Antique Chairs

Antique Chairs

Antique chairs can take their place in nearly any room given the wide variety of styles and materials available In a contemporary room for example mission style chairs add the warmth of age while keeping to smooth lines or Asian rosewood chairs can lend richness of design and color Of course they also provide either the central focus or a finishing touch in a room that already uses antique furniture or oldfashioned styles Chairs were a very distinct status symbol during most of European history Chairs with backs were reserved solely for the elite through the late Renaissance as most people sat on stools or benches antique,antique auctions,antique books,antique cars,antique china,antique clocks,antique dealer,antique dolls,antique furniture,antique jewelry,antique necklace,antique painting,antiques and collectibles,asian antiques,collectables,collectible,heirloom,oil painting,old books,vintage cars,vintage clothes,vintage dresses,vintage guitar,vintage t shirts Because they were such a luxury item makers lavished work on these and so early antique chairs show a good deal of elaborate carving on the backs sides and feet It wasnt until the mid 1600s that chairs with backs were widely available due to the introduction of canework woven cane for both the backs and seats Armchairs made their first appearance during the late 16th century and most of the 17th century they too were reserved only for the highest levels of the aristocracy At the French court for example only princes and the reigning monarchs were allowed to sit in armchairs Most of this furniture has a very heavy substantial feel to it befitting its social status The designs are somewhat boxy and the arms tend to come right out to the end of the seat in contrast to most of todays chairs where it ends an inch or two before

Early carved wooden chairs like these tend to cost in the four and fivefigure range If you like the look but dont have the budget consider Victorianera imitations The carving is rarely as elaborate or masterly but they are a much more affordable usually in the hundreds or low thousands for the very finest examples way to possess this kind of antique chair. Queen Anne style is defined as beginning with her reign in 1702 but lasting past her 1714 death until about the middle of the century These antique chairs are typically slender with graceful curved lines and much less carving Where there is carving it tends to echo classical forms such as scrolls or Greek elements Some but not all had the upholstery built into the chair design rather than relying on cushions Walnut was the most popular wood during this time Wing chairs upholstered chairs designed for relaxation rather than work and with wings designed to protect the sitter from drafts first became popular during this period. Chippendale was perhaps the most famous furniture designer of all time His fusion style combining baroque rococo and Asian elements was an international hit and his design book Gentleman and Cabinet Makers Director is still used in design schools today This style lasted from about 1750 through the 1830s. His designs further simplified chair frames except for openback chairs which featured very elegant and light frameworks such as the famous lyre pattern The legs ended either in basic geometric shapes or in the form of an animals paw Sometimes the carving featured shapes from Chinese design such as pagodas Depending on quality these antique chairs typically begin around $1 500 and up to the high five figures for work by Chippendale his son or his workshops. Victorian antique chairs like the rest of Victorian furniture are typically massive and elaborate and incorporate various fashionable historic or international flavors Upholstery was more common than not usually in the rich reds the Victorians favored but also in needlepoint Gothicstyle chairs brought back carving particularly fruits flowers and mythical beasts while other pieces retained the simpler Queen Anne or Chippendale curving forms Many of these chairs feature rounded seats better to accommodate womens hoops and bustles

Prices range according to materials quality and condition but individual pieces are available for around $150. The Arts and Crafts style reintroduced bare wood and architectural shapes Frank Lloyd Wright even designed the chairs to best suit his houses with their emphasis on simplicity Le Corbusiers art deco designs were another furniture revolution emphasizing chairs that followed the shapes of the human body and using steel chrome and black leather. For early 20th century antique chairs like most vintage furniture the designer is a primary determiner of price as well as condition and quality. Single chairs are by far the most affordable while pairs or dining sets command premium prices because sets where each piece is in good condition are rarer Handmade pieces naturally are also more expensive. The older the antique chair the more signs of wear or patina it should display If the wood looks uniform on the entire piece it is likely a reproduction Ask whether upholstery is the original or a replacement If it is a recent replacement that lowers the value.

Antique Furniture

Wonderful eighteenth and nineteenth century antique furniture originated in such disparate locations as cosmopolitan Barcelona and rural communities of upstate New York A small museum in Antoni Gaudis Park Guell houses examples of this architects flowing Art Nouveau furniture while there are Shaker museums from New England to the American South that display this functional minimalist designs. Older styles of antique furniture from England and America include William and Mary Queene Anne Chippendale and Federal Empire furniture is associated with Napoleon Bonaparte other French antique furniture styles go by the names of several King Louises while Renaissance Baroque and Rococo are more continental furniture periods. Often architects such as the previously mentioned Antoni Gaudi or the American Frank Lloyd Wright design furniture too Decorative arts in addition to painting sculpture and architecture are influenced by broader trends For instance the discovery of Pompeii had a major impact on furniture style When Mt Vesuvius erupted in A D 79 it buried Pompeii and Herculaneum under many feet of ash freezing in time these Roman cities It was not until 1748 that theses cities were discovered The excavation of ancient Roman culture had a wideranging effect and the decorativeness of the ancient world was incorporated into furniture design Thomas Chippendale a British furniture maker was one of the many artists and designers influenced by this neoclassic style In 1754 Thomas Chippendale 17181779 published The Gentleman and CabinetMakers Director an extremely influential book about the various kinds of furniture He designed many pieces of neoclassic furniture for Harewood House an English country house built in the mideighteenth century This estate is located near Leeds England north of London and has large grounds with formal gardens and woods that are open to tours spectacular art and antiques collections in their state rooms and many examples of Chippendale furniture The Chippendale Collection a page of the Thomas Chippendale at Harewood House website features photographs and descriptions of period Chippendale decorative art You can click sections such as Chairs Stools Mirrors Lighting Beds Tables Desks and Cabinet Furniture to learn more Popularizers of antique furniture are the identical twins Leigh and Leslie Keno They become wellknown appraising antique furniture on PBS Antiques Roadshow and received the 2005 National Humanities Medal Leslie is a senior vice president for American furniture at Sothebys while Leigh is president of Leigh Keno American Antiques a gallery in New York City that he runs with Mitchell Keno their older brother They have also written an interesting book with Joan Barzilay Freund called Hidden Treasures


TIPS BUYING ANTIQUE FURNITURE

1 Buy antique furniture at a local auction house or auctions online this is where the profit is

2 Use your instincts Buy antique furniture that grabs your attention immediately that first impression is important for 2 reasons When you really love the piece doing research about the style origin and era will turn out to be fun and interesting And second this piece will most likely sell very easy

3 Do not act as an amateur even if you are You could receive a lot of unnecessary sales talk and it will be much more difficult to obtain a large discount

4 Know what you are buying Although it takes some experience to recognize them be aware of reproductions and fake antiques

5 Dont be afraid to ask for discounts most sellers include a 1030% margin to all there items

6 Inspect the item you are interested in pick it up turn it around make sure it has no hidden flaws Keep an eye on the sales person while doing that If they get nervous there might be a something lose or damaged Also ask the seller if the furniture has been restored at some point it affects the value of an antique

7 Look for shops who have an antique piece at display but who are not specialized in selling antique furniture Chances are this will be a great bargain When it doesnt fit the main philosophy of the store the owner is probably not an expert in the field and will be happy to sell it and move on

8 Do not offer cash money negotiate the best price possible for paying by cheque or credit card first Once you have your card or cheque book ready ask if there is an extra discount for paying with cash Almost every seller prefers cash so use every trick in the book


9 Always get a receipt especially from auctioneers or antique dealers Make sure it states the age style wood type value and if there was any damage or restoration This can be used as a guarantee when false or missing statements occur

10 Don’t make the mistake of buying more furniture than you can transport in one trip At most estate sales and auctions sold items must be picked up the same day of purchase Make sure to bring blankets and straps to pack and transport you antiques without damaging them

Rare and Used Book

Rare and Used Book

Lets say you have recently retired and finally have time to track down everything by your favorite science fiction author in rare and used book stores His names Theo G Nance and he published in the 40s and 50s during the Golden Age of science fiction but died in 1971 at a commune in Northern California under questionable circumstances.The chain book store at the mall has a long aisle of scifi and fantasy paperbacks although no older hardtofind titles and the small independent book shop with its more diverse stock cant help either Both inform you the book is out of print Going down the list of rare and used book stores in the telephone directory you find your book at a fancy rare book store in town only its the British hardcover that came out after the paperback original therefore it is the first hardcover edition but not the true first edition.The book barn somewhere off interstate exit 47 has not only rooms but stories full of old books but you drove out their once and know their books are mainly nonfiction and sets like The Harvard Classics so you skip this call.General Used Book Stores sell used rare and outofprint books hardcovers as well as paperbacks Youre sure its the place to find The Mad Screaming Brain From Asteroid X maybe a vintage paperback or a laterprinting hardcover in their science fiction section but youre disappointed again. A neighbor across the street found a part for his table saw on eBay so you try them next They have more books than you thought although you wouldnt mind seeing more like The Mad Screaming Brain From Asteroid X for instance You also learn that they arent all sold at auction either because many have a little.

A bidding war is going on for The Chessmen of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs the creator of Tarzan Theres a photo of the book in a dust jacket that looks pretty new The bidding is up to $900 so you decide to check in the next day to find out whos in the lead As usual Amazon has millions of great books Several new titles by Theo G Nash you never knew existed come up in a search along with a few outofprint ones too so you write them down for future reference In addition your daughter in Cincinnati has it in her head to send you selfhelp books about retirement from Amazon You prefer she diversify One used paperback copy of The Mad Screaming Brain From Asteroid X turns out to be available by a dealer for $150 and its only in good condition which couldnt be too good because other books are rated very good and like new Being a retired accountant you know all about supply and demand You also figure that since the books are sold on Amazon they get a cut so purchasing directly from the dealer is cheaper In the back of your grandsons Harry Potter magazine that he lost on his last visit is an ad for a rare and used book store in West Hollywood that specializes in science fiction fantasy and horror You cruise over to their website and it turns out they have nearly two dozen hardtofind books by Theo G Nance a regular cornucopia if you will including an advance reading copy whatever that is and a tradesize softcover of the one they made into a movie illustrated with film stills Of course your title is still missing so you break down and order a book club edition of its prequel in near fine condition for $10 This book club is an inexpensive hardcover just like you now decide youre after because its easier to get hold of than a paperback and the text is larger too After all youre getting along in years and your eye sight isnt what it used to be Its been a real learning experience though

Vintage antiques

Vintage Cars

The time between World War One and the stock market crash of 1929 is considered by many to be the vintage car era During these years automobile manufacturers expanded on their technological breakthroughs from earlier in the century and sent cars down the road to pervasiveness The period began with soldiers coming home from overseas and was followed by the passing of the Nineteenth Amendment insuring women the right to vote The Roaring Twenties had arrived with flappers and bathtub gin and great changes in society The economy strengthened buying on credit started and consumerism increased with the automobile at the top of the list Expanding newspapers movies and radio burst like the corks on bottles of champagne Not only was the car radio invented and drivein restaurants opened by A W root beer but the first National Conference on Street and Highway Safety asked for standardized traffic laws throughout the country and the Secretary of the Treasury tried to have the Washington Monument relocated to make room for more parking lots The modern car culture of the automobile and the highway was upon us The Ford Motor Company is an example of what went on with the automobile companies that formed before World War One In 1908 Henry Ford made the first Model T and then in 1913 created a moving assembly line for mass producing automobiles which changed manufacturing and helped bring about the Industrial Revolution His Model T was the best selling car in the world but other automobile manufacturers began surpassing Ford producing cars with more features and in a variety of colors and stylesFord purchased the Lincoln Motor Company in 1925 therefore selling highend cars too. Not only could everyone now afford to purchase an automobile everyone did The vintage car era is known for Widespread use of fourwheel breaks electric lighting and starters as well as balloon tires. Fast cars with large engines Automobiles built for speed simply for the fun of it. In addition more expensive cars were produced for the wealthy The Antique Automobile Club of America and The Classic Car Club of America are two major organizations for automobile enthusiasts.

Vintage Dresses

Adding a vintage dress to your wardrobe will help you to express your unique style Whether youre looking to appear more vivacious and striking or conservative and professional theres a dress to fit your needs Purchasing vintage items for your wardrobe does not mean you have to completely change your style you are tweaking your wardrobe as a whole adding specific accents that can complement items you already own and wear Avoid crazy combinations Back in 76 a plaid dress might have looked great with a jacket in a different style of plaid but that doesnt mean it works today This is essential as most used clothing stores and flea markets do not offer you the opportunity to try clothing on and its impossible with an online auction site Just as you would with other dresses pick your vintage clothing with your body type in mind Be sure to envision yourself in the dress type or try it on before you purchase it If youre unsure ask an honest tactful friend who you would normally take shopping Locating the right dress can be the most daunting part of vintage clothes shopping Unlike contemporary stores and clothing stores that offer new items only vintage and second hand stores display a wide variety of items and styles This makes the selection process more difficult but also provides you with more options First you want to get comfortable with the various decades dress styles and determine your likes and dislikes Then scope out some of the following locations Online auction sites such as eBay are valuable in your search for a vintage dress Even if you do not find a dress there you will learn about vintage measurements the appropriate condition for such items and most importantly the going rate for the type of dress you want This is the easiest way to look at a variety of dresses and decide what style would work best for you Sellers usually provide measurements for clothing items The best price for the right gently used clothing item is of course free Older relatives often have clothing that they or their adult children wore They are usually delighted to give away items knowing they will be worn and loved Think about all of the decades that your parents and grandparents have lived through as well as the styles those decades represent You definitely do not have to stick to one style of dress but you will probably want to select a dress or dresses to fit one or more needs in your lifestyle Just like contemporary dresses vintage counterparts were made for a variety of events A flapper dress for example might be appropriate for a contemporary evening at the theatre A peasant dress from the Sixties would be perfect for a summer folk festival In the 1970s the womens liberation movement created a need for professional style dresses because women wanted to work Some of these dresses still work in the office today

Before you purchase vintage clothing make sure the size fits you Over the years size has changed and it also varies by location Even today one size produced in Europe sometimes differs from the same size produced in the United States Size also varies by clothing line and brand today and that applies to vintage clothing as well Gunne Sax for example made beautiful dresses in a peasant style but their sizes ran much smaller when compared to contemporary ones Also keep in mind that more people handmade clothing in the past so some dresses might be specifically tailored to one womans measurements.

Rare Baseball Cards

Rare Baseball Cards

Even novice collectors interested in rare baseball cards will quickly come across the name Honus Wagner Although Babe Ruth Mickey Mantle Joe DiMaggio Ted Williams and Hank Aaron are famous baseball players with collectible cards none come close to this ball player. Honus Wagner was an outstanding short stop and an early inductee into the Baseball Hall of Fame but what makes him particularly noteworthy is that one of his baseball cards sold for over $2 million Wagners cards are scarce because he did not want them distributed with tobacco but this particularly famous and expensive card is in exceptionally fine condition The Library of Congress is an excellent starting place for those interested in rare baseball cards
American Memory Baseball Cards 18871914 Their Prints and Photographs Division has a collection of 100 vintage baseball cards donated by Carl Sandburg in 1954 Sandburg was given the cards by the daughter of a cigarettecard collector You can browse these cards by Player Team League City or Card Setmuch like they way one collects baseball cards Ty Cobbs gallery for instance has 13 cards A few are of Cobb alone while others are of him with early players such as Hugh Jennings George Moriarty Chas OLeary and Sam Crawford Clicking on a photograph will enlarge the image and show the statistics on its back
Baseball Card Bibliography The Library of Congress also has a list of books about baseball cards The top Negro Leagues played ball before 1947 the year Jackie Robinson was allowed into the Major League No baseball cards of these players were issued in the United States at the time although cards were later printed of players who signed with Major League teams Baseball Trading Cards of Negro League Players in Major Leagues The Center for Negro League Baseball Research lists many of these baseball cards
American Negro League Players in Cuban Baseball Cards Famous Negro league ball players also participated in the Cuban Baseball League Rare baseball cards from the Cuban League are also a source for collecting Latin American baseball player cards Peter C Bkarkman AwardWinning Author Cuban Baseball Historian The author of A History of Cuban Baseball 18642006 has an informative website. The Baseball Card Adventure series are childrens books by Dan Gutman involving magic baseball cards used to travel back in time They tell about baseball history such as Babe Ruth calling a hit the Black Sox Scandal and Jackie Robinson Honus Me Jackie Me Babe Me and Shoeless Joe Me are a few titles His books are perfect for kids interested in baseball or baseball card collecting

Collectible Coins

Collectible Coins

Collectible coins can be found anywhere from Antique Stores to ones own pocket Like any other antique they provide a link to the past. Wheat centCollectible coins can be an investment as both collectibles or precious metals but like all other financial investments they carry risks. As with all antiques and collectibles the value of a coin depends upon its condition Several ways are commonly utilized to describe a coins condition The Official ANA Grading Standards for United States Coins uses these standard categories New collectible coins can be purchased directly from the countrys mint The United States Mint sells directly from its website Other sources include coin dealers shows conferences online and inperson auctions and other individual collectors One of the pleasures of collecting coins is the possibility of a hidden treasure in a handful of change so many collectors buy rolls of coins at banks and search through them for something to add to their collection The best way to keep up with current collectible coin values is to purchase a guide For coins from all over the world the Krause Standard Catalog of World Coins is one of the most authoritative For United States coins the Coin World and Blackbook price guides are standards
The rarest years and mints however are usually only available from dealers or collectors Each of these was produced by multiple mints and in many different styles and the value of each depends on the rarity and condition. Indian Head Cents Indian Head cents were produced from 1859 to 1909 and designed by James Barton Longacre an engraver for the Philadelphia Mint The head shows a stylized Native American in a feathered headdress depicting Liberty The reverse side features the shield of the United States at the top with an oak wreath surrounding the sides of the coin and a bundle of arrows at the bottom. Mercury Dimes Despite the name the head on the Mercury dime is not in fact the GrecoRoman god Mercury rather a winged head of Liberty The Phrygian hat with the wings closely resembles images of Mercury Adolph A Weinman designed the Mercury dime and the simplicity and elegance of the head and the column on the reverse make it one of the most attractive US coins It was minted from 1916 to 1945 Wheat Cents Wheat cents officially known as Lincoln Wheat Ears cents were minted from 1909 to 1958 The front shows the profile of Abraham Lincoln still in use on todays pennies while the reverse shows two stalks of wheat Both sides were designed by Victor David Brenner a prolific designer and engraver Buffalo Nickels Buffalo nickels also known as Indian head nickels were produced from 1913 to 1938 The head features a profile of a Native American and the tail of an American bison Both were designed by sculptor James Earle Fraser famous for this design and for his End of the Trail sculpture Morgan Dollars Morgan silver dollars were minted from 1878 to 1904 and again for one year in 1921 After the discovery of vast quantities of silver in the American west the US government ordered the Treasury Department to purchase tons of silver and create coins with it in an attempt to keep the price up The Morgan dollars named after the designer George T Morgan were one of these projects Because of their quantity of silver many of these coins were melted down thus raising the price for collectors

Always handle coins with clean hands or better yet while wearing cotton gloves Even recently washed hands can leave fingerprints and fingerprints carry oils that can corrode coins Always hold coins by the edges rather than the faces and when you put them down put them down on a soft piece of cloth to avoid scratches. Unless you know exactly what youre doing be careful about cleaning coins since this can actually reduce their value If you do want to clean a coin use mild soap and water and do not scrub it When youre finished pat it dry with a soft towel Store coins in cool dry places and with some kind of protective cover.Some antique collectibles have delighted collectors for so long that they have earned distinct antique categories Others are items that used to be merely antiques and now have become collectibles because people love collecting them Both of these categories are now considered antique collectibles The line between a vintage item and an antique varies from object to object A book is usually more than 150 years old before it is generally considered an antique but a toy is often labeled as an antique at 100 years and a coin might not be referred to as an antique until it is more than 200 years old

Antique Ephemera

Ephemera are items that were not made to last usually made out of paper Antique postcards are a very popular category as are antique valentines Ones with messages inside can give a wonderful sense of connecting with individuals from history Posters particularly decorative ones by artists from the turn of the century are both collectibles and art The earliest playing cards were designed as art items but by the end of the 19th century were also made as commemoratives or advertisements

Decorative Items

Decorative items appeal not just because of their collectible status or associations but for their intrinsic beauty These are often the most expensive antique collectibles because of the additional time or craftsmanship that went into their design and making and because many of them were made with intrinsically valuable materials

Household Items

Prized household items range from the fine silver and china from a wealthy household to old kitchen utensils Both have their own associations with people from the past whether the rich and aristocratic or everyday individuals While signs of wear can lower a pieces monetary value theres a certain appeal to an item thats been handled by generations before

Light particularly sunlight can fade antique collectibles particularly textiles and printed material remarkably quickly Protect pieces by keeping them in places where they are not exposed to sunlight or excessive heat from close incandescent bulbs or by keeping them behind glass thats coated against UV rays The best glass is called museum glass while it is more expensive it not only protects the item but is nonreflective so it wont interfere with enjoying your item Humidity can deteriorate many items particularly anything on paper The threat is multiplied if the item is subjecting to changing temperatures because then condensation can form just like on the outside of a cold soda can in a warm room If you dont want to dehumidify your whole home you can just dehumidify the room where you keep your collection or use a closet unit However some antique collectibles made of material like ivory need moisture in the air to keep from cracking You can put these in a closed cabinet with a shot glass of water Cleaning materials designed for everyday use can be very destructive to antique collectibles Many of them are too abrasive and using them can reduce an items value

Pricing for antique collectibles is usually flexible particularly if you buy multiple items from a shop and it is inherently flexible at auction While pricing depends on subtle factors as well as obvious ones you can still get a sense of how much an item should cost Price guides are available for nearly every kind of collectible antique that exists and while bids on auction sites like eBay are not necessarily as reliable because you like the bidders are relying on a photograph and sellers description they can still provide a general sense of prices. It is hard to tell a fake item from an authentic one even professionals get fooled on a disconcertingly frequent basis In fact theres even a Museum of Fakes in Salerno Italy and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London has a Hall of Fakes and Forgeries items from their collection that turned out to be fakes Or for a fictional view read Jonathan Gashs novels featuring antiques dealer and frequent forger Lovejoy Again books are your friends here as books on antique collectibles often detail the most frequent signs of fakes In the case of a large purchase go to a dealer with a solid reputation and demand a detailed receipt Once a collectible is an antique the odds are that its will retain its value as long as it remains in the same condition Even so there are no guarantees and so very few financial advisers suggest investing in antique collectibles solely as an investment unless you already have a solid and diversified portfolio Instead most encourage you to collect what you love and can afford and then be pleasantly surprised if it turned out to be a sound financial investment

Vintage Collections

Vintage Collections

Vintage collectible dolls are those produced between 1930 and roughly 1980 This category includes the most famous collectible doll the Barbie doll 1959 Chatty Cathy 1959 and Strawberry Shortcake 1979 Trivia note The Twilight Zone episode The Living Doll 1963 was not only based on Chatty Cathy but used the voice of the original Chatty Cathy June Foray. Most of these dolls were made of composites vinyl or plastic though cloth was also common particularly for dolls designed for very young children. Madame Alexander first started her doll company in 1923 and also created what is probably the first movie tiein product a cloth Alice doll to go with the 1933 movie Alice in Wonderland She is also credited with the first line of celebrity dolls. Some consider modern collectible dolls to be only the dolls made for the collectibles market while others include any kind of doll that becomes a collectible. Many modern dolls are continuations of vintage doll lines such as Barbie Madame Alexander and Strawberry Shortcake and some such as Ginny and Raggedy Ann and Andy are based on antique doll lines. Cabbage Patch Kids were a major fad in the 1980s largely because of the wide range of variations that insured each one was unique capturing the spirit of the handmade originals and because the dolls came with signed birth certificates In October 1985 one was even included in a NASA shuttle launch. Some of the most common sources of collectible toys are shows and fairs specialty shops and both live and online auctions Collectors also trade among themselves through magazines and newsletters. Dolls like most other collectibles need to be stored in places that keep them from extremes of heat humidity and temperature fluctuations and that provide them with protection from dust but sufficient air circulation Always use acidfree materials for packing and protection and do not let metal parts touch plastic dolls.

Collectible Dolls

Collectible Dolls

Collectible dolls are among the most beloved and recognizable collectibles of all Whether or not youve owned or played with one virtually everybody can immediately describe the most famous dolls such as Barbie Cabbage Patch Dolls or Raggedy Ann and Andy. Antique doll imageLike other collectibles collectible dolls generally fall into one of three categories antique vintage and modern. Technically speaking antique dolls like most other antiques date back to prehistoric times However when we talk about antique collectible dolls we usually mean those produced before 1930 Antique dolls were usually made of wax papier mache wood china bisque or cloth and today thats how theyre usually classified Bisque is a kind of unglazed porcelain Its matte surface is more realistic than the shinier glazed china These categories refer to what the dolls head was made of the bodies were usually made of softer materials such as kid leather or cloth. Most antique dolls were made to look like adults and came with removable clothing However some dolls particularly French bebe literally baby dolls and German dollyfaced dolls were made to look like children. Raggedy Ann and Andy first created in 1915 are amazingly still in production more than 80 years later as are Ginny dolls from 1922. The first talking dolls mama dolls were invented around 1915 These dolls combined a soft body with two innovative characteristics a voice mechanism that said mama when the doll was turned and leg joints that allowed the child to walk the doll These realistic dolls were the first doll craze in the United States and one of the great fads of the 1920s. During these times most dolls were made as childrens toys and so usually show at least some wear How much depends on what the doll was made of and of course how carefully it was handled .

Barbie Collectibles

Barbie collectibles are a multibillion industry with almost 100 000 collectors and millions of dolls sold Ironically when Ruth Handler first came up with the idea of a fashionable teenage doll with fully contoured proportions Mattel corporation turned it down But fortunately for collectors she was inspired by another doll the German Bild Lilly and tried again This time Mattel agreed and Barbie named after Handlers daughter made her debut at the American International Toy Fair in 1959 Mattel backed up this new kind of doll with an extensive television campaign one of the first major toy campaigns Soon Barbie collectibles were a phenomenon in the US and eventually worldwide Barbie dolls as toys have always been popular but even though Mattel didnt issue official collectible Barbies until 1986 most models before then have become collectors items In the early 1960s more dolls appeared along with the famous Barbie wardrobes designed after the most fashionable Paris couturiers In 1961 her eyes changed color to todays familiar blue and in 1965 she and the other Barbie collectible dolls were equipped with bendable legs 1966 saw an even more significant innovation including the Color Magic Barbie which could switch hair colors In 1967 Mattel introduced the Twist n Turn Barbie with a more flexible body and a considerably younger though still sophisticated face Her wardrobes followed some of the fads as well as fashions and began to be designed based on mod style rather than high fashion with versions such as Sparkle Squares 1968 and Yellow Mellow 1969 The next major innovation was Talking Barbie in 1968. In 1970 the Living Barbie introduced much more flexible and poseable Barbie dolls and in 1971 her eyes faced forward for the first time 1971 also saw not only Malibu Barbie one of the most popular versions but Growin Pretty Hair Barbie with hair that could be lengthened or shortened.The SuperStar Barbie of 1977 introduced her with a much more girlnextdoor expression particularly by giving her an openmouthed smile In 1978 two major new interactive collectible Barbie models appeared Barbies SuperStar Stage Show and Fashion Photo Barbie These included remote controls that let her look as though she was posing and performing independently 1980 was a landmark year with the first Black and Hispanic Barbies and the first International Barbie dolls Collectors also gathered at the first Barbie Doll Convention In 1981 Mattel introduced My First Barbie designed for younger children Twirly Curls Barbie came with a hair twirler that children could use to style their own hair to look just like Barbies For her 25th anniversary Tiffany Co created a sterling silver Barbie doll and Mattel echoed the silver anniversary theme with the Silver Sensation Barbie They also commissioned fashion designs from some of the most influential designers in the world such as Pierre Cardin and Christian Dior

Even though Barbie had long ago become a collectible doll it wasnt until 1986 that Mattel first released an official limited edition collectible the porcelain Blue Rhapsody doll In 1988 the Happy Holidays and American series began both tremendously popular with children and collectors The next year her 30th anniversary saw more highfashion designed models and Army Barbie The 90s were Bob Mackies decade as a Barbie designer and he created some of the most spectacular Barbie collectibles ever In 1990 he introduced the Bob Makie Gold Barbie followed in 1991 by Starlight Splendor Barbie and Platinum Barbie After these he turned to slightly fantastical designs such as the 1992 Neptune Fantasy and Empress Bride the 1995 Goddess of the Sun and the 1996 Moon Goddess Barbies. Mattel also brought back the Gay Parisienne model as a vintage tribute in 1991 In 1992 Mattel created its first mail order Barbie Crystal Rhapsody Barbie Following the success of the Gay Parisienne in 1993 the Great Eras series began with Flapper and Gibson Girl Barbies Nostalgia continued with a reissue of the original model for her 1995 35th anniversary as well as a Hollywood Legends series as well as a new Golden Jubilee Barbie In 1997 the HarleyDavidson Barbie was an unexpected top seller For 1999 the 40th anniversary there were several special editions and new releases including Bob Mackies Le Papillon Barbie and the new Garden of Flowers series. The New Millennium Dolls 2000 debuted millennium collectible Barbie dolls including Barbie 2000 and Sydney 2000 to honor the Olympics as well as the beginning of the Fashion Model Collection Malibu Barbie reappeared in 2002 and this timeless doll became a Bond girl with a James Bond 007 Barbie and Ken Gift Set 2003 saw the Birthstone Collection and 2005 the Zodiac Collection

Collectible Knifes

Collectible Knifes

It is certainly not unheard of to go on a summer vacation in Europe and unwittingly start a collectible knife collection in Switzerland Besides some of the most beautiful scenery in the world Switzerland is known for its Swiss Army knife commonly purchased as a memento These folding pocket knives have everything from a magnifying glass and saw to scissors toothpick and tweezers The great thing about knife collecting is there are so many kinds of collectible knifes to choose For instance movie fans can purchase the type of knife Sylvester Stallone used in his Rambo films while Allied and German military knives from World War II might do for history buffs Motor enthusiasts should know that The Franklin Mint sells HarleyDavidson limited edition collector folding knives while NASCAR has collectible cutlery too often presented in display cases or with diecast scale model race cars In addition gift shops sell souvenir pen knives advertising cities and attractions which mean there are deep pools of collecting possibilities here as well Knife collecting ideas just go on and on The problem is not the lack of collectible material but where to start collecting There are collectible knifes associated with various wars and military divisions including the US Marines famous standardissue KABAR knives and World War II German air force pilot daggers with Swastika insignias Trench knives from World War I have special fingerhole grips for handtohand combat while recent bayonet combat knives are designed to fix on the end of machine gun barrels One interesting military knife is the Kukri knife commonly called the Gurkha knife This national knife of Nepal is used during Hindu festivals and has a dazzling distinctive curve that aids in slashing Gurkhas are a group of people from a section of Nepal Their soldiers fought to unite Nepal in the eighteenth century then against the British in the nineteenth century So legendary was their fighting prowess that Gurkha soldiers were made part of the British army At the opposite end of the spectrum from the national knife of Nepal are switchblades and gravity knives Any knife that opens in an interesting manner could also be included in this category It might be a good idea to check local laws before purchasing these knives though because they are illegal in many countries and states

Switchblades When a button is pressed on the side a spring mechanism opens the blade The blade can shoot straight out from the tip of the handle or fold out from the side Although knives that open in the former manner are often called stilettos they should not be confused with actual stilettos which are daggers used for stabbing

Butterfly Knives These knives look pretty spectacular when experts open them Metal flashes all around the assailants fingers before the blade appears in his handor inches away from the victims face for that matter It takes a lot of practice to properly open butterfly knives though The blade is enclosed in the handle that freely splits apart on hinges then closes up to lock the blade into position Butterfly knives are also called Balisong knives.


Bowie Knife

Between these two extremes are various types of fixed blade and folding collectible knifes For instance the Bowie knife was made famous by Colonel James Bowie who died with Davy Crockett at The Alamo Bowie was known for knife fighting and any large hunting knife has come to be called a Bowie knife In addition his first knife was crafted by the blacksmith James Black making original James Black knives extremely sought after

Fantasy Knives

These are wild science fiction and fantasy edged weapons of medieval or futuristic inspiration Although having amazing shapes and blade configurations they are not always the most practical or functional weapons For example the fantasy artist and weapons designer Kit Rae has made an Eye of Drakonus knife Fang of Baelin doublebladed knife and a Medusa Dagger He is well known for designing weapons for many science fiction movies and television shows too

Collectible Plates

Collectible Plates

Collectible plates are some of the most beloved collectibles today Their subjects range from abstract and fine art to popular culture and they are designed to appeal to theme collectors such as Star Wars I Love Lucy Santa Claus Coca Cola cats John Wayne etc and plate collectors alike Wild animals are some of the most common themes for collectible plates. People have been collecting plates since the first porcelain was invented around 600 AD But most experts agree that the first truly collectible plate was Bing and Grondahls blue and white Christmas plate Behind the Frozen Window issued in 1895 the first known limited edition plate Bing and Grondahl have continued that line to this day Other companies soon followed driven both by technical improvements that made porcelain easier and cheaper to produce and by the rising middle class who could afford factoryproduced plates for display Royal Copenhagen and Rosenthal were among the most popular Virtually all collectors plates issued during the first half of the 1900s were blue and white Christmas plates Blue and white had in fact been one of the most popular color schemes for porcelain since its early invention and antique Chinese and Middle Eastern and Turkish blue and white tiles jars and other porcelain items today can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars In 1965 though Lenox introduced a dual innovation leadcrystal plates and colored plates and these opened a whole new world of options for collectors plates At first most collectible plates came from Europe but United States companies started to create their own lines as well Popular artists began to create or license designs for collectors plates as did popular movies Animals became very popular as themes The Bradford Exchange is one of the best known dealers in and producers of collectible plates and is famous for starting the equivalent of a stock exchange for collectibles In 1973 J Roderick MacArthur issued a Current Quotations list for collectible plates that essentially standardized the previously much more informal market A decade later it introduced an electronic system and began to emphasize its own lines of plates including the then revolutionary threedimensional sculpted plates Their Studio Dante di Volteradicis Grand Opera and Incolays bas relief Romantic Poets were deliberately chosen to appeal to upmarket collectors interested in grand opera and 19th century poetry

Condition visual appeal and rarity are the major factors in price Collectible price guides have information about prices for plates and sets as does the Bradford Exchange website You can buy plates online from auction sites as well as specialty online vendors Of course buying in antique stores lets you examine your merchandise beforehand an important consideration with fragile items like collectible plates Because wouldbe fakers need to invest in equipment and because most collectible plates are relatively affordable plate buyers do not need to worry as much as other antique collectors but still need to look out for antique reproductions or forgeries of the more expensive plates Usually the details are the giveaways so its good to have pictures of the originals of any particularly expensive plates

Sports Collectibles

Sports Collectibles

Sports collectibles make up a multibillion industry and cover a huge range of items from clothing and equipment to cards autographs and posters these kinds of paper items are often called ephemera. Autographed baseball imageMost sports memorabilia collectors pick a particular sport team or individual athlete a particular kind of sports collectible such as cards baseballs or photographs or a particular event such as the Olympics.

Sports Trading Cards

Trading cards the most popular sports item collectibled were first packaged with tobacco products as early as the 1860s but soon the manufacturers realized theyd do even better packaging them with chewing gum Early cards usually had the photograph of the player or team on one side and advertisements on the reverse but as cards became an industry in and of themselves the back side came to feature information about the player Rookie cards cards from a players first season usually become particularly valuable after the player becomes famous more so than cards from after they become sports celebrities Insert cards are limited edition cards that are added to regular packs of cards The odds of finding an insert card in a pack are printed on the pack Many of these insert cards have holograms or lenticular printing plastic that shows a moving figure when tilted Sometimes insert cards also include threads from a jersey or some other item Theyre also known as chase cards because collectors pursue these so enthusiastically

Olympics Collectibles

Olympics pins coins and stamps are by far the most common Olympics collectibles but collectors with bigger budgets can purchase medals and Olympics torches Sports jerseys are fairly recent sports collectibles dating from the early 1980s when teams started selling jerseys The most collectible of these are autographed jerseys or jerseys that a famous player actually wore One that soccer star Pele wore during a World Cup match fetched almost $250 000 at Christies auction house more than triple the estimate Autographs by their very personal nature can turn a very ordinary item like a baseball or football into a collectible Because many sports collectors request autographs in person they also become a reminder of the opportunity to meet a player Many players autograph items at sports collectibles shows such as Tristar or American Sports Collectibles Collectors can also request autographs from players after games or by writing If you write to a player to ask for an autograph be sure to include return postage and to personalize the letter Many athletes are used to dealers or others looking for autographs to resell and so they are more likely to respond to requests from collectors

According to estimates from authorities dealers and collectors anywhere between 30 percent and 90 percent of sports collectibles are at least partly counterfeit This is one of the highest rates among all collectibles even more than antiques The FBI describes this in more detail on the cybercrimes division of their website Autographs are the most frequently forged sports collectibles as adding an autograph to an item can increase its value by thousands of dollars Some forgers even find authentic blank paper from the past and forge sports signatures on that Sometimes even an honest but unsophisticated seller such as a collector can mistake a machinesigned item for handsigned The ease of scanning and printing items has increased the trade in fake sports trading cards as well The monetary value of a sports collectible depends primarily on the fame of the player the rarity of the item and its condition Sports shows and specialty shops are the most common places to purchase sports collectibles Auction houses are another common source Heritage Auctions often has sports memorabilia auctions and other auction houses sometimes carry higherend items

Rare Pennies

Rare Pennies

Many coin collectors start their hobby by collecting rare pennies Pennies by and large are easy to find and there are many variations to choose from . The first penny was made of pure copper and was issued in 1787 This penny is referred to as the Fugio cent The name penny was derived from the British word pence It is believed that Paul Revere provided some of the copper that was used to mint the first rare pennies The Indian head penny was introduced in 1859 On one side of the Indian head penny is a likeness of an Indian princess with full headdress The reverse side states one cent These pennies were made until 1909 These rare pennies had a composition change in 1864 from pure copper to 95 percent copper and 5 percent zinc . 1909 was the launch date for the Lincoln portrait penny It was minted in celebration of the former Presidents birth date anniversary Victor David Brenner was the sculptor selected by Theodore The Lincoln cent was also the first time the words In God We Trust appeared on the penny The first minted Lincoln pennies had the initials VDB on them for the sculptor Subsequent rare pennies did not have these initials as some believed that it detracted from the design In 1918 the initials were restored slightly under Lincolns shoulder The steel cent made its appearance in 1943 as a result of World War II The pennies were made of lowgrade carbon steel and a zinc coating These rare pennies were similar to the Lincoln head with the exception they were approximately 8 grains lighter because of the lightweight metal In 1944 the weight of the penny was changed back to the original 48 grains in weight when they modified the alloy being used in its composition In 1959 the penny underwent another change on the reverse side Until 1959 the words one cent appeared on the reverse encircled by a two wheat heads In 1959 the reverse was changed to the image of the Lincoln Memorial located in Washington D C Frank Gasparro an engraver at the U S Mint created the design His initials appear in the shrubbery around the memorial The 1960 penny is considered collectible for some simple changes that affected its design Some pennies were minted with smaller dates than others the smaller dates were found to be less common The value of the 1960D penny rapidly increased in value though quickly plummeted when the supply quickly met the demand In 1970 a small date caused a ripple of interest in the penny but nothing was as sensational as the 1972 double die error On this particular penny the date and motto were doubled Many collectors have this particular penny in their collection mainly because of the national attention given to this error While it isnt probable that you could find a Fugio penny by accident today it is still possible to come across Indian head and on occasion steel pennies The trick is keeping your eyes peeled for these finds as well as looking for your favorites in the right places

Antique Books

Antique Books

For many people collecting antique books is a labor of love that stems from a combined appreciation of literature and historic memorabilia Some books have great monetary value while others have personal significance Individuals who choose to build an antique book collection tend to gravitate toward those volumes that hold special meaning for them In terms of monetary value antique volumes considered to be the most valuable are ones that have the unique combination of distinguishing physical characteristics historically significant content are relatively rare and in excellent condition To an antique lover however value is not often measured in terms of the price a particular item might fetch Regardless of how you interpret value as it applies to vintage books building a collection can truly be a labor of love Some who are interested in collectible books value them not so much for their literary significance and aesthetic appeal but more so for their investment value There are individuals who seek out antique books for their resale value much the same as many art speculators Some of the most valuable antique tomes have been known to fetch stunning sums at collectors auctions One of the two volumes of the Gutenberg Bible for example sold at a 1987 Christies auction for more than $5 million An original four volume set of The Birds of America by John James Audubon sold at a Christies auction in 1992 for more than $4 million
If youre interested in learning more about books that are selling for high dollar at auction sign up for a free membership to Americana Exchange New members receive a link to an article that includes a list of the 500 most expensive books sold at auction during 2006 While it would be wonderful to discover a volume that could fetch millions of dollars in an auction finding beautiful and meaningful antique books to add to your own personal collection can also be a very rewarding experience There are a number of ways that collectors of vintage books can find antique books in need of a good home

The Collectible Books html Biblio book search and marketplace is an online resource for finding antique printed materials of all types Biblio represents a number of booksellers specializing in the antique book market and literally offers access to millions of volumes for collectors to choose among AntiqBook is another resource representing hundreds of booksellers around the world with a particular emphasis on European antiquarian booksellers Collectors can search more than five million titles via the AntiqBook database and then order their selections directly from the booksellers themselves Serious collectors often find auctions to be the best resources for finding coveted titles See the Americana Exchange Auction Database for a comprehensive directory of auction houses and a list of upcoming auctions expected to include collectible books The Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America sponsors several book fairs and events in major cities around the U S each year Check the organizations book fair schedule for a complete listing of upcoming events You might be pleasantly surprised to find a local resource that either has a good selection of books or who can advise you about the best place to look When you are interested in collecting a particular item it is a good idea to get to know the proprietor of your local antique mall or shop He or she can be a wealth of information regarding the best places to look for the types of books that you want to add to your collection There are a number of steps that collectors should follow to properly care for their finds Antique books should be stored in a cool dry place that doesnt experience great fluctuations in temperature or humidity For example basements attics and garages are not good location to store your volumes Dont try to protect store or repair them with common household items Such efforts can actually damage the delicate documents For more information about the proper storage of your treasured books see the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works guidelines for proper care and storage When you are ready to start or expand your antique book collection the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America is a mustsee resource The organizations Collectors Corner has a wealth of free information and assistance for those interested in book collecting

Antique Piano Bench

Antique Piano Bench

Although there are many styles and designs of piano benches there are only three basic piano bench forms These forms are a concert bench a rectangular bench and a piano chair A standard wooden piano bench is rectangular in shape and can be made with a matching piano bench cover This type of piano bench is a standard height and cannot be adjusted to different heights A concert piano bench has circular knobs that are used to adjust the bench to different heights Plush upholstery was used on the seats The most uncommon type of antique bench for pianos is the piano chair Aside from the fact that most pianists found them to be very uncomfortable they were not offered as a standard choice with a piano purchase

An antique piano bench can be a treasured heirloom a prized piece of antique furniture or a cherished family item that brings back fond memories from earlier times Old western movies often have a piano player sitting on a round three legged stool playing his piano in the town saloon These piano stools of the old west were the early country cousins to the piano stools of the 1800s Prior to the 1840s piano stools were either simple plain pieces of furniture or made with heavily carved detailing and lion paw feet The next decade saw piano stools with carved floral motifs cabriole legs and elegant serpentine shaped seats Victorian piano stools from England and America were more elaborately made three legged stools with cushioned fabric seats With the 1860s came the introduction of the piano chair Early piano chairs had three legs similar to the piano stool and a sculpted and heavily detailed back The rectangular wood framed bench seat known as the piano bench was a product of the 1870s Many piano benches were made with a top that lifted giving the musician a storage compartment for his sheet music Often the bench seats had covers with elegant designs of needlepoint or embroidery The Victorian era had a very strong influence on piano bench styles all the way into the 1920s Benches of the time often had delicately turned legs and beautiful glass ball and claw feet Victorian duet stools were made with elegant carved detailing on the side panels and beautiful tapered square legs Throughout time ever since pianos have been manufactured piano benches have never been built by the piano companies As a piano was being completed the company would send a description and specifications to a manufacturer of piano benches to complete the matching bench for the piano

Collectible Clocks

Collectible Clocks

You should pause to consider mankinds great effort to invent precise timepieces whenever an interesting collectible clock comes up for bidding at an auction house Peter Henlein a German locksmith created a small springpowered clock at the beginning of the 1500s but it was the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries when mechanical clocks made great advances This period in Europe was one of astounding scientific inventions Christiaan Huygens 16291695 an important scientist from The Hague was an astronomer mathematician physicist and also a key figure in the development of the clock There had been weightdriven clocks since much earlier times but Huygens created the first pendulum clock These two methods of propulsion clocks running on springs and those propelled by weights are still used today Clocks are collected because they are precise and sophisticated timekeeping devices such as chronometers which are able to withstand changes in temperature Collectible clocks are also desired for their surface beauty This characteristic is what makes antique clocks so interesting They can be exact scientific instruments as well as beautiful antique objects like jewelry and vases Expensive grandfather clocks are constructed like fine furniture by cabinetmakers while womens watches are often thought of as jewelry The outside of the clock its case can be decorated with figures and composed of material such as marble silver porcelain and tortoise shell

Carriage Clocks This portable rectangular clock with handles at the top was used for travel They run on springs and are often made of brass Those from France first come to mind but carriage clocks also originate from other countries as well

Cuckoo Clocks The cuckoo clock is from the Black Forest of Germany It is traditionally powered by weights while bellows create the bird sounds

Tallcase Clocks Tallcase clocks are commonly called grandfather clocks The tall narrow cabinet of this clock is needed for the pendulum and weights

Wristwatches During World War One watches were strapped to wrists by soldiers to tell the time in a convenient manner This fashion was brought home after the war and became popular

There are many kinds of collectible clocks Some names are selfdescriptive while others might make you wonder what the timepiece looks like and how it operates Some examples include

Banjo clocks
Ships clocks
Advertising clocks
Mystery clocks
Car clocks
Novelty clocks
Picture clocks

Clocks are also categorized by year and place such as 17th century or 18th century British or American More information about collectible clocks can be found by searching the internet for these names or by picking a time or place

Rare Sports Cars

Rare Sports Cars

Certain rare sports cars are extraordinarily special The sports car model as well as the specific automobile can be influential and famous

Jaguar

The Jaguar XKSS is one of the rarest and most beautiful sports cars in the world Before the popular stylish Etypes of the 1960s and early 1970s the amazing finned Dtype Jaguars were driven to wins at Le Mans in the 1950s and now easily sell for over 1 million dollars Scarcer still is the XKSS Only 16 were made before a fire destroyed the factory

XK Evocation The story of the XKSS and other rare Jaguars can be found at this companys website They sell reproduction Ctype and Dtype Jaguars The Jaglovers Web Early Jaguars were photographed at a 2001 Jaguar of North America Challenge Championship in Franklin Tennessee

Aston Martin

The 1965 Aston Martin DB5 from the James Bond movies is famous Two customized DB5s with machine guns revolving license plates bulletproof rear shield and other gadgets suitable for a secret agent with a license to kill were manufactured for Goldfinger while another two went on publicity tours One is on display at the Louwman Museum in the Netherlands and a second was recently sold at an auction in Arizona for $2 090 000

McLaren F1

The McLaren F1 is a fast sports car with a top speed of 240 mph Production stopped in 1998 after only 100 were built According to the official McLaren site there are eight authorized service centers around the world for these rare sports cars

Lamborghini

The famous story goes that after World War Two Ferruccio Lamborghini built a successful tractor factory and drove a Ferrari sports car One day he complained to Enzo Ferrari the founder of the Ferrari sports car company about his clutch Mr Ferrari told Mr Lamborghini he should stick to tractors because thats all he knows how to drive so Mr Lamborghini developed the powerful and luxurious Lamborghini sports car
Similar to the Ferraris prancing horse the Lamborghini has a bull as its symbol The Miura sold from the 1960s to the early 1970s is the name of fierce Spanish bulls bred for bullfighting The Diablo from the 1990s is another exceptional Lamborghini
Ferrari

British race cars are green blue is for France and Italys racing color is red The Testarossa which means red head is a popular sports car from the 1980s designed by Pininfarina of Italy In 2002 the Enzo Ferrari was named after the companys founder Though a production car manufactured for the street it is similar to a Formula One race car The Ferrari Company donated an Enzo to the Catholic Church to benefit the tsunami disaster in Southeast Asia It was sold at auction for well over 1 million dollars

Maserati

Tipo 61 is the official name of the Maserati Birdcage This beautiful race car manufactured in the early 1960s has an influential lightweight tubular chassis In 2005 to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Pininfarina design firm the Maserati Birdcage 75th concept car was built Like the original Birdcage this futuristic automobile is white

Ford TBucket

The most important automobile ever made is the Ford Model T By the end of World War Two though many Model Ts had been scrapped These abandoned old cars were perfect to transform into powerful hot rods Today TBuckets are made with fiberglass bodies and new parts because original Model Ts are scarce

ANTIQUES

Antiques are hot and many people grow interest in this particular type of furniture Why Well have a look at eBay for instance Many hobbyists and professional dealers are making some good money in this business Of course not everybody is planning to make money out of there antiques still it is nice to know the value of the pieces you own Antique furniture is first and foremost popular because of its originality and history Most owners like to brag about there antiques where they found it what price they paid for it and of course the age and history of that particular piece But is it all true what they say How do they know the age and where it was build Most people repeat what the previous owner told them without doing any research on there own Some people are not that interested in the background of there antiques they just want to enjoy the beauty of there furniture and at the end that is probably the most important However for the people who do like to know more about there antiques this antique furniture information guide online is build to improve your knowledge and will tell you what details to look for when buying antique furniture We would like you to know WHAT you are buying recognize the replicas from the real deal for instance Also for the ones out there trying to make an extra buck this antique furniture guide will be an invaluable resource At both end of the game buying or selling it is important to know as much as possible about antiques A correct description of a piece gives you credibility as a seller And knowing the answer before asking a question to a sales person will give you extra power when negotiating the price after all YOU know what that piece is worth