Antiques and Collectibles

Antiques (Latin antiquus, old) are objects which have reached an age which makes them a witness of a previous era in human society.

Antiques are usually objects which show some degree of craftsmanship, or a certain attention to design such as the desk or the early automobile. In a consumer society an antique is above all an object whose atypical construction and age give it a market value superior to similar objects of recent manufacture. Any historical museum makes a considerable use of antiques in order to illustrate historical events and give them a practical context.

Just about any object can become an antique if it survives long enough, but snob appeal or social acceptance only can ensure that it is actually worth something in the market place.

The term "antique" is used as an insult in some instances, usually to depreciate the usefulness of an object or a procedure. Those who reject the trappings of a consumer society reject the markets which inflate the monetary value of antique objects, regardless of their usefulness or esthetic qualities.

Antiques are usually bought at antique stores, or passed down as an estate. Some valuable antiques can be bought from antique dealers.

Definition of Antique

The definition of antique varies from source to source, product to product and year to year. But, there are some time tested definitions of antique for you to consider.

• An item which is at least 75 years old and is collected or desirable due to rarity, condition, utility, or some other unique feature.
• antique (noun) - Any piece of furniture or decorative object or the like produced in a former period and valuable because of its beauty or rarity

Using this definition will help you begin to understand the differences between genuine antique pieces, vintage items and collectible objects.

The term is sometimes conventionally restricted to the remains of ancient art, such as sculptures, gems, medals, seals, &c. In a most limited sense it applies only to Greek and Roman art, and includes neither the artistic remains of other ancient nations nor any product of classical art of a later date than the fall of the western empire.

See also

• Antique furniture
• Antique fruit jar

References

• This article incorporates text from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, which is in the public domain.

External links

• Antiques General Information Site- General information on a variety of antiques and collectibles.

• Newel Art Galleries, the World's Largest Antiques Collection
• Conker Collectables - Making antiques fun for children
• Antique Furniture - Antique Furniture Information Resource on antique furniture and antique furniture history.
• Antique and Rare Maps - Art Source International - Links to rare and antique maps and to cartography resources.
• Cycleback: Print & Photograph Study
• Artisans Libres - Beautiful examples of decorative antique reproduction furniture

A collectible (or collectable) is a manufactured item designed for people to collect. Collectibles are specifically created for the purpose of collecting. In this respect, they are distinguishable from other subjects of collections, which may also include natural objects (e.g., butterflies) and objects manufactured for purposes other than collecting (e.g., stamps). However, sometimes objects designed for other purposes, such as toys, become so popular among collectors that they are later marketed specifically to that audience. Star Wars action figures are a good example of this phenomenon.

The earliest collectibles were included as incentives with other products, such as cigarette cards in packs of cigarettes. Popular items developed a secondary market and sometimes became the subject of "collectible crazes". Eventually many collectible items came to be sold separately, instead of being used as marketing tools to increase the appeal of other products.

To encourage collecting, manufacturers often create an entire series of a given collectible, with each item differentiated in some fashion. Examples include sports cards depicting individual players, or different designs of beanie baby. Enthusiasts will often try to assemble a complete set of the available variations.

The early versions of a product, manufactured in smaller quantities before its popularity as a collectible developed, sometimes command exorbitant premiums on the secondary market. In a mature market, collectibles rarely prove to be a spectacular investment.

Occasionally, a series of circumstances will take place that result in an item from a collectible series becoming exceptionally valuable. These objects are referred to as collector's items due to their rarity, and these objects have occasionally been valuable enough to be sold for substantial amounts of money. Some even later destroy remainders of such items to cause forced scarcity.

Popular types of collectibles

• Cigarette Cards
• Dolls
• Plates
• Figurines
• Music boxes
• Scale models

[1] Vintage Coke Machines [2] Old Corvettes

External links

• Boxing Collectibles Advice

Spelling note

Although "collectable" is the spelling listed first by the OED, the dictionary observes that the "-ible" form is also valid, and has come to be a common usage in the US.