Antique Collecting as a Rare Hobby

Everybody gets old eventually. Like the things in our surroundings, all that we see will grow old as time passes. This process is natural and cannot be helped. And the same with people, who gets wiser as they get older, things also go though the same process and the same concept applies. The older the things are, the more money they are worth and the more they are susceptible to antique collecting hobbyists.

Finding Value
As people get older, so do their experiences and they can tell various stories about how they've come to their present situation. By looking at someone, you can assess if they've had hardships or experienced pain. And by letting them talk about their past, you find value in their words and they gain your respect.

But not everybody is valuable. There are people who will appear as broken and not as interesting as other people. These are the types that you'd not notice even when they pass you by.

This same concept applies to antique pieces. Some are really precious, you can tell by just looking at some how old they seem to be and what era they've originated. The older they are, the more value is put on them.

But some things, even when they are old, are less valuable because of their condition. Some pieces are beyond repair or they aren't as important as the others. As a hobbyist, you want something that they can treasure and tell other people the stories behind their collection.

The Right Pieces
Placing value on things, especially antiques, determines how much they'll be priced on the market. The more unusual an antique is, the more costly it will be because then it becomes a collectible that you can preserve and eventually sell at a higher price.

When you have a collection that may be vital to the next generation, you can consider yourself rich because those pieces can be passed on to your children and their children as well. So settle for the right pieces and make sure that you take care of them to help retain their worth as the years go by.

Antique collecting is a way of preserving history. So do your share and protect the pieces you have so that they'll be seen by more people in the future.

Antique Collecting for Beginners

Antique collecting can be fulfilling either as a hobby or a business. For beginners who wish to start their own collection of prized antiques should first learn about the many different facets of antique collecting. Here are some tips that may be helpful for every beginner on the way to collecting antiques as a hobby.

The most common feature of antiques is that they are remnants of the past. Their age may provide collectors with a good idea of their worth. The first thing that beginner collectors should know is to take their age into consideration. There has been a general rule of thumb that most beginner collectors should now about when it comes to an antiques age, be it furniture or any other decorative items.

The time period on which beginner collectors should always take note of when starting a collection of antique items is to target pieces that have been made on or before the 1830's. This is a safe period from which to start looking for prized antiques. The reason for the year is that after the 1830's, most items were being mass-produced and therefore may have a selection of items that can be considered as prized antiques. This is not to say that items after that period aren't valuable. It is just that they may have different criteria for judging their value than earlier pieces.

Another tip for beginner collectors is to focus on a certain type of antique to collect and then gather information as well as additional knowledge on how such pieces are being judged for their value. For example, if you are fond of collecting antique vases, then you should only concentrate on collecting vases first before proceeding to other items. This will help make the beginner focus first on gaining knowledge about antique vases and how they are valued.

Another tip for beginner collectors is to seek the help of other experienced collectors especially when they come upon new items to add to their antique collection. Ask for input as well as suggestions as to how best to go about a new collection. Expert collectors may provide you with added tips that they may want to share and impart some antique collecting wisdom that you may not be able to get from books or any other source. Such expert advice could prove valuable as you begin to amass a sizable collection of antiques.

Antique Collecting Tips

Antique collecting is not just any worthwhile hobby. The pieces that you collect can also be an investment. There is always a business side to antique collecting, considering that most of the pieces usually have a high value. Even beginner collectors should know that collecting antiques may also be a means of gaining some monetary value for them aside from the enjoyment that collecting can provide.

For every beginner collector of antiques, knowledge should be given first priority. Beginners should take the effort of trying to educate themselves in the area of antique collecting that they wish to focus on. Beginners may start off by visiting museums to check out just what pieces are considered of high value. Beginners can also try to give auctions a visit to also see what types of antiques fetch the highest prices and get the most attention. It is also an opportunity for beginners to meet up with fellow collectors and exchange and learn new ideas and experiences.

It is also important for beginner collectors to first focus on collecting items after their own taste. Since antique collecting involves building up a considerable number of items that will form a part of their collection beginners should at least look for items that can inspire them. After all, the collection would be something that beginner collectors would have to live with or take a look at day in and day out. So it just follows that the items should be something that collectors will really like having and not just something to acquire because they are antiques.

There are many ways in which beginner collectors may be able to find collectibles that can become a part of their own collection. The attic is a good place to look for them. This is especially true in homes that have been in the family for generations. The attic in this case may be a treasure trove for many valuable antiques. If the attic does not provide the items that you are looking for, then it might be time to look for items in other peoples attics. Short of visiting or raiding the attics of other homes, you might want to check out garage sales that many people hold every so often to try to get rid of so called unwanted items. Many a garage sale has been a source of valuable antique collectibles that can be bought for a fraction of their actual value. Aside from the adventure it can provide in your antique collecting endeavor, it might also be a way to get the best bargains although it may be hit or miss.

Antique Collecting, Rare Pieces that can be found on the Web

If you are curious of someone who is into antique collecting, you must know, first and foremost, where you can find the right pieces that can go well in your collection. Most people would go anywhere to find a rare piece, but times have changed and you need not go far to get your hands on one.

Antique shops are the first stop for these hobbyists. Such venues contain anything that you could think of, from furniture pieces, even little figurines or old newspapers or postcards, candy wrappers even have unique value. These shops rely on the collectors themselves and their collection. Some people, when they can no longer take care of the pieces that they own, sell them to shops that can maintain them and sell them eventually.

If you still cannot afford but would like to see a wide-range of selections, visiting antique shops would be like visiting a museum. The past is represented through the antique pieces. And also stop and hear what the owner has to say about the history of those pieces because you never know how precious they really are until you hear what they have gone through before being displayed in those shops.

The Web has become a resource for many materials that people are looking for nowadays. Antiques are also available on bidding sites online. Browse through and be amazed at how wide the selection the Internet has for this type of materials.

It can be profitable for those who are selling the items. But before committing into buying those that are available online, make sure that the seller is reputable and also see the items in person. It's hard to know the real value of things until you see them for yourself.

Other may opt for the items to be shipped to them. This way, you should really be careful who you're dealing with because you are shelving out money so you want to get its worth and not be scammed as many people experience when they do business online.

Antique collecting is a profitable venture that many people may think of it as a way to deceive other people. So be very careful when on the lookout for such pieces to add to your collection. Look beyond the appearance and find its real worth through the past that it represents.

Antique Collecting, the Value as Seen in the Collector's Eyes

It may be seen as a hobby, but for a true blue collector, antique collecting is a profession and so your homework to achieve the right results from what you are doing. It is like a job where you always have a task and must perform in the best way you possibly can.

The value of antiques depends on how old they are and from what time in history they came from. Old doesn't always mean quality. They have to have a sense of relevance and importance so that people will value their existence as well as their past.

To be able to be tagged as an antique, it should be from 50 to 100 years old. They should be a part of history and a representation of how people lived in the era where those pieces came from.

For the collector, it is their love for the past and for such representations that drive them to collect the pieces no matter how costly. Depending on the quality and story behind an antique, its cost can be so high that only a few can afford them.

Such idea gives people the notion that this hobby is only for those who have money. This can be true. But everybody can own an antique piece, it just varies on the item's worth and representation.

A collector should also be knowledgeable about their collection's part in history. Such stories should be shared as well as remembered for future generation's. Caring for the pieces is a meticulous process and that is why not everybody is qualified to be a collector.

Just like caring for your own child, antique collecting requires the heart of a parent and love that just comes naturally and making sure that each piece maintains its form as years go by.

The value of each piece can be measured by what it has gone through and how its owner is placing importance over it in making sure that it stays safe for days to come.

Antique collecting is for people who have the passion and the love for the past. And they also must have the means to be able to retain the pieces worth and value for the future to see. They must know the importance of what they are doing and why they are doing it.

Antique Collecting: Things You Need To Know

As you might already know, antiques are old objects at least thirty years old. Some antiques have historical value in them, being used by some personality or important person from history. Others appear to be ordinary objects but because they are rare today, these antiques are collected and have high appraised value. Still, other items signify an historical event, an end or an era perhaps or something much simpler. Regardless, people who collect antiques show a particular pride in them and will often part with their collection only if it is a necessity or the price is right.

If you think of jewelry as the standard antique items, then you should open your eyes more. From gems to an elaborately designed book case, from automobiles and pieces of clothing, these are all possible antiques.

Others include carpets, quilts, old clocks, furniture, coins, first edition books or old rare books for that matter, wood panels, glasses, and even jars and other decorative items.

Although, antiques do bring with them a status symbol that you can fully enjoy, this should not be misconstrued as a reason to buy every antique you come upon. First rule of an antique collector is to get only the things you like. You will have a greater appreciation of your trade (assuming you're in it for the trade) or your collection if what you're doing is something you love. Also consider that antiques are like art, it should be enjoyed.

Don't be too impulsive when buying antique items. If you don't like how an item looks, don't be forced to buy it especially if you have no intention of reselling.

Also, I advised from decorating a whole room with antiques. If you're going to use antique items as home decorations or accent to your home, be sure to place them where people can appreciate the individual beauty of each one. You own a home and not a museum.

With proper care, antiques can last for a lifetime. Each kind of antique has its own way of being preserved or maintained. Be aware of this and do some research on how to take care of your antiques.

Pottery, porcelain and textile antiques are generally delicate items and should be handled very carefully. Storage can also be an issue. Textiles for example need to be stored away from humidity and possibility of insect attacks.

There are a lot more things that you need to know about antiques and part of the job of a collector or a trader is to study your trade.

Antique collecting and cleaning tips

For those who are into antique collecting either for a business venture or for the pure pleasure of taking care of the treasured possessions is one thing they should be very particular about. This is because proper maintenance will keep the item in its best condition at all times ensuring that it will increase its value as times go by.

If you are into collecting antiques, here are some antique collecting tips that can help you maintain the good condition of the items:

1. Know the specific care requirements of the antique piece in your possession. Since antiques belong to a buy and sell trade, the best care advice would come from the dealer where the pieces were bought. When you are buying antiques for your collection, make sure that you ask the dealer to provide you an extensive list of procedures of how to take care of them. Aside from the list that the dealer has provided, you can also conduct your own research on how to take care of them properly. (REMINDER: Seasoned antique collectors would agree that there are antique pieces that require regular cleaning and polishing to retain their good condition while there are pieces that can retain their good condition without putting anything on them.)

2. Know in which category a specific antique falls. This is very important for antique collecting because it will determine what kind of care you should give the antique piece. Knowing what category the piece belongs to will give you an idea of what you need to take care of it. Aside from giving your accurate procedures in cleaning and maintaining it, the category of the item will also determine what kind of storage it needs to keep it well.

The following is a rundown of antique types and the proper means of cleaning them to maintain original value:

- For coin collections, experts say that it is best to leave them the way they are found.

- For ceramic items, these should be carefully cleaned with the use of lukewarm to hot water and a mild soap or wiped with a damp cloth especially if it has painted features.

- For brass pieces, use a patina or mixture of flour, vinegar, and salt made into a paste and rubbed gently using a soft piece of cloth.

- For furniture pieces, these should be cleaned regularly with water with parts of detergent and bleach to ensure that no mildew can grow. To remove sticky substances from furniture pieces, use hot water and a lemon juice on it.

- Bronze items for antique collecting should be cleaned using a damp cloth that has been soaked in water and soap. (REMINDER: Never use patina on bronze items because it can leave white spots on it that can decrease its value.)