My wife Susie and I have had an unquenchable love of antiques and collectibles for many years.  We buy, sell, and unfortunately, keep so many items that we sometimes have no room to sit! We make a little profit here and there, but mostly enjoy “the hunt”.

The sheer scope of antique and collectible categories is enough to drive one to Prozac.  So, the problem started out – how does one learn as much as he/she can in the shortest amount of time, without spending hundreds of dollars? Go to the local bookstore and browse the 562 books on the subject. Pick out 3 or 4 that aren’t going to cost you some limbs. Bring them home, start reading, comparing pictures and/or descriptions, examine your item…then voila,  not even one is close to your little knick knack!  The “information superhighway” helps, but most of the time you’re routed to appraising services that are in business to do business.

Just for silver, we spent over $75 on books that didn’t help an iota! We love crystal, glass pieces, silver and ceramics. But, do you realize how many glass/crystal items there are? Do the math. Mankind has been making glass for over 4,000 years. Nearly every country in the world makes glass. In America alone, there are and have been, hundreds of companies manufacturing hundreds of styles EACH!  And the same thing applies to china, porcelain and ceramics, silver, silverware, furniture, toys, etc., etc. Then, to compound the frustration, we watch people at auction previews. They hold small magnifying glasses and examine pieces with great interest. To us, everything looks the same and we bid on items that appeal to us. We set a maximum price in our heads (say $50), but when the item comes up for bid, there are 2 or 3 people in a bidding war, and it sells for $200! We look at each other and ask the same question…what do they know that we don’t?  What makes that item so special?

For these reasons, we decided to start our blog (or forum) for all you other amateur antique sleuths to join, as a venue to learn, or share your knowledge and expertise.  Susie is a whiz with old tole trays and lamps. I am quite knowledgeable in antique radios and stamp collecting. Go to....

antiqueandcollectibleidentifier.com