Antiques Shopping for the Fun of It

The purpose of the antiques hunt, for me, is decoration and function — not pedigree. I am definitely not a purist. I’m not that famous collector of Early American furniture who just paid several million dollars for a Philadelphia highboy. But I’m not put off from enjoying and collecting antiques because the world of the serious collector or investor is an alien one, and I hope you’re not either!

The joy of living with beautiful objects is accessible to us all. But for the hunt to be fun, it is helpful to have the right attitude and a few handy tips.

Be lighthearted. One of the main things that makes antiques shopping fun for me and my wife, Becky, is going at it with a certain lighthearted attitude. It’s not about hitting the Antiques Roadshow jackpot by paying $20 for a $250,000 18th-century clock. That would be fun, but it’s not our aim. We are not serious collectors, nor are we looking to purchase something as an investment. Rather, we’re interested in decorating our home with things that are old and beautiful, because they add grace and lift our spirits.


Antique or collectible? But some basic knowledge is still desirable, just so we know what we’re buying. The signs on most antiques stores and malls nowadays read “Antiques and Collectibles.” What’s the difference? The simplest and most commonly accepted guideline for something to qualify as an antique is that it must be at least 100 years old, like this early-19th-century Queen Anne lowboy.


Even though you will see many popular and collectible items, like these midcentury pieces, in your average antiques mall, they are not antiques — they are vintage pieces or collectibles. Someday they will be antiques — you’ll just have to be patient!


Who cares? For many of us, it doesn’t really matter. As long as it is something I love — if it fulfills a need, fits a spot in my home or simply speaks to me — then who cares, really, if it’s 50 years old or 100?

I love this little distressed wicker table, and realize it is probably less than 100 years old. It’s also in far-from-perfect condition — which is part of its charm.


For me age and a distressed look don’t affect its desirability — but they should affect the price, and I’m happy to see that the dealer agrees with me and has priced it accordingly. Yeah!

This would be a great little table between two chairs in my living room. I have exactly the right antique blue and white porcelain lamp, a stack of old leather books and a silver bowl that would look perfect arranged just so on top of it.


Mix it up. Having an open mind about what goes with what adds to the sense of fun and adventure. For instance, this unlikely pairing of an ornately carved antique library table with a simple, modern, angular chair is new and unique. Don’t be afraid to mix it up.


Be patient. We all are used to instant gratification in our frenzied, high-tech culture. If it takes more than two seconds for a computer to load, we think we’re being abused.

But when you’re collecting antiques, patience will make you happier in the long run. If you love to collect pitchers, for example, don’t just buy every pitcher you see. Rather, buy the best you can afford, even if it means you buy only one every few years. I happen to love the one pictured here, and would have been glad to have passed up several to be able to get it. (And I’ve got roses in my tiny garden that would love to be displayed in it.)


Assess the source. There are many resources for antiques hunters: antiques malls, stores, flea markets, fairs, even garage sales. In my opinion some are really worthwhile, and some are easy to steer clear of. But how can you tell? For me a quick glance in the window of a store or mall, or a quick drive-by of a fair or garage sale, is usually all I need.

A store is going to put its best foot forward, so if what you see in the window doesn’t appeal, just keep walking (or driving). If the displays consist mostly of obvious reproductions, or glassware and dishes from the 1960s and ’70s, I’m not interested. But if I see something from the 18th or 19th century, and some great ceramics, and a few beautifully framed pictures … I’m hooked.

The same criteria work for garage sales, but in their case I don’t even have to get out of the car. All I need is a quick glance, and I will pass on most of them. But I’ve had enough experience to know that sometimes greatness lurks in a driveway.


Je ne sais quoi. With a little practice, your “good antiques store radar” will become finely tuned. Sometimes it’s just a ping — a tingle up the spine — a certain je ne sais quoi (dare I say, a tremor in the force?) that pulls me in like a magnet. But there actually are a few factors that make an antiques store a really good one.

Uniqueness is a major indicator that I’ve found a good resource. For instance, this beautifully made, elegant Victorian ebonized music stand makes me want to look further. This is a store that has something beyond the everyday.


Another characteristic is variety. Good variety makes the hunt a lot more fun. A worthwhile antiques resource will have things that range in age, style, scale and price. So, whether I want to see great things that are small, like these classic Staffordshire dogs and cat …


… or beautiful things that are large, like this grandly scaled and impressive old sideboard, it will have them all.


I also want to see things that are elegant, like this entry table with a marble top and columns, a mirrored back and gilt mounts …


… and things that are primitive, like this simple ironstone pitcher. I love to mix these things together in my own house, and to encourage my clients to do the same.


Enjoy your treasures. Whether you take home a kitchen utensil, a rare paperweight or a beautiful old tall-case clock like this one, what makes the hunt a thrill is having fun purchasing something you will enjoy living with for years to come.

More: Antiques Shopping? Let Love Guide Your Search

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