How to spot a bargain
Can you tell the difference between a priceless heirloom and worthless tat? You will be able to after reading our guide!
Was your great-auntie's hand-me-down hatpin really once worn by Queen Victoria? Did 15th-century Chinese artisans make the cloisonné vase you found in the attic? And is your local art dealer actually selling an original Turner landscape for just £24.95? It's sometimes hard to tell, but if you arm yourself with a little knowledge, you could earn a spot of pin money dabbling in old stuff. Here's a guide to get you started telling fabulous forgeries from authentic antiques.
Be specific, be informed
The first step to hunting down the bargain of a lifetime is to learn a lot about a specific area. Decide what kind of antique you want to collect and learn everything you can. Furniture, ceramics, toys, textiles... they all have peculiar quirks. If you're into furniture, find out all about types of wood, joints, paints, veneers and tools used in furniture production. Next, visit museums to see authentic antiques up close. Then get out to antiques markets and shops and look, look, look. Chat with dealers - they are an invaluable source of information.
Materials and construction
Once you've done a little studying, you'll know what kind of materials and construction are consistent with which period. In furniture, check that the type of wood, joints, screws or any other construction features are consistent with the time period. Are joints too even, or pegs too uniform to have been done by hand? Also check wood items for shape. Wood shrinks over time, so any circle that's too perfect or square that's still square is a sign that your piece is not authentic.
Wear and tear
Scrutinise the merchandise; get down on all fours to look underneath, pull out drawers, turn objects over. What are you looking for? Any signs of modern repairs, extensive damage or parts that don't quite match are warning signs. Also, check that wear and tear is consistent with how the object was used. For example, a chest of drawers should have more wear around the drawer handles, and will have collected dust and grime around detailed carvings. If wear and dirt is evenly distributed across a piece, it's a sign that it's been artificially aged.
Where have I seen that before?
If you see a piece that looks familiar, and then see the same piece again, chances are it's a modern mass-produced forgery. Real antiques tend to be unique or at least quite rare, so keep your eyes open and memory sharp.
Too good to be true
The "found it in a junk shop for 30p but it's really worth £30,000" scenario is mostly a pipe dream. So if something seems to be too good to be true, it probably is. Examine every centimetre of a great deal before you fork out a tuppence.
Be specific, be informed
The first step to hunting down the bargain of a lifetime is to learn a lot about a specific area. Decide what kind of antique you want to collect and learn everything you can. Furniture, ceramics, toys, textiles... they all have peculiar quirks. If you're into furniture, find out all about types of wood, joints, paints, veneers and tools used in furniture production. Next, visit museums to see authentic antiques up close. Then get out to antiques markets and shops and look, look, look. Chat with dealers - they are an invaluable source of information.
Materials and construction
Once you've done a little studying, you'll know what kind of materials and construction are consistent with which period. In furniture, check that the type of wood, joints, screws or any other construction features are consistent with the time period. Are joints too even, or pegs too uniform to have been done by hand? Also check wood items for shape. Wood shrinks over time, so any circle that's too perfect or square that's still square is a sign that your piece is not authentic.
Wear and tear
Scrutinise the merchandise; get down on all fours to look underneath, pull out drawers, turn objects over. What are you looking for? Any signs of modern repairs, extensive damage or parts that don't quite match are warning signs. Also, check that wear and tear is consistent with how the object was used. For example, a chest of drawers should have more wear around the drawer handles, and will have collected dust and grime around detailed carvings. If wear and dirt is evenly distributed across a piece, it's a sign that it's been artificially aged.
Where have I seen that before?
If you see a piece that looks familiar, and then see the same piece again, chances are it's a modern mass-produced forgery. Real antiques tend to be unique or at least quite rare, so keep your eyes open and memory sharp.
Too good to be true
The "found it in a junk shop for 30p but it's really worth £30,000" scenario is mostly a pipe dream. So if something seems to be too good to be true, it probably is. Examine every centimetre of a great deal before you fork out a tuppence.
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