Antique hunting W
Antique stores are magical and always worth a visit, so know what you’re looking for and you too could leave with something extra special.
hen you’re buying antiques it’s like buying memories,” says BBC One’s Antiques Roadshow furniture specialist, Lennox Cato.
So if like Lennox you appreciate the beauty of antiques then you’ll know the importance of investing the time into finding exactly what you want. But if you’re not an expert of the ceramics produced in the Ming dynasty or a master of midcentury art, knowing what you’re looking for can be a minefield. Lennox shares his exclusive advice on finding the right antique for you.
Find a good dealer
Although exploring jumble sales and flea markets is part of the fun, if you’re searching for something specific or with value visit a reputable antique dealer as Lennox advises. “It’s very important to look at who you are buying from because a good dealer who is a member of The British Antique Dealers’ Association (BADA) and The Association of Art & Antiques Dealers (LAPADA) trade association is invested in you. They want you to come back, they’ve invested in you as much as the item they are selling because they want your business.”
Do your research
If you’re not sure what you’re looking for dedicate the time to researching what you want.
“It takes a long time to get to that stage in your life and I’m still learning,” Lennox says. “You can’t just walk into a playground like the antique world and think i know what to do. It’s not as simple as that and it can be complicated.”
Be prepared to pay
Be realistic with the amount you want to spend because there’s no point bankrupting yourself over an item that will take years to appreciate in value. Buying antiques is a personal experience
Lennox says, “Buying an antique is like buying a house or a car. When you’re buying from an antique shop you are buying the retail price but look at it like longevity.”
He adds, “If you look for the short term, it’s the wrong way to approach antiques. Some things may seem expensive when you first buy it but as time goes on and you’ve got that satisfaction for what you’ve acquired you fall in love with that thing because it gives you so much pleasure, and you can’t put monetary value on how much pleasure that item has given you.”