Today there is a great deal of interest for a lot of peaople to learn all about the buying and selling of antiques, more than possibly at any time in history.

No doubt the most popular U.S. television show ‘The Antiques Road Show’ and it’s British counterpart, have helped to create a huge interest in the antique industry.  What was once thought to be the world of stuffy and snobbish appraisers picking away at Chinese vases and other such oddities has now become a business that is quite intriguing to most people.  Those who perhaps never before had an interest in antiques suddenly saw how much fun it could be to find out that an old afghan or piece of jewelry is actually worth thousands of dollars.

What has also helped everyday people to appreciate the world of antiques is that they see how items they never thought about as actually being antique, and certainly never considered as being valuable, can actually fetch quite a price at the right auction with the right buyer.  Those who assumed that “antiques” only meant fancy furniture or Asian carvings had their eyes open to items such as early American folk art, different textiles including tablecloths and other linens, collectible bottles, and items such as these.

Obviously dealing with some antiques that you have already got some understanding to or possibly a keen interest in, can mean an endeavor that is not only enjoyable but also financially successful.

So if you’ve been considering trying your hand at dealing in antiques and just have not quite decided as to which area of antiques you want to specialize in, or are just looking for a little variety to bring to your business why not look at Architectural Oddments?

Architectural Oddments

Items from older buildings are often unappreciated by those sent in to demolition those buildings, but to the collector there are many elements and items that are truly a part of the history of architecture.

Salvaging these items is actually a big business.  Some antique stores specialize in this part of the industry alone and actually quite well.

While not every part of an older building is going to be valuable, many of the larger elements will be.  These are purchased by those who have an interest in a particular form of architecture or history buffs that collect items from a particular time period.

Fireplace Mantels

Most fireplaces today have some sort of mantel or shelf over them so it’s not as if this type of item is not to be found anywhere.  But older fireplace mantels are very unique in that they were usually hand-carved and very often had details and carvings that were unique for the time period in which they were made.  Many experts can tell the area in which the mantel was made just from the decorations on it.

The materials the mantels were made from have a lot to do with their value.  English oak is one of the most expensive materials and mantels made from this wood usually do very well at auction.  Others can be carved from marble or made from stone.

Along with mantels are fireplace screens and accessories.  Many of the original items were made from solid brass and the screens were typically very ornate and artistic.

Doors And Hardware

As with fireplace mantels, many antique doors were hand carved from solid oak and other such materials.  They too can say a lot about the time period in which they were made because of the decoration and design.

Many collectors use doors not really as doors but add a base and glass top and create a desk or table.  This way the decoration can be appreciated at all times without the door being overused or damaged.

Doors can also be used as other pieces of furniture; some designers have gotten very creative and used them to make headboards for the bed or just as wall art.

The hardware used for the doors is also very valuable.  This includes knobs, hinges, door knockers, and kick plates.  These too were made of brass and are used as decorations, bookends, and so on.

Stained Glass Windows

Today’s stained glass windows can be made with the help of machines whereas antique stained glass was made by hand.  The decorations of the glass and the details can really tell a lot about the craftsperson and the time period in which he or she lived. 

We often associate stained glass windows with churches and it’s true that some of the best can be found on old churches but other buildings would also incorporate these items into their architecture as well.

Tiffany style is one of the most valuable of all the brands of stained glass and of course the older the window the more expensive it will be.

Finials

Finials are those decorative “knobs” or caps that you see on the tops of things such as wrought iron fences or even the tops of different pieces of furniture.  While sometimes these items are actually a part of the architecture of design of an item, usually they are a separate part that is added on.  This means that they can be loosened from that piece of furniture and sold as is.

These items are used by collectors today as all decoration or sconces, bookends, doorstops, and so on.  They are usually very heavy and made of hand carved wood.  Some were also made of iron.

One of the reasons they are so valued is because they are full of intricate carved details, which too tell a story of the time period and style of furniture to which they were attached.

Other Architecture Items

There are so many other architecture items that do well at auction that it’s impossible to mention all of them.  Tin ceiling tiles, chandeliers, tiles, bathroom fixtures, bathtubs, kitchen and bathroom sinks, stoves, weathervanes, window locks, staircases, iron grates, and just about anything else that can be taken from an older home or building can do well at auction.  Buyers may be adding to a collection, may have an interest in a certain style of architecture, or may just appreciate the look of a certain pieces.

Deciding On Antiques

So if you’ve been thinking of entering the fun and exciting world of antiques, there should be nothing holding you back.  Do some reading about what makes each different item valuable and become familiar with about how much people are now paying at auction for them.You will possibly find that collecting antiques is the one of the most interesting business venture you’ve ever tried.

As they say, someone’s trash is another person’s treasure, so get start now and ‘hunting treasure’!