| There was a time when saucers without handles, | | | | women identify a sewing bird correctly when they |
| Betty lamps, and cow shaped pitchers with black | | | | see one, and how to make use of it? They are |
| and white spots on it were fashionable to use at | | | | liable to be perplexed even when a miniature |
| home. The next time guests come over to your | | | | velvet pincushion is attached. The sewing bird, |
| place, try serving them tea in a saucer without | | | | generally of metal, is a decorative clamp to be |
| handles. They would definitely raise brows, | | | | fixed firmly to a table. It grips the material in its |
| appalled at where to hold the saucer from. | | | | beak to smooth the progress of hemming, and |
| However, they now hold value as antiques. If | | | | was an excellent aid when all sewing was done at |
| such a cow shaped pitcher, with black and white | | | | abode. |
| spots on it is visible in a showcase, then it serves | | | | Once the antique has been identified as truly |
| as an object of decoration, and symbolizes the | | | | antique, then its worth has to be calculated. The |
| olden times. | | | | age, quality, present condition, value, uniqueness |
| Is it the age of the object which defines its | | | | are all factors which have a direct impact on the |
| antiqueness? Yes, and No. Most certainly, if an | | | | worth of the item in discussion. Many times, the |
| object is more than 50 to 60 years old, and is in | | | | item can be repaired if it is in a condition which |
| good condition, it is labeled as antique. An official | | | | needs improvement, other times it can be |
| definition of an antique is stated in the Tariff Act | | | | restored. Both these processes require |
| of 1930. According to Paragraph 1811 of that Act, | | | | craftspeople with excellent skills, so that they |
| antiques are works of art except rugs and | | | | modify the item without making it lose its worth. |
| carpets made after the year 1700, collections in | | | | Is there any relation between an antique and a |
| illustration of the progress of the arts, works in | | | | collectible? Antiques are rated by their worth as |
| bronze, marble, terra cotta, parian, pottery or | | | | per the definition above while collectibles may be |
| porcelain, artistic antiquities and objects of | | | | any item which may or may not have any worth, |
| ornamental character or educational value which | | | | no matter how old it is, but add to the collection |
| shall have been produced prior to the year 1830. | | | | of the collector. So next time you think you have |
| Every day, one comes across many things which | | | | an antique, evaluate its worth. If there is any, |
| are old. Some belong to grandparents, others you | | | | then its an antique. Otherwise, it would be better |
| see in shops. And most of the times, people take | | | | to sell it at the best price to any collector, who |
| old items to be as junk, and fail to recognize | | | | would value it as a part of his collection, but not |
| them as antiques. For instance, how many young | | | | as an antique. |