Collecting anything is a fun and exciting activity. From coins to stamp posts to pebbles, collecting things is a crowd favorite and personal to everyone. Becoming an antique collector is one of the easiest yet most fun tasks to keep a person occupied in their hobbies. Becoming an antique collector also has a bonus, whether you’re collecting for fun or business purpose.
This article is a guide for all antique lovers who are looking forward to collecting timeless pieces for business or decoration.
Where do you start?
Before you begin your search, it is imperative to keep the intent in mind – whether you’re collecting to sell it at profit margins or as a hobby!
- For fun: If you’re collecting timeless pieces as a hobby, you can be open to all ideas and pieces from various decades and centuries. Also, if you’re collecting for fun, the history of the piece or the value does not come into consideration.
- Investment: Antique pieces hold tremendous value in the market, especially as home décor items. When starting, keep your goal in mind and collect pieces that can be used to decorate homes, buildings, offices, etc., with their value in mind.
Collecting antiques as a hobby
When you dip into the antique collection pool, you must understand that there are different pieces and types of antiques to choose from! The primary key to selecting a theme for the collection is to know what you love. From silver items to furniture and paintings, the list is endless. Hence, before you begin, you can look for pieces you love and explore things you might enjoy.
Collecting antiques for investment
When collecting for investment or business purposes, it is imperative first to note the values of items. Usually, sellers may charge a ton of money for a piece, but if you know the value of a piece, you can buy and sell accordingly without burning a hole in your pocket. Here are some factors which can help you determine the right price for a piece;
- A rarity depicts how common or rare an item is
- Condition of the piece and the damages
- Age of the thing and the era it belongs to
- Provenance and history of the piece and whether it matches your theme of the collection
Antiques to stay away from
Now that you know what to collect, it is also essential to know what not to collect. The specific antique piece is illegal to buy are sell, and you should avoid touching that subject. Some things to keep in mind are:
- Stay away from ivory pieces and anything made out of elephants. In most countries, these are considered illegal.
- Do not involve anything made of eagle feathers, as they are illegal in many countries.
- As a novice collected, it is better to keep native artifacts out of your reach, especially the ones originating from Native America.