Antique Collection

People are catching on to collecting. This is not surprising when even something collected new a month ago is already worth more in the shops today. Here are just a few of the objets de virtu which are worth forking out a couple of fivers for, which will one day attract brisk bidding at Sothebys. Read the rest of this entry »

These small gummed squares or rectangles of paper are widely regarded as one of the best media for the high-speed acquisition of a Comfortable Lifestyle — and with good reason, because the 1856 British Guiana penny stamp is now worth half a million pounds, an appreciation rate of 20,000,000,000 per cent, which is not bad. People who bought these stamps back in 1856 and did not hang on to them must be kicking themselves now. Read the rest of this entry »

For most normal people a good collection of money seems to satisfy their acquisitive instincts. However, I have noticed that more and more denizens of the International Set are becoming cognoscenti and aficionados of the Ancient Object. ‘A thing of beauty is a Joy for Ever’ as the poet neatly put it (especially as it can be cashed in for money when collateral is getting a little on the dodgy side.) Read the rest of this entry »

There is no need to pay a King’s Ransom for something Old and Aesthetically top-notch. A true devotee of the Money-Making Scheme will have to cut out the middleman to go directly to the source of the goodies, i.e. people’s homes, wherein lurks an Aladdin’s Cave of unsuspected treasures. Read the rest of this entry »

Compared with ceramics of the same date, much antique glass remains relatively inexpensive. You can still find sets of 19th century glasses for under £100 at antiques shops and general auctions, and incredibly, an antique decanter will often cost less than a modern one. Read the rest of this entry »

Knives, forks and spoons are usually termed “flatware” by silver collectors. Depending on your budget there are many ways of collecting flatware. Complete services, which usually comprise settings for 12, may seem prohibitively expensive, but odd numbers of spoons and forks in the most common patterns, such as Old English, Fiddle, Read the rest of this entry »

Even though we no longer depend on candlelight for illumination, nothing graces a dining table more elegantly than a pair of silver candlesticks. Most candlesticks and candelabra were originally made in pairs or larger sets. Expect to pay more than double for a pair of candlesticks than for two single ones – even if they’re the same design and size! To be a true “pair” candlesticks must be made by the same maker at more or less the same date. Read the rest of this entry »

Whether you prefer the subtle sensuality of the Art Nouveau potters, or the uncluttered modern approach of the Art Deco era, pottery of this period provides something to suit almost every taste. If you’re an inexperienced collector this could be an ideal choice of subject to begin with: most pottery and porcelain is marked; wares by the most famous potters are usually well documented; and many pieces are still refreshingly inexpensive. Read the rest of this entry »

If you want to collect on a modest budget, the vast array of small novel objects made from silver can provide an ideal collecting area. Read the rest of this entry »

The most sought-after antique paperweights are those made by famous French factories such as Baccarat, Clichy and St Louis during the middle years of the 19th century. Patterns were built up from tiny slices of differently coloured rods or canes of glass, set in a mould and covered in clear glass. The size can vary from under 5cm/2in to 10cm/4in or more. Read the rest of this entry »