What comes to mind when you think of antiques? In our latest blog post, we set out to debunk many common misconceptions about collecting and restoring antiques.
All quality antiques are expensive
For many people, the word antique conjures up images of huge price tickets that are out of reach for most. Yes, antiques can be expensive and we’ve all heard about pieces going for hundreds of thousands of pounds, but the pieces that command the highest prices are often rare, by famous makers or artists, or are from important periods in time.
Many more quality antique pieces are affordable and it’s important to understand that the term ‘antique’ refers to something’s age (100 years and older) and not its value! In our blog, we have often discussed the factors that determine value. Condition, rarity, demand, and provenance will always play a part in establishing price and value, but many everyday items such as kitchenalia, and ephemera are within most budgets.
But it’s not just small pieces that can be found at lower price points. Bigger pieces of antique furniture from less coveted eras are also affordable – we saw prices for brown furniture fall significantly when it was passed over for lighter wood and minimalist styling, bringing it within reach of many, and now its appeal is rising once again as people embrace its rich colour and ageless appeal.
There are quality antiques for every budget - for seasoned collectors, the joy is in the sourcing of that perfect, elusive piece and the history that comes with it, while the novice collector can take comfort knowing that many pieces cost less than their modern, mass-produced equivalent. And of course, every antique comes with a unique story.
Quality antiques have to be in perfect condition to be valuable
Another common misconception about antiques is that only items in perfect condition are valuable. Of course condition, as we often tell you, is a factor in value, and immaculate pieces can command high prices. However, authenticity supersedes appearance and collectors prefer items displaying typical signs of age (patina, appropriate wear), which reflect the piece’s story and history, to pieces that have been over-restored. With folk art or antiquities, for example, imperfections are celebrated and the Japanese art of kintsugi uses precious metals to repair pottery.
As said above, value is determined by so many more factors than condition including demand, rarity, provenance, and craftsmanship. Many collectors prefer pieces that display the life they’ve lived and that tell their stories through their appearance, over pieces that look like they were made yesterday.
Quality antiques are not suitable for everyday use
Antique items, by their very definition, are at least 100 years old so the notion that quality antiques are unsuitable or not durable enough for everyday use is confusing. Well-crafted antiques were built to last, by skilled craftspeople using quality materials and tried and tested construction methods that outperform many of today’s mass-produced pieces. Correctly cared for, period furniture, silverware, and antique ceramics can handle daily use. Indeed, regular use can even extend the life of items like antique wooden tables, by keeping them conditioned. The key here is giving your items the correct care: understanding how to clean them (not putting antique silver spoons in the dishwasher!), learning how to protest surfaces, and having any damage that occurs, quickly and professionally repaired. Our Cleaning Antiques Blog has lots of helpful posts, from How to care for antique and period furniture to How to clean antique silver plus many more. With the correct care, quality antiques will always be beautiful and functional, proof that history and everyday can exist happily side by side.
Restoration decreases value
Rather than simply making such a sweeping statement as restoration decreases value, we need to qualify it by saying poor or badly carried out restoration will decrease value! A well-executed restoration by a professional, using techniques and materials sympathetic to the piece, will maintain the value of the piece. In some cases, it could even increase its value!
A professional antiques restorer or conservator is skilled and experienced in not only preserving antiques but will also restore the physical integrity of a piece where necessary, and prevent further deterioration. Expert restoration is valued by museums and high-end collectors alike who commission experts to preserve items and to ensure they continue to be usable. For example, a fine George III table with unstable joints and damaged veneer will attract fewer buyers and will command a lower price than one that has been repaired and restored to its original condition.
Older means more valuable
The criteria we gave for valuing antique ceramics holds true for most areas of collectables, and in many articles on the subject of valuation, age is rarely a factor. The idea that “older means more valuable” in antiques is a common misconception. Condition, authenticity and demand have a much bigger part to play.
Provenance and historical significance also matter. Hence a 19th century desk owned by a famous writer for example, will be valued more highly than a 17th century piece with no back-story. The value of an antique is a combination of so many more factors than just age - craftsmanship, uniqueness, authenticity, and provenance are significant influencers and, although age may increase appeal, sometimes it will be the “younger” antique that steals the show!
Shopping for antiques at Hemswell Antique Centres
With over 9,000 antiques for sale on our website, our 400+ dealers really do have something for everyone and every budget. If you are visiting our beautiful county, a trip to our four buildings will reward you with the finest collection of antiques at Europe’s largest antiques centre. For a fabulous day out, come and find us just a few miles from the historic cathedral city of Lincoln.
