Preserving Your Antiques

Preserving your antiques is important for both monetary and moral reasons.

Antiques bring joy into the lives of their owners every day, but it is also the responsibility of antique owners to properly preserve their collections. Antiques are more than just old objects, they are also often valuable collector’s items and even significant cultural artifacts. It is crucial financially and morally for collectors to preserve their antiques so they will still be around for future generations. Unfortunately, because antiques are by definition very old, taking good care of them presents antique owners with unique challenges. Thankfully, the experts at the Old & New Shop, have compiled this guide to help you with the goal of preserving your antiques. 

Challenges To Preserving Your Antiques

Antiques face different threats depending on their material composition, age, and storage conditions. However, there are some potential environmental threats that can risk the health of your antiques. In order to preserve the good health of your antiques, here are the factors to help you gauge the preservation and longevity of keeping your antiques safe: light, temperature, humidity, pests, human contact, chemical pollution, and incompatible material composition.

1. Light

Exposing antiques to excessive amounts of light speeds up their deterioration. It is especially important to protect antique photographs, textiles, paper artifacts, and furniture from direct sunlight and fluorescent light. 

2. Temperature

Antiques can be harmed by heat, cold, and temperature fluctuation particularly if they are made of rubber, wood, or metal. It is essential to store antiques in temperature-controlled environments. 

3. Humidity

 It is important to store antiques at a consistent humidity of 45 to 55 percent. High-humidity levels will promote the development of mold, pests, and rust while low-humidity environments can cause objects to lose moisture and become brittle. 

4. Pests

Historic materials attract many different types of pests that can threaten your antiques.  It’s important to inspect them for threatening organisms regularly. For instance, paper antiques (like books) attract silverfish, wool antiques attract moths, and wood antiques attract termites.

5. Human contact

Sometimes we are actually the greatest threats to our own antiques. People can damage antiques by handling them improperly. In addition, the residues, sweat, and oil on human hands can make even touching some objects without nylon gloves a threat to those antiques.  

6. Chemical pollution

Everyday chemicals can also threaten your antiques in surprising ways. For instance, attempting to clean your antique with the wrong cleaning or polishing product can cause damage (it is important to consult an expert on how best to polish/clean your antiques). Even airborne chemical pollution can harm objects made of metal and marble particularly when they are outdoor items like marble statuary and iron architectural elements.

7. Incompatible Material Composition

Some threats to your antiques were sealed on the day of their manufacture. Antiques composed of incompatible materials, such as wood and leather or wood and paint, are inherently vulnerable to deterioration and need to be monitored. It is also important to note that different types of antiques require their own specific preservation techniques geared toward what type of antiques they are and their material composition. 

When To Pursue Antique Restoration

Some antique owners move beyond simply preserving their antiques and pursue restoring or even refurbishing them. However, it is important to proceed with caution when exploring this option because a botched restoration or refurbishment job can damage your antique or decrease its value.

If you are interested in restoring your antique, the first step is to have it inspected by a licensed appraiser or restoration expert, so they can advise you on the piece’s value and your restoration options. In general, any action that changes the original character, style, or tone of an antique can decrease its monetary value, but restoration can still be the right call under some circumstances. If your antique is unusable in its current condition, and you want to continue using it, then you should consider restoration. On the other hand, if the piece has significant historical, financial, or sentimental value that would be threatened by restoration, it may not be the right choice.

If you do pursue restoration, it is best done in a way that is as non-invasive and reversible as humanly possible. If your goal is to maximize the value of your antique, rather than just conserving its functionality and aesthetics, it is best to pay a professional to perform any restoration. 

Appraise Your Antiques with the Old & New Shop

If you are looking to appraise and/or sell any of your antiques please contact the Old & New Shop for help so that our experts can assist you.

Collecting Antique Maps

The great joy of antiquing is that it allows you to own your very own little piece of history with a unique story. Few antiques embody this ethos quite as well as antique maps. Antique maps are more than beautiful pieces of valuable cartographic wall art, they act as windows into other times and places. Consequently, old maps make for a wonderful addition to any home. However, the art of antique map collecting can be complicated to newcomers so today our experts here at the Old & New Shop are telling you everything you need to know before purchasing an antique map! 

What is an Antique Map?

An “antique map” is any map printed more than 100 years ago. Antique maps were printed using one of three methods depending on their exact age: wooden block printing, copper and steel engraving, and surface printing (lithography). The earliest maps were generally printed from a wooden block cut in relief with the printed area standing out from the rest of the map and then inked usually without any color. However, copper and steel engraving-based maps are from the vast majority of antique maps that have survived to the modern day. Copper engraving-based maps emerged in the 1500s and were popular until steel replaced them in the early 1800s. In this printing process, a reversed version of the map’s image was cut into a metal plate, inked, and then placed with a sheet of paper in a press. The ink in the grooves would then produce the image of the map. Lithography emerged in the early 1800s as well allowing map makers to draw their maps directly onto a specially prepared stone (ending the need for engravers) this method used color but created maps with a fuzzy quality. By the 1880s modern machine lithography and printing methods took over the industry. 

Building an Antique Map Collection

If you are looking to start collecting antique maps as a hobby it is best to build a personal theme for your collection. A map collection can be meaningful in many ways. A collection can showcase your home state/city/country/region, document your travels, trace your family tree, or spark your curiosity about a particular historical era. No matter what theme you pick it is also important to act as a proper steward for your collection to protect the maps for the next generation. You should handle your maps with care (never holding them by the edges of the paper) and you should store them in ways that will protect them from sunlight and humidity such as in a professional frame or in clear archival sleeves.

How to Tell if a Map is a Genuine 

The fact that antique maps are no longer being produced lends them an inherent rarity and therefore value. However, anyone considering purchasing an antique map needs to consider the possibility that the map they intend to purchase could be a facsimile, reproduction, or fake. It is also important to understand these three terms. A facsimile is meant to be an exact copy of an original antique map that is not meant to trick would-be map buyers. Facsimiles are expensive to produce so they are fairly rare and typically only copy very famous important maps. They can be identified easily because somewhere on the image a disclaimer will be printed in modern typeface stating the company that created the facsimile and the date the facsimile was printed. A reproduction is a copy of an antique map produced for commemorative, decorative, or educational purposes and not to deceive would-be map buyers. Reproductions are much more common than facsimiles, or fakes because they are mass-produced to be sold in museum gift shops and on the internet for low prices. Reproductions can be identified as reproductions if they are printed on modern paper or if they have folds, creases, or tears that are simply photographically reproduced and printed on the map and do not reflect actual damage to the paper. Finally, a fake is an attempt to make so exact a facsimile of a map, that can be passed off as an original to an unsuspecting buyer. It is difficult and time-consuming to forge an old map, so convincing fakes are few and far between, and buyers are not likely to encounter one if they are buying a map from a reputable source. It is, however, always advisable to have a map appraised for its value by independent experts before final purchase to help determine the map’s authenticity and value.

Collecting Antique Maps 

If you find an antique map (or any other antique) and want to have the item appraised please reach out to the Old & New Shop for help!

 

Missing American Artifacts

The exciting thing about antiquing is the thrill of finding a piece of the past to call your very own.  But some pieces are a lot more valuable and important than others. Sometimes true treasures and priceless historical artifacts slip through the cracks and end up out in the world where any antiquer can find them.

Four Dollar Frame

 Sometimes artifacts can be found by happenstance. For instance, in 1991 a man bought a thrift store painting for four dollars because he liked the frame. When he opened up the frame he found a copy of the Declaration of Independence printed in 1776 that later sold at auction for seven million dollars. We cannot promise that you will be that lucky when you come and shop with us at the Old & New Shop or elsewhere on your antiquing journey. However, just in case, there are a few missing national treasures that you should be keeping an eye out for as an antiquer. 

Stolen from The National Archives

One major way that historic artifacts become lost to time is theft. The National Archives in DC, for example, has had many of its priceless records and artifacts stolen over the years and maintains a website dedicated to educating the public about what’s missing. The missing documents include numerous letters, and pardons documents signed by presidents George Washington, John Adams, Ulysses S. Grant, Abraham Lincoln, and more. Other presidential artifacts currently missing include FDR’s official painted portrait, LBJ’s class ring, and several swords bejeweled with precious gems gifted from the Saudi royal family to Truman. However, perhaps the most significant artifacts stolen from the National Archives are some of the original maps used during the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of WW2. It is likely that they were stolen for sale on the black market but it is very possible that you may come across them while antiquing. 

Other Missing American Artifacts

Some irreplaceable and historic artifacts never made it to the National Archives or any other museums or archives. The Declaration of Rights and Sentiments, also known as the Seneca Falls Declaration or simply The Declaration of Sentiments, is one example. The document started the American woman’s rights movement and nobody knows what happened to it. The original copy, signed at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Frederick Douglass, and 97 other women’s rights pioneers, has been lost to history. The Declaration borrowed the language of the Declaration of Independence to declare that “We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men and women are created equal.” The Obama administration launched an effort to find The Declaration of Rights and Sentiments and compared their efforts to the National Treasure franchise but their nationwide search was unsuccessful. Antique collectors may have more luck.  Sometimes a shopper is just in the right place at the right time and successfully runs across this national treasure. 

Missing American Artifacts – Pop Culture

Not all of America’s missing historic artifacts involve presidents, wars, or suffragettes. Many involve America’s artistic heritage and the missing pieces of cinematic history are among the most interesting. In the early days of Hollywood, most movie props were simply repurposed, thrown out, or burned after shooting. In the 1970s MGM started auctioning off movie props to private collectors exposing the lucrative money-making opportunity of the collectors markets. Today movie and TV props from popular works are often held in private collections and even museums. However, even in recent years valuable props are put out on the open market, thrown away, or even stolen. This means that keen antiquers and collectors can make money or lifelong memories by snatching up the right prop. Many stolen and missing film props could be in a local antique shop. For instance, of the four known surviving pairs of ruby slippers worn in The Wizard of Oz one pair was stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in 2005 and the museum has offered a $1,000,000 reward for information on its whereabouts. Other valuable collectibles missing include the suit from Iron Man, the map from Goonies, and costumes from the original Star Trek series. 

Antique and Vintage Finds

Shopping for antiques, vintage and retro collectibles can be exciting, and finding a valuable missing American antique would be even better! But for most antiquers, it’s best to practice and love antiquing for its own sake. You may not find a multi-million dollar artifact, but you can definitely find beautiful and unique items that link us to our collective past. You can definitely find a piece of the past that you and your family can cherish and call your very own. If you do find an antique item you believe to be valuable you can have it appraised at the Old & New Shop. 

Valuable Antique Finds

It does not matter if you are an antiquing expert or a beginner, everyone knows that some antiques can be very valuable. However, the antiquing novices may be wondering what antiques and collectibles they should be keeping an eye out for while they’re browsing tag sales and antique stores. 

On the Lookout

Here is a list of some of the valuable antique finds as well as vintage, and retro items budding collectors should get excited about: 

  • Rare coins
  • Original paintings
  • Antique furniture, clocks, and doorstops
  • First-edition books, vintage comic books, and postcards
  • Early baseball cards
  • Musical instruments 

…And More

  • Antique maps and globes 
  • Jewelry
  • Dishes, china, flatware, and depression glassware
  • Vintage toys
  • Old cameras and lenses
  • Decoy ducks

Valuable Collectables

These items can be very valuable, selling in the hundreds, thousands, or even millions of dollars. Certain specific items, of course, can stand above their peers in terms of both rarity and value. First-edition copies of certain famous and well-loved books can be worth tens of thousands of dollars. A first-edition copy of Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” can be worth up to $70,000 and a copy of “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald can be worth up to $30,000. Rare vintage toys can be even more valuable than even the most cherished first-edition novels. The “Redline Hot Wheels Car” released in 1968 can be worth $100,000 to $200,000 today, as can the Star Wars First 12 Action Figures released in 1977. Antique furniture is another realm of antiquing that contains highly valuable items. Certain items of antique furniture such as the Federal Inlaid Mahogany Sofa and the Sheraton Banjo Wall Clock can be worth up to $500,000. Others like the Hepplewhite Inlaid Mahogany Sideboard can be worth up to $1 million, while the Chippendale Rococo Mahogany Highboy can be worth up to $3 million.

Other Rare Finds

Particularly rare and beloved comics can be even more valuable than even the rarest vintage toys and the vast majority of antique furniture. For instance, a surviving copy of Action Comics #1, the 1938 DC comic that introduced readers to Superman, is valued at $2 to $3 million. Batman’s 1939 debut comic Detective Comics #27 is valued at $1 to $2 million.. However rare coins can be even more valuable than these debut superhero comics. The 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar is worth an eye popping $10 to $15 million today and the 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle coin is worth $7 million to $10 million on the coin collecting market. These two American coins are the most valuable in the world, but coins from other countries like the British 1703 Queen Anne Five Guineas, the Spanish 1715 Fleet Treasure Cob, and the German 1743 Vereinskrone Thaler are also worth millions of dollars. These are, of course, just a small smattering of the valuable antiques and collectibles waiting to be discovered in the attics, basements, tag sales, garages, and thrift stores of the world.

 Valuable Antique Finds

While it can be very exciting to imagine finding a valuable antique worth large sums of money, it is best to practice and love antiquing for its own sake. You may not find a multi-million dollar comic or coin on your antiquing journey, but you can definitely find beautiful and unique items that link us to our collective past. You can definitely find a piece of the past that you and your family can cherish and call your very own. Isn’t that the true spirit of antiquing? If you do find an antique item you believe to be valuable you can have it appraised at the Old & New Shop.

https://www.lovetoknow.com/home/antiques-collectibles/23-types-valuable-antiques-look

https://www.fleamarketinsiders.com/top-10-most-valuable-vintage-collectibles/

https://www.bidsquare.com/blog/12-unexpected-types-of-valuable-antiques-to-look-for-985

Shopping for Antique Art

Antique art is an excellent way to add character and elegance to any space. Whether you’re an experienced collector or just starting, shopping for antique art can be enjoyable and rewarding, however, it can also be intimidating.Shopping for antique art

Before You Shop

Before you walk out your door, consider these recommendations. Here are some tips to guide you buy antique art:

  • Do your research

Before you start buying, do your research. Learn as much as you can about the style of art you’re interested in, as well as the period and the artists associated with it. Read books, attend exhibitions and shows and visit museums. This will give you a good understanding of what you’re looking for and what to expect in terms of price.

  • Buy from reputable dealers

When buying antique art, it’s essential to buy from reputable dealers. Look for dealers who have been in business for a long time and have a good reputation. They should be knowledgeable about the art they’re selling and be able to provide you with information about its history, provenance and authenticity. The Old & New Shop is an experienced dealer that will always provide you with a fair market value.

  • Check the condition

Antique art can be delicate, so it’s essential to check its condition before you buy. Look for any signs of damage, such as cracks, chips or fading. Make sure the art is in good condition, and if it needs restoration, factor that into the price.

  • Ask for provenance

Provenance is the history of ownership of a work of art. It’s important to ask for provenance when buying antique art to ensure that it’s authentic. A good dealer should be able to provide you with documentation that shows the artwork’s provenance, including previous owners, exhibitions and sales.

  • Determine authenticity

Authenticity is a critical factor when buying antique art. There are many forgeries and reproductions on the market, so it’s essential to do your due diligence. Look for tell-tale signs of authenticity, such as the artist’s signature, the style of the artwork, and any documentation that accompanies it. Here are some other ways to determine the art’s authenticity:

  • inspect oil painting surfaces. Texture indicates authenticity while flat surfaces indicate fake.
  • perfect edges indicate that the paintings may be fake.
  • check the back of any painting to see any sign of aging. 
  • check the mounting method of the painting. An authentic old painting should have nails or empty nail holes around the frame not staples.

If you’re unsure about the authenticity of the art, consult with an expert.

  • Know your budget

Antique art can be expensive, so it’s important to know your budget before you start buying. Determine how much you’re willing to spend and stick to it. Remember that the price of antique art can vary widely, depending on the artist, the period, the condition and other factors.

  • Buy what you love

Ultimately, buying antique art is about acquiring pieces that you love and that will bring you joy. Don’t just buy something because it’s valuable or because someone else thinks it’s beautiful. Choose pieces that reflect your personality and taste, and that you’ll enjoy for years to come.

  • Consider restoration

If you find a piece of antique art that you love, but it needs restoration, consider the cost of restoration when determining your budget. Restoration can be expensive, but it can also be worth it if you’re passionate about the art and want to preserve it for future generations.

Shopping for Antique Art

Buying antique art can be fun, but it’s essential to do your research and buy from reputable dealers like the Old & New Shop. Check the condition of the artwork, ask for provenance, and determine authenticity. Know your budget, and buy what you love. With these tips in mind, you can build a beautiful collection of antique art that will last for generations.

Attic Treasures

In December 2020, David Whitcomb bought a house in Geneva, New York. He intended to use the first two floors of the building for his law offices, and the third floor for apartment space. The top floor needed work, so he and a friend started construction. They noticed floorboards in the ceiling and realized there was an attic. Whitcomb had no idea that the newly purchased house had an attic full of treasure because it wasn’t in the paperwork.

Finding Treasure

Whitcomb, upon discovering the attic, didn’t think much of the photos and portraits he found. But, one day he decided to explore a bit more and eventually found that the attic was a photography studio used by a photographer named James Ellery Hale. Hale is renowned for shooting portraits of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Smith Miller as well as other suffragettes during the early 1900s. One of the photographs of Susan B. Anthony taken by Hale serves as her official portrait in the US Library of Congress. Hale soon became known as the photographer of the women’s rights movement.

Whitcomb eventually realized who the women were, and amazingly, some of the photos were original prints. Along with the pictures in Hale’s studio were photography equipment, negatives, and outtakes for photoshoots. All these items were certainly valuable vintage and antique collectibles, but need to be cleaned and verified by experts.

Auctioning Studio Treasures

After many months of cleaning and cataloging, all the photos, frames, and equipment from the attic studio were sent to auction. In all, there were over 1,000 pieces valued at $70,000.  One particular photo of Susan B. Anthony was the most sought-after and sold for $35,990. This image was a silver bromide photographic print, a commonly used material for photographers in the early 1900s because it was inexpensive. Hale took the photo of Anthony in 1905, the year before her passing. The Susan B. Anthony Memorial Association made this photo its official portrait.

Due to the fact that platinum is exceedingly stable and does not degrade over time, the platinum/palladium method was widely used for practical purposes keeping photos in good condition. However, the platinotype, method, an iron process, uses ferric oxalate in combination with the metal salts of platinum and palladium to create the image, which was used primarily for aesthetic appeal but did not last as long. These prints are printed directly on paper without the use of an emulsion, which results in beautifully rich gray tones and a matte feel making them more engaging.

Hale’s cameras and other equipment were highly sought after along with background props and sold for thousands of dollars at auction. Other unique collectibles from Hale’s studio were a street corner display box selling for over $400 and a print block for the photographer’s advertisement that read, Hale, The Leading Photographer in Geneva,selling for almost $600.

Treasures in Your Attic?

Chances are you are not going to find valuable photos of ground-breaking suffragettes valued at thousands of dollars in your attic, but you may find other treasures left by previous owners or vintage and antique pieces handed down through generations by your great, great, great grandmother. And if you think the item may be valuable, bring it to an antique dealer like the OId & New Shop. They will offer a fair market value on a variety of antique and vintage items, including:

  • Fine porcelain
  • Artwork
  • Marble statuary
  • Persian rugs
  • Tapestries
  • Mid-century modern furniture

So, get up to that attic and explore-you’ll never know what you might find!

Vintage Halloween Collectibles

When witchesVintage Halloween Collectable go riding and black cats are seen, the moon laughs and whispers, ‘tis near HALLOWEEN!          -Unknown

Halloween, as it is called today, is a contraction of the phrase All Hallows’ Eve , and is celebrated on October 31st, the evening before All Saints Day. The holiday’s origins began as a celebration of bountiful harvest and remembering the dead. Halloween traditions are thought to be influenced by Celtic harvest festivals long ago. Irish and Scottish immigrants took many Halloween customs to North America in the 19th century, and the holiday eventually spread to other countries by the 20th century.

In Mexico, the holiday is called the Day of the Dead. Families and friends gather on this day to pay their respects and celebrate those who have died. Although it can be a more solemn tone, unlike in the US, some celebrations can be humorous and fun, remembering funny events and stories about the departed.

Whatever is celebrated, there are plenty of vintage Halloween collectibles and fun for anyone looking for a blast from the past!

Trick-or-Treat

Halloween is fun for children and adults, although it didn’t necessarily start out that way. Many of the activities, pranks, and vintage Halloween items have evolved through the years as we now know them, including: 

  • Trick-or-treating 
  • Costumes
  • Parties
  • Apple bobbing
  • Carving pumpkins
  • Haunted houses
  • Scary stories
  • And, horror films

Vintage cards, posters, decorations, and costumes were representative of a later time period, not just because they showed what people were afraid of, but also of the time’s pop culture and entertainment. Costumes, for example, were usually homemade and used as disguises for teens playing pranks. The disguises were usually scary and frequently portrayed witches and monsters. During the depression, vandalism was a common occurrence at Halloween. As a result, parents started organizing trick-or-treating and costume parties.

 Vintage Halloween Collectibles

For vintage and antique Halloween collectors, there is a plethora of items available. For example, a decoration like the rare tabletop centerpiece, Vintage Halloween Horrible Witch Decoration Crepe Skirt, dates back approximately 90 years and can sell for thousands of dollars.

Other finds iVintage Witchnclude a 1930’s vintage Halloween Beach and Arthur party plate, Toledo Halloween Jack-o-Lantern Tin Parade Pumpkin valued at $7,500, a 25-year vintage Halloween Winking Pumpkin Candy Container with sliding bottom, and many more vintage Halloween treasures.

Many of these vintage items can be bought through the internet, however, flea markets, antique malls, and reputable dealers like the Old & New Shop, might be a better way. The ability to touch and see a piece, and hold it in your hand can make all the difference when deciding to purchase a vintage or antique piece, especially if it’s a large investment. The Old & New Shop will give you a fair and accurate evaluation as well as purchase items you might like to sell. 

So, have fun with your Halloween vintage pieces, and Happy Halloween!

 

An Antique Shopping Guide

A Guide to Antique ShoppingThere is so much fun in shopping for antiques. Sometimes, we find the best items from the flea market and in specialized shops. From hand-painted teapots to ornate sofas, these antiques make an excellent addition to your home. An antique shopping guide will help!

Be Prepared

The best way to start your shopping trip is to be prepared for moving your antiques from the shop to your home. A simple kit containing items you already have in your house should be ready to go. Your kit should have cardboard boxes (preferably foldable), a blanket or bubble wrap for padding, and wipes for dusty pieces. It’s also helpful to measure the space you want to fit the item into before you go. If your find is too big for your vehicle, have a Plan B to transport it such as a rental van. 

Identify the Best Market for Your Needs

Depending on your needs, you should decide which type of market is the best place to find it. If you’re looking for affordable, second-hand items, shop at a flea market. If you want “old” heirlooms, try an antique mall. Genuine antiques are usually found in a shop owned by an antiquities expert. 

The terms antique, vintage, or retro are sometimes used interchangeably, but they do have different meanings. These differentiations can help determine the value of the item. The definition of antique is simple–any item that is over 100 years old. This rule applies to anything from books to glassware. Vintage pieces are not sold as antiques. Although determining the age is a bit more subjective, vintage usually means an item that is over 40 years old. People buy vintage items because they are nostalgic decorative pieces or collectibles. Retro items are thought of as existing in the more recent past and are sometimes only slightly used. These items are more than 20 years old, but less than 40.

Antiquing Etiquette

When you enter an antique market or mall, it’s always best to greet the vendor, setting a friendly tone. It is acceptable to haggle or ask for a discount. Some people may feel uncomfortable, but these tips can help you along. 

You should also inspect the item carefully for dents, scratches, or chips. If you find a flaw, you should ask for a discount.

Keep the Vision

When shopping for pieces to decorate your home, keep in mind the style you are trying to achieve. Are you going for farmhouse chic, rustic, or something retro? If you are not sure what your style is, start with a major piece that you like that ties the room together and decorate accordingly.

Authenticity 

If you are new at this, you probably don’t have experience determining the authenticity of an antique. There are some ways to verify its claim:

  • Distinguish sterling silver from plated by its authenticating mark. Look for a marking that says “9.25”, “Sterling”, “Sterling 925”, or “S/S.”
  • To check whether a porcelain item is genuine, hold a flashlight (your phone works well for this) up to see if the light shines through. If it does, it’s genuine.

Also, consider the function of the item you’re interested in. A fragile piece should not be in a place where it can be easily damaged. 

Additionally, before you make a purchase, you should find out what the return policy is, especially on large valued items. If anything should be wrong, or it just doesn’t fit with your decor, you’d want to know if you can take it back.

Let’s Shop 

With an antique shopping gude, you are ready to shop. Get your antiquing kit, cash, and transportation, and go! The Old & New Shop is one of the favorite antique and vintage dealers in the New York metro area.

Antique, Vintage, or Retro?

Antique, Vintage or Retro

The terms antique, vintage, or retro are sometimes used interchangeably, but they do have different meanings, and these differentiations can help determine the value of the item.

The definition of antique is simple–any item that is over 100 years old. This rule applies to anything from books to glassware. If an item is over 300 years old, it can fall into one of two categories. If it’s natural and from a living thing, it is called a fossil. If it’s man-made, then it qualifies as an antiquity or artifact.

Vintage has a meaning that is less defined. Vintage pieces are not sold as antiques. Although determining what age counts as vintage is a bit more subjective, it usually means an item that is over 40 years old. People buy vintage items because they are nostalgic decorative pieces or collectibles.

Retro items are thought of as existing in the more recent past and are sometimes slightly used. These items are more than 20 years old, but less than 40. Retro usually imitates a certain “years ago” style, for example, a letter or varsity jacket which dates back to the 1920s, and the style regained popularity again in the 1980s.

Items that are not necessarily antiques, vintage or retro may still look old and are commonly bought as collectibles. These are referred to as reproductions. They are not sold as old themselves but as copies of older items.

The Market Value

There are several ways to estimate the value of your antique, vintage, or retro item. Visiting a local appraiser is a good option, as they have experience in this area and the tools to accurately research the piece and determine its worth. Appraisers will offer a fair price and give you a report. However, they can charge a hefty fee for their services of up to  $200 or more. The Old & New Shop will provide a more personal appraisal with a one-on-one phone call and/or meeting.

Another way to find the market value is to visit a site that will appraise your antique. Websites can give you a professional estimate by providing you with a description and photo. Additionally, consulting an antique pricing guide can give you detailed information about the value and resale of the items.

Trends in Antiques, Vintage, or Retro Items

Interest in shopping for vintage and antique items has grown over the years. Millennials are growing older, and the things they once had as children are now becoming vintage. And it’s not only Millennials; Gen Z’s is also looking for vintage and retro pieces. Current purchasing trends indicate interest in vintage advertising signs, books, toys, and jewelry. Other items with Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles are also popular. Whatever your preference, the Old & New Shop has a wide variety of items and collectibles for buying and selling.

5 Clues To Help You Learn Value of Your Antique Tapestry

Value of antique tapestry

Tapestries are beautiful pieces of art that often tell a story, but they don’t always fit within the modern decor of today’s homes. If you have inherited an old tapestry, you may be wondering if it has any value. Selling your inherited tapestry could be lucrative for you if it is authentic. But how do you know if your tapestry is actually worth anything? You’ll have to do some detective work and, like for a true detective, a magnifying glass will prove to be useful in looking for clues about the authenticity of your tapestry. Below are a few clues that can help you piece together a more complete story about the value of your antique tapestry.

1. Uneven Stitching

Using your magnifying glass, examine the stitching in your tapestry. A skillfully crafted tapestry will have stitches that are neat and close together, but the human hand still adds variety to even the most expert stitching. Uneven stitches are a helpful clue in how that tapestry was made. Machine-made tapestries have perfectly even stitches with no or little variety. Antique, hand-made tapestries have slight irregularities in the size of the stitches and they use yarn processed using an older method that causes inconsistencies in the threads. These irregularities will add to the authenticity and value of your antique tapestry.

2. Types of Thread Used

Looking closely at the actual threads used, you can learn a lot about the type of person who may have originally owned this tapestry and how long ago they lived. Modern tapestries will be made of nylon or polyester, but true antiques dating back as far as the 15th century will use cotton, linen, or wool threads that were hand-dyed. If the original owner was upper-class or royalty, the tapestry might have been made of silk with silver or gold threads woven in.

3. Range of Colors

Hundreds of years ago, people didn’t have access to the vast array of color dyes that we have today. Back then, dyes were made of natural materials and only came in about 20 different varieties. Not only were the color choices smaller, but the same color used in a tapestry would not always match perfectly with itself due to natural unevenness that occurred in the dying process. Additionally, check to see if the hues are just as rich on both sides of the tapestry. If the tapestry has a clear front and back, it is likely made on a modern machine.

4. Location of the Signature

Artists of older tapestries would often incorporate their signature into the weave on either the bottom corner or the border of the tapestry. More modern tapestries have a tag on the back with the artist’s information, which is a clear giveaway that you are not dealing with an antique. You want a signature or initials in the weave that you can see from both sides of the tapestry.

5. The Story in the Design

Another big clue that can tell you valuable information about your tapestry is the kind of story being told in the design. Antique tapestries often told stories about the time period in which they were created. Tapestries from churches often depict a saint or biblical figures, whereas old tapestries that hung in palaces may show scenes of royalty or important battles. Modern-day tapestries can also use similar designs, so it’s important to make sure your tapestry has the other features of an antique as described above.

Although you can analyze all the above elements on your own, a professional like the ones at Old and New Shop will be able to expertly analyze all these elements to help determine the value of your antique tapestry. At Old and New Shop, not only will we help you learn more about your tapestry’s history and how much it is worth, but we will offer you the best price for it. Be sure to contact us to learn more about how we can help you learn the true value of your tapestry.