The thrill of the hunt for #antiques
Have you ever dreamed of finding a priceless antique in a thrift store and making a fortune selling it? Most collectors to one degree or another have had dreams of these kinds of collectibles haunting their dreams. While it doesn’t happen often, the thrill of the hunt is still there. If you have an eye for quality, you may get lucky. Sometimes we inherit pieces that we had no idea had any value and then comes the struggle of selling or keeping it for sentimental reasons. When you scour your next garage sale or antique store in Southampton, consider all the possibilities that await you there.
CNN posted an article awhile back that told the story of a Rhode Island antique dealer who paid $14 for an enameled gold brooch dating back to 1835 that he found in a basket of costume jewelry in an antique shop. That was a great find and the gem decorating the brooch turned out to be a rare purple Quahog pearl. While it isn’t likely that an ordinary collector would ever score a find like the Quahog pearl brooch, there is a possibility to find a nice item on a smaller scale. It is that thrill of the hunt that keeps us motivated and curious to explore every antique store we can.
When you are rummaging through yard sales or visiting an antique shop it’s important to have a keen eye and a somewhat understanding of what you are looking for. You might have a fascination with antique glass and have no interest whatsoever in rare books. But, if you are like most collectors who love the hunt, you learn to have an understanding of everything antique because, well, you never know what treasure you are going to uncover.
Familiarize yourself with the world of antiques. Ask your local dealer about items in their shop. Go online and research popular genres of antiques. Understand what is rare and what people are hunting for. It will help you gain an understanding of knowing if something is really worth investing in when you locate it. Sometimes you win, most of the time you may lose but, isn’t that what the thrill of the hunt is about after all?
Once you have an understanding of the basics of antique collecting, you will visit thrift stores and estate sales in a whole new light. Sometimes, people have no idea what they have and are happy to just sell the contents of a home they may have inherited. Most often thrift stores and antique stores know if something precious and rare comes into their shop but sometimes things slip through the cracks also. You never know what is going to emerge in the course of a garage sale trip.
If you are looking to add to your antique collection or you have something you think may be a rare find, visit your local antique shop and ask the dealer for help. At Antique Allure, we are always looking for rare finds too and we would love to see what you have or help you find what you are looking for.
