An antique is a piece perceived to have historical or aesthetic value and generally defined as anything over 100 years old, though the word is frequently used loosely to describe an object that’s old.
Historically, the term ‘antique’ was used to refer to expensive articles of clothing or furniture, items thought to be too valuable to be worn or handled by everyday people. Today, antique pieces range from a baseball card to a letter opener. Some people collect antique desks, table lamps, chandeliers, teacups, bowls, dishes, and crystal. There are antiques in every price range, from the very cheap to the very expensive. Here are some items you should look into.
Antique Pieces of Art
There are many types of antiques ranging from the highly decorative and highly valuable to the more commonplace. Art historians and art specialists agree that ‘antique’ describes an object or piece of artwork that has been around for more than 100 years. More specifically, it refers to artworks created during the periods earlier than the 1920s.
Antique Furniture
Another popular type of antique is antique furniture. Some examples include chairs, tables, dressers, coffee tables, and desks. These pieces of furniture should not be mistaken with those considered to be in the category of ‘vintage’ since they are definitely older. Albeit still in fashion today, chairs and tables made from wrought iron were much in fashion during the Victorian era. Fine examples of these items can be found at https://www.loveantiques.com/.
Antique Jewellery
Items considered to be antique are typically those that were manufactured during a time that was considered to be ‘high fashion,’ with distinctive styles that were once popular during those early eras. This includes jewellery such as necklaces, bracelets, rings, and other items with gemstones. For this reason, antique jewellery is generally priced based on the highest quality or grade of gemstones that are available at the time of production. The items are also often limited in size so that they will not be too large to fit into the average size earring box.
Antique Coins
You can find coins that can be considered to be in the category of antique. Some common examples include early American coins that were minted during the colonial era or European coins that were produced during the era of Napoleon Bonaparte. The condition of these coins can be an important factor in determining their value. Those that are in excellent condition and are still in relatively good condition may be considered to be more valuable than those that have sustained some wear. Those that are less rare or have a limited number of surviving examples may also be more affordable.
While many people would classify modern antiques as vintages, others might look at these items as just plain old objects from the past that seem like they have aged well. If you are interested in purchasing antiques, you should know that just because something is considered to be old does not always mean that it is going to be a good deal. In some cases, those that are considered to be antique have had their value driven up by supply and demand. Antiques can be a good investment as long as you are prepared to do some research and make sure that you are purchasing an authentic item.
