Dan Croke on Antiques

Art lovers, antique collectors, and investors spend huge sums of money collecting items that are considered antiques and then placing them for sale. Antiques can be old furniture, decorative items, clothing, mirrors, or books. Historically, antiques were used for display purposes, but today many people collect antiques for the valuable artifacts and information they have on them. Antiques include a wide variety of objects that range from the everyday to the rare. Of course, antiques are not always made of precious materials. Sometimes items are passed down through generations as family heirlooms.

Collecting antiques can be a fun and rewarding hobby, but it does require some knowledge of how to buy antiques guide to know what to look for when purchasing antiques for your collection. When buying antiques for your collection, you will need to do some background research to determine the age of the antiques you are buying. Check with dealers about the year and type of wood that the furniture was made of. If the wood is aged and its knots are faded, it is no good buying the piece because it is no longer in high demand. Antique furniture can be found in a variety of places such as flea markets, garage sales, thrift stores, estate sales, and antique shows.

If you plan to buy antiques for your collection, you should learn how to tell the age of antiques by taking an antiques and art history class at a local college. Learning how to identify authentic antiques will help you avoid purchasing fake antiques and art pieces. Buying antiques and art from estate sales and flea markets can be a great way to pick up a valuable piece or two. Just make sure that you are purchasing from a reputable dealer, who will be able to provide you with knowledgeable information on antiques and art.