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Wednesday, July 02, 2008
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Antique Collecting a Great Hobby and a Money Maker
By John Savage
Some antique collectors are motivated simply by a connection to history and or to particular items. Others, however, are also spurred by a desire to make their hobby a revenue source. Many antique collectors find themselves appreciating their pastime even more due to its potential financial benefit.
Antiques, after all, are a great commodity in which to invest. The laws of supply and demand tilt heavily in favor of the antique. One side of the equation, after all, is already solved for the antique collector. Because there is a very limited amount of new discoveries being made, there is no chance for supply to increase. As time passes, in fact, supply of any antique item is guaranteed to decline. Even assuming demand holds steady, prices should increase. In reality, however, demand tends to continue an upward climb, making the value of many antiques escalate at an impressive clip.
The cards definitely do seem to be stacked in favor of the collector! If you can simply acquire a popular item and hold on to it, then you are likely to eventually realize a profit. In the meantime, you will get all of the pleasure and enrichment attendant to owning the antique in question!
Of course, profiting from antiques requires an ability to discern which items will retain their overall demand. For many antique investors, this means finding items that already have strong and distinguished fan bases and loyal followings. Chippendale furniture, Tiffany lamps and other blue chip collectibles tend to consistently grow in value, making them impressive investments.
Those who want to use antiques as something akin to an investment are often best served by selecting already popular items with long traditions and enviable track records. You can profit from heavy investment in a lesser known item, hoping that it eventually becomes more coveted, but this strategy is less steady than selecting antiques that are already universally recognized for their appeal.
These antiques come with a relatively steep price tag and not all collectors are able to secure these items. However, if a name brand antique is beyond your means, does that mean that you cannot profit as a collector?
Fortunately, the answer to that query is definitely no. Those who approach the overall antique market with a well trained brokers eye will find undervalued antiques for sale and will nab them at low prices. They can then turn around and sell these items to others at a profit.
This buy low, sell high strategy does require a certain level of skill, however. One must be sufficiently knowledgeable to recognize a bargain. One must also know where to look for under priced items. The antique trader must also be able to find buyers after securing a bargain purchase. The quick decision making often required when in pursuit of a cheaply priced antique requires that those embarking on this profit making route be well educated about a variety of antiques.
Many hobbyist antique collectors enjoy the challenge of being an antique trader. They enjoy the gaming aspect of searching out bargains at flea markets, garage sales, estate auctions and other locations. They appreciate the challenge of profiting from their keen eye. Even though their gains may be modest and some efforts may fall short, they still enjoy the process and it adds another dimension to their hobby.
Antiques are one of the few hobbies that create an opportunity for profit. Most hobbies can be characterized as money pits. You spend and spend in pursuit of a hobby. It is a revenue stream that inevitably runs away from the hobbyist. Antique collecting, on the other hand, is different. It actually creates a situation in which the hobbyist can profit.
Whether you approach antiques as a blue chip investor or as an aggressive antique trader, you may be able to make antique collecting a financially (as well as personally) rewarding diversion! Thousands of antique collectors have found ways to turn their hobby and passion into a real legitimate moneymaker. It may not be a foolproof investment strategy, but it is a great way to add some extra value to your hobby endeavors
About The Author
john savage has a Blog which shows you 12 simple ways to find and buy Antiques & Collectibles. Click Here to visit.
Hints On antique brass jewelry
Wear cotton gloves as much as possible when handling your silver. This will prevent the oils and acids from your hands from ending up on the object. Cotton gloves are very inexpensive, and can be purchased at photography supply stores and some drug stores.
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Grandfather Clocks. These long case clocks are free-standing pendulum time pieces constructed to stand against walls. An elaborately carved wooden head surrounds the clock face. Some of these antique wall clocks require winding every eight days while others must be wound every other day. Most strike a chime at the hour and half hour.
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Sat, 10 Nov 2007 05:27:03 -0600
Learn how to tell the difference between reproductions and antiques. Antique Furniture categories here include vintage cabinets, chests, old-fashioned rocking chairs, tables, dining room sets, and more
Create A Niche in Neighborhood With Antique Lighting Fixtures
By David Faulkner
As weird as it may seem to a layman that there are still age old lightings, and that these are sold at a whopping sum, the chances are that he will give a hearty laugh and move on, but not for the art lovers, and the collectors. The antiques as the word suggests are the articles or objects which are very old and have historic value attached to them, hence are priced highly.
Many kinds of antique lightings are available in the market. These can be accessed to at the local market as well as at the various auctions for the antiques and even on online markets. These being rare are hard to find and thus require a lot of research. You should be well aware of the antiques otherwise chances are that many may try to dupe you by selling off a fake.
An auctioneer or an expert in the field of antiques can guide you on the subject and assist you in locating the right lighting that you are looking for. There may be case where you might be charged more than the worth of the antique. These usually cost a fortune not only because of its rarity but also because the condition they are in and what legacy they possess.
Drawbacks of an Antique Fitting
With the popularity comes the threat, the age old saying holds good even in this category. The antiques are the commodity that even the big thieves are after and they will eye your prized possession not only with envy but also attempt to steal it also. This is the biggest drawback of having an antique light fitting.
The actual sweat is broken while locating an authentic art dealer and antique dealer. The normal folly attempted by many is that to surf the yellow pages in search of the dealer. But how will you tell this is not the fake one and real art dealer, its anybody�s guess but a little scrutiny will tread you to the right person.
Once you have found the exact source of the authentic dealer you should get in touch with him and convey to him your requirement and the budget, he may then seek time to locate the desired item, as he himself might not possess the artifact but through his contacts he may reach the right spot with a lot less energy wasted compared to you.
Country furniture is a specialized subject, and those attracted to it are well advised to seek out dealers and auctioneers with a detailed knowledge of their regional types. The same applies to sophisticated, mainstream furniture. There are still a few dealers surviving with an encyclopedic knowledge that covers just about everything from fine furniture to vintage cars, but even they will admit, under pressure, that they can no longer keep up with I market fluctuations. Specialization is the order of the day.
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Comparison shop: some rare items cannot be compared for price, but you might be able to compare more common items. Also, look at reproductions. Some are good value for money as alternatives to antiques. And, knowing the features of repros may help you in the quest for the real.
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Ask questions: about what you read on the label and what's not there. How old is this piece? Where was it made? How did you (the dealer) get it? Have you done any repairs or restoration? Is the hardware original? What refund/return policy does the dealer offer if the item is discovered later to be not as claimed? What is the dealer's policy on returns? What they tell you isn't worth the paper it's printed on. So make sure you -
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How do you find good antique shops when you're traveling out of town? I found it helpful to befriend dealers in shops I liked, then asked them if they could recommend other places that carry similar merchandise. I liked the antiques in my bed and breakfast, so I asked the owner where she shops. If you're just pulling into town, find a store with a sensibility that matches your own, then ask the proprietor for recommendations. I went into a gift shop with lots of funky-chic merchandise, and the woman at the register was a font of knowledge about antiques dealers lurking off the beaten path.
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Have you visited the Pottery and Porcelain Marks Gallery on the site yet? Lots of people have, and I appreciate their favorable feedback. There are some names you might...