You may not know it but your attic or basement may be a goldmine. On one of your cleaning sprees, you may have spotted an old book or trunk filled with old, discarded materials and wondered if they are worth anything in the market. Perhaps, one or two of them is an antique waiting to be discovered. Antiques are worth a lot but one cannot just easily say how much the antique value is. Antique experts follow specific rules when it comes to determining antique value. If you are into collecting antique, be wary of antique dealers who sell their antiques at prices higher than their antique values. And if you want to sell your antiques to an antique dealer, look out for those who will try to buy your items way below their antique values. In dealing with an antique dealer, it is wise to check if he is credible enough.
When choosing an antique piece, do not rely on what the antique dealer will tell you since their main purpose is to sell the item to anyone who walks in their store. Ask questions on how he acquired the item. Do your own research or ask the advice of another antique expert to find out the antique value of the item you are considering to buy. If indeed the antique value of the piece is more or less the same as what the antique dealer has quoted you, then that’s the time you can buy the item. On the other hand, if you intend to sell an antique piece, research on its antique value before approaching a dealer so you already have an idea of its starting price. This way, you can be sure that you will get the right value for your antique piece.
The antique value of an item can also be determined by its markings. Markings signifying its origin, when it was produced or the maker can bring its price up. These markings can be in the form of initials or intricate patterns. Original paintings bearing the signature of the painter and rare, first edition books usually command high antique values. Jewelries bearing the designers’ unique mark signify its antique value as well as an antique furniture piece or glassware with markings found in it.
However, not all valuable antiques bear significant markings. The basis of an item’s antique value can also be the style or type of an item unique to the century where it came from. Some styles become popular in the process that fakes or knock-offs are unavoidable. This is where an antique expert is also useful in determining what is the real thing. An antique expert can also help determine if an item, no matter what century it’s made, is indeed valuable or not.
