What is the Difference?

Antiques and Collectibles — By on March 20, 2009 8:46 am

Antiques and collectibles are two words that are often used interchangeably. However, there is a difference between the two. Does this difference really matter? Well, that depends upon your motives. If you want to collect items for your own pleasure, then the value of those items may not matter at all. If you intend to sell the items that you collect, than you may want to know if you have true antiques…or just collectibles. The tricky thing is that it’s not always easy to tell the two apart.

So, what’s the difference between antiques and collectibles anyway? Technically, an antique is something that includes some type of craftsmanship. This loose definition can be applied to anything from a lamp to an automobile. Contrastingly, a collectible may not be something that includes any hand-detailing at all – though this is not always the case. Confused? Well, let’s begin with the true definition of an antique. In essence, an antique must be more between 50 to 100 years old. This means that anything less than 50 years old is generally considered a collectible. There are some exceptions to this rule, though it is a strict rule in most instances.

On the other hand, a collectible is something that may not be very old at all. If you want to differentiate between antiques and collectibles, then think of it this way: a collectible is usually something that has been designed by a manufacturer to collect. For example, stamps and coins are collectibles, since certain versions have been crafted with collectors in mind. It is possible for a collectible to be recent as long as it is something that people like to collect. Antiques can also be collectibles, though most collectibles are not antiques.

In the end, antiques and collectibles are quite dissimilar, yet they can be very similar as well. So, how do you know if you have purchased one or the other? Well, unless you plan to sell the things that you gather, it really doesn’t make a lot of difference. If you do plan on selling your beloved treasures, ask an appraiser to tell you what kind of item you really have. Most people wind up owning both kinds of items at some point, since differentiating between the two items can be difficult. One last note: don’t assume everything purchase in an antique store is actually an antique – some antique dealers don’t know the distinction between the two items either .

Popularity: 1%

Tags:
   Beat diabetes   Diabetes diet