Antiques tell a story
If you are a fan of antique shows, you know that when an item has a story behind it, it can be more valuable than if someone just found it. The reason for this is simple. Antique collectors love a story behind an item so they can understand where it came from, where its been and how it came to rest at its current home. We collect antiques to hold onto the past so naturally, we want the story behind the item.
Storytelling is a magical and infectious art form. Everyone and everything has a story. And stories are what makes life so fascinating. Sometimes stories come without much explanation and sometimes we have to look for them. When they come into focus, we need to take the time to understand and appreciate these stories for what they can show us.
This is especially true when dealing with antiques and vintage items. When we visit an antique shop and we see something that appeals to us, we want to know, “what’s the story behind this?” In truth, we don’t want to just know what it is, we want to know where it came from, who owned it and why they valued it.
Think back to your own family history. Is there a piece of furniture or an item your grandmother had that brings back a beautiful memory for you? We can imagine that there is a story behind the object whether it’s how the item came to be in your family or a specific time it was significant in your life or in another family member’s life. If this item was an antique and worth some value in the market today, having a story behind it makes it even rarer.
We are a society obsessed with storytelling. It’s why movies are made and books are written. We have a need to understand where something came from, why it came to be or why it ended up where it did. We want to be told a tale and we almost always want that tale to be true. In the antique world, the truth to a story is important and when you have facts to back it up, you have just solidified that your item holds more value.
If you know anyone whom you hope will gain an appreciation for antiques and vintage items, tell the stories associated with the items you own and love. Sentiments add meaning and after all, meaning matters. When you visit an antique store, ask if an item you are interested in holds a story. Even if it isn’t a magical story, you can surely take yourself back in time and imagine what these people looked like or where they may have had this item placed in there home. Regardless, it is still fascinating when an item has a story, any story.
