Antique Guide
What is an Antique? (And What’s Just Old Junk?)
An antique, by strict definition, is anything over 100 years old. That’s the rule. But in practice? The term gets stretched like a too-tight leather armchair. Sellers slap “antique” on anything with a bit of age and a hefty price tag, hoping you'll bite. The trick is knowing what’s genuine history—and what’s just a secondhand headache in disguise.
Age alone doesn’t make the cut. A chipped teacup from 1923 may check the calendar box, but if they made a million of them, it’s more “charity shop chic” than “museum worthy.” Real antiques have the holy trinity: age, craftsmanship, and historical significance. A Georgian silver snuff box? Antique. A 1970s avocado-green rotary phone? Retro collectible, maybe—but not yet history, just a conversation starter, pun intended.
How to Identify a Valuable Antique
Anyone can stumble upon an antique, but knowing whether it’s worth anything is an art form. Here’s a few tips to recognize treasure from a polished-up dud:
✔ Patina vs. Damage: A rich, natural patina is a sign of age and authenticity. Cracks held together with super glue? Not so much.
✔ Materials Matter: Solid wood, bronze, silver—good. Plastic disguised as Bakelite? Walk away.
✔ Markings & Stamps: Hallmarks, signatures, and maker’s marks tell a story. No marks? It better be spectacularly crafted.
✔ Weight & Feel: Heavy often means quality. Light and flimsy? Probably a reproduction from a factory with no shame.
Antique Collecting for Beginners: A Crash Course in Buying Smart
So you’ve caught the antique bug? Welcome to the thrill of the hunt, the agony of overpaying, and the smug satisfaction of finding a real gem.
Where to Start:
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Antique Shops & Markets: Brick-and-mortar shops still hold the best finds. Bonus: haggling is expected.
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Online Antique Sites: Websites like eBay, Ruby Lane, and 1stDibs are a mixed bag—some treasures, plenty of overpriced nonsense.
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Estate Sales & Auctions: The best places for the serious collector. Be prepared for bidding wars.
Red Flags to Watch Out For:
❌ Too Good to Be True: A “genuine” 18th-century Chippendale chair for £50? Run.
❌ Reproduction Tricks: Fake patina, artificially distressed wood, and suspiciously modern screws.
❌ Vague Descriptions: If the listing says “antique-style” or “vintage look,” it’s probably neither.
Where to Buy Antiques Online: The Good, The Bad & The Overpriced
Looking for antiques online? The digital marketplace is a jungle—some real gems, plenty of overpriced knockoffs, and enough shady descriptions to make a lawyer wince.
Top Antique Websites Worth Your Time:
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Antiques Trade Gazette – www.antiquestradegazette.com
The go-to publication for professionals in the antiques and fine art world. Packed with market news, auction results, and dealer insights.
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Antiques Atlas – www.antiques-atlas.com
A comprehensive directory featuring antique shop listings, fairs, and a vast selection of antiques for sale.
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Antique Collecting Magazine – www.antique-collecting.co.uk
A long-standing UK publication offering expert advice, collecting guides, and in-depth features on historical antiques.
Selling Antiques – www.sellingantiques.co.uk
One of the UK’s largest online antique marketplaces, connecting buyers with reputable dealers across the country.
The Saleroom & EasyLive – www.the-saleroom.com / www.easyliveauction.com
Two leading UK-based online auction platforms where you can browse and bid on antiques from auction houses across the UK and beyond.
For more help finding the best antiques, whether online or at top UK fairs, explore our guides: The Best Places to Buy Antiques & Collectibles Online and Antique Dreams & Buyer’s Remorse: A Guide to UK Antique Fairs.
Antique Restoration: When to Fix and When to Leave It Alone
Restoring an antique can be the difference between increasing its value—or destroying it completely. Here’s the golden rule: if it’s rare, valuable, or museum-worthy, don’t touch it. If it’s covered in decades of bad DIY paint jobs, restoration might be your best bet.
Safe Fixes:
✅ Light cleaning (no harsh chemicals!)
✅ Waxing wooden furniture to preserve patina
✅ Replacing missing screws or non-original parts
What NOT to Do:
❌ Overpolish silver—it should glow, not blind people.
❌ Strip original paint or refinish wood (kiss resale value goodbye).
❌ Over-tighten screws or repair cracks with modern glue.
If in doubt, consult an expert before you “fix” something into worthlessness.
Antiques vs. Vintage vs. Retro: Stop Calling Everything Antique!
Let’s settle this once and for all:
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Antique = 100+ years old (Edwardian, Victorian, and beyond).
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Vintage = 20 to 99 years old (Art Deco, Mid-Century Modern, 1980s neon furniture if you must).
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Retro = Modern items mimicking an old style. Your “vintage” kitchen clock from Amazon? Retro.
Knowing the difference saves you from overpaying for a 1990s Coca-Cola sign that someone slapped the word "antique" on.
Final Words: The Thrill of the Hunt
Antiques aren’t just old stuff—they’re time capsules, stories, and sometimes, great investments. Whether you're after a Regency writing desk or just a quirky butter print, knowing the language of antiques helps you buy smart, avoid fakes, and impress dinner guests with obscure knowledge about ormolu and damascening.
Now go forth, armed with your newfound expertise, and may your next find be genuine, well-priced, and completely free of modern Phillips-head screws.
From A to Z: A Complete Guide to Antique Terminology
Antiques: The old, the rare, the valuable, and sometimes, the absolute junk people overpay for. If you’ve ever wandered into an antique shop and found yourself drowning in words like "patina," "spelter," and "vermeil," this glossary is your lifeline. We’ll cut through the fluff, serve up history, and maybe even save you from buying a "rare Victorian relic" that’s actually a 1970s reproduction from a bloke named Nigel.
A
Acanthus – If it’s covered in curling leaves and looks suspiciously Roman, congratulations, you’re looking at an acanthus motif. The Greeks loved it, the Romans stole it, and now, it’s on everything from furniture to plaster moldings.
Aged Patina – The polite way of saying "tarnished and probably neglected for decades." True patina—a soft, natural discoloration—is a badge of honor, proof that an object has seen things and lived to tell the tale.
Apothecary Jars – Once used to hold mysterious elixirs, these glass or ceramic jars now sit on antique dealers’ shelves, waiting for someone to mistake them for kitchen storage.
Armorial Porcelain – Fancy china featuring family crests. Because what’s the point of tea if it doesn’t come with a side of aristocratic flex?
Aubusson – French tapestries so detailed they make modern wallpaper look lazy. Once reserved for nobility, now mostly found in expensive parlors.
Automaton – A mechanical figure that moves on its own, often creepier than intended. Think 18th-century robots before AI was cool.
B
Baltic Pine – The workhorse of 19th-century furniture. If it’s simple, sturdy, and has seen more history than most people, it’s probably Baltic pine.
Banjo Clock – A wall clock shaped like a banjo. Not for playing, just for looking grand on a wall.
Bergère – A fancy French armchair with an upholstered back and sides. Perfect for lounging while pretending you own a chateau.
Bibelot – A small decorative object that serves no real function except to make a shelf look cultured.
Boulle (pronounced ‘Boo-l’) – A fancy French marquetry technique from the 17th century. Picture intricate inlays of brass and tortoiseshell on furniture so opulent it makes Versailles look minimalist.
Bronzed Spelter – Cheap metal dressed up as bronze. Looks grand until you chip it and reveal the lie beneath.
Butter Prints – Wooden stamps used to decorate butter back when people took their dairy aesthetics seriously. Now collectible, because everything old eventually becomes desirable.
C
Cabriole Leg – That elegant, curved furniture leg you see on fancy 18th-century chairs. A statement piece for furniture, a tripping hazard for modern life.
Cameo – A raised relief carving, usually on shell or stone. If it’s a brooch with a lady’s silhouette, you’re on the right track.
Campaign Furniture – Portable furniture for military officers on the move. Collapsible, sturdy, and built to survive wars and auctions alike.
Chatelaine – A decorative clip worn at the waist, used to hold keys and small tools before handbags ruined everything
Chinoiserie – Europe’s fever dream of what China looked like in the 17th and 18th centuries. Expect lacquered screens, pagodas, and enough dragons to make you question historical accuracy.
Cloisonné – Enamel work with metal partitions. If you’ve ever wondered how to make something shiny look even shinier, this is it.
Crazing – Those fine cracks on old ceramics that make them look distinguished. It’s age, not damage (well, mostly).
Curio Cabinet – A cabinet stuffed with oddities, curiosities, and dust. Perfect for displaying small treasures or confusing house guests.
D
Damascening – The delicate art of hammering gold or silver into steel. Found on antique weapons, jewelry, and anything meant to make a statement.
Delftware – Dutch ceramics trying to be Chinese porcelain. Blue and white, charmingly imperfect, and often featuring windmills or tulips.
Demilune Table – A half-moon-shaped table designed to hug the wall. Perfect for tight spaces or pretending you have an 18th-century ballroom.
Distressed – A polite way of saying "worn out but still expensive." Sometimes intentional, sometimes just well-loved.
Dresser – The British term for a large kitchen cupboard with shelves. Holds plates, bowls, and occasionally, a layer of dust.
E
Ebony Inlay – Thin strips of blackened wood used to jazz up furniture. Luxurious, elegant, and often pilfered from somewhere exotic in the colonial era.
Egg-and-Dart – A repetitive decorative motif. The egg represents life, the dart represents death, and together they say, "Yes, this is a very serious bit of molding."
Empire Style – The bold, dramatic design of Napoleon’s era. Heavy on grandeur, eagles, and things that scream "I’m important."
Engraving – Decorative carving or etching on metal or glass, often found on silverware and old pint glasses.
Epergne – The multi-tiered centerpiece of your aristocratic dinner dreams. Think of it as the chandelier of the dining table, often in silver or glass.
F
Faience – Glazed pottery that’s been around since ancient Egypt. Looks fragile, often is, and comes in every shade of blue imaginable.
Fiddleback Mahogany – A type of mahogany with a wavy grain pattern, making furniture look as luxurious as its name sounds.
Flatware – Fancy word for silverware. If it’s sterling, congratulations—you just inherited wealth. If it’s plated, well, it still looks nice.
Flambe Glaze – A fancy term for ceramics with red-hot, unpredictable glazes. The alchemy of the kiln at its finest.
Flemish Scroll – Twisting, intertwined carvings on antique furniture. Imagine someone tried to make wood dance.
Fob – A decorative bauble on a pocket watch chain. Essentially jewelry for gentlemen who needed to check the time in style.
G
Gadrooning – The scalloped decorative trim on silverware and furniture that screams "I belong in an 18th-century dining room."
Gesso – The plaster-like coating used on antique frames to make them look more expensive before gold leaf was applied.
Gilt – Gold’s more affordable cousin. Thin layers of gold leaf applied to objects to make them look expensive. Sometimes they are. Sometimes they’re just pretending.
Gooseneck Arm – A curving, swan-like detail on antique furniture. The sort of thing that screams, "I belong in a drawing room, not your flat-pack nightmare."
Gong Clock – A clock that strikes the hour on a large gong instead of a bell. Basically, the dramatic version of telling time.
Guilloché – A fancy word for repetitive engraved patterns, often found on Fabergé eggs and high-end watches.
H
Hallmarks – Tiny stamped symbols on silver and gold that tell you where, when, and by whom an item was made. The difference between a genuine antique and a well-made fake.
Hansom Cab – The Uber of the 19th century. A two-wheeled horse-drawn carriage built for speed, elegance, and occasional accidents.
Humpback Trunk – A chest with a domed lid. The antique equivalent of "I travel in style."
Hurdy-Gurdy – A musical instrument that sounds like medieval folk music and regret.
I
Incised Decoration – Designs cut directly into pottery or metal. Subtle, elegant, and proof that even ancient craftsmen had style.
Intaglio – A carved gemstone where the design is sunken in rather than raised. Think of it as a reverse cameo.
Ironstone – A tough ceramic that looks like porcelain but won’t break when you inevitably drop it.
Ivory Scrimshaw – Engraved whale ivory, often found in maritime antiques. Intricate, fascinating, and now ethically questionable.
J
Jackfield Ware – Black-glazed pottery that was the height of sophistication in the 18th century.
Japanning – Europe’s attempt at recreating Asian lacquerwork. Often black with gold detailing, because restraint wasn’t a strong point in the 18th century.
Jardinière – A decorative planter for those who believe even a potted fern should have an air of aristocracy.
Jasperware – Wedgwood’s iconic blue-and-white ceramics, found in every proper antique shop and your grandmother’s display cabinet.
K
Kakiemon Porcelain – A delicate, hand-painted Japanese porcelain style from the 17th century. If it’s got soft reds, blues, and a perfect balance of empty space, you’re looking at Kakiemon.
Kas – A massive Dutch cupboard from the 17th and 18th centuries, built for storing linens. Good luck fitting one through a modern doorway.
Kutani – Fine Japanese porcelain, often red and gold, and frequently featuring scenes of samurai, geishas, and nature.
Knop – A small decorative knob on furniture or silverware. Less useful than it sounds, but undeniably fancy.
L
Lalique – French glasswork so elegant it might make you weep. René Lalique’s designs blended Art Nouveau and Art Deco in ways nobody has quite matched since.
Linenfold – A wood carving technique that makes panels look like draped fabric. Because wood pretending to be cloth is peak medieval aesthetics.
Lusterware – Ceramic with a metallic glaze that makes it look far fancier than it actually is.
Lyre-Back Chair – A chair with a back shaped like a lyre. Because nothing says "sit down and relax" like classical music symbolism.
M
Majolica – Glazed, colorful pottery that looks straight out of a fairy tale. Originally Italian, later adopted by the Victorians and made excessively detailed.
Marquetry – The art of inlaying different wood veneers to create intricate patterns. The woodworking equivalent of high-end wallpaper.
Memento Mori – Jewelry or objects reminding you that death is inevitable. Skulls, coffins, and eerie inscriptions—because nothing says “enjoy life” like a morbid trinket.
Metamorphic Furniture – Chairs that turn into ladders, tables that become desks. Basically, the Transformers of the Georgian era.
Moon Flask – A round, flat-sided porcelain vase with origins in China and the Middle East. Looks like something Indiana Jones would risk his life for.
Mortise and Tenon – An ancient joinery technique that holds furniture together without nails. Stronger than most modern relationships.
N
Napoléon III Style – The over-the-top French design of the mid-19th century. Think black lacquer, gilded bronze, and enough drama to make Versailles look modest.
Nantgarw Porcelain – The ultra-fine, ultra-fragile Welsh porcelain of the early 19th century. If you find an intact piece, congratulations—you just won the antique lottery.
Nashiji – A type of Japanese lacquerware with sprinkled gold flakes, adding a subtle shimmer to antiques.
Navajo Silver – Handcrafted Native American silver jewelry, often featuring turquoise. Authenticity is everything—if it looks mass-produced, walk away.
Needlepoint – Decorative embroidery, usually found on chairs, footstools, and samplers made by people with more patience than most.
Nuremberg Chronicle – A famous 15th-century illustrated history book, often referenced in antique prints and engravings.
O
Ogee Arch – That elegant, double-curved arch seen in Gothic and Moorish designs. Makes you look cultured just by mentioning it.
Onyx – A semi-precious stone often used in antique jewelry and clocks, typically in dramatic black or green hues.
Opaline Glass – A milky, semi-translucent glass, often in pastel colors. Elegant, fragile, and not great for clumsy hands.
Ormolu – Gilded bronze detailing on furniture. The 18th century’s answer to "more is more."
Ottoman – A low upholstered footstool, sometimes doubling as storage. The Swiss army knife of antique seating.
Overmantel Mirror – A large decorative mirror designed to sit above a fireplace, making small rooms feel twice as grand.
P
Parian Ware – A type of unglazed porcelain made to resemble marble. If it looks like a miniature Greek statue, that’s it.
Passementerie – Fancy tassels, fringes, and braids that once adorned everything from curtains to military uniforms. Because subtlety is overrated.
Pier Mirror – A tall mirror designed to fit between windows. The aristocratic solution to "what do I do with this narrow wall?"
Pietra Dura – Inlay work using cut gemstones to create intricate designs. Think Renaissance bling.
Piqué – Inlaid gold or silver on tortoiseshell, usually seen on antique snuffboxes and combs.
Q
Quatrefoil – A decorative four-lobed design seen in Gothic architecture and old furniture. Essentially, a fancy clover.
Quadrant Hinge – A type of hinge found in antique boxes, often responsible for their satisfying smooth opening.
Quimper Pottery – French ceramics with folksy Breton figures painted on them. Quaint, charming, and prone to chipping.
Queen Anne Highboy – A tall chest of drawers on legs. A towering reminder that storage was once an art form.
R
Repoussé – Hammered metalwork that gives silver and gold its raised, decorative flair.
Rocaille – The scrolling, shell-like decorations seen in Rococo furniture. Fancy, frilly, and full of flourishes.
Rococo – The over-the-top, curvy, gilded style of 18th-century French furniture. Subtle? Never.
Rose Medallion – 19th-century Chinese export porcelain covered in bright flowers, birds, and sometimes an alarming amount of pink.
Rummer Glass – A chunky 18th-century drinking glass with a thick stem, built for toasting (and possibly for throwing in dramatic moments).
S
Samovar – A Russian tea-making contraption that’s part practical, part work of art.
Sconce – A wall-mounted candle holder, because chandeliers weren’t always an option.
Sgraffito – A scratched design technique on pottery or plaster, revealing layers beneath.
Sheraton Style – 18th-century furniture design that’s all about clean lines and delicate inlay work.
Snuff Box – A small, often ornate box for storing powdered tobacco. A must-have for 18th-century aristocrats with a nicotine habit.
Spelter – A cheap metal masquerading as bronze. Buyer beware.
Surtout de Table – A long, mirrored centerpiece designed to reflect candlelight. Because why have one candle when you can have a hundred?
T
Tantalus – A locked liquor decanter set designed to torment thirsty guests. Because if you weren’t rich enough for servants, you weren’t drinking without permission.
Tessellated Marble – Mosaic-like marble patterns used in tabletops and flooring.
Tortoiseshell Veneer – A banned material now, but once used to make everything from snuffboxes to spectacles look exotic.
Treen – Small wooden household items, like bowls and snuffboxes. Simple, practical, collectible.
Tramp Art – Folk art made from carved layers of cigar boxes and scrap wood. Rustic charm with a backstory.
U
Underglaze Blue – The rich cobalt decoration fired beneath a ceramic glaze. Found on everything from Ming porcelain to Delftware, proving that blue never goes out of style.
Urn Finial – A small, urn-shaped decorative topper on antique furniture. Because nothing says elegance like a mini funeral vase on your cabinet.
Ushak Carpet – A luxurious Turkish rug with grand floral patterns. The kind of thing that instantly makes a room look more expensive (and requires a mortgage to clean properly).
V
Vaseline Glass – Glows under UV light due to uranium content. Looks stunning, mildly radioactive.
Veneer Banded – A decorative strip of contrasting wood veneer on furniture. Like pinstriping, but for antiques.
Verdigris – That green patina on aged copper and bronze. Looks ancient, sometimes intentional.
Verre Églomisé – Gold leaf applied to the back of glass for a fancy, mirrored effect. Over-the-top? Absolutely.
Vinaigrette – Tiny, decorative perfume container used to mask the stench of 18th-century streets.
W
Wellington Chest – A tall, narrow chest of drawers with a locking side panel. Named after the Duke of Wellington, who clearly had a thing for secure storage.
Wheelback Chair – A classic 18th-century Windsor chair with a wheel-shaped splat in the backrest. Sturdy, timeless, and a silent witness to countless family arguments.
William and Mary Style – The furniture of late 17th-century England, featuring intricate inlays, spiral legs, and a lingering sense of regal formality.
Willow Pattern – The famous blue-and-white porcelain design featuring pagodas, rivers, and two mysterious lovebirds. A British fantasy of China, mass-produced for centuries.
Wrought Iron – Iron shaped while hot. It's old-school strength with a refined aesthetic, often used in railings, gates, and furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries.
X
X-Back Chair – A chair with an X-shaped backrest, popular in 18th and 19th-century furniture. Classic, sturdy, and still copied today.
X-frame Stool – A collapsible seat used since medieval times, often found in Renaissance and Regency-era furniture.
Xylography – The art of engraving on wood, once used for printing illustrations before the days of high-tech printing presses.
Y
Yataghan – A curved Ottoman sword with an elegant, deadly design. More art than weapon—until it’s not
Yelloware – A type of durable earthenware with a yellowish hue, common in 19th-century kitchens before Pyrex took over.
Yew Wood – A prized hardwood used in antique furniture, known for its rich grain and slightly sinister reputation in folklore.
Yorkshire Dresser – A robust wooden kitchen dresser from—you guessed it—Yorkshire. Built to hold plates, cups, and the weight of British tradition.
Yuan Porcelain – Blue-and-white Chinese porcelain from the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368). Rare, pricey, and the reason some collectors get palpitations at auctions.
Yardstick Cane – A walking cane with a hidden measuring stick inside. Perfect for gentlemen who needed both support and precision.
Z
Zarf – A decorative metal holder for a coffee cup, proving that even caffeine consumption could be elegant in the Ottoman Empire.
Ziggurat Motif – A stepped pyramid design popular in Art Deco architecture and furniture. Ancient Mesopotamian inspiration, 1920s execution.
Zinc Mirror – A mirror with a zinc frame, typically found in industrial antiques and old barber shops.
Zoetrope – A 19th-century optical toy that created the illusion of motion. Basically, the Netflix of the Victorian era.
So, next time you’re in an antique shop and hear someone drop the term "repoussé silver" like they own half of Buckingham Palace, you’ll know they’re just talking about hammered metalwork. And you’ll nod, knowingly, because now you speak the language of history’s best leftovers.