Valuing Antiques
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How much do you know about valuing antiques? If you are anything like most
Working out the value of an antique involves a lot more than examining a price
list. Antiques experts will usually only use this as the starting point of the
valuation process. There are numerous other factors that also need to be
taken into consideration when valuing antiques. Despite this, valuing antiques
is not as difficult as you might imagine.
Firstly, you need to be aware that you cannot simply look up the value of
antique and automatically be given a set price. There are price guides and
auction guides available, but antiques are almost always given a value within a
certain range. For example, a painting could be worth anything between $1000
and $1800. Its actual value will depend on a number of factors, some of which
are outlined below.
Do not ignore marks
Antiques that have a manufacturer’s or designer’s mark will have more value
than those that do not, even if the piece is almost exactly the same. These
marks are often small, so you might need to use a magnifying glass to be able
to see it. This is a reason why many people often value their antiques at a price
that is less than they deserve, because they did not see the mark that would
inform them otherwise. If the piece has been painted by hand, or hand crafted,
there may also be an accompanying signature by the artist, which will also adds
value. Thus, it is a good idea to spend some time identifying any marks or
signatures that will increase the value of your antique.
Assess the condition
A considerable part of an antique’s value will depend on the condition that it is
in. This refers to even small signs of wear and tear, such as chips, cracks and
stains, as well as damage that is more considerable. When assessing the
condition of your antique, keep an eye out for any signs that indicate that it is
not a brand new item, as these will ultimately affect its value.
Determine how rare it is
If an antique is common, it will have a lower value. Likewise, if an antique is
rare, it will increase its value. A rare antique can still command a high value
even if it is not in the best of conditions, but this will not always be the case.
However, if you own a common antique that is in good condition, you probably
will not be worth a huge amount. For the most part, it is the less common
antiques that are worth the most, whatever their condition.
Do not confuse old with valuable
Just because an antique is old, does not necessarily mean that is in high
demand. A lot of the time, an old item only becomes sought after when it
becomes rare (for example, if not many of them were produced, or if not many
of them still exist).
Make sure that it is real
There will be times when you will have to be able to ensure that the antique that
you are planning to buy is a legitimate one. It is safe to say that if there is a
manufacturer’s mark or artist’s signature, the antique is likely to be real. If it
looks suspiciously new, with few indications of ageing and other wear and tear,
it is a good idea to keep an open mind, as this can be a sign that it is a fake
antique.
Many of the signs that you should be looking for cannot be seen with the naked
eye alone, which is why many professionals use black light testing to confirm
authenticity. For porcelain, this involves taking it into a dark room, and using a
handheld torch to look for cracks, chips and similar damage. This may only be
minute, but they can have affect how much your antique is worth.
Green American Depression glass and Vaseline glass both glow when held
under a black light, whilst colorless pressed glass tends to produce a yellow
glow in black light. In all of these cases, reproductions will not emit the same
glow.
Modern paint also glows when held under ultraviolet light, so it is not difficult to
check most paintings for cracks and touch-ups. Most paper documents that
date from before the 1930s will not emit a glow under ultraviolet light.
However, most modern documents will (as a result of the chemical bleach and
dye that is used), which means this is a good test of authenticity.
Many modern clothing fibers glow under black light, but do not assume that a
material is automatically old (or vice versa), just because it is does not glow.
Modern laundry detergents can cause old fabrics to glow under black light, due
to the chemicals that are used to produce them. In this case, manufacturing
techniques and design can also be used to date textiles.
Take repairs and restoration into account
If a rare antique has been restored by a professional, it can add significant
value. However, the value will decrease dramatically if the repairs or restoring
has been done by someone who does not have the expert touch. Very minor
repairs may not affect the value, but it is best to get a second opinion from an
antiques expert if you are at all unsure.
If an antique is damaged, it is not automatically worthless, as antiques dealers
often buy pieces that they can repair. Even antiques that seem to be severely
damaged can still be worth something, but do not assume that they will be worth
a particularly high value. You would be well advised to seek the advice of an
antiques expert before you decide that a piece has no value, as you could be
pleasantly surprised!
Do not rely on online price guides
Online price guides can be a good indication of how much a piece is worth, but
it should not be your sole resource when valuing antiques. The information that
is contained in price and auction guides is not necessarily an accurate
reflection of current market trends, so it does not automatically tell you how
much your piece might be worth. In addition, it will not take into account other
factors that will affect the value of an antique, such as condition, and whether a
piece has been professionally restored. Antiques tend to rise in value when
demand is high, and this will probably be indicated in the price guide. However,
the value will decrease once demand for the piece has declined, and this is
unlikely to be indicated, which means that it is all too easy to be fooled into
thinking that your antique is worth more than it actually is.
Valuing antiques does not have to be the minefield that many people believe it
to be. With a bit of expert knowledge, you can quickly become familiar with the
signs to look out for when valuing antiques. If all else fails though, seek the
advice of an antiques expert for a second opinion.
Working out the value of an antique involves a lot more than examining a price
list. Antiques experts will usually only use this as the starting point of the
valuation process. There are numerous other factors that also need to be
taken into consideration when valuing antiques. Despite this, valuing antiques
is not as difficult as you might imagine.
Firstly, you need to be aware that you cannot simply look up the value of
antique and automatically be given a set price. There are price guides and
auction guides available, but antiques are almost always given a value within a
certain range. For example, a painting could be worth anything between $1000
and $1800. Its actual value will depend on a number of factors, some of which
are outlined below.
Do not ignore marks
Antiques that have a manufacturer’s or designer’s mark will have more value
than those that do not, even if the piece is almost exactly the same. These
marks are often small, so you might need to use a magnifying glass to be able
to see it. This is a reason why many people often value their antiques at a price
that is less than they deserve, because they did not see the mark that would
inform them otherwise. If the piece has been painted by hand, or hand crafted,
there may also be an accompanying signature by the artist, which will also adds
value. Thus, it is a good idea to spend some time identifying any marks or
signatures that will increase the value of your antique.
Assess the condition
A considerable part of an antique’s value will depend on the condition that it is
in. This refers to even small signs of wear and tear, such as chips, cracks and
stains, as well as damage that is more considerable. When assessing the
condition of your antique, keep an eye out for any signs that indicate that it is
not a brand new item, as these will ultimately affect its value.
Determine how rare it is
If an antique is common, it will have a lower value. Likewise, if an antique is
rare, it will increase its value. A rare antique can still command a high value
even if it is not in the best of conditions, but this will not always be the case.
However, if you own a common antique that is in good condition, you probably
will not be worth a huge amount. For the most part, it is the less common
antiques that are worth the most, whatever their condition.
Do not confuse old with valuable
Just because an antique is old, does not necessarily mean that is in high
demand. A lot of the time, an old item only becomes sought after when it
becomes rare (for example, if not many of them were produced, or if not many
of them still exist).
Make sure that it is real
There will be times when you will have to be able to ensure that the antique that
you are planning to buy is a legitimate one. It is safe to say that if there is a
manufacturer’s mark or artist’s signature, the antique is likely to be real. If it
looks suspiciously new, with few indications of ageing and other wear and tear,
it is a good idea to keep an open mind, as this can be a sign that it is a fake
antique.
Many of the signs that you should be looking for cannot be seen with the naked
eye alone, which is why many professionals use black light testing to confirm
authenticity. For porcelain, this involves taking it into a dark room, and using a
handheld torch to look for cracks, chips and similar damage. This may only be
minute, but they can have affect how much your antique is worth.
Green American Depression glass and Vaseline glass both glow when held
under a black light, whilst colorless pressed glass tends to produce a yellow
glow in black light. In all of these cases, reproductions will not emit the same
glow.
Modern paint also glows when held under ultraviolet light, so it is not difficult to
check most paintings for cracks and touch-ups. Most paper documents that
date from before the 1930s will not emit a glow under ultraviolet light.
However, most modern documents will (as a result of the chemical bleach and
dye that is used), which means this is a good test of authenticity.
Many modern clothing fibers glow under black light, but do not assume that a
material is automatically old (or vice versa), just because it is does not glow.
Modern laundry detergents can cause old fabrics to glow under black light, due
to the chemicals that are used to produce them. In this case, manufacturing
techniques and design can also be used to date textiles.
Take repairs and restoration into account
If a rare antique has been restored by a professional, it can add significant
value. However, the value will decrease dramatically if the repairs or restoring
has been done by someone who does not have the expert touch. Very minor
repairs may not affect the value, but it is best to get a second opinion from an
antiques expert if you are at all unsure.
If an antique is damaged, it is not automatically worthless, as antiques dealers
often buy pieces that they can repair. Even antiques that seem to be severely
damaged can still be worth something, but do not assume that they will be worth
a particularly high value. You would be well advised to seek the advice of an
antiques expert before you decide that a piece has no value, as you could be
pleasantly surprised!
Do not rely on online price guides
Online price guides can be a good indication of how much a piece is worth, but
it should not be your sole resource when valuing antiques. The information that
is contained in price and auction guides is not necessarily an accurate
reflection of current market trends, so it does not automatically tell you how
much your piece might be worth. In addition, it will not take into account other
factors that will affect the value of an antique, such as condition, and whether a
piece has been professionally restored. Antiques tend to rise in value when
demand is high, and this will probably be indicated in the price guide. However,
the value will decrease once demand for the piece has declined, and this is
unlikely to be indicated, which means that it is all too easy to be fooled into
thinking that your antique is worth more than it actually is.
Valuing antiques does not have to be the minefield that many people believe it
to be. With a bit of expert knowledge, you can quickly become familiar with the
signs to look out for when valuing antiques. If all else fails though, seek the
advice of an antiques expert for a second opinion.
