Antiques
 

Buying Antiques

    
 

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Buying an authentic, valuable antique involves considerable financial outlay. Lucky finds are rare, and even when they do occur, they happen to those who have enough expertise to back their hunch with sound experience.

A Few General Tips

Cash Limits

Decide on a cash limit and do not exceed it, or you may end up regretting your spur of the moment extravagance. Try to stick to your original intentions and do not get tempted. For example, if you set out to buy a dining table, it’s no good coming back with a card table. However charmingly inlaid it might be, you will never be able to fit all the plates on it at dinner parties.

Antique Jewelry
   
 

 

 Be Prepared to Search Around
Invest some time and take a good look around at what is on offer in your chosen field. Seek out shops whose stock conforms to your general taste. Give local markets a shot first, but if your area is thinly supplied, venture out further, taking careful note of the descriptions and comparing prices.

For example, when taking a look at an antique porcelain piece in a shop, make sure you don’t miss cryptic symbols, or other special marks. A reference guide for such marks is a handy tool for determination of the time period.

If you don't have a marks dictionary or reference guide on the subject you're researching, visit your local library to see if they have a copy available for use. Many librarians are open to suggestions for books to purchase as well.

It might also be a good idea to search for antiques over the Internet. This would also probably involve a lot of research and patience, but in the end, you just might find exactly what you set out to buy.

The most popular channels used for selling antiques are:

* Buying at auctions
* Buying through a dealer
* Buying at antique fairs
* Buying online

 

 

  

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