There are a few things you can keep in mind when hunting for that perfect piece on free ads sites. Different aspects of locations, time periods and other issues that have to be targeted when hunting for period pieces, can be made a whole world easier keeping a few handy tips and tricks in mind.
When considering the purchase of antiques via online ad postings there are several aspects to consider.
Sight "Unseen"
The absolute biggest problem is that when purchasing such specific pieces you can miss quite a few very important things.
Hidden Signatures or Logos
Often the best way to recognize the originality of a piece is to locate and investigate the items signature logo or trademark. Often in very expensive pieces, these signature marks can be counterfeited and without seeing them up close and personally, there may be no guaranteed way of being sure you have an original. When responding to classified ad posts on this type of piece always ask for the clearest shots of the logos, and many of them. If a seller tells you they are unable to provide you one. Take your money and run.
Logical Deductions
If you are looking for a certain period piece it is always best to go to the area of the original source. Chances are if you are looking for an original European piece, European classified ads may be the best place to begin your search. Looking for civil war pieces? Check out the east coast in the region of the piece you desire.
The Golden Rule
The golden rule followed by antique collectors is to "Only buy things that you like." This can avoid overspending beyond your personal limits, or collecting pieces that you really can't use. When purchasing online from ads sites, this may be the one thing that protects you the most. So make a habit of checking over ads for pieces you would like, investigate and request the required photos and then take a step back and give it some consideration.
The greatest things about buying antique collectibles online on free classified ad sites are the ease in which you can request and view photos to view the piece, the wide reaching capabilities of online classified ad sites and the ability to take the pressure off the purchase by simply stepping away from the keyboard.
View the original article here
Monday, February 28, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
What Antique Buyers Do
I work and enjoy the following areas of my life in list building, with social media marketing, and blogging.
What do antique buyers do? Mostly there are buying and selling of a wide range of old items that have become valuable over a long period of time.
As you know buying antiques, such as furniture, pottery or memorabilia, which can be sold at auctions, private sales, your own store, or on the internet. There are so many areas you could specialize in, but you must develop knowledge of your market and be able to spot good deals to profit.
Antique businesses are mostly self-employed and there pay is dependent largely upon there knowledge and expertise of there area of specialization, with a good customer base for maximum returns.
Your role as a buyer is to provide customers with a varied collection of pieces in which they will desire. Often items are furnishing for homes, or for adding to there collections.
Here are some common tasks.
Travel around to other shops, in different areas to buy your stock
Building up a reputation and customer base
Selling stock to individuals
Preparing stock for sale through restoration
Working with partners
Valuing and displaying goods
You might ask, what are the qualifications needed to become an antique buyer. You will need good research skills and in-depth knowledge of negotiating, be able to spot fakes, and gathered good practical experience with a good eye is required. Know what things people will pay good money for is the most important. I would say if you have a passion for antiques, start to read and learn as much as possible, and then network with other in the same area to learn from seasoned antique buyers.
View the original article here
What do antique buyers do? Mostly there are buying and selling of a wide range of old items that have become valuable over a long period of time.
As you know buying antiques, such as furniture, pottery or memorabilia, which can be sold at auctions, private sales, your own store, or on the internet. There are so many areas you could specialize in, but you must develop knowledge of your market and be able to spot good deals to profit.
Antique businesses are mostly self-employed and there pay is dependent largely upon there knowledge and expertise of there area of specialization, with a good customer base for maximum returns.
Your role as a buyer is to provide customers with a varied collection of pieces in which they will desire. Often items are furnishing for homes, or for adding to there collections.
Here are some common tasks.
Travel around to other shops, in different areas to buy your stock
Building up a reputation and customer base
Selling stock to individuals
Preparing stock for sale through restoration
Working with partners
Valuing and displaying goods
You might ask, what are the qualifications needed to become an antique buyer. You will need good research skills and in-depth knowledge of negotiating, be able to spot fakes, and gathered good practical experience with a good eye is required. Know what things people will pay good money for is the most important. I would say if you have a passion for antiques, start to read and learn as much as possible, and then network with other in the same area to learn from seasoned antique buyers.
View the original article here
Thursday, February 24, 2011
How To Identify the Value Of An Antique Plate
There are a variety of people who may obtain an antique plate or teapot from family. You will find some who can come upon what they envision could be an antique at a garage sale. The best way to know what your pieces are worth is to find a way to find out what type of history they have and how to tell the worth of them all.
To comprehend the clear price of the piece you should take it to a professional who will examine it for a couple of days. Naturally you can do things by yourself to keep from spending a lot of money. All you must be familiar with is what type of things to search for.
You have to examine the piece thoroughly for any chips, fissures, staining, or other spots. Work with a magnifying glass to get a closer view of it and make sure to record everything you discover. In the event you do choose to have your antique appraised by a professional you must give them the information you have.
Next you have to decide who built it, what time period it was made in, the design which was utilized, and if it is broken at all. Try to discover an identification guide book. This is a large book that can have details and images on an assortment of antiques from across the world. Try to locate a photo of what type you own or some thing similar to it.
The easiest way to know the antique plates value is to search for the mark of the manufacturer. This can often be a special stamp, signature, and also a date. It is generally located around the bottom of the piece and can assist you to recognise who built it and what time period it is from. You might discover that it was "made in China" or that it belonged to the real maker.
View the original article here
To comprehend the clear price of the piece you should take it to a professional who will examine it for a couple of days. Naturally you can do things by yourself to keep from spending a lot of money. All you must be familiar with is what type of things to search for.
You have to examine the piece thoroughly for any chips, fissures, staining, or other spots. Work with a magnifying glass to get a closer view of it and make sure to record everything you discover. In the event you do choose to have your antique appraised by a professional you must give them the information you have.
Next you have to decide who built it, what time period it was made in, the design which was utilized, and if it is broken at all. Try to discover an identification guide book. This is a large book that can have details and images on an assortment of antiques from across the world. Try to locate a photo of what type you own or some thing similar to it.
The easiest way to know the antique plates value is to search for the mark of the manufacturer. This can often be a special stamp, signature, and also a date. It is generally located around the bottom of the piece and can assist you to recognise who built it and what time period it is from. You might discover that it was "made in China" or that it belonged to the real maker.
View the original article here
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
What Is Considered Genuine Antique Painting
Buyer Beware. This is absolutely vital in the world of antiques and collectibles. In the world of antique paintings there are plenty of places that advertise antique paintings for sale. However are they genuine? Often on close examination it is obvious that they are only copies and lack the quality found only in a genuine vintage painting.
Artists have been creating reproductions of originals for hundreds of years. Some artist have dedicated their lives to reproducing antique oil paintings by old masters and have become extremely good at it. Often their work is made for decorators, connoisseurs and collectors and even some of the best experts would have a hard time distinguishing them from period works of art.
So let's step back a bit and try and figure out what is considered to be a genuine antique painting. Even this is not easy as there are three differing opinions here as well. As you can imagine with three opinions there is bound to be some confusion making it difficult for anyone to be sure whether their painting is really an antique or not. It seems to all depend on who is viewing the painting. But for all intents and purposes here we are going to take the opinion that any painting over 100 years old is classified as an antique painting.
Despite the differing opinion as to what qualifies a painting as a genuine antique, there continues to be many collectors willing to pay a lot of money for what they perceive to be one that is genuine. While others collectors have turned their attention to "antique paintings" done by artists who are lesser known. Still other collectors have broadened their collection with other types of paintings than just antique oil paintings.
Other types of antique pictures are watercolors, and sketches. Even prints of original paintings are collected by certain collectors and can sell extremely well and for high prices to those looking to collect paintings by certain artists.
Today, there is a new type of collector that only collects prints of famous or antique paintings. Some will spend years looking for a painting they want to make their collection complete. It seems no matter what there are collectors ready to spend whatever in order to add a painting they want to their personal collection.
Another type of painting that has become a collectors choice are artists mock ups. The medium of choice for most artists for their major works has long been oil. Mock ups on the other hand are those smaller panels artist's often create in the field and then they paint their major works on larger canvases when they return to their studio. These smaller painting can be oils, watercolors or even sketches. They are originals but were never intended to be finished works of art by the artist. But these small panels often had a lot to them as they captured the subject live. They were there and often captured the mood or energy of the happening and therefore have maybe even more energy in them then the major paintings did.
One thing that is absolutely true is that the collector who hasn't made a mistake and bought a phony painting as genuine doesn't exist.
But this one thing is for sure. Antique paintings are not only wonderful to look at, they are also a real thrill to own and if they are chosen carefully can be a very sound investment.
View the original article here
Artists have been creating reproductions of originals for hundreds of years. Some artist have dedicated their lives to reproducing antique oil paintings by old masters and have become extremely good at it. Often their work is made for decorators, connoisseurs and collectors and even some of the best experts would have a hard time distinguishing them from period works of art.
So let's step back a bit and try and figure out what is considered to be a genuine antique painting. Even this is not easy as there are three differing opinions here as well. As you can imagine with three opinions there is bound to be some confusion making it difficult for anyone to be sure whether their painting is really an antique or not. It seems to all depend on who is viewing the painting. But for all intents and purposes here we are going to take the opinion that any painting over 100 years old is classified as an antique painting.
Despite the differing opinion as to what qualifies a painting as a genuine antique, there continues to be many collectors willing to pay a lot of money for what they perceive to be one that is genuine. While others collectors have turned their attention to "antique paintings" done by artists who are lesser known. Still other collectors have broadened their collection with other types of paintings than just antique oil paintings.
Other types of antique pictures are watercolors, and sketches. Even prints of original paintings are collected by certain collectors and can sell extremely well and for high prices to those looking to collect paintings by certain artists.
Today, there is a new type of collector that only collects prints of famous or antique paintings. Some will spend years looking for a painting they want to make their collection complete. It seems no matter what there are collectors ready to spend whatever in order to add a painting they want to their personal collection.
Another type of painting that has become a collectors choice are artists mock ups. The medium of choice for most artists for their major works has long been oil. Mock ups on the other hand are those smaller panels artist's often create in the field and then they paint their major works on larger canvases when they return to their studio. These smaller painting can be oils, watercolors or even sketches. They are originals but were never intended to be finished works of art by the artist. But these small panels often had a lot to them as they captured the subject live. They were there and often captured the mood or energy of the happening and therefore have maybe even more energy in them then the major paintings did.
One thing that is absolutely true is that the collector who hasn't made a mistake and bought a phony painting as genuine doesn't exist.
But this one thing is for sure. Antique paintings are not only wonderful to look at, they are also a real thrill to own and if they are chosen carefully can be a very sound investment.
View the original article here
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Where To Find Antique Books
Collecting books is an increasingly popular passion for some people. If you like books and want to make some money from home or just start a new hobby, then collecting antique books may be a natural step for you. It doesn't matter what your reasons are, learning how to become a vintage book collector for fun or profit is not difficult. One of the real questions is where do you buy antique books?
Though it may sound intimidating to some, it actually is not difficult to learn how to become a book collector. There are some good books on the subject and there is a lot of good help on the internet on everything you need to know about finding, identifying, buying, and selling antique books in a step by step format.
Places where you have opportunities to find valuable antique books being sold sometimes well under their actual value are local auctions, book fairs, antique book stores, flea markets, and even on the internet. You can often buy them for a great price and then turn around and sell them for a decent profit.
Before talking about where to look let's look at what makes a book a good one to buy. Just being old is not enough to make it a good book to buy. There also needs to be some demand for the book and the condition of the book is also very important. Books that are very close to their original condition or mint condition are very rare but obviously have the most value. Books that are dirty or have been written in have a lot less value.
One exception to this rule is when the book was written in by someone famous. First editions of a popular book signed by the author or owned by someone famous can make a huge difference to its value.
Let's look at one of the places to find great antique books; the Internet. The internet can not only help you discover information on collecting them but it is a great place to buy them. The Internet can bring you all the information on book collecting you need to know to become an accomplished book collector. Things like recognizing first edition books and how much they should cost.
If you are looking for a specific book or author it is easy to dig deeper and find what you're looking for on the internet. A good way of saving some money is to search on eBay or Amazon first. Great books can be found on eBay and at prices that are much cheaper than a lot of local book shops. It's good though to shop local as well. You can start shopping for the books you're looking for on eBay within minutes.
Amazon is also a great resource in fact Amazon is an even better resource because it specializes in books. The great thing is people from around the world sell their used unwanted and often antique books here.
Antique books are truly amazing and collecting them can occasionally be very lucrative. You may get lucky and be able to buy a true first edition book at say $50 and then be able to sell it for several hundred dollars. Many people have done it.
From the first vintage book you buy you will be on the way towards becoming an inspired antique book collector.
View the original article here
Though it may sound intimidating to some, it actually is not difficult to learn how to become a book collector. There are some good books on the subject and there is a lot of good help on the internet on everything you need to know about finding, identifying, buying, and selling antique books in a step by step format.
Places where you have opportunities to find valuable antique books being sold sometimes well under their actual value are local auctions, book fairs, antique book stores, flea markets, and even on the internet. You can often buy them for a great price and then turn around and sell them for a decent profit.
Before talking about where to look let's look at what makes a book a good one to buy. Just being old is not enough to make it a good book to buy. There also needs to be some demand for the book and the condition of the book is also very important. Books that are very close to their original condition or mint condition are very rare but obviously have the most value. Books that are dirty or have been written in have a lot less value.
One exception to this rule is when the book was written in by someone famous. First editions of a popular book signed by the author or owned by someone famous can make a huge difference to its value.
Let's look at one of the places to find great antique books; the Internet. The internet can not only help you discover information on collecting them but it is a great place to buy them. The Internet can bring you all the information on book collecting you need to know to become an accomplished book collector. Things like recognizing first edition books and how much they should cost.
If you are looking for a specific book or author it is easy to dig deeper and find what you're looking for on the internet. A good way of saving some money is to search on eBay or Amazon first. Great books can be found on eBay and at prices that are much cheaper than a lot of local book shops. It's good though to shop local as well. You can start shopping for the books you're looking for on eBay within minutes.
Amazon is also a great resource in fact Amazon is an even better resource because it specializes in books. The great thing is people from around the world sell their used unwanted and often antique books here.
Antique books are truly amazing and collecting them can occasionally be very lucrative. You may get lucky and be able to buy a true first edition book at say $50 and then be able to sell it for several hundred dollars. Many people have done it.
From the first vintage book you buy you will be on the way towards becoming an inspired antique book collector.
View the original article here
Monday, February 21, 2011
Where To Find Antique Desk
Perhaps one of the most sought after types of antique furniture is the desk, and the demand for these pieces of furniture just becomes greater every year. This may be because an antique desk can turn an ordinary space into something very special, even romantic. They bring a feeling of importance with them that can give a space a sense of elegance and charm. So where can you find antique desks for sale?
Fortunately, there are many places for you to start looking. Start by shopping around your hometown. I recommend checking out used furniture stores, flea markets, garage sales, antique furniture stores, and maybe even some of the second-hand stores.
There are also auctions and estate sales to consider. Sometimes at these you can get a better price for an antique desk than you would at a store. Antique auctions are also a good choice, and can often be fun as well. One of the antique dealers in your area should be able to tell you about any upcoming auctions. You can probably also find out about them online.
Which brings me to one of the best ways to find antique furniture today, it's online. You would be surprised by how many antique desks for sale you can find online. However, there is a major drawback to buying antique furniture online. Even the best pictures are no substitute for being able to check a piece out in person. Be especially careful of online auctions, and make sure the seller has a very good reputation.
Opinions differ on how old something must be before it is considered an antique. This is generally considered to be over a century old. Some people place as much importance on the style, as well as the quality and rarity of the piece of furniture then on its exact age. But if you truly want an antique desk, you'll probably want to look for one that was made at least 100 years ago. The most important thing though is to find one that meets both your design requirements and is well-made.
The most common woods used to make these grand old desks were oak, walnut, cherry wood, mahogany and sometimes pine. During the eighteen hundreds the use of highly decorative woods tended to be reserved for the better quality furniture pieces and attractive veneers also started to be used. Book matched veneers are something to look for when trying to assess the quality of the wood veneers. These are veneers with very good mirror image of themselves. In the better quality pieces the parts that are not veneered are mostly made from solid woods like walnut or mahogany.
Provenance is a major factor affecting the value of any antique. Provenance is the known or documented history of the manufacture and ownership of an antique. A great provenance that has good documentary proof is quite rare but does exist with antique furniture.
People love antiques for many different reasons. Some love the quality others love the look of the old wood and brass. Others love the unique designs and the fact that they are often hand-crafted. But nearly all antique furniture lovers have an appreciation for the history of a piece and with it the atmosphere that it brings to a room.
View the original article here
Fortunately, there are many places for you to start looking. Start by shopping around your hometown. I recommend checking out used furniture stores, flea markets, garage sales, antique furniture stores, and maybe even some of the second-hand stores.
There are also auctions and estate sales to consider. Sometimes at these you can get a better price for an antique desk than you would at a store. Antique auctions are also a good choice, and can often be fun as well. One of the antique dealers in your area should be able to tell you about any upcoming auctions. You can probably also find out about them online.
Which brings me to one of the best ways to find antique furniture today, it's online. You would be surprised by how many antique desks for sale you can find online. However, there is a major drawback to buying antique furniture online. Even the best pictures are no substitute for being able to check a piece out in person. Be especially careful of online auctions, and make sure the seller has a very good reputation.
Opinions differ on how old something must be before it is considered an antique. This is generally considered to be over a century old. Some people place as much importance on the style, as well as the quality and rarity of the piece of furniture then on its exact age. But if you truly want an antique desk, you'll probably want to look for one that was made at least 100 years ago. The most important thing though is to find one that meets both your design requirements and is well-made.
The most common woods used to make these grand old desks were oak, walnut, cherry wood, mahogany and sometimes pine. During the eighteen hundreds the use of highly decorative woods tended to be reserved for the better quality furniture pieces and attractive veneers also started to be used. Book matched veneers are something to look for when trying to assess the quality of the wood veneers. These are veneers with very good mirror image of themselves. In the better quality pieces the parts that are not veneered are mostly made from solid woods like walnut or mahogany.
Provenance is a major factor affecting the value of any antique. Provenance is the known or documented history of the manufacture and ownership of an antique. A great provenance that has good documentary proof is quite rare but does exist with antique furniture.
People love antiques for many different reasons. Some love the quality others love the look of the old wood and brass. Others love the unique designs and the fact that they are often hand-crafted. But nearly all antique furniture lovers have an appreciation for the history of a piece and with it the atmosphere that it brings to a room.
View the original article here
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Where To Find Antique Mirrors
Antique hunting is something many people are interested in today. It is not only an interesting past time but it can also be profitable. Looking for antique items to buy is a lot of fun but knowing where to look can save a lot of time. This is no different when looking for antique mirrors for sale.
People are investing a considerable amount of money in antiques today. As a result a person can make a good amount of money if they have the right knowledge and understanding of antiquing. What you really need to determine is whether an antique item is really valuable or not.
If you study antiquing and get a good knowledge you certainly will be able to make better decisions on what to buy and how to price them. For example with the right knowledge you could find a valuable antique mirror for sale that the person selling it doesn't really know what they have. If this is true you can probably get it for a good price and then sell it for an even better profit or just smile every time you look at it on your wall.
There are many different ways of finding antique mirrors for sale.
You could check your local antique shops and see if they have that you would like to buy. But buying from an antique shop is probably the most expensive place to buy. There is the advantage though that you can be more sure that it is a genuine antique not a good reproduction.
You can also try looking at garage sales. A lot of antique hunters find garage sales as potential sources of valuable antiques. Though with this method there is a lot of leg work before you find anything that is truly an antique.
Estate and auction sales are better options. Though depending on where you live if they are advertized as having antiques you may be bidding against other knowledgeable antique hunters which often means there aren't many bargains to be had. But these kinds of sales are really a very good place to find some great antiques if you aren't looking for anything specific.
You can also find antique mirrors for sale online. The internet is a huge marketplace. This is one reason why antique hunters and seller are now using the internet. There are a couple of drawbacks though in trying to do business online. First it isn't possible to personally check out a piece before you buy it. As a result there are a lot of scammers. So you need to only do business with known reputable businesses. You also have the cost of shipping to deal with and the possibility of it being damaged during the shipping. If you can overcome these challenges then it is one of the best places to shop.
If you really love adventure then you could always travel the world to find valuable antiques. This can be both exciting but also expensive. Though the experience and the antiques you find are things you won't get any other way.
The real fun is in the search, so enjoy your adventure. But the best word of advice I can give you is research the antiques you are interested in before you buy. There is an old saying, "knowledge is power".
View the original article here
People are investing a considerable amount of money in antiques today. As a result a person can make a good amount of money if they have the right knowledge and understanding of antiquing. What you really need to determine is whether an antique item is really valuable or not.
If you study antiquing and get a good knowledge you certainly will be able to make better decisions on what to buy and how to price them. For example with the right knowledge you could find a valuable antique mirror for sale that the person selling it doesn't really know what they have. If this is true you can probably get it for a good price and then sell it for an even better profit or just smile every time you look at it on your wall.
There are many different ways of finding antique mirrors for sale.
You could check your local antique shops and see if they have that you would like to buy. But buying from an antique shop is probably the most expensive place to buy. There is the advantage though that you can be more sure that it is a genuine antique not a good reproduction.
You can also try looking at garage sales. A lot of antique hunters find garage sales as potential sources of valuable antiques. Though with this method there is a lot of leg work before you find anything that is truly an antique.
Estate and auction sales are better options. Though depending on where you live if they are advertized as having antiques you may be bidding against other knowledgeable antique hunters which often means there aren't many bargains to be had. But these kinds of sales are really a very good place to find some great antiques if you aren't looking for anything specific.
You can also find antique mirrors for sale online. The internet is a huge marketplace. This is one reason why antique hunters and seller are now using the internet. There are a couple of drawbacks though in trying to do business online. First it isn't possible to personally check out a piece before you buy it. As a result there are a lot of scammers. So you need to only do business with known reputable businesses. You also have the cost of shipping to deal with and the possibility of it being damaged during the shipping. If you can overcome these challenges then it is one of the best places to shop.
If you really love adventure then you could always travel the world to find valuable antiques. This can be both exciting but also expensive. Though the experience and the antiques you find are things you won't get any other way.
The real fun is in the search, so enjoy your adventure. But the best word of advice I can give you is research the antiques you are interested in before you buy. There is an old saying, "knowledge is power".
View the original article here
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Where To Find Antique Tables
Antiquing is hot right now and many people are gaining an interest in particular to antique tables. So where do you look for antique tables for sale.
There are many places you can find antique tables for sale that don't involve an antiques dealer. Dealers though certainly have advantages. Antique dealers generally have made sure the pieces they are selling are authentic and will be able to prove it. You will know also if any repairs have been done they will usually be of a high standard. Of course you will certainly pay extra for these benefits.
The real thrill in antiquing is hunting for bargains or maybe finding a treasure that has not been appreciated for years. The first place to start looking is around your home town. If you can find what you are looking for close to home then being able to inspect it and transport home are a whole lot easier and less expensive. Also if you have a problem later the seller is not far away.
Another place to find antique tables for sale is on the internet. Especially on auction sites like eBay for instance. There are hobbyists and professional dealers making some pretty good money just buying and selling antique tables over the internet.
Here are some things to keep in mind when buying and selling over the internet.
Other places to look for antique tables are local live auctions or estate sales and antique shows. Estate sales and live auctions are a particularly good way to find antique tables at great prices. They also can possibly be found in any second hand shop or at garage sales or even thrift markets. Here again the hunt is part of the fun in antiquing. These are great places to find real bargains but you have to really know a genuine antique from a fake or you can easily get stung. Also at any of these places you need to check each item out thoroughly especially for hidden damage or repairs.
Of course not everybody is planning on making money out of buying and selling antiques. There are some of you who just want to buy something for your own home or know the value of a piece of antique furniture you already own.
But if you've got the antique furniture bug, be aware that it is very addictive. Even though you make a few mistakes or get ripped off, this will only slow you down temporarily. If you truly have the antiquing bug the most you can hope for is good hunting without many mishaps.
View the original article here
There are many places you can find antique tables for sale that don't involve an antiques dealer. Dealers though certainly have advantages. Antique dealers generally have made sure the pieces they are selling are authentic and will be able to prove it. You will know also if any repairs have been done they will usually be of a high standard. Of course you will certainly pay extra for these benefits.
The real thrill in antiquing is hunting for bargains or maybe finding a treasure that has not been appreciated for years. The first place to start looking is around your home town. If you can find what you are looking for close to home then being able to inspect it and transport home are a whole lot easier and less expensive. Also if you have a problem later the seller is not far away.
Another place to find antique tables for sale is on the internet. Especially on auction sites like eBay for instance. There are hobbyists and professional dealers making some pretty good money just buying and selling antique tables over the internet.
Here are some things to keep in mind when buying and selling over the internet.
- Don't be afraid to ask the seller questions, either by email or by phone.
- Don't forget to use the Internet also to fully research each antique you are considering bidding on.
- Don't forget to look and see what similar items have sold for.
- Don't forget to get a guarantee from the seller that if the table is not as advertised, or is flawed in any way not disclosed, or it's a reproduction or a fake, that you can get your money back.
- Don't forget to find out who is responsible for insuring the shipping.
Other places to look for antique tables are local live auctions or estate sales and antique shows. Estate sales and live auctions are a particularly good way to find antique tables at great prices. They also can possibly be found in any second hand shop or at garage sales or even thrift markets. Here again the hunt is part of the fun in antiquing. These are great places to find real bargains but you have to really know a genuine antique from a fake or you can easily get stung. Also at any of these places you need to check each item out thoroughly especially for hidden damage or repairs.
Of course not everybody is planning on making money out of buying and selling antiques. There are some of you who just want to buy something for your own home or know the value of a piece of antique furniture you already own.
But if you've got the antique furniture bug, be aware that it is very addictive. Even though you make a few mistakes or get ripped off, this will only slow you down temporarily. If you truly have the antiquing bug the most you can hope for is good hunting without many mishaps.
View the original article here
Friday, February 18, 2011
Reasons for Collecting Antiques
Antique collectors have continuously grown in population over the years. In their circle, they have their unique bond that only they can fully understand each other. To ordinary people, collecting antiques is a form of addiction, extravagance, mediocrity and purposeless pursuit. For art enthusiasts however, it is a form of achievement associated with excellent taste, elegance, power and money.
What are the reasons why antique collectors go through such unimaginable extent, spending an immense sum of money, travelling to the far reaches of the earth to personally see excavation sites just to purchase items that have long been buried several feet deep on the grounds for furniture and other ornaments with missing pieces?
One of the soundest reasons for such collection is due to its financial reward for collectors engaged in buying and selling. Business entities have realized that antiques possess promising marketability all over the world especially that the internet paved way for accomplishing business transactions with legitimate and reputable antique dealers and traders. Some antique dealers and shop owners travel to history-rich countries such as Europe to unravel antiques which seemed of insignificant value to ordinary eye but are precious to art dealers.
Another is for personal gratification. According to psychology, people who exhibit characters associated with obsessive-compulsive behavior such as hoarding, preoccupation with collecting certain items which are symbolic in nature, be of value or not, may be traced back or related to ungratified needs at some point in early life. Such need may be identified to an object, a person and even events and habits. A person who is fixated orally for example may find gratification in smoking, alcohol intake or excessively strict oral hygiene.
Another is that a person tries to regain from the present what he was not able to have during childhood or at any other point in life such that a child who did not have the chance to play with toys will likely show a strong attachment or liking to toys that serve as symbolic representation from his childhood in an attempt to unconsciously satisfy ungratified needs in the past. Thus, collecting antiques may be associated to psychological problems.
Another reason why many turn to antique collection is due to social acceptance, power and fame it brings. It is a common knowledge that an excessive display of wealth in the form of material things creates an impression. Moreover, power and fame are closely interrelated and wealth is a tool for social acceptance among the rich. The wealthier a person is, the more influence and power he has over people.
Collecting antiques may also be a form of hobby for hobbyists. To hobbyists, collecting items, antique, collectible or not, is a form of therapy. Psychologists and psychiatrists often encourage their clients to undergo such activity especially those who have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. It is a form of diversion that diverts one's attention to existing problems temporarily while the person is building a more permanent defense mechanism and undergoing a process of healing.
Whatever the reasons for it, what matters is the ability of the activity to provide contentment and gratification to a person. Moreover, one does not have the right to dictate what is right and what is not. It is up to a person how he or she spends his or her money as long as they are responsible for whatever consequences their decisions may harbor.
View the original article here
What are the reasons why antique collectors go through such unimaginable extent, spending an immense sum of money, travelling to the far reaches of the earth to personally see excavation sites just to purchase items that have long been buried several feet deep on the grounds for furniture and other ornaments with missing pieces?
One of the soundest reasons for such collection is due to its financial reward for collectors engaged in buying and selling. Business entities have realized that antiques possess promising marketability all over the world especially that the internet paved way for accomplishing business transactions with legitimate and reputable antique dealers and traders. Some antique dealers and shop owners travel to history-rich countries such as Europe to unravel antiques which seemed of insignificant value to ordinary eye but are precious to art dealers.
Another is for personal gratification. According to psychology, people who exhibit characters associated with obsessive-compulsive behavior such as hoarding, preoccupation with collecting certain items which are symbolic in nature, be of value or not, may be traced back or related to ungratified needs at some point in early life. Such need may be identified to an object, a person and even events and habits. A person who is fixated orally for example may find gratification in smoking, alcohol intake or excessively strict oral hygiene.
Another is that a person tries to regain from the present what he was not able to have during childhood or at any other point in life such that a child who did not have the chance to play with toys will likely show a strong attachment or liking to toys that serve as symbolic representation from his childhood in an attempt to unconsciously satisfy ungratified needs in the past. Thus, collecting antiques may be associated to psychological problems.
Another reason why many turn to antique collection is due to social acceptance, power and fame it brings. It is a common knowledge that an excessive display of wealth in the form of material things creates an impression. Moreover, power and fame are closely interrelated and wealth is a tool for social acceptance among the rich. The wealthier a person is, the more influence and power he has over people.
Collecting antiques may also be a form of hobby for hobbyists. To hobbyists, collecting items, antique, collectible or not, is a form of therapy. Psychologists and psychiatrists often encourage their clients to undergo such activity especially those who have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. It is a form of diversion that diverts one's attention to existing problems temporarily while the person is building a more permanent defense mechanism and undergoing a process of healing.
Whatever the reasons for it, what matters is the ability of the activity to provide contentment and gratification to a person. Moreover, one does not have the right to dictate what is right and what is not. It is up to a person how he or she spends his or her money as long as they are responsible for whatever consequences their decisions may harbor.
View the original article here
Thursday, February 17, 2011
How To Furnish Your Home With Antique Collectibles
Just because houses nowadays are modernized to suit the fast paced lives of people, it doesn't mean an antique piece like an antique table doesn't have a place in your foyer. Especially if the piece is such a unique and charming item that screams for attention. Why would you not decorate your living room with antique furniture? It conveys a message of social status and is also a good conversation starter for your guests. If you still don't have an idea, here are the ways you can accentuate your home with antiques without going over board or your abode looking like it is decked with antique collectibles. Read on.
Make it the center of attention. In your foyer or lobby of your home, an antique mirror hanged up the wall will not just brighten the room as it reflects light, enlarge the room with the illusion but moreover that vintage item definitely deserves a second look. And it is another good thing if you had bought the item from an antique shop while abroad, you can have something to share with your guests.
Balance is the key. If you have several antique books, or a huge collection of antique dolls and antique toys, you may want to present them all at once. Well, do not. Have them strategically located at several places within your house. Stack up some of those books at the living area and give it a nice canvas like a white bookshelf. It will surely be notice because of the plain shelf that directs the attention to the book instead of the furniture. And as you display those dolls which are probably porcelain, why not surprisingly display them where you eat instead of the usual stage it takes up inside your bedroom? Even matchbox sized cars looks fancy when displayed with other antique collectibles when done with consideration of balance and presentation.
Update the out-dated pieces. It isn't a good idea to suddenly replace the precious gems of that antique jewelry with semi-precious ones. But if you'll mix it up with modern wardrobe, you'll slip into a fabulous number that is sure worth a fortune. Pull off a non-traditional dining set and accentuate that with your antique glass sets. Do a few tricks by playing with the lighting too. And don't be afraid to play it up with details.
If you learned a thing or two from this read, you'll sure find your way on pimping up your abode with your antique vase that's been hiding inside that display cabinet since ages and ages ago.
View the original article here
Make it the center of attention. In your foyer or lobby of your home, an antique mirror hanged up the wall will not just brighten the room as it reflects light, enlarge the room with the illusion but moreover that vintage item definitely deserves a second look. And it is another good thing if you had bought the item from an antique shop while abroad, you can have something to share with your guests.
Balance is the key. If you have several antique books, or a huge collection of antique dolls and antique toys, you may want to present them all at once. Well, do not. Have them strategically located at several places within your house. Stack up some of those books at the living area and give it a nice canvas like a white bookshelf. It will surely be notice because of the plain shelf that directs the attention to the book instead of the furniture. And as you display those dolls which are probably porcelain, why not surprisingly display them where you eat instead of the usual stage it takes up inside your bedroom? Even matchbox sized cars looks fancy when displayed with other antique collectibles when done with consideration of balance and presentation.
Update the out-dated pieces. It isn't a good idea to suddenly replace the precious gems of that antique jewelry with semi-precious ones. But if you'll mix it up with modern wardrobe, you'll slip into a fabulous number that is sure worth a fortune. Pull off a non-traditional dining set and accentuate that with your antique glass sets. Do a few tricks by playing with the lighting too. And don't be afraid to play it up with details.
If you learned a thing or two from this read, you'll sure find your way on pimping up your abode with your antique vase that's been hiding inside that display cabinet since ages and ages ago.
View the original article here
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Bruun Rasmussen To Auction Rugs, Carpets and Tapestries
The coming international sale 818 at Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers 2 March 2011 includes 44 rugs, carpets and tapestries. The selection varies from old classical pieces to contemporary decorative pieces. The preview will take place 24 February - 28 February.
Among the rugs that will be auctioned is an Emperial Chinese silk and metal thread carpet dating from the 19th century. It is a 390 x 312 cm, costing around 5700-6800 Euro.
View the original article here
Among the rugs that will be auctioned is an Emperial Chinese silk and metal thread carpet dating from the 19th century. It is a 390 x 312 cm, costing around 5700-6800 Euro.
View the original article here
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