out of wood, how thick are the pieces of veneer? In general, older veneer is going to be significantly thicker than modern day veneer.

Question #5 – Does the piece that is in question happen to possess nails that are irregularly shaped, or pegs that are squared off? These are characteristics that are reminiscent of times long past.

Question #6 – For items that are used as tables, is the item’s under side lighter in comparison to the top? Antique tables should have lighter undersides.

Question #7 – If there are any carvings or details on the piece, look to see if they are all identical as this will help you determine whether they were done by hand or if they are reminiscent of work from a machine.

Question #8 – When appraising a wooden item, you should check to see if there is darker wood around all of the hardware, indicating that the hardware is original. When the shadows are inconsistent with the current hardware, that should tell you that the current hardware is not the original hardware.

Question #9 – Finally, is there any dirt in the crevices of the piece that has always been hard for you to clean?

You should remember that items that are 100 years old are always going to show their age no matter how well kept they were. Slight wear, even when an item is in top condition, is completely understandable.

Photo Credits: Lynn (Gracie’s mom) – I’m here…

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Online Antiques Auctions

antiqueauctionAccording purely to definition, antiques are described as being any object that has a collectible value and that is more than 100 years in age. There are a number of different antiques auction websites that are designed to sell these types of antique items online. Some of these websites specialize in antiques that fall into a particular period of history, while others offer a more general selection of products. Some antiques auction houses online have more than stellar reputations online, you may not always find the most legitimate websites online and for this reason, dealing with a specialist may be a good idea if you are a new antiques buyer and if you have specific interests in mind.

There are a number of major advantages that are associated with dealing with a antiques auction website, including that the prices associated with many antiques are much lower than they would be in an ordinary antique store or an ordinary antique show. However because you are not able to actually see the item and because you are not able to physically assess it, there are also drawbacks associated with using an antiques auction website to purchase your antiques online.

So how is it possible for someone to determine authenticity when it comes to antiques auction websites? It is important that you take the steps necessary to research the online antiques auction website, finding out whether or not each one has built up a solid reputation for being honest. Experienced buyers are generally willing to share certain tips. For example, you should request a close up photograph of the base of certain objects in order to get information that the auction may not necessarily provide. When it comes to glassware and ceramics, if chips are present, then you should know that the value of the antique may be greatly reduced.

In order for you to assess whether or not an antiques auction website is asking a fair price for a specific item, it is important for you to compare the price that is being quoted to you to online auction guides and other guides for similar antiques, especially those that have only recently been auctioned off. These guides tend to be extremely helpful tools when it comes to estimating the value of an antique not only for buyers but also for sellers as well. Websites should also be more than willing to offer a full refund if you end up finding yourself with a reproduction on your hands in place of the real deal.

Some antiques auction websites only offer refunds for a specific limited period of time, but this should give enough time for you to have the item properly appraised after receiving it. As an alternative, what you can do is pay a little bit of money to have the antique item appraised professionally before you purchase it. This is generally well worth the cost, and it will give you the knowledge and the peace of mind that what you are buying is a genuine product and not just a reproduction or a knock off.

Photo Credits: miss mass

Originally posted 2009-06-29 05:56:08. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Guide to Buying and Selling Antiques

antiquepianoaccordianIf you’re looking for something unique to adorn the rooms of your home, then a hobby that you may want to delve into is buying and selling antiques. There are a couple of different things that you are going to need to consider when it comes to buying and selling antiques in order to get the most out of the experience. Before you go out and buy those rare items that you have been hunting down, consider the following guide.

Antiques can be described as absolutely collectible item that has 100 years under its belt and some level of aesthetic value to the beholder. Examples of antiques that you can buy and sell include grandfather clocks, jewelry items, pianos, vintage fashion items, silverware, Ivory items, Faberge eggs and the list goes on. When it comes to buying and selling antiques, people tend to have their own unique preferences for different items, and it is up to you to decide what types of items you are personally interested in.

The first thing that you are going to want to consider with buying and selling antiques is the history and the originality of whatever antique you are set on buying. Rare antiques tend to come at higher prices than those that are not as original, and you want to make sure that you are buying the real deal rather than a fake or a replica. Many people that are buying and selling antiques out there are putting retouched items up on the auction block, but you are actually going to want an antique that has not been refurbished or repaired in order to get the best possible experience.

Before you go about buying and selling antiques of any kind, you are going to want to do a proper level of research on the item in question. A great place for you to conduct this research is online, which is where you can find some truly valuable information about any antiques that you are planning in dealing in. Learn how to spot reproductions and refurbished items. Learn how to tell whether or not the antique in question is actually authentic. The more that you prepare for buying and selling antiques, the more successful you will end up being in the grand scheme of things. Once you have done a proper amount of research, you will have the necessary confidence to go out there and buy and sell with the best of them.

You can get into buying and selling antiques in your local area or online, depending on your comfort zone. You can buy from reputable auction houses in your local vicinity and this will help you guarantee the authenticity of anything that you buy. You can also buy online from many sources, but buying and selling antiques online is a little trickier because proving authenticity takes more work and more trust.

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Antique School Table

Antiques -> Furniture -> Tables, Stands

If you’re looking for antique furniture like an antique school table or desk, one great place to find these items is estate auctions.  While you can find antique furniture in online auctions like eBay, you need to be very savvy about the purchases you make–just because something looks antique doesn’t mean it is. There are entire stores where you can purchase antique reproductions, after all, and own something brand new that looks like it was crafted 100 years ago.  So those auctions that claim to be for antique furniture and antique school desks should be able to offer more than just the claim of “antique” to prove that the item really is an authentic antique.

Your reasons for wanting to find an antique school table have much to do with how you should go about purchasing one.  If it’s merely the look you’re after, a certain style or type of manufacture, then you might decide to buy a reproduction.  Reproduction antiques are less expensive and have an appearance very similar to the originals they’re modeled after.  If it’s a sentimental quest because you remember how something looked or felt, or because maybe a grandparent or older relative had one that has become lost and you’d like to have that same piece, consider purchasing a reproduction.

But if you’re set on a real antique school table, then you’re going to need to do some homework.  You can probably walk into most antique stores today and find something to suit you, but if you’d rather pay less than the antique store price and enjoy the hunt for a piece that speaks to you personally rather than just purchasing what happens to be available in the store, then you need to shop around for some time before purchasing so that you can do a price check.

Visit many antique stores to get a feel of the average cost of an antique school table.  While some stores might not have one, you’re sure to find at least a few.  And even if they’re not exactly the item you’re looking for they should be similar in price to the one you’re hoping to find.  This will help you know how much cost you’ll probably look at when you find the piece you want.

It will also help you become more familiar with the look of an authentic antique school table.  Sometimes during estate auctions or even in online auctions, you’ll see piece for sale that looks antique but you’re not sure, and it seems the seller really doesn’t know that much background about the piece.  That doesn’t necessarily mean the seller or auctioneer is trying to cheat you by passing off something too new as an antique.  Often, the history of antique pieces, especially antique furniture, becomes muddied through the years. 

Become familiar with the look, and you might spot an antique school table when no one else recognizes the treasure. Beware of refinished furniture unless the purchase is purely sentimental. Refinishing often completely destroys the antique value of the item.

Originally posted 2008-10-21 14:00:34. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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