Watch out for...
Be careful about buying antiques with flaws you think you can fix.
Imperfect antiques are often worth a lot less.
Something that looks like deal can turn out to not be a deal when you factor in time and restoration costs.
Once in a while you may find something worth fixing, but try to keep it to a minimum.
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Antique Buying Tips
Befuddled by antique shows, dealers and auctions?
Here are a few pointers to bear in mind when you're looking for that perfect item!
Research first, then shop.
Learn as much as you can about what you'd like to collect.
Use books, the internet and experienced dealers as resources.
Shop prepared!
Bring a measured floorplan and photos of your home to make sure the antique pieces will fit there.
Carefully inspect objects for damage not immediately apparent - items in poor condition are very hard to resell.
Decide ahead of time how much you're willing to spend at an auction so you don't get carried away while bidding.
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Coming Soon!
More Great Articles about Antiques!
- All About Antique Sewing Machines
- Antique Doll Collecting
- Antique Furniture
- Antique & Collectible Glassware
- Antique Clocks
- And much more for antique enthusiasts!!
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Antique Restoration Tips
- Antique furniture should never be "polished" or cleaned with commercial cleaning products or polishes.
Instead, use a soft cloth sprayed with some glass cleaner.
- To remove stains from stoneware dishes,
soak them for 24 hours or more in one gallon of hot water with two denture cleaner tablets have been dissolved.
- Never use furniture oil such as lemon oil on antique furniture.
Just wipe it with a damp cloth or use only clear paste wax (Minwax or beeswax) to keep the wood in good condition.
- To prevent mildew damage to old photographs and art work hung on damp or outside walls,
tape or glue a sheet of plastic to the back to create a vapor barrier.
- Use only white glue to adhere broken pieces of porcelain, stoneware, or pottery together.
After applying glue, press pieces together and shift slightly for a tight fit.
Wipe off excess glue from both sides with a damp cloth and let dry.
Use masking tape to hold pieces snuggly while drying if necessary.
- To remove minor water marks on furniture, use a mixture of Vaseline and ashes.
Sift 2 tablespoons of fine wood ashes with a dab of Vaseline or cooking oil to form a paste.
Using a circular motion, work the paste into the surface with a soft cloth until the white ring vanishes.
- Never use rust-remover on china as it can remove the glaze or protective coating of the china.
Also, calcium, lime or rust-remover products should not be used on gold or platinum-banded crystal
because these items can stain or permanently change the color of the metal-banding.
- Wear cotton gloves as much as possible when handling your silver.
This will prevent the oils and acids from your hands from ending up on the object.
Cotton gloves are very inexpensive, and can be purchased at photography supply stores and some drug stores.
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If you have tips or suggestions you'd like to see published on this site, please let us know.
Call: 503-644-6408 or email:
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Determine a Doll's Value
Condition:
Dolls that are stained or dirty, show significant wear or not wearing their original costume or accessories are a fraction of the price of dolls in their original unopened box.
Rarity:
Age and demand for the doll will greatly affect it's value.
Quantity produced and how many limited edition numbers were assigned affect a dolls value.
Popularity of the artist:
As with other art pieces, original artists dolls are far more valuable than mass produced dolls.
Value of porcelain dolls, especially depends on the popularity of the artist.
Books, guides and magazines are good sourses for information about manufacturers, trademarks and mold numbers to help identify collectible dolls.
Magazines such as, Antique Doll Collector, offer specialized lists of dealers of antique collectible dolls.
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