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Art & Antiques: Smart Shopping Tips
Art and antiques come in a variety of styles and periods. As a buyer, you either know what you are looking for, you will know it when you see it, or you buy according to what you love. But how do you know whether your piece is a reproduction? How do you know how old it is, or if the dealer you are buying from is reputable? We asked the antiques experts to tell us what you should know before you shop and what to look for while you shop. We also got information on how the art and antiques shopping experience can differ if you buy from a store, an estate sale or a market.
Shopping Tips
1. Read art and antiques publications.
Countless price guides and books are available at bookstores and antiques shows that can offer information about a specific period or style. Mary Cobb Callahan, an antiques expert who has been teaching the "Learn to Buy Antiques" class for 20 years, suggests the Antiques Road Show Book as a good starter reference. Guides such as Kovel’s can also tell you how much a comparable piece is so you have something to use as a reference point. JoAnne Zahner, owner of American Antiques & Interiors, says the market value of a piece is based on comparable sales at auctions and antiques sales.
2. Ask a lot of questions about a piece.
Ed Spivia, president of the Lakewood Antiques Market, advises buyers to ask where the piece was made, who the maker was (if known), when it was made and whether or not it has been restored. "All of these things contribute to the value of a piece," he adds. "And good dealers should be very approachable and want to answer those questions."
3. Buy from a reputable dealer.
"Develop a relationship with someone who deals in what you are interested in," says Zahner. "If a dealer knows you personally, he or she can help you put your collection together." A reputable dealer is one who can guarantee a piece's authenticity and your money back if you are not satisfied. "If you are shopping at an established antiques shop, the dealer will often let you take an item out on approval, says June Adair, an accredited member of the International Society of Appraisers. "But, you should get this understanding in advance of the purchase." Adair also adds that the dealer will normally have a 24-hour approval time, which does not usually include items on sale. However, if you buy at an estate sale or from a flea market, you’re pretty much on your own-no credit, no returns.
4. Seek a professional appraiser.
When do you need an appraiser? "If you are contemplating a large purchase, such as a major piece of antique furniture or artwork out of the decorative category and into the investment category, and you want to make sure the piece is "as represented” by the dealer," according to Adair. She adds that most quality dealers will welcome an expert advising you because if the item is as represented, it will only be an asset to the sale and make you comfortable with buying from that particular dealer. An appraiser can give you an "estimate of value" on the purchase, which can be a limited, typed report or a verbal assessment after the appraiser has had a chance to do some research for you, says Adair. According to Roderick Hardy, an Atlanta appraiser and member of the American Society of Appraisers, reputable appraisers should meet the appropriate industry standards, which include testing, coursework and five years of professional experience. Adair states that you may want to inquire of the appraiser's specific area of expertise-art, furniture, Oriental rugs, quilts etc, and make sure the person fits your needs.
5. Check for the signature and marks.
Dealers say that purchasing art can be tricky because the signature and the artwork itself are easy to reproduce. Paintings and other artwork often have the artist's signature, while porcelain and silver will feature maker's marks to signify authenticity. If there is a question about a signature, take the piece to a reputable dealer or professional appraiser before you buy it.
6. Look for natural, logical signs of age.
Patinas and handmade nails are indicative of earlier construction while circular sawmarks are not. A tabletop faded from scrubbing is a logical wear pattern. Air guns are new inventions, so if a piece is held together by tiny nails, it is not old. Callahan says to look at the dovetailing (i.e. where the front of a drawer is joined to the side) on furniture and make sure it is somewhat uneven and appears handcrafted. If it is too straight and precise, it was probably done with a machine, an indicator that a piece is not an antique.
7. Check the materials.
"You want something to be in as original condition as possible," says Linda Swan, owner of Swan European Antiques and Paintings. "If the back of a piece of art or an antique is made of plywood, it is not old." Other red flags include a variation in the grain and color of the wood, which can mean two old pieces were combined at a later date. Paul Brown of Red Baron's Antiques says you can tell a piece of art is not old if the wood used to hold the canvas down has a yellow, new lumber look to it or if it has been recently stained.
8. Buy what you love.
Experts say antique French furniture from the Provence region, painted Italian & English furniture, Art Deco, shabby chic furniture, art and accessories, such as mirrors, tea caddies, Staffordshire pottery and antique textiles, are the trends right now, but in the end, you need to buy what you love. "Do not buy a painting just because it matches the room," says Swan. "Buy it because you love it." It may not matter in this case whether something is 100 percent genuine. The most important rule of thumb when buying art and antiques is that if you do not feel comfortable about something, don't buy it.
Where to Shop
• Antique Markets Spivia says most of the dealers at the Lakewood Antiques Market are able to buy antiques all over the South, rather than being limited to Atlanta. Therefore, they bring in new merchandise you may not see in stores. He also warns that in any large market like his, let the buyer beware. "Generally though, our dealers are reputable, and the same ones are here every month," says Spivia. "Most of them expect you to bargain with them as long as your counter offer is a fair one."
• Art and Antiques Stores A good dealer will inform you of his or her background. They will often put in writing all of the information they have about a piece and what their return policy is. Stores are often the only places you can return an item if you are not satisfied. With antiques stores located on Chamblee Row, Bennett Street, Miami Circle, Historic Roswell, Marietta Square and The Antiques Mall of Alpharetta, just to name a few, Atlanta offers some of the South's finest antiques shopping opportunities.
• Estate Sales These are sales of furnishings and artwork that belonged to someone who is deceased or people selling the contents of their home due to a divorce or relocation. "When you come to an estate sale, you are not coming for documentation," says Jane Wilkins, an Atlanta estate sale salesperson, "you are coming for a good bargain at a fair market value." You can often get good deals here because the estate liquidator has only a limited time to sell the items, whereas a dealer can keep a piece until it sells for their price. "Estate sales are good places to look for undetected treasures because even the most knowledgeable estate salesperson can’t recognize everything that is good," says Adair. "These treasures could include a small painting or watercolor by a relatively obscure artist, perhaps local, or a signed Ernest Hemingway 1st edition in the "All books a $1" pile. Adair says this is all part of the "fun of the hunt" and advises to make sure you are armed with knowledge yourself or to bring an expert to help you, especially if the purchase is significant. There are also many pocket reference books on silver, art, books and antiques you can carry with you to estate sales.
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