Antiques The Modern Day Treasure Hunt

In today's world, everything thats old can be described as antiques and generally speaking thats quite true. A product is considered to be an antique if it is over a hundred years old or is rare enough to have some value. In other words, these are old items that are in limited supply.

An antique is something collectible. It may be a piece of antique furniture that you want to collect to enhance the look of a room, or a piece of antique pottery to decorate a corner cupboard, or some antique books, antique camera and photographs, antique jewelry, antique money, antique car, antique clocks, or antique watches that you want to hand down to your grandchildren but the items must be rare enough to be considered an antique. The others are just secondhand goods junk. Most people have a common misconception about an antique: the older they look, the more antique they must be. Appearance has nothing to do with it, just because a piece looks like it came out of grandma's attic does not necessarily mean that its an antique. The value of an antique is based on demand due to suitability and limited supply.

Most people become fascinated in an antique for two reasons; either they have an interest in collecting antique purely for personal enjoyment and are willing to shell out money for antique restoration or they inherited it from a family member. The most common are antique pottery, antique car, antique furniture, antique books, antique camera and photographs, antique clocks, antique money, antique jewelry and antique watches. However they came about it, everyone wants to be sure of one thing that what they buy or inherit will escalate in value as time goes by. That is what antique collection is all about.

There are two main principles that apply when collecting an antique: The first is to know everything that you can about the antique that interests you and second is to obtain them at the lowest possible price. Doing so will not only give you satisfaction and enjoyment, but at the same time you will also be assured that your investment will appreciate in value.

Some people only developed an interest in antique because they inherited an item or a whole house full of antique from a relative. The dollar signs started to appear and they began their hunt for some antique appraisals and antique auction. But what most failed to consider is that much of what Great Grandmother had is probably just junk, unless she was a seasoned collector whos into antique restoration or an expert in antique appraisals.

Its true that people could have bought a piece of furniture to decorate their home a long time ago and that furniture, if it were of fine quality, would now be worth something. But only a professional appraiser can guarantee that, and appraising costs about $100-150 an hour. So if you are keen on bringing you item in an antique auction and contemplating about asking someone how much an item is worth, be prepared to shell out a few bucks for the information. Appraisers charge so much because they shoulder the lions share for insurance companies and lawyers settling estates. Although appraising is not an exact science, it still requires an appraiser to do lots of research and then prepare a detailed report thats acceptable in a court of law.

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Whats The Difference With Antique Truck and Car Insurance?

It is difficult to define what antique means when dealing with insurance companies, and that is why its a little difficult purchasing antique truck and car insurance. You have to make sure you have the auto insurance to meet your needs, although there are many companies that offer this insurance, you will have to put a bit of work into finding antique truck and car insurance that is right for you

There are two types of insurance you can find with antique automobile insurance companies and also classic collector auto insurance. The difference in the two of these is that most antique truck and car insurance doesnt allow the car or truck to be used for normal chores. Collectors auto insurance does, but only if you have a regular second daily car to drive and you cant use your collector car to go to or from work or to school.

In order to be eligible for special discounts on your antique truck and car insurance, your vehicle has to be defined as antique or vintage. It must be at least 30 years old. This makes life a bit easier for antique automobile insurance companies. As for other cars that arrived later and are loosely regarded as collectibles, then there is an auto insurance that can be obtained for these also.

There are a few ways to save if youre looking for antique truck or car insurance. Dont go for the full package of auto insurance if youre not taking your car on the road or if you dont use it at all and just have it for show. Although some antique automobile insurance is necessary you may not need all the auto insurance that you have.

To be sure of your needs talk to your automobile insurance company or check with several automobile insurance companies to make sure you are getting the best deal you possible can. You may end up with a discount depending on a few factors that could be the deal of a lifetime, so dont be afraid to shop around and find out whats out there for you that will meet your needs. Insurance companies can custom make a package for your antique truck and car insurance just for you.

There is antique truck and car insurance available, but only for antiques, and make sure that you know how you are going to use the vehicle.


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The Top Ten Antique Categories one

Joe ClareKnowledge is Power! And this statement could not be more true when it comes to selling on eBay. As explained in my book "eBay Marketing Wholesale SourcePak" being successful on eBay all depends on being in the right place, at the right time, with the right product. For example, did you know one of the most popular categories on eBay for buying and selling is the Antiques Category. That's right! People flock to eBay to locate treasures from the past. But what if we could know exactly what they are looking for? Just what kind of Antiques? Well I can help! Below you will find the Top Ten Picks of Antique Categories (at the time of this writing) as per eBay.

10 - Lace and Crochet Trim

9 - Medical Antiques

8 - Wood Picture Frames

7 - Knobs and Handles

6 - Linen Samplers

5 - Mixed Material: Picture Frames

4 - Roman Antiquities

3 - Silver Napkin Rings

2 - Locks and Keys

And the Number 1 Antique Category for "Hot Items" is...

Weathervanes and Lightning Rods.

There you have it! The Top Ten Picks of Antique Categories where potential bidders are surfing to find all those treasures from times gone by. If you sell Antiques on eBay, finding items that fit into one or more of the above categories will see your number of bids increase substantially. Always remember to do your research before listing any item for auction. Know what categories are "Hot!" Do a price analysis of your product. Know what the item costs you and what you can potentially sell it for. Then sit back and watch the bidding heat up!

Happy Selling!
Joe Clare

Joe Clare is an active Netpreneur and eBayer! He is the author of numerous articles on how to succeed on eBay! Check out his latest Best Selling eBook "eBay Marketing Wholesale SourcePak" Your Passport to Success! at http://www.ebooksnsoftware.com
 

Decorating Your Kitchen With Antique Plates

Antique plates can add whimsy and interest to your dcor. Many people hang them right on the walls for a unique look. You can hang them up on special holders made just for this or use ribbons to hold them and hang from fancy hooks. Learning how to arrange your plates so that they look best is key to making them a successful part of your wall dcor.

Lets say you have a beautiful antique platter that will go perfect in your kitchen. You run out to the store and get a hanging bracket, insert the plate and hang it on the wall over the server. Instant charm!

Pleased with your accomplishment you stand back. You tip your head to one side and then the other. Squinting, you take another look at the plate. Something doesnt look right.

If you have ever found yourself dissatisfied with the appearance of the decorations on your walls you are not alone. Many people make the same common mistakes that the eye can read as awkward but the individual does not know how to fix. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind when arranging your plates as well decor:

Hanging Large Platters:

Large platters or chargers can be the focus of your dcor so you must make sure you hang them in a spot that is appropriate for the size and focus. Where do larger pieces look the best? Try above the server or dry sink, over a couch, behind the dining set, over a fireplace or on a feature wall. A feature wall is where the placement of furniture or the layout of the home naturally guides the eye to a wall - a great place to feature your antique platters.

Hanging Small Plates:

Grouping smaller plates together in one area can add interest and keep them from getting lost. Use a common theme like, color, pattern or style to pull them together. Hang a single smaller piece low on the wall and as close to the furniture as possible, otherwise it will seem to be floating.

Grouping Plates:

The key to grouping pieces together is to space them properly. Each item should be spaced about 3 inches away from the items on either side. Try positioning them on the floor or a table to get a pleasing arrangement before placing the nails and measure carefully before making any holes.

Height:

Plates should be hung with the center of the plate at eye level. That means the center should be about 60 to 66 inches from the floor. If you've visited a gallery you will see that the frames are not lined up by their top or bottom edges but that the pictures are all centered at the same height.

If the platter or plates will be viewed from a sitting position like from the dining table, you should hang at the eye level of the sitter.

If you are hanging it behind the dry sink or server, make sure it is no more than 10 above the back.

Using these tips you can transform your bare kitchen walls into a designer showcase with a unique focus on antique plates!

Lee Dobbins write for http://www.a-kitchen-decorating-idea.comwhere you can find out more about decorating your kitchen in their article database at http://www.a-kitchen-decorating-idea.com/articles4.html