November 13th, 2009 — Antique
You 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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October 20th, 2009 — Antique, Collectible
If you are interested in the art of antiquing, then you should know that there are antiques and collectibles that you can find in all shapes, all sizes and all kinds of locations. All of these antiques and collectibles have history, a past, a story to them. People can find some of the most unlikely objects to begin collecting in some truly interesting places. For example, someone is purported to have found an original copy of the real, authentic Declaration of Independence in a desk that was purchased from a flea market. Can you imagine that? The adage that one man’s trash is another’s treasure became very real at that moment!
What some people believe is junk can actually be a really neat or really collectible piece of history. People from all over the world are collecting antiques and collectibles and finding antiques and collectibles in the world today has become even easier than ever before.
One of the first places that you should consider when you are looking for antiques and collectibles is on the internet in places such as an eBay store for example. If you are looking for a certain item, then this is definitely the place for you to go. A person can easily save a lot of time and a lot of money when they make use of the internet to help them find the antique and collectible dealers that they are looking for. Gas prices are going up, why drive from estate sale to estate sale hoping to find that one special item, when you can find so many other sources of antiques and collectibles when you search online? eBay is a global marketplace for antiques and collectibles which means that you will have the best possible chance of finding what you want when you use a marketplace website like eBay to help you find the antiques and collectibles that you are looking for.
eBay is a website that is very easy to use, even if you are not accustomed to shopping on the internet. You can pretty much find a little bit of absolutely everything on eBay from collectible baseball cards to vases from ancient Chinese dynasties. You can find antiques and collectibles virtually anywhere in this day and age, as people buy items and sell items all throughout the world as their tastes and collections change. Check out flea markets, junk stores, consignment stores, garage sales, estate sales and any other marketplace where people are selling things, and you may just find a rare gem, a treasure, something priceless to you and essential to your collection.
There is no right or wrong way to collect antiques and collectibles. Just do what feels right, enjoy every step of the process, and cherish your collection as you build it and you will be just fine.
Photo Credits: Valeriana Solaris
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September 26th, 2009 — Clocks, Decorative Arts, Mantle Clocks
Antique mantle clocks are a wonderful investment that not only beautify your home, but also provide you with a great conversation piece. Many antique mantle clocks are true works of art and with careful shopping, you may even end up with one that used to grace the palace of a royal, or that one stood on the mantle of someone famous. If you are looking for a great new antique, a mantle clock is a wonderful choice.
Here’s what you need to know before you go shopping.
1. What is the country of origin?
This is particularly important for many different reasons. First, it is always nice to know where an antique came from and if you can find one that was constructed in a foreign country, the value may be increased. Second, this is an important part of owning a conversation piece. You’ll need to be able to pass along a little bit of the history of the mantle clock. If it’s origination is not clear, there are some clues that can help you, such as the types of figures that were used, scenes that are depicted, or even the materials that the mantle clock is made out of.
2. Does the clock still work?
This is also very important since finding a good clock maker is very hard these days. Ask the seller to prove that the mantle clock is operational before you actually decide to purchase it. This may be difficult online, but a small video will usually provide you with the proof you need to make a good decision. Otherwise, you may need to take the seller’s word for it. If this is the case, make sure they have good feedback. A beautiful clock that doesn’t work may be a beautiful showpiece, but it’s only really valuable if it is still running.
3. How is the clock powered?
Ideally, you should look for a mantle clock that has a wind-up mechanism. Most antique clocks will, and this is also a great way to find out just how old the piece is. Modern mantle clocks are typically battery powered, so if you are looking for an older model, stick with the ones that are wind-up. You won’t have to worry about finding the right battery and there is just something special about a wind-up clock.
4. What is the overall condition?
Again, due to the fact that finding clock makers is so difficult, it is important to find a mantle clock that is in very good to near perfect condition. While some small flaws can add to the conversational value, if the clock is damaged, it will reduce the overall value of the piece. Try to find a mantle clock that is at least in good condition overall.
Shopping for antique mantle clocks is a very fun pastime, and these also make great collectibles. Whether or not you actually have a mantle to put them on, these clocks can brighten up any home and provide hours of enjoyment.
Originally posted 2008-08-27 14:00:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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