Antiques: How To Know When You Have One

If you think that the china plate your grandmother sent down could be an antique than you must learn how to know for sure one way or another. Try to think how your family got it. Did your family purchase it from an auction sale it or did they acquire it at a flea market? Some people have bought these simple items for a low price not knowing what they really were.
One of the single ways that you can master the art of identifying these pieces is if you study them first. Invest in magazines or books that will help to teach you what to look for and what the most popular pieces are. They will provide you with tips on how you are able to spot a fake and methods used to find out where it came from.
After a bit of studying you can study the piece that you own. Look all over it and try to discover the mark of the maker. This is commonly situated on the bottom. This can be a number, symbol, or a name. Frequently when the manufacturer made each piece they would stamp or indent the mark that is on it.
Do a bit more research concerning the mark that you found to determine what era it came from. The art work and design need to also help to find out the year. This will assist you to know not only who made the piece but also how special they might be. It will also help you to understand what materials were utilized to produce it.
If you think that you own an antique teapot or plate than you are ready for the last step. It is time to bring it to an appraiser who will determine how special it is and how much money it is worth. They will tell you what makes it special or why it is a fake.