Most people like antiques because of the style and nostalgia they they evoke. Antiques also have a high perceived worth. However, this high perceived worth discourages many individuals from searching for them and collecting them. This is a pity because not all antiques are expensive. Valuation is difficult though unless one is in the antiques trade either by profession or by hobby / interest.
Comparison is not usually an option either when you see an antique that you like. For instance, if you see a candlestick telephone from 1920 on sale in a car boot sale, it is unlikely that you will find others to compare it with. Is it worth $20, $50, $100 or more? It is very difficult to tell, so the only thing is to ask yourself: what is it worth to me? How much money am I prepared to part with to own it?
Once you have the article, you can take it to an antique dealer and get a valuation so that next time you see one, you will have a better idea. This may seem like an expensive manner of learning, but you do end up with a collection of things that you like.
If you are starting to take an interest in antiques, it is a good idea to check out the reputations of some local dealers and then cultivate the friendship of a couple of the better ones. Spend time in their stores, purchase items that you like, sell items that you have discovered, but do not need for your collection and invite friends to go to the store with you.
Smaller antique shops and second-hand shops that are run by a family are the best sort to concentrate on because you can found relationships with individuals who matter in that shop.
Employees tend to know less and have less remit to negotiate prices. The owner will also almost certainly have bought the item him- or herself, so they will know some of the history (or provenance) of it.
One way of getting a discount is to pay with cash. There are certain costs attached to paying with credit cards and cheques, but antique stores and second-hand shops like cash transactions because they are less visible.
In the world of antiques almost everything is second-hand and as such it will have been used. ?Used? means worn, so look out for wear and tear. The more perfect the item is, the nearer to its top market value it will be.
Therefore, it is up to you to determine the true condition of something before you buy it. You can seldom complain the following day that you did not notice a scratch or crack and expect your money back.
If you are going to concentrate on a specialist field, say, antique telephones, you can get handbooks on antique telephones. Read it, study it and carry it about with you. Immerse yourself in it and do not move on to studying another topic until you are confident in your chosen field. Then take in an related field like telephone accessories.
Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on a number of subjects, but is now concerned with searching for old fashioned telephones. If you want to know more, please visit our web site at Family Plans For Cell Phones.
This entry was posted on Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 at 12:29 pm by Owen Jones and is filed under Antiques. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Source: http://house-home-centired.co.za/2012/02/how-to-find-bargain-antiques/
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