Start Collecting Antiques & Collectibles

Love is the key to collecting anything be it antiques or beanie babies. When you love the things you collect, you feel a passion that encourages you to spend your money, time and energy adding to and caring for your collection.

Begin your collection with pieces you love. The first step to collecting is to find something you love and want to surround yourself with. A healthy and inspiring collection is one you will want to live with for years to come. The exact nature of your collection is up to you. Choose art or furniture of a particular period or style or select an item that is representative of meaning in your life. Consider collecting teddy bears like the first one your mother gave you or elephant figurines after one sparked your interest at a flea market. You might have to take a look around your home and find that a collection has already started. Look for the things you love then build your collection around them.

Do your homework and research the collectible. Now that you have selected the pieces that will begin your collection it is time to start researching. Visit websites and gather reference books with the details and history of the items you want to collect. Remember that collections don't have to have value to anyone other than the collector. You might choose to collect inexpensive items that speak to you or items of higher value. Talk to the experts. When and if your collection begins to have some value it's time to talk to the experts. Listen to their advice. Through them you can learn what value is reasonable for items you want to add to your collection. They can also help you discover the most common flaws found in fakes or copies of the types of items you collect.

Learn the distinctive qualities of what you collect. Whether you are collecting antique Chippendale furniture or Impressionist paintings your steps are still the same. Learn what makes items collectible as what they are. Learn the specifics - what makes a Chippendale or Hummel authentic or a reproduction. There are hundreds of books on the subject of antiques and collectibles. Check your local library for manuals on your chosen collectible.

Wander in the likely places. Get shopping at antique stores, flea markets and estate sales. Haunt the areas most likely to have the items you're looking for. If that means New England estate sales then head there. If it means shopping at toy stores or eBay, then you go where the collectibles are. You can start collecting with a single purchase and a little research then watch your collection grow over time.

You can begin collecting with just a little bit of time and care. If antiques are your love then you might find your Saturday afternoons captured by wandering through the aisles of thrift stores and small town rummage or estate sales. Get your friends and family involved in collecting and there will be hours of fun in your future.

About Collecting Antique Clocks

As with anything there are many, many reasons a person might consider to begin collecting antique clocks: maybe one has been inherited to them and the desire for more like it has been bred, perhaps someone has found a way to speculate and profit from them, or it could be that a person has simply fallen in love with them and cannot get enough of them.

Whatever the reason you decide to start collecting antique clocks, or if you've already started, you'll definitely be happy about the large amount of different styles and ages and eras that you can begin or continue your collecting in.

For instance, you could begin by collecting only those made in a certain country. There are many countries that have some extremely beautiful, ornate and amazing antique clocks that you could start out with. You'll find them on the market from every country in the world, most notably however are: Germany, France, the United States and England.

Some people collecting antique clocks will collect those made by certain makers. A few of the more common of those would be Ansonia, Seth Thomas, Chelsea or Sessions. These clock makers have many different styles of that come onto the market in both the affordable beginner's price range and also the more experienced upper price ranges as well.

There are those that collect only certain kinds of antique clocks. They may concentrate on ornate wall clocks with long pendulums, or wall clocks with short pendulums. Some will collect mantle clocks or grandfather clocks. Maybe you like the look of only oak clocks or walnut clocks or those made out of early plastics.

Of course, there is always the antique clocks of a certain time period. If you're just starting out maybe you'll want to start with those that were made in the 1920s or even break up a little further: from the 1920s and from a United States based clock maker. Looking for something older? Then you can go back as far as your budget will allow, after all the very first spring powered clock was invented in the very early fifteen hundreds.

Whatever the reasons you have for wanting to get started, unless you already have, in this great hobby the most important thing is to have fun doing it and avoid over spending your budget. Collecting antique clocks can be very addicting!

How to Begin Collecting Antiques

Collecting antiques for pleasure or for profit can be a very rewarding hobby and pastime. It is possible to start your collection with just one piece and then choose to either continue expanding your pieces or buy something totally different. There are no real steps to start collecting antiques - apart from buying, finding or being given your very first piece, but if you are interested in taking it more seriously, here are a few tips.

Collecting anything is much easier if you actually like the pieces. The first tip is to find something that you really like and choose that as a starting point. It could be paintings, furniture or even tiny thimbles. As long as it is something that you would want to be surrounded by in years to come, then it is worth collecting. The brilliant part about collecting antiques is that no two collections are the same. The types of items can be so diverse, you could almost pick anything to collect. Some people collect certain types or brands of antiques, whilst others might want to re-kindle their affections with pieces from their childhood. Take a look around your home. It could be that you have several items that could start you on the road to your first collection.

Once you have decided what you are going to collect, get books, read information on the internet and get as much knowledge about the items as possible. One of the best tips is to speak to as many experts and enthusiasts as possible. This is where the knowledge of your collection will become more well informed and rounded. They can give you advice on what to look for, where to look and common pitfalls that they have encountered. They will also be able to tell you about which items are the most rare or valuable or if you have a good collection. If you find someone who knows their stuff, they will also be able to tell you how to spot fakes and imitation pieces.

The next tip will be fed by you speaking to people and also reading as much as you can about your chosen antiques. You will need to know how to identify, clarify and confirm the antiques before you buy them. No matter what you choose to collect, you will need to know the important hallmarks, signatures, tell-tale-signs and give-aways that tell you if a piece is genuine or not. You will also need to know what makes certain pieces collectible compared to others. Try to get as much knowledge about identification as possible and it will improve your love of the antiques you are collecting.

The final tip is another obvious one really. Make sure you spend your time in the places where these antiques are sold. Markets, second hand shops, auctions and antique shops are just a few of the places you will be able to find antiques to collect. Try to be where the items are made. If possible, travel to the same area of the country or world where they were made - there will be more items nearer to the source. There are also plenty of websites such as eBay, where you can find a good deal too - which might be the best place to start collecting antiques, although make sure you buy from sellers that have already had a high number of sales and have a good reputation.

There are many more tips for collecting antiques that I could share with you, but these are the basics. Master these and you will be well on your way to becoming a knowledgable master of your chosen collection. One day, you could be the person that others seek out to learn from.

When Collecting Antique China Becomes a Fetish

Buying antique china to add to your collection of antiques is a great idea. Collecting antiques can be an expensive hobby but it is definitely worth the investment. This is why even if you would have to shell out a lot of cash for it, if collecting them can give you that sense of joy, then there's no reason why you wouldn't think about adding them to your collection.

You will realize you have an excellent hobby of collecting antiques when they are appraised higher than the amount that you have originally bought them for. However, a fetish is a fetish. When you are attached to things, you usually wouldn't want to get rid of them or sell them away even if you know they are already priced higher than the amount you have originally bought them. So, is that a bad thing or not?

When collecting antique china is part of your business, you are willing to learn everything there is to learn about antiques. Some information that you once thought to be dull and boring will suddenly become of interest to you. Below is a list of things that would be of paramount importance when you get yourself hooked into buying antiques:

1. Knowledge of history. When you are into buying or selling antiques, it is expected that you would have some idea about the history of the antiques in your possession. This is something that you would also like to do further research or inquiry about. With this, you are then willing to go out of your way in order to gain knowledge of the story behind such antiquities.

2. Age. We all know that for a thing to be considered antique, it should be at least a hundred years old. It takes skills and expertise to know the age of an antique. Somehow, it would be a little easier to do that if you have been collecting and reading more about antique china for quite some time.

3. You will know the techniques on how to handle antiques with care. One of the things that would interest you when you own antiques is on the best way to handle them safely. Antiques are good investments, which is why you also want to make sure they are well kept and secured; naturally because you didn't purchase them cheap.

4. You will find it important to determine a real antique from a fake one. When you want to invest your money on antiques, you would want to find out if they are real or not. Surely, you don't want your money invested on antiques only to find out that they were not actually antiques but vintage stuff. In this case, it is best to hire and appraiser for confirmation.

5. You will know the value of such antiquities. Whether you are selling or buying antiques, the knowledge of the current value of antiques will prove to be very important to you.

Your Must Know Guide When Collecting Antique Mantel Clocks

There's something special about a home with a grand fireplace with ample room for a collection of antique mantel clocks. If you've considered beginning a collection of mantle clocks, you may want to take the time to do some homework. Collecting antique mantel clocks can be rewarding but it can also be expensive, especially if your knowledge is limited. Even though you can find affordable mantle clocks in a variety of styles, you'll want to ensure you're purchasing a true antique rather than a modern replica, or worse yet a fake antique. Take the time to do your research before purchasing your first clock and you'll know you're getting your money's worth.

Antique mantel clocks come in many types and styles. You can find alarm clocks, grandfather clocks, and cuckoo clocks. Since there are so many styles available, it would be helpful to choose one type to collect rather than trying to collect them all. If you are able to narrow your choice to one type of clock, it will make collecting that much easier. While you want each mantle clock to be able to stand on its own, you also want each one to be suitable to group together. If you should find a rare antique mantel clock of Mickey Mouse and you simply have to get it, be prepared to place it in a different location than with your cuckoo clock collection. Knowing what your collection goals are will help you decide whether or not to purchase that great clock and whether it will fit with your current collection.

While it is possible to have fun collecting antique mantel clocks, and there is a potential for profit, you'll want to be aware of some of the pitfalls you may encounter. Many people are interested in this type of collection so you may find clever reproductions pieces. In fact, some of the replicas are so well made that it's difficult to tell them from a true antique. You can use the same advice federal agents are given when learning to tell counterfeit money, "Spend so much time learning about the real dollars so you can tell the fake easily." This is especially important if you're an amateur. Doing your homework will help you avoid being taken advantage of and losing money. What can you do? Read online descriptions and pour over books about the real thing to learn which key elements to look for. Then, if at all possible, seek an independent appraisal of any antique mantle clock you're interested in prior to actually purchasing it.

While it is possible you'll find a rare antique mantel clock at a garage sale or online auction, don't get your hopes up. More than likely you'll have to look at reputable dealers or antique shops for what you're looking for. If you're looking for a particular piece to add to your collection, shop around and do your research before putting your hard-earned money on it. By shopping around, you may be able to find the same piece for less money. It may also be in better condition.

Collecting antique mantel clocks can be an enjoyable activity. Be wary of jumping right in without learning all you can about the subject, determining what the key signs are for recognizing a true antique, and what mistakes to avoid. Having this knowledge will keep you from making an expensive purchase to find out you've been duped later. When it comes to purchasing any type of collectible, the Latin phrase "caveat emptor," which means let the buyer beware, stands true.

Secrets of Collecting Antique Marbles And Other Toys

There was a time in days gone by when marbles was all the rage. Kids would draw a circle on the ground and flip their marbles towards the center, hoping and praying that no one knocked them out if they were close, because that meant they would lose their marble to their opponent.

Do you remember those days?

What about all those other toys you played with that are now considered antique? The dollhouses, wagons, Barbies, and cars, the list can go on and on.

Chances are that you still have your prized marble collection, with your most prized marble in it if you DO remember those days. So, if you are thinking about adding to a current marble collection or starting a collection of other antique toys we have a few suggestions for you to keep in mind.

There are all kinds of vintage or antique toys to think about collecting and you may just need to talk to your elders to find out about some of them. When it comes to collecting antique toys, there are many fans of particular collections, it is a matter of what the collector has a feeling for.

For example, if you are collecting antique marbles, you will find marbles made from agate and stone, crockery and china, mica or goldstone, and the ones that are made of colored swirls of glass can be classified, such as German swirls.

You can find many books for sale to help you identify the many types of marbles and this reference material can be quite helpful. Finding out about the companies that manufactured certain marbles can be helpful as well. Companies such as, Peltier Glass, Christensen Agate or Akro Agate, just to name a few.

When searching for advice on collecting antique marbles and other toys, it might be a matter of researching certain niches on the Internet. There are a variety of antique toys to consider.

Collecting items such as, Barbie dolls, Beanie Babies and Hot Wheels might come to mind for some toy collectors. There are literally thousands of collectible toy options starting in the mid 1800′s to present day. If you think about some of the wooden toys, cast-iron tractors and other farm toys from the past, the possibilities are endless.

There are a number of reference tools available on the Internet to help you with collecting antique toys. In addition, you can find catalogs that show pictures and list the estimated values on thousands of different vintage and antique toys, including marbles.

For those that don't have a particular type of collectible toy in mind, there are many different choices to consider and many places you can find out about collecting them. Most people have a particular passion, when it comes to collecting antique, so it is just a matter of visiting places that you know where you might find them, and getting advice from people that are familiar with the toys.

There are clubs and organizations made up of members that collect antique marble. Additionally, there are trade shows and events held for people that collect vintage toys, including Barbie doll conventions, Hot Wheel swap meets and more. If you are like most collectors, you might have a passion from your childhood that has spurred your interest throughout the years.

Many of the experts in antique marbles or vintage toys will tell you they were interested in the hobbies from the times they were very young. It's never too late to act on your desires to become a collector, so you can easily start collecting antique marbles, or hundreds of other types of antique toys with very little experience or knowledge. You just have love the toy - or the memory - or collecting.

As with all collectibles, one of the best places to start looking is online. This will help you discover what's hot in collectible toys and will also give you an idea of supply and demand. For example, Beanie Babies was a hot collectible for a few years, but today it is not much in demand so the prices are low. On the other hand Barbie dolls are in great demand so the prices are higher and finding mint condition dolls is harder to do.