Can Antique Collecting Be the Perfect Hobby?

There are many hobbies out there to choose from. Finding the right one for you can be difficult. Many people have little to no idea exactly, which is right for them. One way to decide is to ask yourself whether you are seeking a hobby just to past the time (such as collecting shoe horns or building models), or something more symbolic that will benefit future generations (such as collecting and maintaining historic or antique furniture). Either is fine.

Say you have selected the latter. You wish to begin collecting antique furniture. The best way to begin is to decide from what era you wish to collect. Check out the internet and search for different antique eras. There you will learn a great deal of information about what antiques exist.

Once you figure out what you are interested in you should visit your local antique store. They will not only have a wide selection of antiques to choose from, but will also be able to help you decide which come from the era of your choice.

Among the many antique items you collect, there will most likely be a selection of antique chairs. Antique chairs are a great place to start your collecting adventures. There is a variety of chairs from which to choose. If you are interested in other antique furniture, you may select from a plethora of options.

The main thing you must always consider is how best to preserve and care for your antique collection. If you always try to think of your antique collection as another link in the chain of history, you will do well. What is meant by a 'link in the chain of history' is simple. Always consider that once you purchase the antique item, you become an integral link in the chain of history. Anyone inheriting or purchasing the antique furniture from you or your estate will add you as part of the historic lore of that item.

Therefore, anything you do in trying to preserve the antique item, whether an antique chair or not, will become part of the lore or history of that piece.

This is part of the excitement of collecting antique furniture, including chairs. You become a link in the historic fabric of that item's history. People will speak your name when making an account of the item's history. They will have no other choice. This, and the fact of simply preserving a part of history, is a great reason for collecting antiques as a hobby. There's nothing like knowing you preserved a piece of history.

Tips on Caring for Antique Bookcases   

What to Look For in the Condition of a Decorative Antique?

The price of luxury decorative antiques is greatly affected by its condition. Therefore, it is important to check the condition of any piece that you are considering buying for yourself or as a wedding, birthday or retirement gift.   Chips   The first thing to look for is chips. Hold the item up to the light to make any cracks more visible. Any piece that has a crack will have less value. However, depending on how large the crack is will further determine the value of the piece. The smallest cracks are known as flea bites. They are named such because they are about the size of a flea bite. These small cracks may only be seen under a magnifying glass. The next biggest chip is the pinpoint chip. These chips are about the size of the head of a straight pin. Any chip larger than a pinpoint chip should be measured. These chips are often known as nibbles, nip or nick. The larger the chip the less value the item will generally have.   Cracks   Just like chips in luxury decorative antiques, cracks greatly reduce the value of an antique. Make sure to examine any piece that you are considering selling carefully for cracks. Three types of cracks are present in many antiques and each will lower the value of a piece. The first is the hairline crack. This crack may or may not go all the way through the piece. It is a single small line. The second type of crack is the spider crack. The spider crack is a series of hairline cracks that have a common starting point. The third type is the minor line. These are usually larger than a hairline crack while still being a single crack. Inspect antiques in good light with a magnifying glass enabling you to see these cracks.   Wear and Tear   The overall condition of an antique will greatly affect its value. Make sure to inspect the piece carefully for signs of wear. Common examples of wear include dinged corners on antique furniture, threadbare conditions on items made of cloth and signs of scratches on glassware and ceramics. Make sure to inspect both the inside and outside of the decorative antique.   Marks   Marks were placed on pieces of antiques to tell the buyer several things. A common mark was the maker's mark. This mark identified what company made the product. If a company owned more than one factory, then it was common for the maker to put a mark on the piece to show what factory the piece was produced at. Some manufacturers also numbered their pieces. These pieces are often highly collectible since they were made only in a certain quantity.   Once you have found the decorative antique that you want to buy, it is advisable to haggle about the price. Start by offering half the asking price and negotiate with the owner from there. Know the value of the piece and do not pay more than it is truly want.

Tips on Caring for Antique Bookcases   

Reed Barton Antique Silver Still Popular Today

Reed Barton, who were originally known as Babbitt & Crossman in 1824 when they started the production of a kind of Pewter also called brittania which was the base metal used to produce statuettes such as the now famous Oscars. They soon began to produce silver plated items and were well established in this field by 1840 when they changed their name to Reed Barton.

As a highly regarded and well established manufacturer of silverware they sold a large range of their silver plated items to Rogers Bros before the end of the decade in Connecticut, that in turn placed the now famous hallmarks on those items. Over these years they also produced weaponry for the troops and towards the end of that century they were well into producing a variety of silver plated figures of animals including peacocks, rabbits, sheep, dogs, horses and cats amongst others.

It was during the mid 1850's that Reed Barton began manufacturing high-end sterling silver items, recognising the growing demand in silver at the time. Launching their own product line of sterling silver flatware, goblets, bowls and trays by 1889 proved to be another positive move. During the later part of the 19th century though, they struggled with competing producers of silver pieces who had started using more mechanical ways in their production process.

It was at this time that they took on a new approach to their own methods of production. In order to keep up with the times, just as other silversmiths had done before them, they decided to set themselves up for mass producing and moved away from the old handcrafting strategy. Reed Barton soon became a major contender for manufacturers alike after extensively advertising their new products and brand and some time prior to the First World War, began producing trophies for a range of sporting competitions including sailing and yachting amongst others.

Ever since then Reed Barton has maintained a prominent status for producing quality products that remain popular to this day. Confirming this, is the fact that they were offered the prestigious task of manufacturing the 1996 Olympic Games medals of Gold, Silver and Bronze.

They wanted to give their silver items a unique icon just as other manufacturers did, so it was in 1945 that they began creating their own unique symbols for their products. Each piece since then will have its special mark representing the year it was produced thereby allowing collectors or buyers to more easily determine its value.

Reed Barton is still a well respected name known for maintaining an uncompromised standard of excellence along with a passion for creating exquisite sterling silver products. Although the company is renowned for their antique silver and flatware pieces their range of manufacturing also includes cigar humidors, hardwood flatware, handcrafted chests, handmade stemware, which needless to say, are also popular with collectors. Situated in Taunton, Massachusetts which was previously referred to as Silver City, due to the many silver producing companies in the are, you should not miss the opportunity to visit them if you have an interest in silverware.

Tips on Caring for Antique Bookcases   

Can Antique Collecting Be the Perfect Hobby?

There are many hobbies out there to choose from. Finding the right one for you can be difficult. Many people have little to no idea exactly, which is right for them. One way to decide is to ask yourself whether you are seeking a hobby just to past the time (such as collecting shoe horns or building models), or something more symbolic that will benefit future generations (such as collecting and maintaining historic or antique furniture). Either is fine.

Say you have selected the latter. You wish to begin collecting antique furniture. The best way to begin is to decide from what era you wish to collect. Check out the internet and search for different antique eras. There you will learn a great deal of information about what antiques exist.

Once you figure out what you are interested in you should visit your local antique store. They will not only have a wide selection of antiques to choose from, but will also be able to help you decide which come from the era of your choice.

Among the many antique items you collect, there will most likely be a selection of antique chairs. Antique chairs are a great place to start your collecting adventures. There is a variety of chairs from which to choose. If you are interested in other antique furniture, you may select from a plethora of options.

The main thing you must always consider is how best to preserve and care for your antique collection. If you always try to think of your antique collection as another link in the chain of history, you will do well. What is meant by a 'link in the chain of history' is simple. Always consider that once you purchase the antique item, you become an integral link in the chain of history. Anyone inheriting or purchasing the antique furniture from you or your estate will add you as part of the historic lore of that item.

Therefore, anything you do in trying to preserve the antique item, whether an antique chair or not, will become part of the lore or history of that piece.

This is part of the excitement of collecting antique furniture, including chairs. You become a link in the historic fabric of that item's history. People will speak your name when making an account of the item's history. They will have no other choice. This, and the fact of simply preserving a part of history, is a great reason for collecting antiques as a hobby. There's nothing like knowing you preserved a piece of history.

Tips on Caring for Antique Bookcases   

What to Look For in the Condition of a Decorative Antique?

The price of luxury decorative antiques is greatly affected by its condition. Therefore, it is important to check the condition of any piece that you are considering buying for yourself or as a wedding, birthday or retirement gift.   Chips   The first thing to look for is chips. Hold the item up to the light to make any cracks more visible. Any piece that has a crack will have less value. However, depending on how large the crack is will further determine the value of the piece. The smallest cracks are known as flea bites. They are named such because they are about the size of a flea bite. These small cracks may only be seen under a magnifying glass. The next biggest chip is the pinpoint chip. These chips are about the size of the head of a straight pin. Any chip larger than a pinpoint chip should be measured. These chips are often known as nibbles, nip or nick. The larger the chip the less value the item will generally have.   Cracks   Just like chips in luxury decorative antiques, cracks greatly reduce the value of an antique. Make sure to examine any piece that you are considering selling carefully for cracks. Three types of cracks are present in many antiques and each will lower the value of a piece. The first is the hairline crack. This crack may or may not go all the way through the piece. It is a single small line. The second type of crack is the spider crack. The spider crack is a series of hairline cracks that have a common starting point. The third type is the minor line. These are usually larger than a hairline crack while still being a single crack. Inspect antiques in good light with a magnifying glass enabling you to see these cracks.   Wear and Tear   The overall condition of an antique will greatly affect its value. Make sure to inspect the piece carefully for signs of wear. Common examples of wear include dinged corners on antique furniture, threadbare conditions on items made of cloth and signs of scratches on glassware and ceramics. Make sure to inspect both the inside and outside of the decorative antique.   Marks   Marks were placed on pieces of antiques to tell the buyer several things. A common mark was the maker's mark. This mark identified what company made the product. If a company owned more than one factory, then it was common for the maker to put a mark on the piece to show what factory the piece was produced at. Some manufacturers also numbered their pieces. These pieces are often highly collectible since they were made only in a certain quantity.   Once you have found the decorative antique that you want to buy, it is advisable to haggle about the price. Start by offering half the asking price and negotiate with the owner from there. Know the value of the piece and do not pay more than it is truly want.

Tips on Caring for Antique Bookcases   

Tips on Caring for Antique Bookcases

Antique bookcases have a timeless appeal that is both functional and attractive. A library staple for centuries, today they are used to display everything from DVD collections to figurines - not forgetting their usefulness for books collections, of course.

Like all fine furniture, antique bookcases need to be treated with care to keep them looking their best, and with today's centrally heated homes this can be difficult. Not only is the wood liable to dry out and crack, but the dry air makes it easier for dust to settle. This is not in itself a problem - people have been dusting their shelves for years - the trouble is, modern cleaning methods often do more harm than good. An antistatic polish may be a convenient way to stop dust settling, but if the chemicals weren't around 200 years ago, there's no place for them on a 200-year old bookcase or any other old furniture.

Tip 1 - learn to love your patina

Antique bookcases have a deep, rich patina that even "distressed" reproductions don't have. Patina refers to the mellow sheen that develops through years of polishing, use and exposure. Like any piece of furniture that is used as well as admired, there will be changes in surface colour and texture; little marks will appear and the shelves may even bow slightly through the weight of many books. This is all part of the charm and value of the piece, and is best left alone unless there has been heavy damage, in which case you will need a specialist restorer.

One thing you must never do with your bookcase is attempt to "clean it up" by removing the patina. This will strip your furniture of both its value and its protective coating.

Tip 2 - Apply some elbow grease

It is possible to fill a modern home with antique furniture and still keep warm in the evenings, so long as you turn your back on synthetic chemicals which were, after all, designed for synthetic furniture. Instead, buy a good quality beeswax polish - or its vegan equivalent - and apply a small amount with a soft, lint-free cloth. You can do this at night to allow the wax to "feed" the wood and then polish the following day. Keep burnishing until the wax on the cloth goes shiny, showing the solvent has evaporated. Finish with a polish using a soft clean duster.

This method brings out the grain and colour of the wood while protecting the patina, and only needs to be done every few months. More than this can cause antique bookcases to become dull and absorb more dust. However, if the wood has become very dry or lost its patina, regular waxing will be needed to bring it back to full glory.

Tip 3 - Keep up the good work

It isn't just beeswax which keeps antique bookcases looking beautiful, but all the dusting in between. Forget antistatic cloths and use a soft, dry duster on a regular basis. This will enhance the patina by forming a hard protective skin on the surface.

Tip 4 could be to fill the shelves with a selection of beautiful leather-bound tomes which is, after all, what antique bookcases were designed for.

Tips on Caring for Antique Bookcases