Things That Make You Ideal For Antique Collecting

The skill of antique collecting is very hard to learn. It takes a lot of will and guts to be able to trust your instinct about something and purchase it just because of that gut feel (and of course, information about it too).

Antiques are pretty expensive. Antiques, the real ones, can cost you one months salary. There are some that cost several hundred thousand dollars. These are the collectible ones that are most in demand on the market.

And not every expensive antique is the real one. There are a lot of fakes in the field of antique collecting. That is why it is important that people first learn what antique collecting is and the basics of the field before embarking on a buying spree. There are a lot of people who prey on beginners in the field. They sell things as antique but when later appraised will turn out as junk.

Like many professions, there are characteristics and traits that make people ideal for this hobby. Read on and see if you have any of them.

Detail-oriented
Antique collecting involves dealing with a lot of details. Your mind, your eye and even your sense of touch should be sharp enough to discern a real antique from a fake. This can only be done by paying attention to details. No matter how good a fake is, something in its construction will have a modern feel.

History-buff
Antiques are old and buying antiques means dealing with history. In fact, people who usually dabble in antique collecting are those who love history or have an interest in it. Some love the era so much that they know everything about it, right down to the things that were produced in that specific era.

Paranoid.
Believe it or not, this trait comes in handy in antique collecting. As mentioned before, there are people out there who have bad intentions. They will prey on your innocence and cheat you out of money. It is good to be a little suspicious of people. Before purchasing, it is good to always investigate and research. That's the key in collecting antiques.

Hunting instincts
Much of what you'll be doing in antique collecting is hunting for pieces. It is rare that you will buy from every store that you go to. In fact, the best ones buy only once a year or whenever they find a particular piece. Antique collecting should involve an instinct to hunt for special pieces. This includes patience, determination and persistence.

Tips In Preventing Frauds In Antique Collecting

Antique collecting can be hard especially if you do not know the industry. In fact, you can lose a lot of money from dubious transactions and fraudulent bargains. This is why it is important that you first know what you are getting into before you go right in and buy antiques. Knowledge is power and in this case, knowledge may mean your financial health.

Below are some of the ways to prevent getting tricked. Read on and make sure that you follow each advice to ensure that you are getting your moneys worth.

1. Research.
You'll never know how much help a little researching can do until you do it. You will find a lot of helpful information when you take time to ask and do a little snooping. This applies to both the people that you deal with and the item that you are purchasing. Ask around and familiarize yourself with the item. Read everything you can about the material and about the era when the antique was supposedly made.

2. Be suspicious.
There is nothing wrong with being a little cautious with your purchases and transactions. In fact, in antique collecting, it pays to be a little paranoid and suspicious of people. Remember that they are selling things that are really old and in some cases, things that you have not even heard of because of its age. It's a little hard to prove its authenticity so you are entitled to doubts and suspicions.

3. Follow your instincts
If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Remember that bit of information! If your instincts are telling you that something is wrong, drop the transaction. If you are not sure, investigate. Frauds can be caught if you just make the effort.

4. Talk with experts
There is nothing in this world that can sharpen your nose for antiques than talking and dealing with people who are experts in the field. Join trade fairs and organizations of antique collectors. Log on to websites that deal with antique collecting and join their forums. There are books out there authored by people who know what they are talking about.

Remember, it may be sheer bad luck to get involved in a fraudulent transaction but it is always your choice. Antique collecting is not some easy forgettable thing that you can just breeze through. It takes research and practice to be good at it.

Tips in antique collecting

Antique collecting is one of those hobbies that require a lot of attention. This is because the details of the antique items will determine its value in the present as well as in the future.

If you are just starting with antique collecting, it is a must that you familiarize yourself with all the things about antiques. You should be very well aware about the antique trade including where to buy unique pieces, how to look for fakes, basic terms that are used by the seller or the vendor, and the best time to buy antiques.

But, among other things, are how to spot the real ones from the fake. This is very important because it won't just save you money but also time and effort.

If you are a beginner in antique collecting, make sure that you learn to differentiate the fake ones from the real ones by category.
In wooden antique furniture, real ones are those that bear signs of age like shrinks, cracks, and warps, slightly jagged edges, not symmetrical shapes, unequally widths and sizes, inaccurate sizes of each piece, shrunk inlays, and very thin filming when it comes to the mirrors.

You will know that the furniture isn't real if the construction is too accurate. (REMINDER: One of the easiest ways to spot a fake when it comes to furniture is that it was made after 1860.) Others hints include drawers that fit too perfectly, a polished finish, long screws and fasteners, and more popular types of wood such as walnut or mahogany.

When it comes to glass items, take note of the length and width the glass. Real ones are those that are thick and blurry while the restored ones may be a bit thinner and clearer. For cloth items, it is best to seek the assistance of a textile expert because it can be hard for an ordinary person to gauge the age of a certain fabric. In pottery, real items can be hard to find because they can easily be reproduced. But you can still find original pieces by using history books as references.

When it comes to antique collecting, being knowledgeable is the basic investment you need. It is always best to educate yourself about antiques to avoid acquiring fake items. If you are knowledgeable about antiques, you can also benefit from it by sharing it with your fellow antique collectors.

What You Can Do To Hone Your Antique Collecting Skills

To succeed in the field of Antique collecting, you need to practice, practice and practice. Like many things, this hobby is not something that you can learn overnight. In order to succeed or at least learn how to distinguish an antique from something that is just old, you need skill and instinct for the hunt.

Honing your skills is actually very easy to do but the trick is, you need to hone the skills that are appropriate and right. You'll find out what is right and what is wrong in antique collecting by reading up on books and constantly talking to experts in the field.

Here are some of the ways that you can hone your skills in antique collecting. Read on and follow each one. If you make sure that you at least do one thing everyday, in a couple of months, you'll have the instinct of the experts.

Read up.

Before delving into antique collecting, make sure that you know the basics first. These basics are discussed in books on the subject. This may seem geeky when you think about it, but this will guarantee that you know what you are doing.

Ask questions.

Part of learning a craft is asking questions. How will you know how everything goes when you don't open your mouth and satisfy your curiosity? Don't be afraid to ask questions. Ask experts in the field that you happen to meet in some antique collecting event. Post a question in a forum inside an antique collecting website. You can even ask your colleagues and other people who are also collecting antiques as a hobby. They may not be experts but they can certainly give you a different perspective on the subject.

Look for antiques.

How will you start antique collecting when you haven't even tried looking yet? In fact, many antique collecting hobbyists started with just a fascination for old pieces. They like the design of a certain era. They like the details of old things. Scouting for an antique need not be boring. It can turn into one great adventure if you want it to.

Challenge yourself and psyche yourself up to find that one great find That way, you have an additional motivation to do it, aside from the fact that you just like doing it. This will also ensure that you get to practice the craft of antique collecting.

What you should know about antique collecting

If you are planning to start antique collecting as a business, it is best if you conduct some extensive research on it. This is because if the business isn't planned carefully, it won't be the success you wanted it to be. (TIP: If you don't have enough money to gamble in buying antique pieces, it is best if you think twice before indulging in this trade because it can rob you off your money without you even knowing it.)

Antique truths

When it comes to antique collecting especially in selling the items truth always matters. This is because being honest and truthful about the items you are selling can help build your reputation as an antique seller. For those who are planning to start antique collecting as a business, the following are some of the truths that you should know about antique selling and buying:

1. Never rush in buying antique pieces. Although being impulsive works well in other fields, this is not ideal when it comes to buying antiques because it can only lead to buying items that are truly worthless. If you are eyeing a certain antique piece, make sure you conduct some research first. When it comes to auctions, a little research after seeing the item is not ideal because someone will surely get it before you. The best way to go about this is to conduct research on various items before attending an auction. (TIP: If it's possible to get a list of the items that will be on the auction, it will be better because you will have plenty of time to research on it.)

2. Always be cautious when buying antique items. Sometimes, even the experts are being fooled by people who market various items as antiques because these pieces can easily be reproduced or restored. To avoid buying fake items, always take extra precautionary measures. Aside from conducting your own research, it is best to seek the assistance of a reliable expert to check the authenticity of the product.

3. Make sure that you know what are you looking for in an antique. Today, antiques come in so many classifications. Some shops market items that are 50 years old as antiques while others market pieces that are 100 years old. Before you buy anything for antique collecting, make sure that you know what you are looking for so you will not waste your time in canvassing for things that you don't really need.

Where to buy pieces for antique collecting

Antique collecting has been a popular form of hobby and business to so many people. This is because it gives them the opportunity to acquire exquisite things while giving them a stable source of income at the same time. But, antique collecting is not as easy as it may seem. This is because the tedious process requires a huge amount of money, a sufficient storage area, and a lot of knowledge especially in maintaining and taking care of it.

Despite the rigid requirements and dedication needed for antique collecting, many people are still into it. If you are one those people who are into antique collecting whether for business or for aesthetic fulfillment it is always best to educate yourself about it. Gaining knowledge about antiques could be in the form of research from various sources such as the Internet, books, and magazines. You can also gain knowledge on basic antique trades and learn some valuable tips from antique crash course classes available in universities or in online sites.


If you are wondering where are the best places to find unique and authentic antiques, you can go to:

1. Garage sales. It can be a garage sale of your neighbor or in the nearby area. Garage sales are ideal places to look for antiques because the owner usually sells items at such a low price. If you have a keen eye on antique items, you can even buy pieces that are truly valuable.

2. Single-owner shops. These are also one of the best places to find antique items because you can assure that someone will entertain your inquiries. More and more antique collectors prefer shopping in various single-owner shops because they get personalized service without so many distractions. This is quite ideal because you can ask the owner personally everything about the antique piece. (TIP: Once you get to talk to the owner, you can even get good bargains at lower rates.)

3. Antique shops. Today, antique shops and stores are usually found in malls. For those who have enough money to spend on expensive items, antique shops are the best place for them because they can acquire rare items that cannot be found anywhere else. Aside from getting personal assistance, another advantage of buying from an antique shop is that there is a greater possibility of acquiring authentic items because these stores cannot operate without the proper license and documents.

4. Online sites. Auction sites and antique sites are the most common places where people shop for items for their antique collecting. Actually, this is the most preferred form of shopping because it is very convenient for the shopper. Although online shopping provides utmost convenience, antique shoppers should be very careful in transacting online because they could get fake items.