Archive for May, 2011

Antique Restoration

May 23, 2011 in Antique | Comments (0)

Before getting into the arena of antique restoration, it is imperative to note that not all antiques should be restored. Some antiques in fact, may lose their value in the restoration process while others may gain value.

 

Antique coins, for instance, must be left in their original form for collectors and collectors usually prefer to clean these themselves using specific processes. But on the other hand processes like antique china restoration, antique hardware restoration, antique bed restoration and antique oil painting restoration are not only invaluable to retaining the price and worth of the antique but may also be necessary in order to allow the product some functional use.

 

Hardware for antique furniture restoration therefore has great value as without the right kind of hardware, antique pieces may never be able to regain their original glory.

 

Occasionally antique owners and restorers may specifically require antique furniture restoration part hardware and depending on the style and era to which the antique furniture piece belongs, getting such hardware may be easy or extremely difficult.

 

Aside from restoring antiques, one must be aware that certain antiques only require minimal cleaning in order to retain their highest value. For example, ceramic antiques only need to be washed with ordinary soap and water in most cases.

 

Brass antiques may regain their original grandeur after mild polishing with a mixture of salt, flour and vinegar. It is always advisable to avoid potent chemicals while dealing with valuable antiques. Proper storage is also crucial for the maintenance of antiques..

 

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Items over hundred years are not permitted to be taken out of India without the permission of the Director General, The Archaeological survey of India, Janpath, New Delhi – 110 011.


Antique Appraisal

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An antiques appraisal refers to the securing of an educated opinion about the value of an antique. Naturally, one must realize that the accuracy of the appraisal depends on the information that the appraiser has on the subject and the appraisers’ experience and educational background.

 

Ideally, the appraiser should not have a personal interest in the item if he or she is to be trusted to give an unbiased estimate of its worth. One can avail of many offers to secure free appraisal online for an antique and one can even get antique appraisal free of charge at sites like the antiques road show sites.

 

A lot of people need to have their assets appraised for the sake of insurance. However, such insurance companies are highly unlikely to accept any valuation offered by antique appraisals online.

 

Whether you are interested in an antique coin appraisal or antique jewelry appraisals, insurance companies would only accept certified appraisals of the antique to be insured.

 

Here it should be remembered that most Estate Planners and agents are neither qualified nor certified to function in the capacity of appraisers. Hence their opinion or word will not be taken into consideration while determining the accurate value of items such as antiques or any other assets.

 

Such assets may also be needed to be accurately valued during the settlement of property or during such disputes. At such times, both parties may feel most comfortable with the idea of relying on an independent certified appraiser for the accurate valuation of items. .

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Items over hundred years are not permitted to be taken out of India without the permission of the Director General, The Archaeological survey of India, Janpath, New Delhi – 110 011.


Antique Pottery

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Making pottery is an ancient art and industry in India. Because of a large rural population, this industry still flourishes in certain parts of India. Pottery, especially antique pottery provides proof and evidence of the ancient skills of artisans.

 

It is not uncommon to find well-painted and delicately carved pieces of pottery like historians may occasionally refer to an exquisite antique pottery jug or antique pottery wheel antique pottery wheel that archeologists have managed to unearth from some ruins somewhere.

 

Such finds, though not uncommon are often the subject of great adulation since the works clearly show the development of the society from which they originated.

 

Like with any antiques, antique pottery marks have special importance to its value as these marks help one to identify the ear and culture that the pottery originated in. Such marks are often pointed out on pieces for sale at antique pottery auctions.

 

Whether you are interested in antique redwing pottery or butter dishes antique pottery or any other specific kind of antique pots, you should first understand the story behind the making of the antique piece.

 

At one time, pottery was probably used as a form of interior decoration as they played a major role in ancient households and hence some antique pots can be found with gorgeous workmanship in the form of intricate paintings and sculptures

 

Because pots are made from clay and earth, they are believed to have absorbed the emotions of the creator and as such have tremendous sentimental value attached to them as well..

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Items over hundred years are not permitted to be taken out of India without the permission of the Director General, The Archaeological survey of India, Janpath, New Delhi – 110 011.

 

 


Antique Tools

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An antique tool may refer to a tool that was manufactured about a hundred years ago or may be a reference to a tool that was used before World War II. Antique tools have special importance in archeological history and science because by studying the development of such tools, scientists and archeologists can determine the progress of civilized society through the pages of history.

 

An antique or tool collector has a vast variety of tools that are available to choose from.

 

Antique tool exhibitions and sales may include antique garden tools, antique wood tools, antique metal stamping tools or collectors may prefer to buy specific tools like antique tools for automobiles. In the latter genre one can also find antique tools woodworking and it is important to note that the antique tools worth depends greatly on its demand and therefore upon its usability.

 

Aside from being appreciated because of the glimpse of history they provide, antique tools may provide evidence of extra-ordinary craftsmanship and skills of ancient people.

 

Such craftsmanship lends the antique tool to rarity and great aesthetic value, which in turn translates into a higher demand and greater appreciation for the product.

 

Some tool collectors enjoy purchasing such antiques in order to preserve a piece of the past for the scrutiny of future generations. Others prefer to collect antique tools as a unique form of investment. And still others purchase such tools simply because they appreciate the art and craftsmanship of the artists of ancient times..

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Items over hundred years are not permitted to be taken out of India without the permission of the Director General, The Archaeological survey of India, Janpath, New Delhi – 110 011.

 

 


Antique Toys

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Antique toys like antique farm toys, Disney antique toys, antique Mattel toys, English antique toys and even antique paper toys have a great demand the world over by toy collectors and antique collectors as they allow the owner not only a chance to own a piece of history but also a chance to experience the beauty and innocence of childhood.

 

However when one decided to buy antique toys, try and get one in good shape because parts for antique toys can not only be expensive, they can be extremely hard to come across.

 

Ancient toys and dolls from various part of the world are collected by enthusiasts and may sometimes be priced at exorbitant sums. The Queen of England also has a legendary doll collection that once used to be available for public display.

 

The collection is more than just a display of the innocence of childhood. It reflects and portrays the changes of styles, mindsets, opinions and social trends through history.

 

 

Toys made from materials like clay, wood and stones have been unearthed from the ruins of some of the early civilizations from all around the world. These toys may include the figures of animals, human beings, gods and goddesses and vehicles like pull toys, wagons and carts.

 

It is not unusual to come across antique string puppets either. By studying the styles, clothes and ex-pressions of such dolls and toys, one can get an idea of the various customs, traditions and ancient beliefs of the people of different parts of the world. .

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Items over hundred years are not permitted to be taken out of India without the permission of the Director General, The Archaeological survey of India, Janpath, New Delhi – 110 011.

 

 


Antique Mirrors

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Genuine Antique mirrors are probably the most sought-after decorative antiques. Some popular varieties include antique fireplace mantel mirrors, wood antique mirrors and antique mirrors chrome, while the origin of the mirror may be known or unknown.

 

Antique English mirrors, antique French mirrors and antique makeup mirrors also have great demand though for different reasons.

 

Any antique enthusiast would advise you to go through a basic how to antique mirrors guide before you decide to purchase such an item. The first thing to know is that a mirror, by definition, is a decorative silver glass which was once mostly used for interior decoration.

 

Antique mirrors therefore were designed to do more than reflect images. Such mirrors had a decorative purpose and so some antique mirrors create a gentle and often softened reflection, so as to not cause a strong glare in the room.

 

The history of mirrors goes back all the way to ancient times. In ancient Greek stories, there are many references to the use of water bodies to reflect images and the ancient obsession with this reflection is visible in these stories.

 

In many ancient cultures the ability and power of an object to reflect one’s image was associated with magic and such objects were considered special for this reason.

 

Polished stone or metal formed the first ancient mirrors, while glass, combined with metals like tin, mercury, and lead formed later mirrors. The latter combination is even used in the manufacture of modern mirrors..

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Items over hundred years are not permitted to be taken out of India without the permission of the Director General, The Archaeological survey of India, Janpath, New Delhi – 110 011.


Antique Safes

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A safe, safe-deposit box, vault or strongbox as it is known in different parts of the world, is essentially a secure box that can be locked and hence is suitable for the storage of valuables lie money, jewelry and even important papers and documents.

 

Safes with combinations are especially safe as they are much harder to break into but these are a relatively new invention. Antique safes employed the traditional key lock system.

 

Antique safes can be of many different varieties like antique floor safes, antique fire safes or antique bank safes for instance and these are usually available for purchase when there is an exhibition of antique safes for sale.

 

 

Antique collectible safes may not always have the most practical value but they allow you to store your valuable in much the same ways as perhaps the monarchy once did and this hold a special appeal for many antique aficionados.

 

The first theft-proof safe was probably devised around the mid nineteenth century or a little earlier by a couple of brothers called Charles and Jeremiah Chubb.

The brother proceeded to patent their product and eventually earned a reputation for designing powerful safes and locks.

 

Antique safes may also include diversion safes or hidden safes though some companies also make these today. Such a safe is made from an ordinary object and utilizes the space within the object for the purpose of keeping valuable safe. No one would suspect such objects to contain valuables and hence such safes are rendered theft-proof as well.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Items over hundred years are not permitted to be taken out of India without the permission of the Director General, The Archaeological survey of India, Janpath, New Delhi – 110 011.


Antique Quilts

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The word quilt has its roots in Latin. The Latin word, ‘culcita’ refers to a padded and tied mattress which was something like a Japanese futon bed. This word was the source from which the word quilt originated.

 

Quilting, it is therefore clear, was an ancient art and different cultures employed different techniques for the manufacture of quilts which resulted in the large variety of antiques that we find today. Some of the kinds of antique quilts for sale these days include, antique appliqué quilts, antique Hawaiian quilts and antique dolls quilts.

 

Quilting basically refers to a form of needlework technique which involves joining two or more fabrics in a decorative pattern. Since quilts came into being to cater to the need to stay warm, quilts usually have a layer of foam or other padding between the layers of fabric that are stitched together. This may occasionally make the process of cleaning antique quilts a little complicated but the end result is almost always worth the effort.

 

Aging antique quilts from Asia can be traced as far back as to the first century. The main motifs and central themes of the designs on these quilts include animal motifs and various abstract designs. The background of Indian quilts is usually quilted in diamond shaped using a rough running-stitch. Quilting afforded Asians a way to stay warm without having to wear bulky clothing and quickly became a method employed in the manufacture of coats and other garments that offered protection from cold..

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Items over hundred years are not permitted to be taken out of India without the permission of the Director General, The Archaeological survey of India, Janpath, New Delhi – 110 011.


Antique Lighting

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With the rapidly increasing popularity of the antique look, come the rise of the demand for antique-lighting and consequently, the demand for antique lighting hardware.

Antique lighting or antique lighting look is a great way to add a traditional feel to your home or to a specific event. There are many ways in which one can avail of the antique lighting look. One could opt for antique post lighting or antique furniture lighting or make the use of antique exterior lighting by using specific lighting fixtures for antique buildings.

Antique Victorian lighting fixtures and techniques are extremely popular the world over. Whatever your preference, there is a vast variety of a lighting and lighting fixtures available to create the antique effect. For instance, you can opt for lamp post lights to dress up a garden or parking area.

Alternately, you could use antique wall lights or even wall lights with stained glass to create an ancient Victorian effect.

One could also buy various antique-replica or antique-look fixtures to create the décor of your choice without spending too much on these decorative pieces. For a truly powerful antique look, try using metal antiques.

Antique lamps that incorporate metals like pewter, black metal, bronze, and iron which were popular in ancient times lend a genuinely archaic feel to a room. Frosted glass lamps ad gothic style candelabras can also be used with electric bulbs to borrow the ambience of a glorified past.

Remember that it is possible to use dimmers on your main lights to create this look on special occasions only..

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Items over hundred years are not permitted to be taken out of India without the permission of the Director General, The Archaeological survey of India, Janpath, New Delhi – 110 011.


Antique Lamps

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Antique oil lamps were popular in all part of the world at one time because of man’s inability to tap electricity as an energy source. Hence such antiques are available all over the globe and can be found in a variety of style and may tell the stories of a host of cultures from across the world.

In India and the Middle-East one can find many antique hanging oil lamps and antique floor lamps for sale.

Antique lamps are often decorated with some kind of delicate etching on the glass body of the lamp and in modern times, such lamps are often recreated or restored and attached to electric bulbs to make antique electric lamps which afford the owner a safer version of the charm of yesteryear.

Antique stained glass lamps are believed to have originated in church art as stained glass and art glass had its roots in that form of art.

Originally the chemicals used to create such stained glass art were so expensive that such works were commissioned by elite clientele or the church itself.

Hence it is not uncommon to find religious themes represented on stained glass lamps. Other kind of popular antiques are antique street lamps. These have a unique charm and many people even use these to decorate the interiors of modern homes.

Like with any antique, one must first find the value of antique lamps before buying these as antiques can be very expensive, yet different kinds of antiques would command different values based on their rarity, demand and the workmanship they display. .

IMPORTANT NOTE: Items over hundred years are not permitted to be taken out of India without the permission of the Director General, The Archaeological survey of India, Janpath, New Delhi – 110 011.