People who collect antiques have many reasons to invest in objects that are over 100 years old. This habit may seem absurd to some people since they might be perplexed as to why someone spends so much money on antique objects and place them in a glass case for display. But antique collectors have their own stories as to why they acquire such objects, and why the objects are so meaningful to them.
The Age of the Object
What really makes an object an antique item is its age. Some people are drawn to objects that are older than them. They will always invest in whatever object that is older than them. They think that it’s a great way to be connected to the past – especially if the individual has an interest in a specific time period. A typical example could be a porcelain wine ewer of the 15th century. China was the only country that exported porcelain worldwide during that era. One particular type of ewer was made in the 1400s. It is probably the earliest piece of porcelain imported to Europe. So collectors are after this object.
The craftsmanship of the object is another reason why people choose to buy them. In fact, all objects before the industrial revolution were handmade, and this is another reason why a collector is connected to the object. The idea that someone in the past took his/her time to create such objects without using a machine is quite incredible. The craftsmanship of a certain century defines the time period too. The methods of creating porcelain objects evolved with time. That is why the ewer from the 15th century is so valuable compared to one from the 17th century. The process of making porcelain was much more complex in the 14th and 15th centuries (Source: Vainker 1991).
Making Money
Ruth Shearn and Rick Blears from Cheshire, England are into antiques. They collect and sell art deco antiques. Even though they spend a lot on antiques at times, they don’t have to spend a fortune to make a profit. They purchased a terracotta figurine on eBay in 2013 for $34. This figurine was Cortendorf Terracotta – and the brand itself has a great value which the previous owner didn’t know about. After restoring the figurine, the statue is now worth more than US$1,000. Ruth and Rick both state that the money they get by selling antiques will go to their daughter so that she will be taken care of after they are gone.
Living through Memory
As long as an item is personal to you and evokes your treasured memories, it really doesn’t matter what the item is. Although your grandma’s antique spoon collection may not be important to you, these items had great value to her. In fact, her collection can inspire someone who inherited her collection of antique spoons to keep adding to her collection as a mark of respect to her and her memory.
Who Owned the Items
Many people invest a lot of money in items that belonged to a very special person of the past. They want to achieve the effect of feeling more connected to that special person of the past. For example, David Rockefeller purchased Mark Rothko’s painting white centre for less than $10,000 in 1960. When the painting was put up for auction in 2007, it was estimated that the painting could sell for $40-million.
The Thrill of the Find
Some people collect antiques for the pure fun of collecting them. You never know what you will find when you go to an antique store. There are numerous antique shops in the Old Town of Fort Collins such as A and J Antique Mall and A-1 Antiques and Furniture, or shops like Serendipity in Fleet.
