Antiques
New Zealand Antiques
For the beginner, New Zealand antique dealing and collecting can be daunting. Whether you are dabbling in collecting or considering a career as a professional antique dealer, delve into these frequently asked questions for tips and advice on buying and selling New Zealand antiques.
The NZS.com New Zealand antiques article contains information and advice on collecting, buying, selling and trading of antiques and collectables in New Zealand.
The world of antique collecting is an exciting one for recreational collectors and professional antique dealers. As with so many skills, there's nothing like practise to increase your knowledge and help you to learn all the tricks of the trade. Before you begin, it's important to get to grips with the basics of buying and collecting New Zealand antiques.
How old must an item be to be considered an antique?
An item becomes antique when it has been in existence for 100 years or more. However, the term antique is often attached to items which fall outside this definition, which should be referred to as collectables, rather than antiques. Remember, dealers will buy and sell any item they consider to be collectable, not just antique items.
How will I know what is collectable?
The term collectable refers to anything of value which is collected. Collectables themselves do not necessarily have an inherently high value – their collectable status is determined by the demand for such items. New Zealand collectors themselves are the ones who value items, through their willingness to pay money for items such as phone cards, cereal boxes and memorabilia. Remember, one person's trash is another person's treasure, so your collection will be determined by your own personal taste.
How will I know for sure that something is old?
The skill of knowing the approximate age of an item is something that comes with experience. Generally though, antique items will be made using materials that are not commonly used today for similar products. They may also have decoration which is done by hand, where today it would be done by a machine. As you become more knowledgeable about antiques and collectables, you will become more familiar with features which characterise particular time periods, such as the Art Nouveau style and the Arts and Crafts movement. Usually, genuinely old items will have signs of wear and tear, but some items will have been left in packaging or protected from light, and will therefore have remained in mint condition with few signs of aging. These are the items which will have the most value.
How will I know a fake from the real thing?
Generally, those items that look new and have no sign of aging are probably reproductions of originals. There are reproductions and fakes circulating, so be sure to check the authenticity of any piece. You can do this by learning a great deal about your chosen area of collection and checking key details that indicate the period from which a piece is dated. If in doubt, check with a reputable dealer. There are also techniques for testing antiques before purchasing, including black light testing, which can be used to date items, test for authenticity and show signs of repair or aging which are not visible to the naked eye. Repairs or damage will become fluorescent under the ultraviolet light.
How much is my collection worth?
A reputable antique dealer can offer you a valuation of your items, but there are plenty of ways to do some detective work to determine the worth of your collection. Visit an online auction site, such as TradeMe, Ebay or a large antique site, to find similar items. This will give you an idea of their approximate value and also the demand for such items. Beware though: online prices are often less than an antique dealer would ask for an item. There are also plenty of helpful books available on collectables and antiques.
Can I make money by selling antiques online?
It is certainly possible to make money by selling antiques and collectables online, but there are also pitfalls in this trading technique. The most common mistake is that a buyer will not thoroughly research an item before putting it up for sale. Remember, there will always be people looking for bargains and collectables sold for a much lower value than their worth. These people will target unsuspecting amateur collectors offering items for sale. Build up a customer database of those who have successfully bid on your items and check with them to see if they want to be on a newsletter mailing list or receive automatic notification of any new listings that you post.
Most of all though, have fun when collecting. For some, it’s all about the monetary value of their collection, but for most, the beauty of the objects themselves, the buzz of amassing a collection and the thrill of finding hidden gems are the real attractions. So, enjoy letting loose the magpie within and start collecting treasures today!
Looking for more information? Find New Zealand antique dealers in the NZS.com directory.
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Arts images from Flickr: Antique, Maori Carving and Wellington Sculpture.
