Antiques are usually objects which show some degree of craftsmanship, or a certain attention to design such as a desk or the early automobile. They are bought at antique shops, or passed down as an estate. Some valuable antiques can be bought from antique dealers and auction services or purchased online through websites and online auctions.
The definition of antique varies from source to source, product to product, and year to year. However, some time-tested definitions of antique deserve consideration, such as the following:
1. "An item which is at least 50 to 100 years old and is collected or desirable due to rarity, condition, utility, or some other unique feature. Motor vehicles, power tools and other items subject to vigorous use in contrast, may be considered antiques in the U.S. if older than 25 years, and some electronic gadgets of more recent vintage may be considered antiques. Another general rule of thumb is 35 years for most objects to become antiques.
2. "Any piece of furniture or decorative object or the like produced in a former period and valuable because of its beauty or rarity."
Any historical museum makes a considerable use of antiques in order to illustrate historical events and give them a practical context. Virtually any object can become an antique if it survives long enough, but value of an antique in the market place is determined by its appeal and social acceptance. For example museums exist of ephemera, that is of objects and items that would normally be thrown away, such as packaging and advertising flyers and posters.
The collecting of antique furniture is a particularly popular area of antiques due to the practical characteristics of these antiques. Antique furniture includes dining tables, chairs, bureaus, chests etc. The most common woods are mahogany, oak, pine, walnut and rosewood.
In Chinese antique furniture the most common wood is elm a wood common to most regions able to sustain trees. Each wood has its own distinctive grain and colour. Many modern pieces of furniture often use laminate or wood veneer to cheaply achieve the same effect. There are a number of different styles of antique furniture depending on when and where it was made. The most common include Arts & Crafts, Georgian, Regency American Pastoral, and Victorian.
Antiquities. Predynastic Egyptian Steatite Bowls, Ancient Persian Luristan Bronze Swords, ANCIENT EGYPTIAN PTOLEMAIC CARTONAGE MASK 300 BC, Yemeni Silver Djambiya, MEDIEVAL TWO HANDER ca1380 AD BATTLE SWORDS, IRON AGE LA TENE SOLID CELTIC SWORDS, Ancient Roman Rings.
Architectural and Garden Antiques. ANTIQUE BRONZE and ALABASTER FIGURAL CHANDELIERS, Antique Bronze Figural Gothic Art Hanging Oil Lamps, White Antique Wood Mantels, FRENCH BRASS BRONZE CRYSTAL CHANDELIERS, Antique Flamed Maple Mantels.
Asian Antiques. CHINESE QING DYNASTY Qianlong Blue PORCELAIN JARS, MANDARIN CHINESE EXPORT TUREEN, Koto NAGAMAKI NAOSHI Wakizashi Japanese Katana Swords, Chinese Silver Octagonal Pictoral Tea Caddys, 19th Century Chinese 'Ox Bone' Puzzle Balls, Chinese Export Silver Gilt Scholars Box Wang Hing, Japanese Cloisonne Box.
Books and Manuscripts. MUNSTER "COSMOGRAPHY" 1598, 1477 POSTILLA SUPER PSALTERIUM INCUNABULA BIBLE, 1662 Workes Charles I Bound in royal arms of Charles II, 1473 Leonardo de Utino Sermones INCUNABULA, Great Medieval Franciscan Text Printed 1478, Chinese Russian History PLATES 1706, Incunabula Gratian LAW DROIT 1489-1494.
Decorative Arts Antiques. TIFFANY STUDIOS ZODIAC TURTLEBACK DESK LAMPS, French Empire Bronze and Ormolu Palace Candelabras, Russian Porcelain Plaques, Sevres Style Old Paris 19th Century Urns, WMF Art Nouveau Figural Silver Nautical Centerpieces, Antique Handel Lamps, Le Verre Francais vases, 17th 1643 century signed and dated Rembrandt.
Ethnographic Antiques. ANTIQUE AMERICAN INDIAN YOKUTS COILED BOWL BASKETS, Fine and Rare Figurative Spoons, PACIFIC NORTH WEST BEAR KILLER RITUAL KNIFE, NEW GUINEA CROCODILE SKULL ASMAT PAPUA, 20th C. Vanuatu Janus Maskette, Brunei cannon Tendril motif Lantaka, 1883 Hawaiian Quarter Coin Sash.
Antique Furniture. LOUIS VUITTON BACHELOR'S WARDROBE STEAMER TRUNKS, Bugatti Art Deco Benches, Jean Prouve Compass Tables, Period French Gilt Louis XVI Sofa Canapé and Wing Chairs, Danish Modern Eames Era Dansk IHQ Teak Pepper Mills, EDISON MUSIC CYLINDER CABINET WITH SWING OUT DRAWERS, Antique ROCOCO VICTORIAN BELTER ROSALIE SOFA Rosewood, Eames Herman Miller Modern Rosewood Lounge Chairs.
Home and Hearth Antiques. QUM 100% SILK 729 KPSI BLACK GOLD PERSIAN RUGS, TIFFANY FANEUIL STERLING SILVER FLATWARE SERVICE FOR 12, MUNSTER "COSMOGRAPHY" 1598, LOUIS VUITTON BACHELOR'S WARDROBE STEAMER TRUNKS, TIFFANY STUDIOS ZODIAC TURTLEBACK DESK LAMPS, 1662 Workes Charles I Bound in royal arms of Charles II, ORIGINAL MUSEUM QUALITY LEECHES JAR LEECH JARS, ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM BOOK OF HOURS, TIFFANY STUDIOS FAVRILE DAMASCENE LAMP SHADES.
Antique Linens and Textiles. 1875 Drunkard Path Blue Calico Pieced Country Quilts, Antique Petit Point and Needlepoint Bell Pull Birds, FILET SARDINIA ISLANDS ITALY BANQUET TABLECLOTHS, Handmade FARMSTYLE HEXAGON FEEDSACK Novelty Print QUILTS, Antique 1880's Touching Star Quilts, Old Handloom Red wool Naga Ceremonial Burmese Sarongs, ANTIQUE HANDMADE STITCHED JACOBS LADDER 1880 QUILTS.
Antique Maps, Atlases and Globes. ROSWELL SMITH GEOGRAPHY BOOK ATLAS 20 1849 ANTIQUE MAPS, Japanese Hand-Painted DAIMYO 1810 MAP OF JAPAN, SOUTH INDIA SRI LANKA 1752 BELLIN ORIGINAL ENGRAVED MAP, 1868 World Terrestrial Globe by Felkl and Sohn Otto Delit, DUDLEY ADAMS LONDON 1797 12" TABLE CELESTIAL GLOBES.
Maritime Antiques. Galeazzi La Spezia Diving Helmets, Siebe Gorman Diving Helmets, Commercial MARK -V Schrader Diving Helmets, MORSE SHALLOW WATER DIVING HELMETS, LIONEL MILITARY ANTIQUE MARITIME BINNACLE WITH COMPASS, USSR Marine Compass, Antique Brass Sundial Compass, Antique Maritime WWII Ship Binnacle US Navy Compass, TITANIC 40" Wooden RMS Ship Model Display, 1841 Antique Whale Boat Model, 19Th Century Antique Half Hull Sail Boat Ship Model, HMS VICTORY XL 52" wooden ship model, VINTAGE OCTANT MADE IN SPAIN, SPENCER BROWNING AND CO OCTANT.
Mercantile Antiques. ANTIQUE PREMIER STERILIZER BARBER SHOP TOWEL STEAMER, Antique 1895 Fairbanks Gold and Coin Scales, Antique National Cash Registers, Antique Washington Style Hat-Tip Printing Press, Antique Commercial Visible #6 Typewriters, Vintage 1889 Odell's Index # 1b Antique Typewriters, BELDING BROS. & CO. MERCANTILE SPOOL CABINETS, Antique STOLLWERCK'S Chocolates Wood DISPLAY Cabinets, 1911 # 332 Dolphin National Brass Cash Registers, Vintage 1928 REM-BLICK Typewriters, Antique KOCHS Oak and Brass Barber Chairs, Antique 1850 Brass Howard and Davis Balance Scales.
Antique Musical Instruments. STUDIO KING 4 STRING GIBSON BANJO, ANTIQUE ITALIAN LABEL VIOLIN, 1923 Gibson Mandolin, US Army Band Sousaphone Tuba, 19th Century GERMAN VIOLIN, Antique 1903 Stefano Scarampella label Violin, Early Virginia 1800's Walnut Scheitholt Dulcimer, ANTIQUE VINTAGE FRENCH VIOLIN, Antique Italian Leandro Bisiach 1922 Violin, Alfred Arnold Bandonion Bandoneon Concertina, RARE 1900 WOODEN MÖNNIG SCHWEDLER REFORM FLUTE, Antique 1840 Chickering Square Grand Piano.
Periods and Styles Antiques. Eames Herman Miller Modern Rosewood Lounge Chairs, 1927 DECO BOSTON LIGHTHOUSE COCKTAIL SHAKERS, HERMAN MILLER ROSEWOOD LOUNGE CHAIR OTTOMAN, Arteluce Arredoluce Triennale Gino Safartti Floor Lamps, Tom Dixon Foscarini Suspension Chandelier Lamps, Antique Gustav Stickley Tall-back Spindled Armchairs, Arne Jacobsen Fritz Hansen Series 7 Chairs.
Antique Primitives. Antique Grenfell Hooked Rugs, ANTIQUE EARLY FOLK ART TINNED SHEET IRON CHANDELIERS, ANTIQUE PRIMITIVE SALESMAN SAMPLE FEDERAL LINEN PRESS, Victorian Ping Pong Paddles, Antique Butcher Blocks, ANTIQUE GOTTSCHALK VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURE DOLLHOUSE, HALF GALLON BLUE COBALT Stoneware CROCKS.
Antique Restoration and Care. QUICKSHINE Instant Silver Plating Solution, HOWARD NATURALS WOOD PRESERVER BEESWAX, INSTANT SILVER SILVER PLATING Formula, PINE-OLA COPPER and BRASS METAL POLISH CLEANER, WILLIAMS STEEL CAST IRON STOVE POLISH.
Antique Rugs and Carpets. 19th Century Serapi Rugs, SIGNED 7X10 SILKEN PERSIAN TABRIZ Rugs, HAND KNOTTED NICE BEIGE PERSIAN SILK RUGS, Nain Persian Oriental Area Rugs, ANTIQUE CAUCASIAN KUBA DAGESTAN GROUP PRAYER RUGS, Oriental Antique Caucasian Karabagh Kassem Ouchag Rugs, Antique Circa 1920 Decorative Chinese Art Deco Rugs, Oriental Antique Caucasian Double Sided Kuba Carpets.
Science and Medicine Antiques. Zonophone Model A Glass Sided Phonographs, Farey Ellipsograph Drawing Instruments, 1750-1786 MEDICINE SCIENCE SET 11 Volumes, Antique Compass and Sun Dials, 1650-1700 DENTAL PELICAN KEYS, VINTAGE 1927 BLUE NEUTROWOUND WIRELESS OLD RADIOS, Keuffel and Esser Thacher 4013 Slide Rule Calculators, Aloe and Hernstein Surgical Amputation Sets, Antique Civil War Era Medical Tools Surgical Saws Knife, 1882 Edison Lane-Fox Incandescent Lamp Light Bulbs, ANTIQUE 1850 PHELPS and GURLEY SURVEYORS COMPASSES, Victorian Apothecary Show Globes.
Sewing Antiques. PALAIS ROYAL SEWING ETUI MUSIC BOX, Antique Norwegian Enameled Sterling Thimbles, Antique Hallborchert Dress Form Mannequins, Antique Napoleonic Sewing Boxes, Antique Circa 1840s English Cased Sterling Sewing Sets, Antique French TAHAN Sewing Boxes, Antique SINGER Model 20 Childrens Toy SEWING MACHINES, 1890's IDEAL Child's Treadle Sewing Machines, Antique Circa 1900s French Silver Love Birds Sewing Sets, LITTLE HUSTLER Vindex Childs Toy Treadle Sewing Machines.
Antique Silver. Wallace Sterling Silver GRANDE BAROQUE Flatware, Sterling Silver Tiffany Tea Sets, ROBBE BERKING GERMAN STERLING SILVER CHARGER PLATES, 1820 EDWARD FARRELL STERLING CAKE BASKETS, AUGSBURG SILVER GOBLETS, Sanborns Sterling Silver Tea Service, Reed and Barton FRANCIS I STERLING Flatware Sets, TUTTLE LAMERIE STERLING SILVER Flatware Sets, CARTIER Sterling 14 piece Martini Sets, Old English Hand Chased POOLE Sterling Coffee Tea Sets.
Reproduction Antiques. 1903 Wright Brothers Flyer Collectible Metal Plane, VIRGINIA METAL CRAFTERS WILLIAMSBURG TAYLOE LANTERNS, WILLIAMSBURG STIEFF PEWTER COFFEE AND TEA SETS, Williamsburg Governors Palace Silver and Crystal Epergne, ANTICO BELVEDERE APOLLO BRONZE SCULPTURE STATUES, SIGNED HUBERT GERHARD NUDE DIANA THE HUNTER BRONZE ART, JASON AND GOLDEN FLEECE BY THORVALDSEN BRONZE STATUES.