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