Antique Collecting Advice

If you like history, vintage paper items, & learning about people's lives, try collecting antique diaries. Here are guidelines for selling these or restoring them to a relative of the journal writer.

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 does rarity, condition and provenance actually mean?

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!

I first "discovered" Fiestaware several years ago, when I wanted brightly colored china for my kitchen. Fiestaware is retro but is becoming popular again. It is well made and has lovely shapes.

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.

There is a difference between antiques and collectibles and a difference between price guides and actual value which is influenced by consumer demand, availability, and condition of the item.

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.

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

Vintage teacups have an elegance all their own. There are an infinite amount of cup shapes and patterns. So very delicate and beautiful.

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?

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

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.

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.

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

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 famous White Star Liner Titanic will always hold a special place in our hearts. Just the name of that magnificent ship immediately conjures up unforgettable and moving scenes from romantic and tragic movies about this great human disaster. ...