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Short answers to the questions readers send Antiques and Period Collectibles most often, plus where to write if yours is not covered here.
Not always. Auction houses are efficient for common pieces in good condition, but they charge buyer's premiums of 20 to 30 percent and you rarely get to examine a piece properly before bidding. Specialist dealers cost more per piece but the selection is curated and returns are usually possible.
Technically, antique means over 100 years old and vintage means between 20 and 100 years old. In practice, dealers use both terms loosely, and reproductions are sometimes sold under either. If a date matters to you, ask for it in writing.
Never use an abrasive, and be cautious with chemical dips, which remove patina as well as tarnish. A soft cloth and a small amount of non-abrasive silver polish is usually enough. For anything with gilding, engraving or applied decoration, clean around the detail rather than over it.
Keep the receipt, any condition report, and photographs from before and after any cleaning or restoration. If the piece came with provenance, keep that too, even if it is only a handwritten note. Documentation adds more to resale value than most buyers expect.
When the piece is ready. We prefer to take longer over an article than publish something that does not improve on what is already out there. Everything stays in the archive and is updated with a dated note when the advice changes.
A standard home contents policy usually covers individual items up to a set limit, often around 1,500 pounds, and has a total contents cap. If a single piece is worth more than the single-item limit, you need it scheduled separately, which requires a current valuation from a specialist.
The legal threshold in most countries is 100 years, but the market uses looser language. Look at construction methods rather than labels: machine-cut dovetails date from around 1860, electric sanding from 1920. A specialist can usually narrow a date range in under ten minutes once the piece is in front of them.
Send it to info@antiquesandperiodcollectibles.com. Anything we are asked repeatedly tends to become an article, and the ones asked most often are the ones that land on this page.
Start with the blog archive, or pick a topic from the about page if you would rather see how the site is organised first.
