Useful Information About Antiques

Choosing to invest in valuable antiques requires that you arm yourself with the right information about the items you want to purchase. Because buying such items involves huge amounts of money, the information you have can help you avoid making mistakes in your purchases or being fooled by some unscrupulous sellers. In buying antiques, this is very true, as there are quite a number of things you need to research before you embark on your search for antiques. Among these, two of the most important include knowing about the different terms used by antique sellers and knowing the market price of different antique items. These are important because knowing antiques terminology can help you know what to look for in antique items and knowing their market price can help you avoid the mistake of overpaying for antique items.

To help you get started with your antiques collection, here are a few of the most commonly used terms in the antique business. One of the most commonly used terms is original finish, which means that the item still has its original protective coating from when it was first made. Another commonly used term is original condition, which means that the antique item still has all its original pieces. Other commonly used terms include patina, which is the look that antique items have as a result of years of "wear and tear" and povenance, which is the documented history of an antique item.

Once you are familiar with the terms, you will be better able to evaluate some of the prices that you can expect to see in the antique market. This is because some items, which include very simple pieces, can really be expensive. An example of this is the $21,000 price tag of a pair of Victorian birds eye music chests made in 1875. Another example is an antique Regency rosewood table with brass inlay, which costs around $14,000. However, there are still some "more affordable" antique items that you can buy. One of these includes an 1897 Imperial Russian Military Pocket Watch that costs around $500.

The decision to invest in antiques should be accompanied with appropriate research on antique items. Knowledge on things like the language used in the antique business and the market prices of antique items can help people avoid some of the most common mistakes that beginning antique collectors make and it can also help them get the most out of their money.

Antiques provides detailed information on Antiques, Antique Collectibles, Antique Furniture, Antique Art and more. Antiques is affiliated with Traditional Table Lamps.

How to Buy Antiques

Antiques

Many people enjoy owning antiques. Some people like to own them for the pure pleasure they bring. Some people enjoy how they look and the class they bring to a room. Some people like the fact they are valuable. No matter why a person may want to buy them, surely they would enjoy learning more tips on how to buy antiques.

Tip number one:

Start with the easy sells. Look at such buying opportunities as:

Yard Sales

Estate Sales

Flea Markets

Classified ads

Thrift Stores

Many times a seller will not realize that what they are selling is indeed an antique. He/she just may be mistaken in believing that the object is just something that is old, dusty, in need of repair or in need of refinishing. If this is the case, you may get the object at an inexpensive price. Be glad. Don't gloat.

Tip number two:

Don't be intimated by real antique dealers and traders

You can also find many nice antiques at trade shows, antique shops, antique malls, etc. But when you are buying at these types of places, be warned that the seller does know the value of what he/she is selling. For this reason, don't expect to find any great savings. But do expect to find some exceptional pieces. Plus, if there is a certain piece or type of antique you are looking for, the seller may be able to help you acquire it.

Tip number three:

Don't forget online antique shopping.

Just like most everything that can be bought or sold, you can find antiques online. You can find websites for local, state or even antique dealers located out of the country. These websites can offer you advice on finding certain antiques, offer you advice on how to pick the perfect antique purchase and will even show you want antiques they have to sell.

Tip number four:

Learn the basics that tells if something is truly old (and possibly an antique) and look for such features as:

Square nails

Hand stitching

Hand applied ornamentations

Learn some of the styles that go along with such areas as: Art Deco, The Arts & Crafts Movements, and Mid Country Design

The pieces actually look old.

Look for higher quality than you fine in newer pieces (more details such as more decorative accents)

Tip number five:

Learn more about antiques. Read up on them. Frequent museums and many antique dealers. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Learn what you can about the particular style or type of antique the interests you most.

Tip number six:

Buy something you actually like. Don't just buy for the sake of buying something old or antique. Buy something you like. Buy a piece that you think will look good in a particular room. Buy a piece that makes you feel good when you look at it.

Tip number Seven:

Actually examine the piece. Look for signs of wear and tear. Look for cracks. Look to see if the piece needs to refinished or repaired. If the piece does need repair, make sure the seller realizes this. It may lower the selling price for you.

Tip number eight:

If you are unsure of the value of a certain piece, ask for an appraisal.

Tip number nine:

Start small.

Start with one piece. Move on to a couple of pieces. Don't rush the buying process. Keep learning and studying as you slowly grow your collection.

Tip number ten:

Actually, use or enjoy your first sale.

Don't place it in a lock box where you can't see it or enjoy it. Place it on a wall. Place it on a shelf. Just place it somewhere, where it can be seen and enjoyed by all, including you.

Tip number eleven:

When shopping for antiques, dress the part. Don't look too successful or look like you have tons of money. Leave those fancy baubles you love at home. This means leave that fancy watch and those starkly diamonds for another day of wearing. If you look like you have money, the price of the antique pieces may suddenly rise (without you knowing it).

Tip number twelve:

If you are heading to an antique market, remember the early bird catches the worm. Try to show up on the first day and try to be there as close to opening as possible. If you aren't, you may lose the best pieces.

If you follow these tips on how to buy antiques, you may find that antique buying is easier than you first thought and just as fun as you hoped.

Jeffrey Meier at Jam727 Enterprises at http://www.thearticlehome.com blog offers even more detailed information on a wide variety of topics.

Get To Know The Fascinating World Of Antiques

Antiquing is a hobby, business and exciting especially if you are hunting it is a time worth spent. It does not matter if you are trying to make money or adore it they are as asset for ever. It all depends on who is collecting to make a label of what you are doing with antiques.

Many deal in it for historic purposes. They want to associate with a past use of the object as to how they were used as well who used it. Form tracing back to its origin they marvel at how we have changed today. This will bring some kind of vicarious living in the past which they never lived, but this object survived.

There definitely a challenge in this pursuit for some. These bring out the explorer character in them to forage different stores and sales. Some like to make this into an expertise game by testing different antiques for sale for rare items. They are anyway important factors to be a successful as an antique dealer.

And there are others in it just for the money. They know that there is market for it and know how to capitalize on it. It is true that there is a mysterious relationship to antiques just for the history some only are in it for the profit they can make.

These are the true business people. They can see an item that has a market and sell it for a great profit. So there are three types of people who engage in antiquing.

Antiques involve variety of items. The most popular are the pottery, furniture, china and paintings. The key here is that if an object is above 100 years old it is certainly called antique. Not all items over a hundred years old will have a market for business.

To make a good profit of an item there has to be a demand. If you are not interest primarily in profits then you can collect anything and make it an antique. Many do collect variety of items like toys, cars, books, and coins. You can make a profit get to know the market.

Take for instance you are collecting toys then you must put in some effort to know values of rare toys. There are in any market duplicate of the original and you need to learn the tricks of that trade. The fakes will not bring any money close to what the original will.

This is a fascinating and mysterious world. You can start with what you know and still can make a good go of it as profitable.

Learn more about antiques. Stop by Robert Fenn's site where you can find out all about antiques business and what it can do for you.

Antique Furniture Values: Tips On Buying Antiques

Collecting antiques can be very fun and enjoying especially if you have the passion for art and designing. When talking about antiquing, what commonly enter into a person's mind are artifacts, relics, or any item that is unique and rare. Although this may somewhat be true, but there is a deeper and a more accurate meaning for antiques. Antiques are known to be any kind of thing or object that is more that a hundred years old in existence. Meaning, it could be any item that exists for centuries already. Commonly, items such as pottery, china, glass, and furniture are being collected by antique hunters. And, one of the most sought after are antique furniture. The question is; how can you determine antique furniture values?

If you want to make your room or the interior decoration of your house look elegant and historic, then investing in antique furniture can be a very good option. The only problem is; there is also a lot of what are known as "genuine reproduction". As you know, "genuine reproduction" is also another name for "fake" in the world of antiquing. But, not all "genuine reproduction" items are worthless or have no value at all, though. There are also some instances where these items have value, but not as high as compared to real or original ones. This is one ground why knowing how to properly determine antique furniture values is very important if you really are aiming on getting the valuable ones.

Another reason why is it important for an antique collector to be able to determine antique furniture values is that there are a lot of sellers who take advantage of buyers whom they think are not aware about the real value of an antique item. They try to sell invaluable items at an expensive price because they know that the buyer won't have any ideas that they are being tricked. But, there are also instances where the sellers do not have ideas about the true value of an antique item. They sell valuable antiques at a cheaper price. This is one reason why knowing the real value of an antique item is very important in antiquing as you can either be tricked, or you can get valuable items at a cheaper price.

Margaret W. Moore is an art enthusiast and loves collecting antique items very much. She had been onto antiquing for decades and continues to share all her knowledge and expertise about successful antiquing through specific antique furniture values. She also compiled all her knowledge and expertise about antiquing and authored the book "The Hidden Secrets Of Antiquing" for the benefit of those who want to know more about successful antiquing. To discover more secrets behind successful antiquing, please feel free to visit her site http://www.superantiquingsecrets.com.

Antique Furniture - Antiques Mirroring History

Any piece of antique furniture speaks of a country's past. Antique furniture mirrors the history of different nations on the whole. Antique's development is influenced by wars, travels and discoveries of its time.

Antique furniture from China became popular from among the Oriental furniture because of the travels of Europeans to that country and travellers from that country visiting other parts of the world. Other countries in the Orient did not gain much popularity in antiques as the Chinese gained. Korean and Japanese furniture are not considered so much for their antique value as that of the Chinese. From the origins of the Chinese antique furniture that can be traced back to second century BC, the transformation from tatami mats to wooden seats can be traced to the Tang dynasty. The Chinese antique furniture styles of Ming and Qing dynasties are particularly unique for their elegance and daintiness. The Ming style antique Chinese furniture has been considered to be the ultimate model of Chinese furniture, with its exquisite craftsmanship.

The English antique history can be broadly categorized into Renaissance and Restoration periods. Renaissance is the earliest known period in the English antique that represents Tudor style. A lot of influence from foreign furniture styles can be seen in this period. Restoration period or the baroque style was popularized during the rule of King Charles II. Renaissance antique was basic and without adornment. The patterns followed in this type of furniture were medieval and Gothic. The popular wood during this period was oak though later on walnut wood gained some popularity. Baroque or Restoration of antiques saw the use of mahogany and walnut and used less of oak. This period saw a great influence of the French and the Dutch on the antiquea and its accessories as well.

The French antique furniture has been a delight to connoisseurs of antique stuff. From the French furniture the armoires, chairs, chandeliers and tables are the most popular. The French furniture comprises both of the sophisticated items from Paris for the aristocracy and the rich, and furniture from the French provincial cities and towns that showcase talent of the districts. The other popular form from France was the furniture from country side that stayed up to the mid nineteenth century.

The American antique furniture is difficult to differentiate because the American antique furniture is influenced by the French and the English antiques. However, there is a distinguishing feature that defines an American piece which is its practicality. Most American pieces have more practical designs compared to their more lavish and elaborate English and French counterparts. For the American craftsmen, function was the primary concern, followed by decorative details. The American craftsmen differ from their European counterparts in this aspect.

Whichever country furniture you choose from, the best way to buy antique furniture is to walk into the antiques store, stay close to the pieces of furniture you wish to buy, feel it, and allow it to speak to you. Buying antique furniture is a matter of heart and you should buy when the piece relates to your aesthetic sense coupled with a sense of matching to your home.

Inessa Stewart, the owner of Inessa Stewart's Antiques & Interiors lives and breathes antiques. Her passion for all things antique is known all over the world. From a small gallery to the largest importer of European antiques in the USA, she has scaled great heights ?in the world of antiques.

How to Preserve the Artistic and Historical Value of Antiques

One of the most significant characteristic of any antique item is its age. Since antiques have been passed down from one generation to the next, these items easily undergo daily wear and tear. Thus, any antique item demands considerable care to preserve and protect its timeless value.

While a professional antique restorer is recommended for more intricate and detail-oriented method of antique restoration, you can also do your part to help maintain the artistic and historical value of your collection. Read on some tips on how to clean precious antique pieces.

Direct sunlight is a no-no for antique furniture. You should never display antique furniture in direct sunlight or beside air-conditioning or heating units. The heat that comes from these sources will deteriorate the fragile state of the antique piece. Place antique furniture in cool areas or better yet ask antique experts of how to properly display your piece. Note that different types of wood require different temperature to maintain its elegance.

Use soft, lint-free cloth for polishing. Soft and lint-free cloth should be used when polishing antique pieces. You should never polish antiques the way you may polish your modern pieces. Remember that antiques are old and can easily be torn, scratched or broken if mishandled.

Move antique furniture with care. Because of the furniture's sensitive condition, you should only move antique pieces when you really have to and only with utmost care. Otherwise, let the furniture stay in one corner of your house to lessen the probability of accidental breaking.

Use your hands when dealing with antique ceramics or glass. Cleaning antique ceramics and glass is quite simple just by using lint-free cloth for regular dusting. However, unlike antique furniture pieces, wearing protective gloves in handling antique ceramic and glass is not advisable. It is more appropriate to handle antiques of this type using your clean hands. It is good to know that sunlight and humidity would not affect the condition of some antique ceramics and glass. To determine sensitive antique items, you must seek the advice of an antique expert.

Store antique ceramics or glass in sturdy shelves. The most common problem with antique ceramic or glass is breakage. Therefore, extra care must be given in its storage. You must never place antique ceramic or glass in unstable cabinets. In case of accidental breakage, place each piece even the smallest one in acid-free tissue and bring to an experienced antique restorer. You must never repair damaged antique pieces on your own to avoid devaluation.

Regularly polish antique silver and metal pieces. Antique silver and metal items are extremely delicate. Antique items made from these materials can react to natural conditions and may result to corrosion, scratches, dents and fractures. Regular and proper cleaning through polishing with soft cloth will reduce the difficulty of maintaining the items' patina. You should use protective gloves when handling antique silver and metal to avoid tarnishing due to body sweat.

Store antique jewellery separately. Antique jewellery is extremely delicate. A piece of jewellery is possible to be made up of several types of precious stone or metal in which one would adversely affect each other through time. This is why you should not store several pieces of antique jewellery in just one box. Make sure that you have a separate box for each piece to avoid chemical reaction.

Hire the expertise of an antique jeweler. Small jewellery pieces make it almost impossible to clean, so an experienced jeweler specializing in antiques is recommended to handle these items.

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Guide To Purchasing Antiques

Antiques are a great way to adorn your rooms. But there are several things to consider before you buy that rare antique item that you have been looking for so long.

Antiques can be any collectible item that has aesthetic value and is approximately 100 years old or even more. Grand clocks, pianos, jewelry items, vintage fashion, silverware, ivory or Faberge eggs are just some examples of desirable antiques. People have their own particular preference for different antique pieces, such as antique clock or antique Chinese porcelain etc.

The first thing to consider is the originality and history of the antique you intend to buy. As rare antiques come at higher prices, you would not want to be fooled by fake replicas. Many antique sellers often put up retouched items for sale. But antiques look best when they are not refurbished though you should not buy items with defects. It is the originality that makes an antique item precious.

Before buying you must do proper research on the antique item. The internet is the best place to do research on antique items as it can provide valuable information regarding global antique prices and the history of antique items. You should also be careful about antique reproductions. If you are new and have not done proper research, it will be difficult to tell the difference between a reproduction from the original. Antique pieces should show some wear and tear and these small details are something to look out for. If the item looks flawless than it probably is not an authentic antique.

The best places to buy antiques are at antique auctions. Buying from a reputable auction house or an antique store will ensure that the antique collectible is genuine, as it should also come with certificates of originality. To get that coveted item you should visit the antique auctions regularly. Garage sales are also a good place to buy as you may often get rare antiques at a very cheap price, but do make sure that it is original. Though the internet is a useful source of information, this is not the case when buying antiques online. A first hand look at the antique product is not possible on the internet and the website photos often hide the defects and deficiencies.

Proper care and maintenance should be taken to preserve antique items for ages. When buying an item, gather information about proper antique storage and antique preservation methods. Items should be kept in moderately humid and cool places. Direct sunlight should be avoided. The antiques should be handled carefully. Excessive cleaning sometimes ruins the originality of the antique.

First-time buyers can also buy general antique guides for research and guidance on starting their antique collection. Guides on specific antique items are also available.

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Information on Antiques Products

Antiques are one of the most sought after collectible items, since, that represents the charm of the bygone era. Detailed work reflects the craftsmen skill with unparalleled beauty. Antiques are known so simply because of their classic beauty & age old designs & patterns bringing alive the lost years. Found in innumerable types, shapes, sizes & used for varied purposes, there is absolutely no dearth of antique products.

Much attention is paid to bring forth the finesse & the detailed carvings & engravings which are skillfully done keeping them in sync with the timeless beauty & vintage design pattern. The antique industry is booming with every passing year & is making the art connoisseurs world over carving for more antiques with unique designs & look. Be it for decorative or functional purpose, antiques have found their way in every department without losing its flawless charm. Be it an antique clock, watch, furniture, jewelry, glass, lighting, weapons etc. all have their own niche market & fan following among consumers believing in decorating their personal space with the most archaic beauty.

Meeting certain parameters is a must in the case of antique products which needs to be properly cared to maintain the enigmatic aura of these out of ordinary items. Invaluable in nature, these are bought with immense care as well focusing on the key areas. The industry has made a marvelous growth especially with the beautiful blending of both antique & contemporary designs.

The collecting of antique furniture is a particularly popular area of antiques due to the practical characteristics of these antiques. Antique furniture includes dining tables, chairs, bureaus, chests etc. The most common woods are mahogany, oak, pine, walnut and rosewood. In Chinese antique furniture the most common wood is elm a wood common to most regions able to sustain trees. Each wood has its own distinctive grain and colour. Many modern pieces of furniture often use laminate or wood veneer to cheaply achieve the same effect. There are a number of different styles of antique furniture depending on when and where it was made. The most common include Arts & Crafts, Georgian, Regency and Victorian.

I'm a crafts enthusiast with extensive knowledge about the handicrafts industry. I'm writing on the crafts industry as a professional for the past five years. My work has been published in various reputed journals, newspapers. I'm also writing on various online forums to educate the masses on various facets of the craft industry. I am currently working for a crafts portal. Please contact me at cwhite1978@gmail.com

Picking Antiques and Profiting in 7 Days Or Less

Many find day trading a fulfilling investment, others find coin collecting and yet others real estate. Whatever investment interests you may have none can be more fulfilling than antiques. However, collecting antiques can be for profit or for decorative purposes, whichever manner you choose rest assured it's an asset that lasts for centuries.

Antiques are collected for obviously different reasons and it's purely personal to who is collecting them. Collectible represent items less than 100 years old, while antiques are those pieces older than 100 years. Many collectors of antiques have a considerable interest in antiques because they express historical events and give them a sensible setting of when a thing appears or occurs. By collecting objects of the past there are no limitations to a collectors imagination when they can connect to a period of time which they never lived, but the object somehow survived.

Some collectors find "antiquing" (the act of shopping, distinguishing, bartering or bargaining for antiques), to be considerably intriguing. They have a particular interest in items for personal use, gifts and in many cases, profit. The occasion of visiting garage sales, estate sales, resort towns, antique districts and thrift stores, tests a collectors ability to find bargains and rare items. Both of which characterize antiquing and are factors in being successful in the antiques trade. Although, many per suitors of antiques prefer to do so primarily for profit. They see a void in the market and they intend fill that void. More often than not, some antique dealers become consumed with the chasing of the dollar, they lose sight of the true beauty in the history behind that which they seek. These are the salesmen of the trade. They know how to buy and sell items with high a Return On Investment (ROI). The more accomplished collector is a combination of all three of these types.

As with investments, there are many different kinds of antique items for purchase. Generally speaking, antique furniture has a particular appeal due to the pragmatic nature of these antiques. This furniture includes dining tables, chairs, bureaus, chests etc, mainly made of mahogany, oak, pine, walnut and rosewood. But, some of your more popular antiques to collect are works of art on canvas, works in bronze, marble, terra cotta, parian, pottery or porcelain, artistic antiquities and objects of ornamental nature and glassware. However anything that is over one-hundred years old is considered an antique hence anything can be collected. The mere fact it can be collected as an antique, does not necessarily mean people will beat a path to your door to purchase it. If there is zero demand for what you have to sell, the hopes of making a profit will not become reality.Conversely if you are less interested in profit and more concerned with your personal satisfaction, then anything can be an antique. Books, cups, coins, cars, toys and many other things can be collected. The point here is while anything can be collected, you must know the market you intend to sell in. If your interest lies in books you need to know what kinds of books are worth investing in and which ones are rare.The rarest of books will yield a higher profit.

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A Guide to Antiques

If you are thinking of investing in antique items, you would be surprised at the things that you first need to know before you go out and buy antique items. This is because, as with any other purchase, there are a number of things that you need to research so that you can avoid making a mistake in your purchases. Nowadays, this has become very true for antiques because of the proliferation of antique reproductions, which can make finding authentic antique items very confusing. One example that you should know with regard to antique items is the language that antique sellers and antique enthusiast use to describe items. This is because knowing the language they speak can greatly help you with your decisions.

Antique Lingo

First off, you need to know how people determine if an item is an antique or not. Apart from its age, which is usually set at 100 years, an old item is also considered an antique if it has aesthetic and historical value. Now that you know the definition of the word, you can now move on to some of the most commonly used terms in antique lingo. One of these is the term ?original finish,- which means that the protective coating of the item, like the varnish, is the same as it was first made. Usually, items with an original finish are considered very valuable.

On the other hand, an antique item in its "original condition" means that the item still has all the original pieces it was made with, which can also add value to the item. Another commonly used term is "patina," which is the look of an item caused by years of polish, dirt, grease build-up, and wear and tear, which antique dealers consider as the thing that gives character to an antique item. Another commonly used term is "provenance," which means the documented history of an antique item. One example of this is the value that antique dealers put on items that were used by some of the most notable historical figures, like a table that may have been used by a medieval king to sign a treaty.

Investing in antiques involves learning the ropes about purchasing antique items so that you would be able to make the right decisions in buying an antique item. One of the best ways to do so is to learn the language that antique dealers and enthusiasts use. This is because knowing the language can equip you with the right knowledge on what you should look for in antiques and how you can determine their value.

Antiques provides detailed information on Antiques, Antique Collectibles, Antique Furniture, Antique Art and more. Antiques is affiliated with Traditional Table Lamps.

About Online Antiques Shopping

Are you a part of the latest antiques craze? Compared to ten years ago, we are constantly bombarded with antique radio shows, antique television show that have become increasingly popular have pitched the idea of dealing with antiques to large international crowds, and the simple fact remains, the antique world is giving love to those who love the antiques... not to the bargain hunters.

Do you feel excited when you see an old toy, dating back 200 years ago and in mint condition, do you feel that owning something like that will give you something special, that the first person to ever hold this in his hands is long gone, but that there is a link between generations and across time because you are now enjoying the same thing?.

I know this feeling, and even though I did sell and still do sell some of my antiques, I hold on to many others, it is no secret that most antique lovers have to sell a few things here and there, but every once in a while something gets to you, sometimes even in a mystical way, its something you know you want to hold on to.

A very popular niche in antiques is old toys, the toys first produced when mass production just started, or even hand crafted toys that date way back. When shopping for antique toys, it can be extremely helpful to have a price guide in hand.

Many unscrupulous sellers are hoping to gain profit due to a buyer's lack of knowledge. Watching some of the antique shows can help educate you as a buyer. For a few dollars, you can purchase an antique toy pricing guide and have a firm understanding of how to find a bargain. If you happen to have collected many of your childhood toys and are ready to sell them, there can be a great deal of money to be made. Do some research regarding antique toy and their prices and some items may make you a mint!

An extremely popular collection of antique toys includes a wooding rocking horse. Wooden rocking horses are widely available at online antique stores and often cost well over $1,000 if they are in good condition. Some wear is expected, but the rocking horse must work and contain the original pieces.

Surprisingly, antique-toys sought after by collectors typically include marbles. One onionskin marble on EBay is currently priced at $500 and steadily climbing. While marbles may be at the bottom of your antique toys list, they can sell for huge amounts of money.

If antiques is your passion and you want to learn more the internet is a great resource of information, in fact, the antiques market has been growing in a phenomenal rate since the internet started catching on, people can trade and present antiques on Ebay and other auction sites. There is always a place for more people and more items on this market, and you may find out that its not that difficult to start doing things in the antiques market soon enough.

There is a great move in Antiques right now, learn more about Antiques Shopping online and off, at http://antiques.zupatips.com

The Best Way to Familiarize Yourself With Antiques

The passion for antiques is universal, part of a reverence for the past that has traditionally been used as a yardstick for the present. An appreciation of antiques is a particular, personal way to preserve the past, both in the form of the objects themselves and in the information these objects convey.

Containing thousands of pictures of antiques, antique price guide can be perfect for someone to pick up the art of collecting and buying antiques. They give you a pretty good idea of current prices and help to familiarize you with the language of antiques. Adult education courses run by leading auctioneers, such as Christie's and Sotheby's, or local education departments are also now widely available and offer expert tuition in a particular subject. If you do decide to attend one, do not feel embarrassed about asking questions

Many people also feel intimidated about striking up a conversation with a dealer when visiting a shop, antiques fair or market. However, as I have found over the years, this is one of the best ways of acquiring knowledge. Indeed, most dealers are only too happy to discuss a piece and answer a reasonable number of questions.

But do be sensitive to the fact that dealers have to make a living. Pick a quiet moment when they are not busy. Attending auctions, which are held once a week or fortnight in most parts of the country, gives you the opportunity to view an enormous range of antiques and also introduces you to the real nitty-gritty of buying and selling. Go to the sale previews, buy a catalogue and, if you are particularly interested in a piece, ask to see someone from the auction house and discuss factors such as its history, any damage and the estimated price.

Also go along to the sale itself, even if you have no intention of buying, and write down on the catalogue the prices pieces fetch as they go under the hammer. By doing this you will be able to compare estimates with realized prices, and gradually build up a feel for how the market is doing in particular areas. By the time you have done all or most of the above you will have acquired a considerable amount of knowledge about the antiques you have become interested in.

Antiques are time capsules, and their survival carries with it a vision of other worlds and other times. The pleasures gotten by the pursuit of antiques are, therefore, infinitely varied and valuable as a basis for an understanding of the past.

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