A new shift in antiques and collectibles
Thanks to the pandemic so much in our lives has changed. Some may have negatively affected us but still, so much positive has come out of staying at home and learning to love our surroundings more and more. One market that has changed rapidly thanks to the pandemic is the antiques and collectibles world. Some trends have gone away but so many more have evolved or increased.
Let’s see what’s been going on in the antique world during this pandemic.
Textiles
Vintage clothing has exploded everywhere. Vintage jackets, sneakers, and outwear are leading the pack but high-end dresses and handbags are right behind. Dealers who are incorporating textiles into their stock with their other antique items are seeing strong sales. Other textiles include rugs, quilts, and tapestries.
Mid Century modern
Mid-century modern slipped a bit in the popular category, but its overall appeal is still the biggest within the decorative arts community. Mid-century modern is in all areas of collecting including kitchenware, jewelry, home décor, even paintings, and sculptures.
Costume jewelry
There seems to be no end in sight to the fascinations for costume jewelry. This collecting is strong across all age groups of collectors and buyers. Now with the pandemic, more vintage jewelry is being sold online and now providing a challenge for some antique shops to find sufficient stock.
Toys
Toys seem to always be a favorite among collectors. This category has particularly gotten popular this past year as people are reflecting on their youth and are feeling nostalgic now that they are home more.
Vinyl records
Vinyl records are all the rage between all age groups and with the reintroduction of the portable record player, music lovers everywhere want their vinyl albums. Albums from their youth, their favorite artists, and genres. It also has led to a flurry of people wanting to find the rarities like the Beatles’ “White Album” to everything Elvis Presley.
Memorabilia
Pop memorabilia, travel brochures, posters, ticket stubs, and even menus from famous cruise lines are flying off shelves. Early board games are also in demand.
Glass
The art glass market is strong not only with collectors but with general consumers as well. Its bold colors and fanciful shapes that can blend with virtually every design palette are likely contributing factors to this genre’s continued marketplace success. Early forms of art glass have soared in popularity as well as some types of glass from the last Victorian era.
Art Deco
Not necessarily as popular as mid-century modern, Art Deco still has a demand. Higher-end accent items, such as lighting, clocks, and decorative objects, including jewelry, are selling reasonably well.
