Wait! Is that Actually an Antique?

I’m thrilled that antiques are making a comeback right now. My grandmother owned an antique store in St. Louis that I’d visit often; if you know that smell, raise your hand! Simply put, they don’t make things like they used to. Antiques are a piece of history, and add soul and luxury to a space. But what makes an antique, just that?

When shopping around, you need to know what you’re investing in, and not just the quality, but the time period. To qualify as an antique, the item needs to be at least 100 years old. If it isn’t, what you’re probably looking at is something vintage.

 Here are the 3 most common antique eras:

1. Victorian (1837-1901)

2. Arts and Crafts (1895-1915)

3. Art Nouveau (1890-1910)

4. Art Deco (1920-1935)

So why buy antique? Antiques have a legacy, oftentimes of the region in which they were designed. You’re also honoring those very time periods. Antiques were constructed to last a long time and be passed down from generation to generation. So as a bonus, by avoiding fast fashion (which deteriorates much quicker and ends up in landfills) and reaching for an antique, you’re preserving our environment. 

Ultimately, new is nice, but antique is a relic. Think quality and depth. They’re easy to design with too: you can layer your antique pieces with your new pieces, or build a room around a statement piece.

When in doubt, get in touch with an appraiser or an interior designer who knows what they're talking about. You can also get my free resource all about antiques from my website.