Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Here Is Some Great Antiques Info

discount antique furniture Article Of The Month

A Guide to Antiques

By Thomas Morva

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.

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Ceramics can be washed with soap and water, but only wipe gently with a damp cloth if they are repaired, damaged, or have cold-painted decorations.
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Comparison shop: some rare items cannot be compared for price, but you might be able to compare more common items. Also, look at reproductions. Some are good value for money as alternatives to antiques. And, knowing the features of repros may help you in the quest for the real.
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Wear cotton gloves as much as possible when handling your silver. This will prevent the oils and acids from your hands from ending up on the object. Cotton gloves are very inexpensive, and can be purchased at photography supply stores and some drug stores.
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When repairing dolls remember that changing the original hair in any way will lower its value.
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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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