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Common Places Where To Find Items To Add To Your Collection
Common Places Where To Find Items To Add To Your Collection
One of the major debacles that new antique collectors face is finding a place or shop where to buy items for their collection, especially if they opt to buy rare antiques. Naturally, you can't just find the items for your collection at shopping malls and warehouse stores. If you want great finds at low prices, you have to be patient and creative in finding the precious objects that will make your collection complete.
Here are some of the places where you can buy antique collectibles:
Internet
There are many auction sites and online antique galleries on the Internet. If your collections are tribal and ethnic art, you will find it easier to buy online instead of going to Africa, Asia or whatever country your collection is found.
You can also use the Internet as a reference on the price of the items that you are planning to buy. The Internet is also one venue to gauge the rarity of the objects you want to collect. If there are only a few sellers of the type of antique collectible you are amassing, then you will know that the object may be quite rare.
One disadvantage on relying on the Internet to fill your collection is that you won't be able to carefully examine the things that you are buying. If your collectibles aren't expensive, then it is probably all right to try online stores and auctions. However, if you are buying furniture, jewelry or antique art, you may want to examine the pieces first before purchasing.
One way to ascertain that you won't be conned by fraudsters on the Internet is by transacting business only on trusted sites and auctions. Always research about the company or person you are going to deal with. You can also ask your friends or fellow collectors about the reputation of the seller. Be vigilant when transacting business over the Net.
Auctions
Another venue for buying antiques is at auctions. If you are planning to be a full-fledged antique collector, you should have a habit of attending auctions even if you aren't planning to buy anything. Auctions are great places to meet other collectors and also well-known sellers.
However, if you plan to buy something at an auction, don't just go there on the date of the auction itself. You must attend sales previews so you can examine the object that you are trying to buy. Before attending an auction, you also must be prepared. Research about the object you are planning to buy – know the market price, condition and set a personal limit. Many collectors end up paying a high price for something that isn't that valuable.
Flea markets, garage and estate sales
The old adage, one man's trash is another man's treasure is really true when it comes to collecting antiques. There are many items that are just sitting in a person's attic or basement that are valuable to other people. One way to find these treasures that are long kept hidden is through flea markets, garage and estate sales, and fairs.
A collector will find it difficult to distinguish treasure from trash in such places if he or she doesn't have ample knowledge about the things that he or she is collecting. If you decide to collect period furniture, you must read books and articles about the specific period you are trying to collect. You must know what style, type of paint, varnish, nails, and woods were used during that time. Thus, when you go antique hunting at flea markets, you will be able to immediately spot the pieces that belong to the period of your furniture collection. There is also a big chance that you won't get reproductions and imitations.
Fairs
There are several types of fairs: weekly markets, vetted fairs, permanent antique markets, and small-town market fairs. Fairs are ideal venues for the serious art and antique collector. These places are always teeming with fellow collectors; thus, you have a chance of meeting experts or leading antique collectors.
The first thing you should remember when buying at fairs is to arrive early so that you'll have a chance to rummage and choose from the full collection of sellers. If you are trying to find a specific piece of antique art, you should head to specialist dealers. You will find the price of goods in a specialist shop reasonable. This is also an opportunity to get to know the dealer and find out more about the things that you are collecting.
