ANTIQUES and COLLECTIBLES ARTICLES INDEX

COLORADO ANTIQUE DEALERS DIRECTORY

Hints on Collecting Antiques

By Pamela Baker

In thirty years of dealing in antiques we have often been asked "What should I collect" and "How do I go about building a good collection".

The answer to the first question must always be "Collect something you like". This may seem obvious, but not everyone does. Unless you are collecting purely for investment and intend to keep your treasures in boxes in the garage, you are going to have to live with them. No-one needs an antique. We buy them for our own pleasure, to enhance the quality of our lives.

The second watchword is quality. This may be quality of materials, of design, of craftsmanship or of manufacture. Quality matters. There have always been fashions in antiques, but fashions change. Quality remains.

The third essential is knowledge. This can be information gleaned from books. For some of us, who live in isolated places, that can be the only way to learn. Look upon the Internet as the biggest book of them all. There's a lot of knowledge out there and a lot of enthusiastic people only too happy to share it with you. Maybe more important, however, than learning the facts about antiques is to train your eye. When you can, visit museums and antiques shops. When you can obtain permission, actually hold the pieces, feel them, feel the weight and the texture - but do, please, handle them with care!

Even with just books and the Internet, you can train your eye. Remember shapes and colors, look closely at the photographs so you can see the workmanship. Eventually you will be able to look at a piece and say "I may not know what it is, or who made it, but it's interesting, well-made, well-designed". In that way you can find a new treasure, or a whole new focus for your collection. Lastly we come to the vexed question of condition. If you are concerned about the value of your collection, condition is critical, but it is unrealistic to look at things which can be a few hundred years old and expect them to look brand new. If they do, you may have cause for suspicion! Some crazing in the glaze of pottery, some staining and wear on furniture, these are to be expected. Damage decreases value, often very significantly, but it also means you can build an interesting collection at a fraction of the cost.

Copyright Pamela Baker

If you have any interesting stories or tips about collecting or selling antiques please e-mail us at CBHcontact@gmail.com.