Ask Mike: What’s an Antique?
Hey Guys,
The other day, during a bout of temporary insanity, I wandered into an antique store. There were old paintings, old furniture, old postcards, old everything. As I walked the aisles, careful not to touch anything, I wondered: What makes something an antique? Is there an accepted definition?
I hit the Web in search of answers. The most widely accepted definition comes from a 1930 U.S. Tariff Act. This particular act defined an “antique” as “works of art…which shall have been produced prior to the year 1830.”
Why 1830? According to OldAndSold.com, “it was about this time that mass production and factory manufacture began to displace the making of individual pieces entirely by hand.”
Of course, that’s not to say that something mass produced can’t be an antique. Ask Yahoo! notes that “an object’s material and design can mean as much as the manufacturing method or date.” Additionally, there are many cases in which something less than a century old, sometimes called a collectible, is worth more than an honest-to-goodness antique.
In other words, the definition of an antique can vary from person to person. There are exceptions, exceptions to those exceptions, and exceptions to the exceptions of the original exceptions. If you’re in the market for something old and expensive, it’s a smart move to ask a trust-worthy expert to appraise the object before you pluck down your hard-earned cash.
Got any tips on how to identify the value of antiques? How can you tell if something is really an antique or just made to look, well, really old? Please leave a comment below!
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Rule of thumb is if it is over 100 years old it is an antique in America.
Cars are 25 years;
Trucks are 30 years.
If something is on its third or fourth generation, you may regard it as an antique from there on. Don’t be surprised when what you thought was three or more generation old turn out to be only two. It happens all the time. Parents get things from grandparents when they were young and they thought it was old when it was just purchased new before they were aware of the world.
No, deffenitely not a 100 years. Almost any well collected type of an antique, from glass wear to penny banks, has a book or catalogue with current values and how to tell authenticity.
its something old and special
I agree, cars are 25 years, (I really thin 20, but that might have changed). As far as artifacts… Ususally yhe are over 100 years old. Civil War era are antitues, as are WWII now, if they contain certain things. WWI would also fall into this. Frontier plains before the war of 1812, and during, and after as well…
For oriental rugs 75 years old is considered antique and 50 years old is semi-antique.
Keep in mind that buying and living with collectibles or antiques is a way to live more “green” than buying a new object.
My wife and I were in an antique store the other day, and saw tin lunchboxes, with cartoon characters and things. We each found one we had owned as kids. And we’re in our 40’s. Retro and antique are a little different, but often confused. Here’s my favorite rule of thumb;
If it was from your childhood, it’s nostalgia.
If it’s from your parent’s childhood, it’s retro.
If it’s from your grandparent’s childhood, it’s an antique!
Of course, that’s a moving target!
By the way, that “100 years” rule of thumb came from that tarriff definition Mike mentioned. It’s pretty arbitrary, though. Antique cars are listed at 25 and over because they have that “planned obsolescence” lifespan of about 10 – 12 years before everything falls apart. So if it makes it past 25 years, it’s a rare event!
But I still freak out when I see Pacers and Gremlins with antique plates. I remember laughing at them when they were new…
You had the answer right in front of you. If it is a 1930’s article telling you that an antique must be dated prior to 1830—a hundred years old!
something very old
100 years is correct according to the people I have asked in the antique business. under 100 years it could be called a collectable
cars & trucks I don’t know
I’ve always heard that an item becomes an antique if it is at least 50 years old. (that would make me an antique, as I just had my birthday and I’m 51!
Antique is anything that looks old, unusual, that you can buy in a garage sale for a dollar and you can sell in an antique store for $20 or more. Experienced antique dealers can spot this thing in a garage sale in
few seconds.
It depends on the item. The 100 year rule applied mainly to furniture. THe govt was mainly concerned with European antiques ,which have a much longer history. American antiques can be younger. A lot of ppl consider it still 100 years for furniture,but 1920’s and 30’s furniture is still considered antique by most.
For cars,it’s 25 years
Radios & electronics 50 years
All antiques are collectible ,but not all collectables are antiques.Collectibles can even be brand new. Many things which are sold as collectibles have very little value. Some ,especially with some age on them ,are expensive.
Generally starting at 25 years of age, cars, trucks, etc., are considered “historic,” “antique,” etc. depending the term you want to use. The states have different categories cut off points for getting them licensed that way.
I like the previous poster’s comments about the nostalgia – retro – antique time line, which seems to agree with my observations and information too.
Somebody told me that “If you can’t afford it and/or don’t have a good logical reason for buying it, it’s an antique and/or collectible.” That observation has held up quite well for many of my purchases, too.
I don’t have any new ways but, I wanted to know if you now would buy antique anything after the work and research you put into your blog?
antique items must have at least 200 years
What bothers me is walking into an antique shop and seeing toys I played with as a kid labeled as antiques. Now that makes ya think…!
For U.S. Customs purposes, the article had to be 100 years old to be considered free of duty as an antique.
1. of or belonging to the past; not modern.
2. dating from a period long ago: antique furniture.
3. noting or pertaining to automobiles approximately 25 years old or more.
4. in the tradition, fashion, or style of an earlier period; old-fashioned; antiquated.
5. of or belonging to the ancient Greeks and Romans.
6. (of paper) neither calendered nor coated and having a rough surface.
7. ancient.
–noun 8. any work of art, piece of furniture, decorative object, or the like, created or produced in a former period, or, according to U.S. customs laws, 100 years before date of purchase.
9. the antique style, usually Greek or Roman, esp. in art.
10. Printing. a style of type.
–verb (used with object) 11. to make or finish (something, esp. furniture) in imitation of antiques.
12. to emboss (an image, design, letters, or the like) on paper or fabric.
–verb (used without object) 13. to shop for or collect antiques: She spent her vacation antiquing in Boston.
25 years or older
I feel I need to make the point just because somthing is an antique does not make it valueble or even rare. My grandmother held on the countless ‘antiques’. Anytime anyone suggested she get rid of the worped mirror or countless unused teacups she would always state that ‘it an antique!’
She resently passed away and after going through a house full of old thing that no one wanted we tryed selling/dontating some of the antiques we quickly learn that many of them dont have any value at all. Museums/ heritage centers did not want books that were only 50 or 60 years old or a 90 year old lantrean.
This made me realize just because it is an antique does not make it special. Does any really want a 100 year old bedpan?
I’m not old, I’m a classic. My husband is an antique.
I like the definitions given above about the difference nostalgia, retro, and antique. I’d add that much of what I remember of my grandmother’s home (nostalgia) was also part of my mother’s childhood (retro) , and my grandmother’s childhood as well. A set of tea spoons passed down through six generations would qualify as an antique as well as having nostalgic value for me, personally.
“Antique” is really just a buzzword to hype up an item. You should be concerned about lead, it was even used in lunch boxes of the past. (Anything painted for example, some dishes etc.) But it is a very good question. Someone can call something an antique, but that does not make it special. It can still be just and old piece of junk! The trash in the bottom of the landfill that is 100 years old, is “antique”, but it is still just trash! But to answer you question, if I recall correctly, antique is latin and just means “old”.
I have heard cars were 25 and furniture is 75. I have a set of six chairs that are about 80 years old. I know they’re not 100 yrs old, but I call them aniques. And I guarantee you everything in the antique stores I’ve been in (we travel and stop at all of them we see) are not 100 yrs old.
I’ve always understood that 80-100 is antique while 50 is considered vintage. As for telling the difference between an actual antique and a reproduction, a lot of that comes with experience. Studying up on manufacturers and their markings/stamps etc. will definitely help give one a leg up on whether something is authentic.
Why do you insult antigue stores, shoppers, hounds and lovers with terms like temporary insanity?
Do you always conduct youself with such fragility and nervousness when shopping in other stores?
Next time stay home!
any furnishing or art that is 100 or more years old is an antique,
ps funny what we attatch value to these days
Here are a few definitions of antiques:
1. of or belonging to the past; not modern.
2. dating from a period long ago: antique furniture.
3. noting or pertaining to automobiles approximately 25 years old or more.
4. in the tradition, fashion, or style of an earlier period; old-fashioned; antiquated.
5. of or belonging to the ancient Greeks and Romans.
6. (of paper) neither calendered nor coated and having a rough surface.
7. ancient.
–noun 8. any work of art, piece of furniture, decorative object, or the like, created or produced in a former period, or, according to U.S. customs laws, 100 years before date of purchase.
Let us not complicate things, we
all know what an antique is!!!
I was alway told by my grandparents that for something to be an antique it has to be at the least 100 years old.
I think that an antique, by definition, must have some age on it, relative to the item in question of course. I would also put forth the idea that not all old things are true antiques. I frequent so called antique shops in my area and find that instead of true antiquities, the items in the store are primarily old junk. I think it is the rarity of an item makes an old object an antique. One object that would be an antique is a manganese glass bottle(you can tell it has manganese in it due to the purplish hue when held up to the sun(i have seen one before)). Antiques aren’t necessarily luxurious or unique, though an example of a unique antique I found once in an Antique Mall in Colorado Springs, was an 18th Century Vampire Hunter’s Kit. What a wonderful conversation piece that would have been, had I the money at the time. Antique shoppers tend to develop a discerning eye as they peruse shops over the years.
I think it depends on the object.. but I would say if you look at the object and think ‘wow that’s old’ then I would say that is the definition of antique.
i still that there is no clear definition of what an antique is,bcos people are paying thing that are not old but have made to look old in order to catch their eyes ,so to measure if something is an antique it should have more thhan 100yrs!!!
the rule IS 100yrs for auction houses, and the law with guns is 100yrs or older to be sold as an antique by federal guidelines. just because something is old doesn’t mean its antique. i would not call a car made in the early 80’s an antique. generally cars are considered antique if built before 1940.
As a collector, it has always been my understanding that an antique is 100+ years old. Vintage = 50+ and collectable 20+ (cars and trucks).
Antiques can be tricky because there are so many variables. My wife owns an antique shop and frequently employs my help on weekends. She has also written several articles in trade publications on antiques.
So here is what I have learned from her:
The term “antique” varies across the world. Value aside, in the United States, it is anything 75+ years old. In Europe, it’s 100 years. This definition does not include cars and houses. Their standards are totally different.
Value is based on supply, demand, and marketablity. Antiques also go through stages of popularity. For example, in the 1980s and early 1990s, baskets and country primitives were all the rage. The mid to late 1990s saw a huge interest in antique glass, Victorian housewares, and quilts. With the turn of the 21st century, Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles became popular. Certain items always have a certain popular market. Tools, Jewelry, dolls, radios, china, and furniture have stayed constant.
Any article that belonged to your grandparents, be it a clock or a chair or a painting or crockery etc,which you are certain are as old as them and have been passed on through three or four generations can be called antique. However I would like to mention that I have a cousin who has been an antique dealer since the past fifty years but he makes wooden figures and buries them in sand till they start rotting …and he displays them as antiques which he sells to people who are not familiar with antiques….so how can u believe something is antique?
I collect antigues. One of my most prized peices is this Croswold Cast iron muffin pan and it’s set. My dad gave it to me with about four generations of seasoning and greese on it. The company went out of buisness in 1957, and to know that they only made a few of my 11 cake pans just adds to it’s charm!
Since everyone else is telling you what an antique is, let me give you some advice on what an antique or anything is worth. If you are selling something, it is worth what someone is willing to pay. Pricing books are estimation by experts and may not reflect market trends. It also depends what part of the country or world you are in. Confusing, huh? Try making a living buying and selling antiques and collectibles, it’s fun but it can be nuts. As far as what something is worth to you when buying, that is a personal choice. I have a glass bowl I bought fifteen years ago at an auction because I loved it. It still isn’t worth (according to the books) what I paid for it. And you know what, I don’t care, I love the bowl.
Hey Emily
Hi Ashley! =)
Id say anything that is valued more for its age than its actual worth or functionality. Like a commodore 64 can be considered an antique even though it isent that old.
The object is known as an antique if its older than 100 years, or dates back to the early 20th century – late 19th century and older.
What I have understood is that if the item is 50 to 80 years old its vintage. If 80 and above is considered antique. Yes there could be reproduction, but there are certain things you learn to look for in a antique.
an antique is anything that is older than you are
I remember my mom used to tell me if big things like cars were over 25 they were an antique and for little things that were from my nonno and nonna (italian for grandmother/father) and their childhood were antiques, like things over 60 years. I remember walking up to my kindergarten teacher and asking her if she was an antique…lmao! :]
How very nice, to know that you consider people who have an interest in antiques to be “insane.”
Some other antiques:
YA Spelling database
YA Search function
YA Sort functions
Got kicked off, gonna be one of those nights. I do agree with the 100 year thing. But. my ” 66 2+2 289 fast back Mustang that I drove off the showroom floor Thanksgiving 1965, oh well that’s just cherry. The dealer kept talking about bank rates, I nailed him to a price and walked back with a bank check for $3000.00 and drove off an original owner.
thats the english language man
Anyone who watches PBS’s “Antiques Roadshow” will see old furniture is often a true “find” and lunchboxes, toys, lithographs, etc. always seem to be valued according to collector’s fancy.
1) I have my grandmother’s wooden dining room chair that looks like the one in the movie “Little Women (1949) “. I also have her picture frame that looks like the one in the last scene of “It’s A Wonderful Life”. What do you suggest?
Red
Antique is anything that is old and not available now.
You can find here antique death records.
trying to sell a 1966 Chris Craft 38′ Constellation Yacht is it considered an antique? wondering the correct way of advertising it…thanks alot