| There are a lot of differing opinions as to what | | | | inexpensive rugs and materials you will have to buy |
| makes a good antique. Some believe that slight | | | | will go better with your more modest furniture. This |
| imperfections or something missing due to use are | | | | is a good beginning, because as you get older and |
| just authenticators and should never be repaired; | | | | your tastes mature and your bank account grows, |
| others believe that the antique has to be complete | | | | you can then begin to collect one fine item at a time, |
| and perfect for their consideration; still others, who | | | | all the while enjoying the pieces you were able to |
| consider themselves true conoisseurs insist that an | | | | afford at the beginning. There are many very fine |
| antique be signed, just as any other work of art | | | | antique collections that started out just blending in |
| would be. These last clearly have the means to | | | | with the furniture at hand until, at some point, after |
| support this expensive point of view. | | | | more and more pieces were accumulated, there is a |
| The real way to collect antiques is to be constantly | | | | cohesive whole to the collection. |
| alert to the kinds of antiques that are out there. If | | | | As you become more and more financially successful, |
| you were shopping for a race horse, a pedigreed | | | | even the less expensive antiques can be replaced by |
| dog, or a certain car, you would always keep your | | | | rarer and finer items until the perfect antique |
| eyes and ears open for the right one for you. As for | | | | collection has been amassed. This is a much wiser |
| antiques, perhaps you would be just as happy with | | | | system than trying to build a collection that may be |
| one of the quality reproductions that are made in the | | | | of dubious value (even if you pay a lot for it) if you |
| major cities of the world. People buy these all the | | | | do not have the experience and wisdom to make |
| time, and there are very many beautiful and sought | | | | the right choices. Whether a piece of good furniture |
| after furniture and accessory reproductions. Real | | | | is from the antique or modern era is irrelevant if the |
| antique collectors, however, can spot a reproduction | | | | piece is a cherished part of one's life. Antiques and |
| from a mile away. For the afficianado, reproductions | | | | other works of art can be bought, inherited and |
| do not have the ageless quality that an antique | | | | passed down. You want to be sure to be able to |
| displays. | | | | pass down fine works of art and pieces of furniture, |
| All of the parts of a true antique fit a perfect whole | | | | so make sure that you choose items that are |
| and the finish gains a certain patina with age. A fine | | | | beautiful in their own right, whatever the period they |
| antique is almost "good in its skin", as a confident | | | | represent. You don't want the antiques you pass |
| person may be said to be. If your pocketbook does | | | | down to end up in the back of a closet or dusty on |
| not allow you to indulge in good antiques, you would | | | | a shelf because the item was never chosen with |
| probably be better off investing in lower cost but | | | | care in the first place. |
| good quality modern furniture. In that way, the | | | | |