If you love antiques and vintage items, the best place to search for unique treasures is at estate sales. When an estate sale is handled by an experienced company that knows antiques and vintage items, you can be sure that the items you buy are appraised and priced according to their value.
When you buy antiques and vintage items that are being sold by an estate sale professional, you can buy more valuable items than you’d normally find at the typical yard sale. If you’re a collector or are starting your own business, here are five things to buy at estate sales.
China
When you buy antique china at estate sales, you can find out a lot about the pieces by looking at the underside of the china. There’s usually a stamp on the piece which identifies the manufacturer. You may also find out when the piece was created, where it was created, and the name of the pattern.
Glassware
Antique glassware is always in demand, especially if it’s Depression glass. Reproductions of the glass make it difficult to determine if it’s authentic. However, if the glass features raised seams and have wavy ripples near the bottom of the piece, it’s likely authentic. Most of the reproductions didn’t have the imperfections. Authentic glass also scratched more easily.
Antique Furniture
When you’re searching for antique, wooden furniture, keep in mind that most pieces are one-of-a-kind. You should know when you go to an estate sale, where the piece will be placed in your home. It’s a good idea to have photos of the room to be sure it will fit in with the decor.
If you’re looking for an antique wooden dresser, make sure it will fit into the room. You should know if the finish is original or if it’s a veneer. This can make a big difference to a collector. Look at the hardware. On very old pieces, it’s often handmade and will make the piece more valuable.
Silverware
When purchasing antique silverware, you can determine how valuable it is because it will have a hallmark that identifies how pure the silver is. It may also provide information about when it was manufactured. Sometimes particular pieces in a pattern may be more valuable than individual place settings. Some patterns are more valuable than others.
Jewelry
Some collectors buy antique jewelry based on its value, while others look for vintage or estate jewelry from certain periods. When buying fine diamond or antique gold jewelry, it’s best to buy it from a company that specializes in estate and vintage jewelry. You can find some stunning, one-of-a-kind pieces at estate sales.