Develop a new passion for antiques: Antiquers offer tips on finding, buying treasures

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June 30, 2012

Develop a new passion for antiques: Antiquers offer tips on finding, buying treasures

By Terry Hannum Contributing Writer The Daily Star Sat Jun 30, 2012, 03:30 AM EDT

Antique collecting, buying, selling, inheriting and unintentionally finding is a fascination, hobby and business for people throughout the world. Museums, historical sites, homes and places of work all house relics of the past being stored, displayed, used, studied and enjoyed.

This region is a destination point for antique hunters _ pros and beginners alike.

Just how far back in time an item has to go before it is considered "antique" instead of old, vintage, collectible or simply used is controversial. Answers vary according to who is buying and who is selling. An item labeled "antique" can add vast monetary worth.

There is a definitive source that seldom leaves room for debate _ if you are traveling in or out of United States and need to declare or insure an old object, U.S. Customs rules that one 100 years old or more is considered to be an official antique.

This is an era of new and disposable, but more and more people are finding that products made 100 or more years ago were built to last, so much so that they outlive fairly new items. This is one of many reasons people shop for antiques.

Cheryl Anderson of Queens explained that whenever she visits her friends in Cooperstown, a trip to a few antique stores fits into her schedule. Anderson transports her purchases back to the city with her for resale to shops that like using the sturdy beauty of early 1900s tables, dressers and cabinets.

"The antique furniture has this value (being well built) and is often less expensive than readily available, new designs," Anderson explained.

Shopping for antiques opens up an entirely new realm of buying experiences. This region has a huge selection of antique shops, each one different from the next so "seen one, seen them all" never holds true.

Julia Grissom explained that her greatest finds have been at estate sales where interesting things catch her eye for the design, craftsmanship or a sort of historical story the item tells. Grissom travels to this area from Houston, Texas, every year and never leaves without some fascinating finds. She describes her purchases as a link to the past, a tribute to lost arts and artisans, visual history lessons and things of substance that always have a story with them.

Though not quite as fun and entertaining as getting out to antique shops, flea markets, yard sales and thrift stores, Internet shopping can be a fascinating and educational experience but before you click the "buy now" button, make sure you are familiar with the item, that you are not overpaying and that the seller has an excellent rating over a long period of time.

Pay for the item by a secure method such as PayPal and be comfortable with the seller's guarantees and return policies.

If you are new to antique shopping, the primary starting point is your attraction to something old. That could be early American Indian jewelry, coin banks, buttons, china, Civil War photographs or writing desks of the mid-1700s.

Look items over carefully _ all sides, underneath, inside and out. If the lighting is not good, ask to see the object in a more illuminated setting.

Look for damage that may be costly to have repaired or that will lessen the value, and notice if there has been repair work, touch ups or overlays with non-original material.

What takes place next is a decision based on what you see, how much you like it and a price you are comfortable paying.

The old saying "What's important is not the deal you got but the deal you think you got" fits well with antique shopping.

Having a limit on how much you want to spend is important when shopping for antiques, as shopper Steve Kolodziej explained. "I was bidding on a pre-Prohibition beer tray on a popular website for a local brewery I'm interested in. I bailed out (of bidding) at $3,000, it finally sold for slightly over $5,000. Just a few weeks later I saw the same tray at a local antique shop and picked it up for $38, I didn't even try to talk the dealer down (in price)."

Kolodziej continued, "Ultimately it's all in the hunt, finding and purchasing really interesting links to our past, at the right price of course. "

Steve Coster, owner of Second Wind, an antique, second-hand and collectible shop in Hobart, explained that he, like many people who get involved with selling old items, began with a single purchase that starts a collection, followed by growing expertise in certain eras or products.

"I have an eye for certain things and I am great at repairing items," Coster said.

His business has many antiques, but his focus is on finding items that may need some cleaning or repair while keeping the customer costs very low.

Television programs such as "Antiques Roadshow" have inspired many people to take a greater interest in what is stored in their attics and barns. This area of the country has a wealth of antiques in part because a lot of baggage and belongings were left as people moved further and further westward, so there is no shortage of old and antique discoveries here.

Coster describes the attraction of working in a business such as his:

"The discovery aspect (of old and antique items) is always present. My days are filled with finding pieces that have me asking 'what is it?' and 'where did it come from?' as I begin research. I have come across some amazing and interesting things such as hidden letters underneath fabric in a plain worn box that may be information about activities of the Underground Railroad movement that took place in this area."

Think you have an antique? Here are some hints to help you find out if it is as old as it looks and what its value might be.

H.L. and Linda Wilson, owners of Bibliobarn and Bibliobarn II in South Kortright and Margaretville, appraise books, manuscripts and ephemera. Their appraisal methods for those materials is similar to how an appraiser of furniture, art or tractors works. It involves looking closely at how something was made, the materials used and unique features that set it apart from other time periods.

The Internet is a vast and almost limitless source of initial information where similar items might be viewed on places such as eBay, or at www.whatsitworthtoyou.com, which charges a small fee for basic appraisals by way of your photos and descriptions.

Television series such as "Antiques Roadshow" or some of the newly created programs are an entertaining way to learn a little about how the business of antiquing works. Considered to be a must-have starting point reference manual, the annual edition of "Kovel's Antiques and Collectibles Price Guide" can be found on both buyers' and sellers' desks.

How to get started in antiquing is simple, as Kolodziej described: "Starting always seems to begin the same way: you're looking around see something that interests you at a good price, you buy it, study it and find out there are similar items, you actively seek them out, find a few more and then it gets really serious, antique shops and flea markets every weekend!"