Antique Collecting Advice

Before trying to learn the value of Depression glass, learn how to identify the pattern of your early-20th-century collectables.

So you have this old picture, and you're not sure who it's by. The right name could make all the difference at auction, but just how do you find out who painted your item—and were they famous?

Transferware is a traditional ironstone china made by printing an often intricate image on a white background. Learn how to identify and value old china by pattern, backstamps, and style.

Treasures can be found amongst the family crockery. Check the manufacturing mark on the back. Examples include Japanese post-war imports, Chinese Fine China, Fireking USA, Aynsley, and Towerbrite.

Most often delicately colored or clear, Depression glass has its own unique look.

Some people paint, some people read, but there are lots of people collecting things as a hobby. If you wish you had more nifty things to display, consider starting a collection. I have some suggestions for you.

Antique and vintage plates and their modern reproductions are popular and collectible. A general overview of china dishware, its history, and how to identify patterns and designs.

Jewelry reflects the taste and attitude of every period in history. There are clues that can be used in deciphering how old your jewelry is. The older and rarer, the more valuable it will be.

The British mark their silver in symbols. Learn how to read them to properly identify your silver and find treasures overlooked by others who don't know what the symbols mean.

Sooner or later, there will be a buyer for just about any item you care to name, but what makes an antique or collectible desirable? What do rarity, condition, and provenance actually mean?

Almost everyone has a piece of vintage or antique pottery. If you don't, then you probably know someone who does. Exploring the origins of the pottery is so interesting!

Whether you inherited it from your great-grandmother or picked it up at an estate sale, your old mirror may be worth more than you realize. It's time to put on your detective hat and look for clues!

If you like history, vintage paper items, and learning about people's lives, try collecting antique diaries. Here are guidelines for collecting, restoring, and selling them.

Sterling silver and silver plate is attractive and collectible. Sterling is valuable for craftsmanship, rarity, and for melting as a commodity.

Blue Ridge Pottery dishes made in the Appalachian mountains are very popular with collectors. History and information on Blue Ridge Pottery Show and Sale yearly in Erwin, Tennessee

This spectacular ruby-colored, early-American pattern glass can add beauty and interest to your decor, and it is fun and affordable to find and collect.