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Grandma's samovar, Soviet coins, a porcelain figurine passed down from generation to generation... We are surrounded by a multitude of old things, sometimes beautiful, and sometimes - those that have completely lost their original appearance. Do not rush to get rid of them, considering everything old - junk. After all, it is possible that you are holding real wealth in your hands and do not even suspect it. We will tell you how to recognize antiques and rarities among a pile of old objects, and which old things are valued the most.
First, you need to understand what rarity and antiques are and how they differ. Contrary to popular belief, these words - are not synonyms at all. Antiques are old objects that are over 50 years old (according to Ukrainian legislation), which have a certain historical and artistic value. Rarity – these are rare things made in limited editions. It can also be a modern object. Unfortunately, not all old things are antiques and rarities, and not all of them are of any value.
How to recognize antiques?
Most often, antiques include books, paintings, furniture, and dishes. Here are the main criteria by which an item can be classified as an antique:
• age;
• rarity;
• difficulty in reproduction (forgery);
• connection with certain historical events, personalities or era;
• artistic or cultural value;
• material value (made of silver or gold, inlaid with precious stones).
If you find an antique, first try to determine its age. Each category of things has its own rules: for example, when evaluating furniture, pay attention to the material. If the item is made of plywood, then most likely it is not of great value. If we are talking about dishes, figurines or cutlery, study the stamp printed on them. The value of the item is also affected by its condition. But if the thing is truly unique, then even in not the best condition it will still be highly valued.
If it turns out that your thing has no value, don't be upset. Remember that the main property of antiques is that over the years they only become more valuable. That is why collecting antiques – one of the most popular hobbies.
Is it worth collecting antiques?
Collecting antiques has always been considered one of the surest ways to increase capital. You shouldn't collect everything in a row - it's much more effective to focus on just one category of items.
The value of antiques is influenced by many factors: economic trends, the market situation, and even fashion. For example, in Ukraine, the latest popular items are old icons, Ukrainian embroidery and ceramics. Despite the fact that some of these items are cheap now, they may increase in price significantly in the future. It is these trends that real collectors follow, trying to buy old books and things that will be in great demand in the future. Another category of promising items is the attributes of the Soviet Union, which no longer exists. But you should be careful with these items, since most of them were mass-produced, and therefore are not unique and will never be highly valued.
If you are new to collecting and are afraid of making a mistake, it is better to choose a category that has proven to be immune to fashion and changes in the market. One of these categories is painting. Collecting antique art has always been the prerogative of the "high society", and it is no coincidence - because this hobby is one of the most expensive. Porcelain, jewelry, coins, and books are also always in fashion.
If you are interested in such items, we recommend that you look at the antiques catalog on Fama. Here you can find rare books, dishes, decorative elements, jewelry, paintings and many other things for every taste and for any collection.
