5 Signs of a Valuable Antique

Have you ever thought about investing in antiques? Well, it's more difficult than you may think, as it's different from more conventional money-making methods such as stocks, NFT’s, or the housing market. With that, it’s hard for people to understand what antiques interest them most and how they can come to learn about them collectively. Not to worry, because, at Pressroom and Mercantile at The Box SF, our antique store is filled with over 15 million pieces of rare antiques and ephemera, meaning there is something for everyone. Hence, 5 tell tale signs you can use to start finding valuable antiques! 

Rarity

To begin, it all comes down to rarity. After all, a piece that many people have is not going to be worth very much in the grander scheme of things. This is why it's important to keep a few key signals in mind when recognizing the rarity of antiques. Starting out, try to research how many items have been made from that specific era, as this will help you determine the general rarity of the item. Secondly, analyze the size and shape of the item, as some of the most expensive antiques tend to come in more unique shapes and sizes. Thirdly, see if there is any reproducibility on the piece. This is because a piece will not be considered rare if it is something that is still being reproduced, meaning its rarity can vary.

Looks

Moving forward, you then need to examine the overall look of the piece. This is because not everyone is going to have the same taste, as you should be purchasing something you are satisfied with aesthetically. Some things to pay attention to are the elements of a piece that helps blend everything together or what potentially sets it apart. For example, an antique lamp that has a uniquely shaped body with a bold lamp shade. A great way to find a look that may best suit your style is through research, so don't be afraid to go online or even read some books about areas that may interest you. 

Appeal

To add on, a very important aspect of antiques deals with their appeal. As mentioned previously, items that cannot be reproduced are going to have a higher ceiling. In saying this, it's important to research what items are trending in the market and how they have progressed over time. This is because you may be able to find a deal on a piece that is in style but is yet to be recognized by others. In doing so, you can probably get a better price and see yourself obtaining a pretty valuable piece in the long run.

Authenticity

Furthermore, authenticity is one of the most important aspects of antiques. This is because you want to ensure you are buying the real thing and not a copy of the original. Now there are a few ways you can do this, as it's important to once again do your own research, as people can be deceiving. One thing you must pay attention to is the time period, as this helps tell you the age of the piece. Just because an item looks old doesn't mean it's antique, so it's best to have a brief understanding of popular materials over certain time periods within a perceived era. Secondly, the artist or company is very important. This is an aspect that is a bit easier to comply with simply because the internet and books can be a huge help to you. For example, different textures, colors, and styles will help you determine specific artists or companies that produced their products in such a way. Thirdly, you should pay close attention to the kind of materials being used. Since materials like metals can often be perceived as a combination of each other,  use natural light to your advantage as this seems to identify fine details within a piece. 

Condition

Finally, comes the condition of the piece. Now in an ideal world, all the antique pieces you encounter would be in perfect condition. Unfortunately, this is never the case, as pieces over the years will begin to decay, as you hope to search for the piece that best suits your liking. With this idea in mind, it's important to understand how damage to a piece can affect its value and what you need to be careful of when purchasing. In terms of the ratings, there are typically three ways to rate antiques according to their condition which include mint condition, excellent condition, and good condition. The first term, mint condition means the piece is perfect, free of any chips, cracks, breaks, etc. The second term, excellent condition means the piece has minor flaws such as a chip that was expertly repaired. Whereas the third term, good condition means that the piece has suffered a couple of flaws, which may include missing pieces or even damage to the overall piece. This is why it's important to pay close attention when shopping for antiques, as you want to leave no page left unturned. Ultimately, it comes down to how much the damage bothers you, as antiques can be a representation of one's style and are not always about value.