When you think of antiques, what makes your heart soar? Jewels? Books and prints? Furniture? Carpets? Paintings? There’s no doubt that antiques possess qualities that makes modern merchandise pale in comparison – qualities like exquisite craftsmanship, character, attention to detail, and timelessness. Similarly, American items that are considered to be antiques – the older items you might find at estate sales and auctions – are youngsters when compared with Wisconsin antiques.

If you collect antiques or are an antiques dealer, you really haven’t lived until you’ve gone on a Wisconsin antiquing trip. If you’re taken aback by thoughts of the expenses associated with such a trip, it may be time to think again. By connecting with others who have experience in Wisconsin antiquing and by employing the right strategies, you can find the treasures of a lifetime at bargain prices. Here are five tips to ensure success:

1. Rely on the experience of others. If you’re new to the Wisconsin antiquing scene, hook up with others who have practical knowledge about finding the best Wisconsin antiques. There are Wisconsin antiquing trip tours specifically designed for those who are looking for a great selection at great prices, so take advantage of their expertise. Even if you have been antique shopping in Europe before, it’s refreshing and enjoyable to travel with others who share your interests.

2. Look out for reliable online antique shops : buying and selling antiques from online antique stores make for a wiser idea than wasting your time and money out. You can work on your hobby from the convenience of your home with the minimum investment which just requires you to have a PC and an Internet connection. Here, you can not only shop for antiques at great price but also book them without any hassles.

3. It’s all about timing. If you go on a Wisconsin antiquing trip during the peak season, you can forget about finding bargains. When’s the best time to travel? As is the case in the United States, the Wisconsin antiquing business is slow from the latter part of November through Christmas. If you time your trip correctly, you’ll be finding bargains in Italy while everyone else is at the mall.

4. Plan ahead for shipping. You don’t want to have to drag your purchases around from country to country, and you probably don’t want to deal with the hassle of declaring everything when you come through customs on your way home. It’s best to use a trusted shipper in each of the countries you visit and complete all of the customs paperwork at that time. Better yet, it you use a tour company that specializes in Wisconsin antiquing trips, they will arrange to have all of your items (and those of others in the group) shipped to their warehouse, where you can pick them up stateside.

Find Bargains on a Wisconsin Antiquing Trip is a post from: Undangled Antiques

Antique Kraft R/C Radio was Phil Kraft’s Plus a few of mine. is a post from: Undangled Antiques

Just like any other material, antique furniture pieces may deteriorate over time. When such happens, the owner is faced with the question of whether he should refinish or restore the antique piece. In choosing which process should be undertaken, it is vital for the antique owner to have a complete understanding of the difference between the two.

What is the difference between Antique Restoration and Antique Refinishing?

As the name implies, Antique Restoration process refers to the step by step procedures to “restore” the antique piece. Basically, the process ensures that the antique object will not lose its value or worth. Antique restoration may refer to light cleaning, antique refinishing, or conservation.

Antique refinishing is a method of antique restoration. In this restoration technique, the restorer usually prioritizes the upholding of the functionalities of the antique furniture.

For example, if the antique furniture is a table, the restorer would have to make sure that the legs of the table are in good shape and condition to hold some weight on the flat surface where food can be displayed. As such, aside from light cleaning or the process of removing dirt and stain from the item, reassembling and repainting should also be considered. However, the restorer should make sure that regardless of whatever he does, the antique furniture should be able to retain, if not totally increase its value.

The factors that should be considered

In deciding whether an antique piece should undergo refinishing, the restorer or the owner of the piece should consider the following factors:

The peculiarity of the furniture’s design: Consider if the furniture piece has a unique design from the old or medieval years. If the furniture looks like a classic example of art from another century or decade, it would be preferable to do some light cleaning only to ultimately conserve the furniture piece instead of altering it and diminish its value.

The craftsman or the manufacturer of the furniture: There are some cases when the value of the furniture is based on who crafted such. Thus, the furniture is considered valuable and notable regardless of its age and functionality. In such cases, light cleaning is recommended as refinishing will ultimately make the item an ordinary furniture piece.

The basis of value: There are some instances where the restorer would have to choose what to prioritize- the age or the functionality of the antique furniture piece. In the case of tables, chairs, beds, closets, doors, and other huge furniture pieces that are not ideal for mere display, it is best and more practical to focus on the preservation of the antique’s functionality. However, in the case of display items such as paintings, jars, lamps, and other small antique objects which can be displayed and used solely as a decorative art, some light cleaning or conservation will be the best way to go.

The cost of the restoration process: Budget is a prime consideration when restoring antique furniture pieces. The restorer would have to note that there are some furniture pieces that would need highly expensive materials in order to restore or refinish them. As such, in cases where antique furniture will be used only for home purposes, the more cost-effective restoration process should be considered.

Know the Difference Between Antique Refinishing and Restoration is a post from: Undangled Antiques

Antique Cafe =)! is a post from: Undangled Antiques

Many people go for antique furniture pieces primarily because of the elegance and style that it can provide to the interior ambiance of a house, an office or other areas. Prior to buying and collecting antique pieces however, the antique collector should first be equipped with knowledge as to where and how to shop. Below are some popular tips that should be considered:

Where to shop

a. It is best to buy antique furniture pieces from single owner shops or specialized antique stores than in antique shops that are in malls. Such will offer a more personal service at a more reasonable and affordable price. Specialized shops also offer a wider selection of choices.

b. In cases where the antique collector is looking for more affordable prices, the best places to go to are the flea markets and antique garage sales. Look for flea market or antique fair ads in the internet or in local print publications.

c. In case the antique collector is after antique items that are sold at highly discounted prices, he can opt to buy in sets or in bulk. He should also prefer buying from single-owner shops where he can directly negotiate the price with the owner.

d. One can also opt to buy antique furniture pieces in auctions. Doing so will provide the antique collector with the chance to save on the mark-up price of most antique shops. However, make sure that the auction house provides guarantees for its products.

What to check before buying the piece

a. Before buying any antique furniture piece, it is best to examine the history of the furniture. This background check includes the identification of its manufacturer, the year when it was manufactured, the hardware used for its construction, its previous owners and the like.

b. A thorough review of the process and schedule of previous maintenance procedures for the furniture piece should be made. Examine when it was last refurnished or restored. Identify who restored the piece and what restoration processes did he apply. Such will be useful in assessing the condition of the antique piece.

c. A systematic and meticulous inspection of the antique furniture piece should be made so as to determine if such is in good condition. The furniture should also be examined for any apparent signs that may indicate an immediate need for restoration and refinishing in the near future. Check if there are wormholes on the surface of the wood piece. Examine if there are saw marks visible on the surfaces, at the back of the chests, or under tables. There should also be no exposed cracks, scratches, and other disfiguring marks.

d. A close look on the styles, designs, and markings on the antique piece should be made in order to determine if the antique is an original piece or if it is just a reproduction. Examine the size of the surfaces and boards on tabletops and dressers. Examine the nails and wood pieces that were used in the piece and relate it with the history of furniture construction. Check if secondary wood are visible anywhere in the furniture’s surface or in its inside drawers.

Know Where and How to Shop For Antique Furniture Pieces is a post from: Undangled Antiques

Those of you who need the expert opinion regarding the value of an antique item should resort to professionals who specialize in antique appraisal. Nowadays, there are many sites which offer a lot of information about the important elements of the appraisal of antique items. Due to the advanced existing technology, today it is easy to reproduce pieces that look exactly like the original and this is why antique collectors should resort to antique appraisal.

Each and every antique appraisal must be based on a professional code of ethics. An accredited appraiser plays an important role in pricing antiques and he must do his best to be impartial. As long as you pay an appraiser for his services, he will maintain impartiality but if you benefit from an appraisal coming from a dealer who wants to buy and resell the antique you will probably not receive an impartial value. Dealers usually price your antique low so that their profit is higher.

By paying for an antique appraisal, you will succeed to protect yourself from a motive to deceive. Although any person can pretend to be an appraiser, only an authorized appraiser bound by a professional code can be correct in pricing antiques in an ethical manner. Furthermore, an antique dealer must be accredited by an appraisal organization.

Most of the times the internet is not enough to obtain an accurate antique appraisal due to the fact that appraisers need to see and touch a piece in order to determine its true value. However, there are some professional websites that will help you get a professional opinion and a fair price for your antique. Keep in mind that all appraisals must be based on seeing your antique and anyone who offers for pricing antiques without having seen them is not doing you a favor.

Moreover, reputable appraisals are done usually per hour and you should pay somewhere between 40-100 dollars for an appraisal. Also, make sure that your appraisal includes information about protecting your antiques and about selling them. Do not resort to an appraiser who offers to buy the item he is appraising! f you don’t have time to look for a reputable appraiser, you can find one on the internet.

Although the main drawback to online antique appraisal is the fact that the condition of the item cannot be evaluated correctly if you are not honest about all the details, there are some appraisers who have learned to look for signs of condition aspects through photos. This is very difficult but it can be done. Furthermore some appraisers will be able to offer you information regarding the age, style and history of the item, besides the common information regarding how you should take care of the item.

Another benefit of online antique appraisal is the fact that it can be submitted whenever you please, day or night. All you have to do is give some detailed photos, fill in a questionnaire about the item and upload the form. However, you must be aware of the fact that some details of the item can be lost in the photo. Having said all that, there’s no need to worry if you resort to online appraisers for pricing antiques as their credentials and references have been verified.

Online Antique Appraisal is a post from: Undangled Antiques

Antique Bakery Opening – Life goes on is a post from: Undangled Antiques

The dictionary defines the word antiques as a piece of art, or wood art or a decorative object that is made over 10 decades a go. There are people who have this hobby of collecting antiques. Antique collection could prove one of the most expensive hobbies eve, even more that of maintaining exuberant golf courses for gold players.

The antiques are pieces of art from earlier period and are priceless and that’s why they at times price more than any one could ever imagine. There could be a wide variety of antique items that could attract the antique collectors. Stamps; furniture; jewelry; cars; paintings; statutes & sculptures the list is endless. Guns and magnificent piece of photography is no different attraction for such antique collectors.

Antique Collection Of Old Guns

The antique gun collection is becoming popular day by day. Gun being the boy toy attract lot of men. Gun is a symbol of pride and power. Especially when it is an antique gun it adds to the status and standard of the antique gun possessor as well. Not only because of the – power, pride and status that these guns brings, the trill associated with them because of them belong to some great legend from the past makes the entire concept even more exciting.

If you practice collecting antique guns or are interested in it, the best source of information about adding more to your collection would be subscribing to the magazines that are available in the market, providing indispensable information about these antique rare pieces. If you are new in the field, to be on the safer side spend more time on researching and collecting information and start with relatively small and less expensive antique guns. The best source for information and purchase of such antiques are the Gun Shows that are organized by big antique gun organizations e.g. NRA.

Antique Collection of Photography

Photographs are no different when it comes to adding to an antique collector’s collection. The antique collections of photographs would have pictures from a very old specific era from – representing a country’s cultures or history. The collection might include beautiful pieces of photography by some well known photographers like – Strand, Paul; Modotti, Tina;  Hine, Lewis;  Levitt, Helen and many more the list is endless.    Or would have beautiful images captured of a very early period, highlighting the culture and trends of that time.

The black and white photo adds to the beauty of such photographs. Such collectors of photographers usually are interested not only in the antique photographs but also have shown explicit inters t in Vintage Photography; Photography from the Civil War and Old Photographs. There are various websites available from where these antiques photographs could be purchased. Though these photographs are priceless – there usually start from as less as $100 with out any upper limit to its cost.

There are number of photo collections available which provides with a whole collection of the series including the negatives of the photos. The list of collections is endless however some of them are –Coloradoan Collection, Hancock Collection, Historical Collection, Map Collection, Miller Collection, Slide Collection, and Triangle Collection.

Antique collection of Old Guns and Photographies is a post from: Undangled Antiques

Antique – Mix Of Hits is a post from: Undangled Antiques

Are you an antique collector? Are you a serious collector that is looking for a specific antique such as a certain piece of furniture, a unique car, or perhaps a specific antique painting that suits your taste? If so, then you know it is not always an easy task to find the items you are looking for, especially if you don’t know where to look.

Maybe you just love to shop for different antiques on a smaller scale. This could include collectible items such as toys and figurines. There are many different types of antique art that can be purchased and even a wide variety of antique books may be found. The key is to know where to find all of the great items that are out there.

Finding your antiques

So the question that many collectors have is just where to find the good stuff anyway? The thing that makes being an antique collector different is that you can’t just go to the store and buy the item you want, no matter how much money you have. It can literally be an Easter egg hunt to try to find the treasures you seek.

When you are shopping for antique collectibles but do not have a specific item in mind or if you do not plan to spend a large amount of money, then a flea market is a great place to shop. However, if it is a specific item you are looking for, then many sites on the Internet can provide you with the location of these items. For instance, if you are looking for an automatic musical instrument, then MBSI is an organization that can provide you with many of these antiques. Several of these musical instruments may be viewed, bought or traded by its members at the conventions that are held. There are also many advertisements on the organization?s site that list antiques that people sell all over the country.

Another great organization that can supply you with automatic musical instruments is AMICA. This site can stun its visitors with their elegant antique player pianos. Organizations such as these can provide you with information on dealers both locally and from around the world. There are also many organizations that let you subscribe to lists that will tell you when they have sales and auctions for antiques.

Looking Online

There are many places online where you can look for antiques. The great thing about the internet is that it brings a much larger world straight to you. GoAntiques.com is a site that can help you locate a specific item by pinpointing precisely where you should look. If the item is being sold in more than one place, they can give you this information, allowing you the opportunity to find the best price available for the antique of your choice.

Anteq.com is another useful site. This company caters to antique collectors, antique dealers, and antique malls of the world. Anteq.com is committed to meeting the needs of the antiques & collectibles community by providing professional software and support.

eBay is yet another popular place to look online for antique collectibles. There are people from all over the world buying, selling, and trading collectibles and antiques on eBay. Some of the best deals out there can be found on eBay. Another great thing about finding your collectibles online is the wonderful and wider selection than you would find at a local show or sale. If you do not have a specific item in mind but are looking in certain categories such as, books, paintings, or coins, online sites such as eBay is a terrific place to look for these types of antiques. Antique jewelry and dishes are also a big hit with collectors and can be found on this site. It is one of the fastest and easiest ways to shop for collectibles.

Joining Clubs and Groups

You might also want to check to see if your local town or city has an antique collector’s club or group that you can join. This would be a way for you to meet other people who share your passion and who can guide you to some of the best places to find what you are looking for. If none can be found in your town, why not start one yourself?

Antique collecting is a passion for many people. Finding the right collectibles may not always be easy. However, with perseverance and patience, you will be sure to find that perfect antique collectible you have been seeking.

How to Find Antique Collectibles is a post from: Undangled Antiques