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Plenty of antiques who know dealers..seriously though what do you want to know ?
I want to learn more about antiques and looking for advice on where to start. Love wondering round a fayre or an antiques shop and if i see something I like I'll try and do somw research but it would be nice to have some knowledge and know what something is when I see it.
There seem to be various books etc but hoping someone could reccomend something for a begginger to improve ones knowledge.
I'm not an antique dealer but have bought many things over the last 30 years or so. I just go with what I like. But antiques are very much like shares their value can go down as well as up. Whereas things like writing slopes and tea caddies were once the thing to buy they are totally out of fashion. Old garage signs,oil cans and petroliana can be worth buying, but there are many fakes and the real stuff can leave you with an expensive item you can't get rid of. Brown furniture is great if you want to keep it as the quality is far superior to flat pack stuff. From a selling point of view nobody wants it except it seems Americans and Canadians who seem to love old English furniture. We have a passion for Art Deco stuff, but original is very expensive. Just scour the car boot sales and antique shops. The shops though tend to know the price of things and some charity shops employ experts, but that isn't to say they don't occasionally miss the odd gem. Watches such as Rolex and Philip Patek can be worth many thousands. But will also cost many thousands. If you are fairly young buying the right model may bring it's rewards later in life, but it has to be the right model.
I want to learn more about antiques and looking for advice on where to start. Love wondering round a fayre or an antiques shop and if i see something I like I'll try and do somw research but it would be nice to have some knowledge and know what something is when I see it.
There seem to be various books etc but hoping someone could reccomend something for a begginger to improve ones knowledge.
I love old stuff do you have a particular interest?
Funnily enough I was looking at silver vesta boxes and cases today,also silver stamp holders I like small items over big things like furniture etc.
I have collected old bottles like ginger beer bottles for years and used to bottle dig on Victorian bottle dumps.
I want to learn more about antiques and looking for advice on where to start. Love wondering round a fayre or an antiques shop and if i see something I like I'll try and do somw research but it would be nice to have some knowledge and know what something is when I see it.
There seem to be various books etc but hoping someone could reccomend something for a begginger to improve ones knowledge.
One of my colleagues dabbles and his father was a dealer. He once told me that literally sitting down and absorbing himself in the various Miller's guides was where is initial download of knowledge came from. Just reading through them helped his identify his area of interest and then he went from there.
It's 106 miles to Portman Road, we've got a full tank of gas, half a round of Port Salut, it's dark... and we're wearing blue tinted sunglasses.
I'm not an antique dealer but have bought many things over the last 30 years or so. I just go with what I like. But antiques are very much like shares their value can go down as well as up. Whereas things like writing slopes and tea caddies were once the thing to buy they are totally out of fashion. Old garage signs,oil cans and petroliana can be worth buying, but there are many fakes and the real stuff can leave you with an expensive item you can't get rid of. Brown furniture is great if you want to keep it as the quality is far superior to flat pack stuff. From a selling point of view nobody wants it except it seems Americans and Canadians who seem to love old English furniture. We have a passion for Art Deco stuff, but original is very expensive. Just scour the car boot sales and antique shops. The shops though tend to know the price of things and some charity shops employ experts, but that isn't to say they don't occasionally miss the odd gem. Watches such as Rolex and Philip Patek can be worth many thousands. But will also cost many thousands. If you are fairly young buying the right model may bring it's rewards later in life, but it has to be the right model.
Brown furniture has been in the doldrums for such a long tine, its sad, as you say really quality stuff for no money.
I'd like to think it would make a comeback but I perhaps taste have changed, different generations now just see brown rather than quality.
Signs, esp enamel are something I keep an eye out for, lots of people are a bit more savvy around those though, esp old English stuff. Have picked up a couple of French bits at car boots, they dont seem to have the same price tag yet.
Its all fashion isnt it? Things come and come and come back again, trend spotting is certainly something that interests me.
I do like watches too, but unless it was a real steal I couldn't justify a Rolex, Mrs B and T could put Rolex money to much better use
I want to learn more about antiques and looking for advice on where to start. Love wondering round a fayre or an antiques shop and if i see something I like I'll try and do somw research but it would be nice to have some knowledge and know what something is when I see it.
There seem to be various books etc but hoping someone could reccomend something for a begginger to improve ones knowledge.
Choose to learn more about things you like is a good place to start.
There are auction rooms, some online, where you can look at stuff and see how well it sells, and what sort of prices. And bid on some of the stuff, but set a limit - don't get carried away. But best to actually go and look at the stuff you are bidding for, so you don't get damaged goods, or stuff that is not what it seems. Local auction rooms can be friendly and interesting places for viewing. And also habit-forming.
Another set of places, apart from Car Boots, are charity shops in more well-to-do areas.
Once you gain a little expertise, charity shops can be open to you suggesting prices for items they don't know so much about, for example. I help my local shops with prices for scientific equipment and cameras. And some of the paper stuff they get if they need general advice, but not prices.
My sister owns and runs No.6 Antiques in Southwold. She would be happy to talk about it if you want to call in at the shop. She's actually just been let down by the freeholder (Adnams) having invested a lot in buying the property, but that's another story. She is very knowledgeable about proper, real antiques - no tacky modern replicas allowed in No.6!
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