Antique shops are retail stores specializing in selling of antique items. It can be found anywhere, either locally or internationally. These days, some shops can also be found on the internet to cater the needs of the techie antique collectors. Normally, their stock came from auctions, estate sales, garage sales, flea markets etc. Many of these items may have passed through multiple dealers until they reach the shop. They may also specialize in particular segment of the market such as ceramics, jewelry and furniture. A piece of jewelry worn by Queen Elizabeth on her last wedding is a collectible today but will be considered as an antique in the future.
Antique collectors are the people who are very fond of sourcing out of old stuffs and will consider it as a precious possession. These people are usually explorers in nature as they want to collect more items around the globe. For some, an old coin found on a flea market can be considered as an antique and collectible. For those who can splurge more money, they opted to go to a well-known novelty shop to buy a ceramic vase which is being used by the royal families hundred years ago. What made their antique collectibles precious is if there’s no other person known to them owns the same item.
Considering it is precious and rare, antiques can have the potential of being a worthwhile investment for the antique collectors but it may be difficult for the average investors to find and purchase antiques. Experts say that antiques shall be purchased for passion and not for financial gain. They are more of a home decoration than a form of investment. Most of antique collectors will never give up an antique unless the price will be equal to the total amount of their family asset. Antiques have the potential to provide impressive returns for those who are willing to learn the ins and outs of the market. Ultimately, antiques are a lifestyle investment.
Any item, regardless of size, rarity, appearance and value, as long as it is purchased out of passion can be considered as an antique collectible. We are often fascinated by them that is why we spend our hard earned money to acquire a piece of this prized possession. Similarly, antiques symbolize our personality, how we look at things, and how we value life’s beautiful creation. For collectors, they did not consider the money they will get from reselling these items because what they appreciate is the beauty of the item. Antiques and collectibles can be an investment for those who have passion for art and waste of money for those who don’t have.