antique

 

The term has been used collectively to designate classical Greek and Roman works of art, particularly sculptures; as an adjective to indicate an object, a period, or a style of ancient or early times; and as a noun, for objects of art, furniture, rugs, pottery, metalwork, costumes, jewelry, and household goods of early production and for old artifacts generally. The demand and prices paid for antiques have led to the widespread making of reproductions and reconstructions, some with spurious marks of age. See antique collecting. For a description of the characteristics of various styles, see Directoire, Empire, Louis period, and régence styles.

An antique (Latin: antiquus; old) is an old collectible item. It is collected or desirable because of its age, rarity, condition, utility, or other unique features. It is an object that represents a previous era in human society.

Antiques are usually objects which show some degree of craftsmanship, or a certain attention to design such as a desk or the early automobile. They are bought at antique shops, or passed down as an estate. Some valuable antiques can be bought from antique dealers and auction services or purchased online through websites and online auctions. Antique dealers are often members of national trade associations, many of which themselves belong to CINOA, a confederation of art and antique associations across 19 countries, representing 5000 dealers.

Purpose

In history

Any historical museum makes a considerable use of antiques in order to illustrate historical events and give them a practical context. Just about any object can become an antique if it survives long enough, but value of an antique in the market place is determined by its appeal and social acceptance.

As heirloom

The term "antique" is pejorative in some instances to describe something passed down from generation to generation.

Definition

The definition of antique varies from source to source, product to product and year to year. But, some time-tested definitions of antique deserve consideration:

• An item which is at least 100 years old and is collected or desirable due to rarity, condition, utility, or some other unique feature. Motor vehicles, tools and other items subject to vigorous use in contrast, may be considered antiques in the U.S. if older than 25 years, and some electronic gadgets of more recent vintage may be considered antiques
• antique (noun) - Any piece of furniture or decorative object or the like produced in a former period and valuable because of its beauty or rarity.

This definition allow people to make a distinction between genuine antique pieces, vintage items or collectible objects.

The alternative term antiquities is commonly used to refer the remains of ancient art and everyday items from antiquity, which themselves are often archaeological artifacts.

Antiquing

"Antiquing" is the act of shopping, identifying, negotiating, or bargaining for antiques. Items can be bought for personal use, gifts, and in the case of brokers and dealers, profit. Antiquing is performed at garage sales, estate sales, resort towns, antiques districts, collectives, and international auction houses.

Note that the word "antiquing" may also refer to the art of making an object appear antique through distressing or applying an antique looking paint application.

Antique furniture

Main article: Antique Furniture

The collecting of antique furniture is a particularly popular area of antiques due to the practical characteristics of these antiques. Antique furniture includes dining tables, chairs, bureaus, chests etc. The most common woods are mahogany, oak, pine, walnut and rosewood. In Chinese antique furniture the most common wood is elm a wood common to most regions able to sustain trees. Each wood has its own distinctive grain and colour. Many modern pieces of furniture often use laminate or wood veneer to cheaply achieve the same effect. There are a number of different styles of antique furniture depending on when and where it was made. The most common include Arts & Crafts, Georgian, Regency and Victorian.

See also

• Antique furniture
• Antique Books
• Antique shop
• Antiques restoration
• Authenticity
• Estate sale
• Marketing
• Auctions
• Antique tools
• Collectables
• Vintage
• Original
• Collective
• Vetting
• The San Francisco Fall Antiques Show
• Jackson Square, San Francisco, California
• The Kane County Flea Market St. Charles, Illinois

References

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

Here is free online antiques appraisal site, maintained by a professional auctioneer.Get your online antique appraisal here.

External links

• Hunt For Antiques, Your Link To The European Market Of Quality Antiques, Decorative objects and architectural pieces
• The Kovels' on-line price guide of antiques and collectibles
• The San Francisco Fall Antiques Show, benefiting Enterprise for High School Students, CA
• Winter Antiques Show, benefiting East Side House Settlement, NY
• Conker Collectables - making antiques fun for children
• Antique Marks.com Online Reference of Marks for Antiques & Collectables
• Antiques Guide from About.com
• Antiques TV Channel

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