Antique Collectors & Buyers Guide

You can find every kind of antique here, from antique salt and pepper shakers to antique gate leg tables. The following provides just a small sampling of the myriad of antiques that can be found here.

Antique silver

You may want to organize your antique silver collection by time period, style, or maker. Or, you may want to collect a certain kind of piece, such as antique silver-plated serving forks. Notice the hallmark, or stamp, which often indicates the standard of silver, origin, and other valuable information.

There are two major categories of antique silverware:

Antique flatware: Antique flatware includes utensils such as knives, forks, and spoons.
Antique hollowware: Antique hollowware includes vessels like bowls, tea services, trays, and vases.

Sterling silver is the highest-quality silver, but silver plate is affordable and retains all of the beauty of sterling. American silver that is slightly lower in value than sterling is often referred to as coin silver.

American silversmiths include Paul Revere, Myer Myers, Gorham & Company, and The International Silver Company. European silversmiths include The Bateman Family, Paul Storr, Puifocat, and Froment-Meurice.

Antique rugs

Many antique rugs are handmade and are truly folk art. Rugs can have a flat surface, like on a tapestry or a pile surface. Anything smaller than 9 x 6 feet is a rug, while anything larger is a carpet. Runners refer to long, narrow carpets. Antique rugs refer to rugs more than 50 years old.

Oriental rugs are of Chinese or Persian origin. Persian rugs include prayer rugs, urban-made rugs, village rugs, and nomadic rugs. Other rugs include those of American Indian origin, and folk rugs.

Antique ceramics and porcelain

Porcelain is also known as china, so named for the country of its origin. Chinese porcelain was originally exported to the U.S. in large quantities, with patterns of rose medallions, honeycombs, and butterflies. English china was also widely exported, by makers such as Spode and Royal Dalton. Blue and white is a popular color scheme for dinnerware and other porcelain; well-known examples are Meissen’s Blue Onion and Royal Copenhagen’s Blue Fluted Lace.

Antique pottery

The mineral content in clay gives antique pottery its basic color. Some varieties of antique pottery include redware, yellowware, and stoneware. American Art Pottery was created in large quantities during the mid-19th century and is now widely collected.

Antique clocks

There are many varieties of antique clocks, including tall case clocks (or grandfather clocks), carriage clocks, mantel clocks, wall clocks, and pocket watches. The case design of clocks generally follows the style of furniture of the period. Clocks that are elaborately designed are usually more highly valued.

Antique metalware

Antique metalwork or metalware comes in many forms, from magnificent bronze sculptures to humble pewter utensils. Metals commonly found include bronze, iron, copper, brass, and pewter. Much of the metalware being sold today is in the form of folk art.

Asian antiques

This category includes antique furniture, carvings, statues, porcelain, and art; these antiques originate from areas like China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. Antique Buddha figures are quite common and are made of varied materials like bronze and wood. Also, look into highly detailed antique jade statues or pairs of matching antique cloisonné vases.