Three Tips On Starting Your Antique Collection
By Dakota
Caudilla
Editor's Summary: This article is an excellent introduction
for beginners starting an antique collection. Tips are provided
regarding: understanding antiques, understanding the antique market,
and determining what to start collecting.
Tip 1: Understanding antiques
In strict antique-speak, an antique is any collectable item that
is seventy to one-hundred years old. Newer items can also be quite
valuable; if you know how to pick them. In all instances, a collectible
item has value if someone, somewhere, wants to buy it. Just remember:
"One man's trash is another man's treasure".
You may already know what you want to start collecting, but finding
your antique niche means doing the relevant research first. For
every item--furniture, clothing, books, or other odd collectibles--there
is a general code of understanding as to their value in dollars.
In order to be a successful antique collector you need to learn
about the era in which you item was made, and what this means about
its value.
Tip 2: Understanding the antique market
Whether you are interested in building a collection of Victorian
furniture or vintage baby clothing one of the best places to start
is the Internet. Use the search engine of your choice to begin researching
your antique niche from the comfort of your own home.
Or you may like to log onto eBay: eBay offers a great atmosphere
to get a feel for what is valuable, what isn't and how much things
are selling for. In eBay search for something like "antique" and
"silver" or "leather" and see what the search brings up. Watch a
few of these items for a few days. Note the price, item details,
or use the eBay interface to ask questions about the piece you are
watching: age, condition, previous owner, etc.
Once you get an idea of what is on offer, how people buy and how
much people are willing to pay for an item, you may like to head
off to markets, antique stores and shows where you can engage other
enthusiasts or shop owners into discussion.
Tip 3: Determining what to collect
Choosing your antique niche is more about what interests you; it
also depends on how deep your pockets are. Try to budget a certain
amount of your income per month to see how much you can spend. Also,
ask yourself how quickly you want to start building your antique
collection. If you have lots to spend you may choose to locate items
in mint condition. If you have less to spend you may go after items
in less than mint condition. It's always best to research before
you buy. In all cases, try to learn as much as you can about the
certain type of collectible or antique: where it comes from, the
style or era, and even, the maker or artist or designer. Be it silverware
or clothing or furniture or paintings, the more you know about the
items you choose to collect the better you'll be able to judge its
value. Otherwise you'll just have to take other people's word for
it.
Dakota Caudilla, journalist, and website builder Dakota Caudilla
lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of http://www.antiques-shows.net
on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
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