Barb asked:


I have an old dresser, probably from the 30’s, that I want to do some decorative painting on. I’m planning to use regular acrylic paints. Do I need to sand the spots I’ll be painting and prime them in any way, or can I just paint directly over the old stain and varnish? What kind of sealer should I use on the whole piece when I’m done? I’d like to avoid stripping the whole piece, I like the color and the way it looks, I just want to add to it.

MICHEAL

Roger R asked:


I inherited a large theatrical collection dating from 1850 which the V&A museum says is of inestimable value. I found museums in the UK & USA who are interested but I don’t know how to market the collection or how to converse with these types of people.Auction dealers get toffee-nosed & only want to auction the Will-Look-Good-In-Our-Auction-Brochure Oil Painting, ignoring the collection as a whole. I have already been advised not to separate the collection. There are some items there which are famous. All I have to work with in my search is the internet - but the antiques & collectibles sites only deal with Beanies or thimbles or comic books, and so on. I have not found a really serious site where really serious people look for the stuff of museum collections.
Before anyone gives the answer - the library is of no help whatsoever.
Has anyone got a clue?

MARGARITO

78 asked:


I’m cleaning out my deceased grandmother’s closet, and found tons of old costume jewelry. Some of it is cheap plastic and going to Goodwill, but some of it is actually nice stuff. I saw an Antiques Roadshow once that said a lot of the old broaches were collector’s items and were actually worth money, so the question is, where do I start to try to sell or auction some of it?

DOMINGO

Mei Galang asked:


Antique furnitures can easily give a character on a simple room or even to the space where it is placed. For those who are interested on shopping for the right antique to spice up their homes, below are the top 10 mistakes in antique shopping that could be avoided.

1. Going out of town for antique shopping and being clueless about the “in” places. You will need to do a research the best antique shopping places on the town that you would like to go. Certainly it will save time, money and you can exert all that effort on deciding what to buy rather than looking for antique stores to shop. Having connections won’t hurt, you can ask those who have experience on buying antiques where they had great deals and where you shouldn’t bother to go.

2. Preferring antique malls over single-owner shops. Well, this not a major mistake but shopping on a hard to find single owner shops can give a lot of perks like more personal service, price negotiation, wide selection of antiques and even the proprietor’s story that goes with each furniture.

3. Again, preferring antique malls over single-owner shops. Another hassle on shopping at a mall is when the owner is not present, you will need to negotiate with an attendant who can only give you limited discount.

4. Forgetting to bring handy items like flashlight and measuring tape. You will need to fully examine if your purchase is worth your money.

5. Paying by credit card. Dealers would often prefer and offer best price for those who can pay cash or through check.

6. Asking for a lower price by belittling the piece’s quality. Sellers would surely appreciate a polite price negotiation, emphasis on the adjective politely, rather than pointing out the piece’s limitations and bargaining for a lower price.

7. Splurge on shopping without doing a research. These days, the Internet is likely accessible to anyone and it can surely provide valuable antique informations about hot items, price range, history and more.

8. Being giddy about a flawless antique piece that you bought. Basically antiques should have small blemishes because of the time and history that it has endured. If the item looks flawless its probably a reproduction.

9. Being giddy about a flawless antique piece that you bought on a high price. Rare antiques generally comes at higher prices but be careful because you might end up buying a replica. In the case on shopping for antiques, its not bad to buy an expensive item with slight defect because the preservation of this item along with its minor defects makes it precious.

10. Not asking for the antiques proper care and maintenance procedures. Investing on antiques does not stop on buying one. You should gather information on how to take care of it and at the same time increase it’s value. Each item have its own requirement in terms of temperature, storage, cleaning, etc.



CALEB

Natalie Halimi asked:


Cultural antiques have always drawn the attention of the collectors. Primitive statues, antique lamps and swords were bought for large sums of money or brought from foreign countries. Each country exhibited its own heritage in museums, and presented to the wide public a variety of beautiful items, brought from different parts of the country. Some antiques were never presented to the wide public, but were kept in museum stores, hidden and well-guarded due to their priceless value. Some antiques were hidden because of their poor condition, which made it impossible for them to be exhibited in the open.

Museums worldwide exhibit different collections of antiques, which represent the country’s cultural heritage. Indian, Chinese, Japanese antiques are presented behind thick glass, and kept in special conditions, which protect them from damage. Antiques include a large variety of items, which differ from one country to another. For instance, African antiques include painted masks and statues, which were used as parts of religious rituals. English antiques are famous by elegant and luxurious items from late 17th and 18th centuries, such as beautiful antiques watches, wall clocks and other special items. Antiques often include expensive items made of gold and silver. For instance, Jewish antiques include many items made of silver, such as silver jewelry, silver rings and menorahs.

Antiques shops in he Internet display different items of antique origin, which are bought by those who can afford it. Antiques are often sold in public auctions, sometimes for very high prices, affordable only to millionaires. The most valuable antique items are kept in museums and presented only for short periods of time, because of their high cultural value. Antiques websites have proved to be very useful, because they enable the buyer to search for special items, which he couldn’t have found in his close surrounding. Buyers can explore the antiques from the other part of the world, and order them by the Net. The interest in antiques has always been part of on-line shopping, and antiques are most likely to continue remaining popular.



ROLANDO

John Grant asked:


Many people love collecting antiques. This is a passion that many people know too well. This is the same passion that people collecting antique clocks share as well. They would go out of their way just to find the best items. With the advent of the Internet, many of these people have discovered the convenience of buying collectible antique clocks online.

Most of the antique clocks made from the 15th century to the mid 17th century can be found in museums. Only a small number of these clocks are privately owned. Fortunately, with the Internet, many people have now better chances of gaining access to these clocks online.

There are more clocks made from the 1800s to the 1900s. These clocks were made in mass quantities so you will find them easily online.

Buying collectible antique clocks online differ from buying them in the conventional manner. You will find clocks that are worth well over $60,000. You will find models that are priced over $100,000. It is wise to get hold of a clock appraisal before you actually purchase a certain item.

Collecting and buying collectible antique clocks online is not that easy. If you are new to antique clock collection, you will be surprised to know that there are a lot of things that you need to do or to research before making a purchase. This is especially true these days because there is a widespread proliferation of reproductions, knock offs and fakes. If you are not an experienced collector, you could end up confused or worse, scammed.

Before venturing into buying collectible antique clocks online, you need to term the terms used by antique sellers and enthusiasts. Knowing the language and antique collection jargons will help you make your decisions.

There are also several things that you need to take into consideration before you purchase any item online. First of all, you need to know the history of a particular piece. This is where buying collectible antique clocks online can be a bit challenging. Most of antique items come with an expensive price tag so you cannot afford to be careless when you are making your purchases. Do not buy antique clocks that are defective. Make sure that it is carefully preserved and well-taken care of to ensure that you are paying for good value.

It is very important, therefore, that you do your research before you buy any item. The Internet is a good reference. You will find valuable information about antique pieces. You will also know the history of certain items. The need for research before buying collectible antique clocks online has always been emphasized by experienced collectors.

Of course, you also have to make sure that your online seller is trustworthy and reputable. You cannot be careless with your money. Do a background check of the online seller before you purchase anything. There are online auctions that you can check and join. You will often find great items from these online auction houses.

With the advent of the Internet, buying antique items has never been easier. As long as you are careful with your purchase, there is no reason why you should not consider buying collectible antique clocks online.



CYRIL

young61021 asked:


I really don’t want to get rid of the antiques, and some I won’t. But how do I get rid of the mold growing. It is even growing on the window sills. The only thought that I have (besides water and bleach-and I am AFRAID to try it on the wood) is to get central air. Does insurance cover this, and is there any hope out there. All we have are antiques passed down from the 1800’s, I could care less about the rest. What do I do?
I really don’t want to get rid of the antiques, and some I won’t. But how do I get rid of the mold growing. It is even growing on the window sills. The only thought that I have (besides water and bleach-and I am AFRAID to try it on the wood) is to get central air. Does insurance cover this, and is there any hope out there. All we have are antiques passed down from the 1800’s, I could care less about the rest. What do I do?
We currently have a dehumidifier running (non-stop) in the basement and are going to get another one this weekend. With the weather how it has been, hot and rainy and extremely humid, that’s the cause. I have every window open in the house-so the air is circulating. Today I cleaned most of it with bleach and water. I just hope that it stays away. Would central air work for future summers?

KARL

MinT92 asked:


I have an old brass bellhandle (bell with handle) that my father found at an auction in 1981. It looks old and asian of some sort, the handle is in the shape of a monkey or god looking human that has a different face on each side. I would love to post a picture and get an idea of what this is and what it is worth. What websites are safe?

DICK

Gust A. Lenglet asked:


Not so long ago, it was common knowledge that one could find very old, and rare, antiques being sold in some Japanese street markets for a meager sum. At that time, there was not much of a marketplace for such relics of a bygone era, and any given collector had a fairly decent chance of picking up a considerable amount of antique Japanese valuables for a small investment.

Times change however, and today the value of Japanese antiques has skyrocketed. Instead of being a ‘bargain’ that an enthusiast or small time collector could easily afford, collecting any antique Japanese items is often a costly affair.

Still, the ever-increasing value of various items has ended up fueling the desire to unearth an antique Japanese piece that had perhaps been overlooked.

Searching for Japanese Antiques Anywhere and Everywhere

Mainly, the problem with looking for what could be in plain sight is the sheer scope of it. Ironically, that is the selfsame reason why there undoubtedly still are rare antique Japanese items that could be worth a lot but are simply unnoticed.

Very often, the first ports of call end up being antique shops. To a certain degree this does make sense, but nowadays many antique shops actually have their inventory professionally valued. Thus, the chances of finding rare Japanese antiques  that were somehow overlooked when scrutinized carefully is slim to none.

In fact, peering at an antique Japanese china plate set that may be a family heirloom which has been passed down from generation to generation would probably be more effective. Odds are that such pieces have never been really looked or thoroughly valuated by experts.

Of course, this is the very basis of finding antique Japanese valuables that are hidden in plain sight - looking at those pieces which experts haven’t had the chance to view.

For this reason, auctions that are run without having Japanese antiques valued beforehand are a treasure trove of opportunity. Many a time an unwitting seller has put up an antique piece that turned out to be extremely rare. Needless to say, the buyer who did discover such a concealed diamond would have profited immensely.

In this regard, although time has upped the ante (and value) of rare antique Japanese items, there still do exist avenues by which unknown valuable pieces can be unearthed.



WELDON

Mico Blanco asked:


Most of us are fun of collecting antiques or old things that varies for its sensational craftsmanship, the quality, the age, and the uniqueness of a things which called or belongs already to antique items. Antique items are pertains to every things that meet the characteristics of being old but still engage on its quality and sensibility in preservation of it. In auction system, the older the certain thing the higher the price if you buy it. Some of antiques are very expensive. It was expensive because they are one of a kind craftsmanship that evolves from its extinction and social existence. Some of antiques mostly displayed from the museums. From smallest things up to the biggest antiques, you can see how valuable it is. Most of them are in total existence of more than a thousands of years, and even hundreds of years or even a number of decades from the time they are made or they are form. Antiques are usually made by old mankind or old folks that exist from their time here on earth. There craftsmanship that exist in this present time of the world. There are certain kind of antiques which is common to us. You can build your own antique items also as long you can preserve it and more valuable. The valuable antiques are merely involve on the uniqueness that capture the interest of every individual that saw the thing. In that matter, the system of auction or bidding is required to race up the price of the antique. For example, you have the antique car which model 1896 which really hot to the eye of antique lovers. And this antique stuff you want to sell it. You  can do an auction in order to race up the price. In that matter, those people who want to buy your antique item will compete in your desired price of your antique car. 

If you have antique collections, you must have maintenance or protection measure in order to keep them valuable and make it higher in value or price if you want to sell it. There are steps in preserving and maintaining the value and quality of your antiques. Her are they: preserve them in a safety area which unable to damage by children or any insects or pests around your house, clean them  if necessary; a proper handling and proper care must needed while cleaning it, and build a stand or transparent cabinet for security purposes. In every antique items, there are appropriate steps on caring them. The steps are varies depends on the kind and structure of the antique item. Some of antique items are fragile and very risky in handling it because of the old quality of it. Make sure that your antique items are in safety places which protected from any danger. Because one way of preserving the high value of antique item is the quality of preservation and the complete structure of it. If it is damage already, the price will lowered or else if it has greater damage, your antique may be useless and out of  value already.



NICOLAS