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.