Doing This After Buying Any Antique Helps Increase Its Value
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When it comes to acquiring antiques and vintage collectibles, the hunt itself is often the most enjoyable part of the process. Next in line: finding that perfect perch upon a shelf or the just-right bit of wall space where you’ll display your find for all to Ooo and Ahh over. Before you commit to a location, though, taking just five minutes to do a simple task can increase the value of your item—especially if you plan to hold on to it for the long run or pass it down to future generations.
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Per Colleen King, the Pennsylvania-based vintage art curator behind Sugartown Art & Antiques, all you need to do is grab a 3x5 index card and jot down the following details:
• The buyer’s name and birthdate (Yes, that’s you! We’ll get to why further down.)
• A brief description of the item that includes any useful identifying details, such as time period, decorative style, and brand or artist name
• Place and date of purchase
• Price paid
• A bit of insight into why you bought it or what you love about it
Next, use acid-free painter’s tape to affix the notecard to the bottom or the back of the piece, so that this valuable—and value-increasing—information stays with the piece no matter where it may roam. “The provenance you’ve established by keeping record of these details can absolutely add value to your art and antiques,” Colleen explains. “Artist signatures can be hard to decipher, and having that identification, along with the other purchase details, clearly recorded makes any future appraisal much easier.”
Another important reason to keep record of these details: the value of an antique is not always determined by who the artist or maker is. “Oftentimes, especially in the case of decorative arts, the value is in its history, and the story the piece tells,” Colleen adds. “Of course the subject matter and overall appeal drive value, but so do details about past ownership, and the place of creation or acquisition.”
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In short: the more that is known about your antique and officially documented, the more potential it has to attract a wide range of future buyers at auction. And, even if you plan to keep it in the family, future children (and grandchildren!) will find your treasure all the more special if they know why it was special to you.
For more insight into why the index card explainer is so important, and how to attach these details to smaller tchotchkes and decoratives, the comments on Colleen’s original Instagram post are a gold mine:
Have an antique or family heirloom you’re convinced is valuable? Send a photo and a description to wiiw@countryliving.com for an opportunity to have it appraised by our panel of experts for our “What is it? What is it Worth?” column.
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