Everything you need to know about antiques
Learn to appreciate the workmanship and beauty of antiques and vintage items, says Melissa Phera.
Modern décor may be trendy, yet antiques are highly collectible and can make a bold statement.
Cultivate an eye for good craftsmanship and a taste for antique or vintage items.
Antique basics
Items that are at least 100 years old are termed antique, while items between 25 and 74 years old are commonly known as vintage. Before you buy an item, do your research and make sure it’s an original.
Speak to an established, reputable dealer and ask as many questions as possible. Be prepared to pay good money for
quality items. Flea markets, fairs, auctions and websites also sell antiques, but prices will not necessarily be less than at antique shops. ‘Bargains for good antiques are fairly rare these days. Familiarise yourself with
current prices and trends and you’ll develop a sense for quality later,’ advises Fiona Noy of Herman Noy Antiques in Cape Town.
‘Good antiques will always be an investment,’ says Fiona. ‘Antique English hallmarked silver is popular, as are Georgian antiques from the 18th century, which are
becoming rare. The Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods are also extremely popular,’she adds.
Learn to appreciate the workmanship and beauty of
antiques and vintage items, says Melissa Phera.
Antique savvy
Examine an item carefully. If it has drawers, open them. If it’s a chair, sit on it to make sure it’s sturdy. Also check for wobbly legs, burns, visible nails, poorly patched veneers, missing pieces and sloppy repair jobs.
If the piece has a fairly new look about it or if you can’t spot any wear on it, make sure it’s genuine. If it has been refinished, the value of the piece will drop.
Pamela Wiggins, author of Buying & Selling Antiques and Collectibles on eBay (Course Technology) says damaged items with chips, cracks or excessive wear are worth less
than items in mint condition. ‘Gently run your fingers around the rims of glasses and ceramics to check for chips. Although some damage can be professionally repaired, it’s best to avoid items with major chips.
Glasses also need to be examined for scratches and etching. Check whether ceramics are cracked by placing the item on a flat surface and then tapping it with a fingernail. If you hear a dull sound rather than a ring, the item might be cracked.
‘Also check for missing items. For instance, check if a jewellery piece has all its stones intact or the china pattern of the cup matches that of its saucer. This is also known as marriages,’ says Pamela.
Start a collection
You may decide to collect anything from furniture or paintings to jewellery, glasses or ceramics. Start by visiting auctions and antique shops and try to obtain tips and advice from experts.
Antique collector and British fashion designer Paul Smith, has this advice:
Start out small. Collect silly things such as
matchboxes – it doesn’t have to be rare art. Just go for what catches the eye.
Group your pieces together. A whole shelf
of red vases has far more impact than pieces
scattered around a room.
Be careful not to buy an item that you
won’t be able to fix. Give furniture such as a
chair a new lease on life by buying a couple
of metres of fabric and hiring an upholsterer,
but stay clear if the piece of furniture is
structurally damaged.
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Popular collectibles
Antique English hallmarked silver The English hallmarked system was established in 1300 by King Edward I, who ordered that gold and silver items be tested for fineness before they went on sale. The system is highly structured and provides a wide range of
information.
Georgian furniture The Georgian period (1714-1830) produced ornate items of high quality.
Art Nouveau pieces The Art Nouveau period (1880-1914)
produced an international style known for its highly stylised, curvilinear designs that often used plant-inspired motifs.
Art Deco pieces The Art Deco period (1920-1939) was
an amalgam of many different styles. Art Deco had a huge influence on the decorative arts, from architecture to painting.
Learn the lingo
Bisque – French term for unglazed porcelain
Bombé – swelling or convex surface
Boulle – inlay of brass in wood
Canterbury – a magazine rack
Chiffonier – generally a twin-door cupboard with two drawers above
Cloisonné – enamelling on metal
Davenport – small writing desk
Famille – Chinese porcelain
Faux – false
Intaglio – incised gemstone, often in a ring
Netsuke – Japanese carved ivory or wood toggles
Patina – colour and texture of a surface produced by age and wear
Vitrine – a glass display cabinet
Whatnot – a portable stand with shelves
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