The ABCs of antiquing
Find out how to research and shop for antiques online
By Heather Camlot
I don’t remember when or how I started collecting, though it probably had something to do with working after school at an antiques store run by my mother and aunt in Montreal. Every dollar I made went into buying pieces from their store; in a few years, I had an entire turn-of-the-century Quebec pine bedroom set.
I then set out to find hidden gems at markets near where I lived at the time: Finnegan’s Market in Hudson, Que.; the Aberfoyle Antique Market in Guelph, Ont.; Sixth Avenue in New York. This summer, I went big-time — to the self-proclaimed “King of Outdoor Shows,” held in Brimfield, Mass.
The allure of antiquing
Cynthia Nicolai, 39, started collecting when she was in her mid-twenties. Her aunt gave her a set of eight pressed-glass dessert dishes that once belonged to her great-grandmother. Nicolai has collected about 15 pieces with the jewel band or scalloped tape pattern from the 1880s, but she admits finding them is hard. “Because I don’t come across them very often, I buy them instantly, regardless of the cost,” she says.
Nicolai does, however, have an idea of which pieces are available and how much they should be. “It’s good to know approximately what [dealers] should be charging you, and then you may be able to talk them down.”
Do your homework
Research is the key to shopping for antiques. Pick a direction or style, be it antique toys or Georgian furniture. Learn as much as you can by reading books, visiting museums and antique shops and going online, says Douglas Stocks, president of the Canadian Antique Dealers Association. “If you can start to apply names to a style, then you’ve made your first step.”
Shop cautiously
When ready to purchase, shop at a reputable store or market. Yes, you can make fascinating discoveries at flea markets, estate sales, yard sales or online but, Stocks says adamantly, “Buyer beware.” The secret is to buy what you like and find a style that you want to live with. If it happens to go up in value, then that is the added bonus.
Understand price points
Although it’s difficult to determine price, you should read labels, ask questions about possible restorations and history, and look at the patina and construction (type of wood, joints, colour, legs, etc.) to judge whether they are correct for the period. If you’ve looked around and done some research, you’ll know if the price is reasonable.
Stock says he consults different periodicals such as The Upper Canadian, the Maine Antique Digest from the United States and Great Britain’s Antique Trade Gazette for an idea of price points.
Bargain wisely
Bargaining is possible at times, but don’t be impudent. You’re not going to get away with an 18th-century Chippendale desk for $150. Like other businesspeople, antiques dealers have paid a certain price for their wares, and they aren’t going to sell at a loss.
When you do buy, make sure all the information is written on the bill in case you need to take action, says Stocks. If a dealer won’t include the details, then it’s best to walk away.
Learn about antiquing
The Antique Collectors’ Club
Visit this site to find books on everything from royal commemorative mugs to Persian flatweaves.
Antiques Roadshow
The PBS site has tips of the trade, collector stories and a glossary.
Antique Web
Visit this site to find information on collecting and where to buy.
Antique Talk
Connecticut-based dealer Wayne Mattox has been writing this entertaining and informative weekly column since 1995.
The Wayback Times
Although this magazine focuses on Ontario and Quebec events, there are about 80 articles online about buying and restoring antiques written by dealers and long-time collectors.
Where to shop in person
The Canadian Antique Dealers Association
The site lists national CADA-approved dealers who are experts in their fields and who guarantee their products.
Antique Shops A to Z
Pick a province or state and city to discover just how many antique shops exist across North America.
Where to shop online
eBay.ca Antiques
Items up for auction are divided and subdivided into manageable categories.
Abebooks
This used-book site is the place to go to find the first edition of a John Steinbeck novel or a book signed by J.K. Rowling.
Sotheby’s or Christie’s
Can’t make it to New York, London or any of the other hot auction spots? Sotheby’s lets you bid via eBay’s Live Auctions service. Christie’s has live online absentee bidding directly on its site.
