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antique cabinet radio Article Of The MonthAntiques - An Introduction
By Michael Russell
If you look up the word antique in the dictionary you will find the following definition:
'antique (noun), pronounced an.tique. 1 : a relic or object of ancient times; 2 a : a work of art, piece of furniture, or decorative object made at an earlier period and according to various customs laws at least 100 years ago;'
Okay, so now we technically know what an antique is.
But are all antiques worth anything?
Thats where the answer is a little harder to come up with than a mere definition.
Just what DOES make an antique worth something?
The simple answer to that is us.
As with anything else in life and in the market place how much something is worth depends on how much a person is willing to pay for it. Taking an extreme example, if you go back 100 years from the writing of this article, it would be safe to say that a person would be more willing to pay a large sum of money for John William Godwards 'Flabellifera' painting of 1905 than for a wooden fence taken from the front of someones house in that same year. Theyre both 100 years old, and technically both antiques, but since wooden fences are probably a dime a dozen, even from that year, it is doubtful that the wooden fence would demand much of a price. Not to say there arent some people who would pay something for a 100 year old fence.
So what are some of the more in demand antiques of the day and how much are people willing to pay for them?
Well, how about wrapping your brain around some of these prices.
A pair of Victorian birds eye maple music chests from 1875 carry a price tag of about $21,000.
A Regency rosewood sofa table with brass inlay goes for about $14,000.
A fine quality Queen Anne period walnut bureau circa 1705 goes for around $14,500.
A 1795 George III oak longcase clock with eight day striking movement by Stanford, Yarmouth sells for in the vicinity of $6,100.
Getting away from furniture and moving to the art world, a Victorian style old English oil painting from around 1870 goes for about $500.
A James Stark Victorian English landscape painting from 1842 goes for a whopping $5,995, and that doesnt include shipping charges.
Interested in a good antique watch? An 8 Days Railroad Pocket Watch from 1890 goes for about $300.
An 1897 Imperial Russian Military Pocket Watch has a price tag of about $500.
An Imperial Russian Family Pavel Watch Circa 1897 will get about $600 from an interested buyer.
A New Columbus 16 jewel pocket watch made in 1880 sells for about $300.
A turn of the 20th century Hamilton 17 jewel pocket watch will end up in someones hands for about $350.
And we havent even scratched the surface of antiques. What is listed above is relatively cheap. The expensive stuff goes back hundreds of years and goes for amounts that would stagger the imagination. Well go over some of the more expensive antiques including items from the 17th and 18th century in a future article.
About The Author
Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Antiques
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The market value of antiques changes if people become more or less interested in collecting and buying a certain type of item.Find out what's popular by talking to dealers and doing research on the Internet. The value of items like antique guns can be very specific when it comes to buyers' appreciation. Also, try to get a feel for emerging collectibles, things you can acquire now for a minimal investment but whose value will appreciate with the passage of time. For well established collecting genres like furniture or dishware, extensive collecting guides with charts of approximate values based on condition are readily available.
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Check the Finish. The exterior of the piece should be a uniform color, except for variations that would naturally occur through exposure to the elements and use. Surface blemishes and scars are acceptable, but burn marks can�t be taken out or painted over without cutting out that section of wood, so avoid buying antiques with a burn unless you can live with it. A piece of furniture costing more than $300 shouldn�t have any visible nails; their presence may be signs of a sloppy repair job.
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Carriage Clocks. In France in the 19th century clockmakers developed small spring-driven clocks intended to be carried by travelers. The plain or brass cases are normally rectangular and are outfitted with a carrying handle.
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Examine the Drawers. Check the drawers. Make sure they slide in and out without resistance or wobbling. Most pieces of furniture made before 1900 will have dovetail joints on the drawers. Dovetails will be precise on pieces made after the advent of the machine age in the 1830s or 1840s; dovetails executed before that will be uneven and done by hand. Butt joints are a sign of inferior workmanship.
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As a general rule of thumb the beginning collector can take the year 1830 as a demarcation line. After 1830 many goods such as furniture and decorative items began to be mass produced. This is not to say that these items cannot be valuable or collectible but the criteria for judging their value will be different than that of earlier pieces.
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At about 8 inches tall and two inches in depth, this wall pocket has two holes mounted in the back for hanging as a vase. The raised image on the front shows a baby siting at a desk, with the words "Congratulations to the new BOSS." On the bottom is the gold label for "Ucago, Ceramics Japan." We date this ceramic to the 1950s or 1960s.
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