| It has always been a puzzle to me when an object, | | | | In any case, universal common definitions of antiques |
| somewhat aged, can be termed an antique. | | | | adopted worldwide consider an item which is at least |
| Must it be really very old- perhaps in excess of 100 | | | | 75 years old and has unique features to enable it to |
| years to be called an antique? Or just when can we | | | | be collected or kept as desirable due to it being rare, |
| call an object an antique? | | | | or useful is considered an antique. |
| After all, we very loosely use the term antique for | | | | Generally, cars are considered antiques in the U.S. if |
| any object that has lived past its popularity. A lady's | | | | they are older than 25 years. In Kansas, however, I |
| coach handbag that was in vogue in summer, is now | | | | learnt that cars are eligible for an antique tag after 30 |
| called an antique in winter! | | | | years. Guitars are only considered vintage if they |
| In the days of the British Empire where the British | | | | were made before 1972. |
| had their conquests in far away worlds and colonised | | | | In the UK anything over 75 years old generally |
| many territories, they left behind many legacies of | | | | qualifies as an antique. A car is known as a collectible |
| worth. British systems of government, british designs | | | | "classic" rather than an antique after 25 years. |
| and most of all british products and goods which now | | | | There is an understood line between antiques and |
| can rightly be called antiques and their systems | | | | collectibles in the United States as well. An item is |
| "antiquated" at this time. Thus when I discovered a | | | | tagged as an antique by most reliable commercial |
| really old looking lock with the logo of the maker | | | | antique dealers if it is more than 100 years old, even |
| stamped onto it and marked "Warranted Best English | | | | though the universal common understanding is 75 |
| Made" and " Warranted Secure" amongst some old | | | | years, and anything less than 100 years is called a |
| belongings inherited from my deceased father who | | | | collectible. |
| lived through the colonial period, I thought the lock | | | | It is not always the antiques that carries a higher |
| must really be an antique. | | | | price tag. Collectibles can be worth many times that |
| So when is an antique really an antique? | | | | of an antique. It all depends on the eyes of the |
| The definition of antique varies from location to | | | | beholder. |
| location, product to product and year to year. | | | | |