Collecting Antique Pottery And Glassware As An Amateur

By Anna Cooper


Buying rare and expensive collectors' items is usually done by dealers who specialize or buyers that know a lot about what they are looking for. These buyers will deal in the high end market, using only reputable sellers and dealers to preserve integrity. Items that are in high demand, like antique pottery and glassware are very popular. Being both aesthetically pleasing as well as often functional, for many people they are a good item to collect.

Most part-time collectors will approach their collections differently to a professional. They will concentrate on scouring second-hand shops, yard sales and small markets for pieces that attracts them. They will likely be focused on looking for a low cost item that appeals to their sense of aesthetic as well as fitting somewhere into their collection.

Knowing what you are looking for, how much you are willing to pay for it and where the best place to find it, is all things that the part-time collector will take into account. If they know what to look for, they may pay attention to marks on the item which will denote its origin or maker, the skill with which it is made and the weight of it, to be able to separate a fake from a genuine article.

A thing becomes collectible if it is scarce or in high demand. The value of it would decrease significantly if there was suddenly a deluge in the market of that particular item. Then, no matter how attractive it once was, it would be considered far too commonplace to have value to a collector. Most collectors have the secret desire to be the person who paid pennies for a bowl and accidentally discovers that it is extremely rare and worth millions.

Collecting glassware is a passion for some people. They eagerly hunt for the next piece of milk glass to add to their growing collection, or Carnival glass with its iridescent sheen. Setting their beautiful objects on display, making space to add another item becomes all-consuming.

Glassware also refers to cooking dishes such as Pyrex, which were originally designed for functionality combined with good looks and design. With a recently renewed interest in all things vintage, the pastel Pyrex dishes from the fifties and sixties are now highly desirable. Many of these items are kept in daily use by their proud owners, having either inherited or hunted for them.

Pottery is made from clay that becomes porous once baked and is different to ceramics. Some pottery's origins can be identified purely by the type of clay that was used as they will carry different ores specific to certain regions. The pottery will be glazed to make it waterproof for use. Fakes and counterfeits often flood the market so the buyer would need to make sure they are aware of what to look for to ensure they have a genuine article.

As an amateur collector, be cautious about buying something for its potential financial return. You will more than likely be disappointed by the result. If you collect with an eye for what you consider to be lovely, you will always be rewarded with the feeling of happiness that comes from looking at your collection.




About the Author: