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An Antique or a Collectible? Could you Tell the Difference?
An Antique or a Collectible? Could you Tell the Difference?
Collection. This is more than just gathering objects out of passion. For the person who is consumed in bringing together pieces that have significance to him, this is actually an art. Collection is an art that has long been with us since the dawn of civilization. The likes of Pope Bonifatius VIII, the famous poet named Petrarch, Cosimo de Medici (1389-1464), Joseph Mickley of Philadelphia, to Walter Niggeler, all who had the same fervor in coin collecting. Some of these famous collectors were just plain collectors while some of them could be considered antique collectors. Confused? Don’t be.
Antiques are collectible items that are at least a century old. Anything below that time frame is just a mere collectable (at least this is the gauge for most items). Some modern inventions such as the automobile or other gadgets could have a lower time frame. Cell phones that constantly evolve have a faster rate of becoming antiques. The cell phones that were used during the 80’s are now considered antiques. Other characteristics that qualify an item to be an antique are their rarity, unique features, age (they usually have witnessed eras that have long since gone), and condition. But the accepted and definite classification of an antique is if it is a century old or older.
The term antique could both be a positive and a devaluating term. It could be positive when an item is declared rare, hence, expensive. On the other hand, if a newer item such as a cell phone or personal computer becomes outdated and termed an antique, then the value of these items depreciates, sometimes they even become obsolete.
Some of the most famous forms of antiques are furniture and archaeological pieces. People who want to delve into antiquing should have shopping, bargaining and negotiating skills as these are necessary in acquiring the rarest pieces on the market. Another essential skill in acquiring antiques is to have a keen eye for details. An object could be made to appear like it’s an antique but it could have been manufactured and made to look old.
Most antiques can be bought from dealers who set up shops specifically for antique items. Some families have their own antiques and pass them down from generation to generation as heirlooms.
A collection, on the other hand, could be many things. A collectible which has been designed and manufactured for some people to accumulate is a modern day collection. Coins and stamps could be items for collection, too. Some people keep a collection of their family’s photographs or books or journals. Some items pass from the stage of being a collectible and as time goes by, it becomes rare and soon becomes a collector’s item. Scarcity is what drives a mere collectible to become a rare collection which could be sold for hundreds, even thousands of dollars.
Usually, when an antique and a collectible are to be compared, the big difference that sets them apart (aside from their age and sometimes rarity) is their price. An average person may have some form of collection but might have difficulty in acquiring antiques because of financial constraints. Antiques usually cost money while some collectibles can be acquired at a reasonable price (this depends on the rarity of the item that is being collected).
The most famous collectibles include coins, trading cards, cigarette cards (depicting pictures of actresses, baseball players and even boxers), comic books, figurines, dolls (ranging from the stuffed dolls to Barbies, to Beanies), automobiles, greeting cards, stamps, cigarette lighters (most especially Zippo), music boxes, Olympic pins, shot glasses, and many more. Perhaps one of the earliest forms of collectibles is the cigarette cards which were used to stiffen the packaging of cigarettes. An incentive for buying certain brands of cigarettes would be the chance to collect the exceptional photographs that were printed on the cigarette pack.
Now that you are able to differentiate a collectible from an antique, you have the edge to choose which one you would like to keep in your display cabinets. It all depends on what you are passionate about. Follow what you heart desires as antique collections take time and patience to gather.
