Emerald Diamond Tiara, which once belonged to the wife of French Emperor Napoleon III. L. Ramnarayan Saudi Gazette ANTIQUE, loosely defined, is a collectible object that has a high value because of its age and pedigree. But in today's age for some it is just an investment that could come handy in their old age. Antique collection as the name suggests is just a collection, which is unique or classical in nature. But invariably the collection's value grows if it has its own story to tell. For some it is just a distinctive hobby. For some it is more of an investment. Either way, a collector has to keep in mind that the item he believes to be antique or a family heirloom of value could be just an imitation that is being flogged in the market. So a proper check needs to be done to ascertain if the items are the real deal or not. Many believe that if you are into antiques as an investor only then coins would hold the utmost importance. For they are antique and classical in nature and are a good investment as the coins fetch a very good price. But as was the case, and still is today, antiques are still in the realms of the rich and the famous. In days gone by rarely would you find antiques or any collection with people who were not of an elite social class. Even an author's original manuscript, a painter's art, a craftsman's unique design all have found their way to the museum as a national treasure or to a private collector's vain glory safe. The trend has been such that a gifted person who has blessed the world with his creativity has rarely risen above his poor pecuniary state, unless he was born into aristocracy. It is this disparate class that creates the elite market for antiques, with one that has an item to sell, and the other that has the means to buy. What makes these items priceless is their provenance. An antique or collectible's verifiable (through original receipts, photographs, certificates of authenticity, handwritten notes from previous owners, gift documentation, other documented research, etc.) history, which includes who owned the piece and where it originated or was located, can add value measurably to an object, especially if the previous owner is a famous individual or the person who crafted the piece is well-known and their work is avidly sought by collectors. The provenance of works of fine art, antiques and antiquities often takes on great importance. Documented evidence of provenance for an object can help establish that it has not been altered and is not a forgery or a reproduction. Knowledge of provenance can help to assign the work to a known artist and a documented history can be of use in helping to prove ownership. But in today's climate it is also important to have a valuation of one's possessions for many reasons. Apart from it refreshing its provenance, it would also enable the collector to ascertain its current value. That's why dealers advise a regular appraising of the collections every three to five years. You have antique appraisers in the different parts of the world. But with present day communications, one can get the piece valued through online sites that offer these services for free. In addition, gone are the days that you could only buy or sell at an auction or through an auction house. Today there are firms or sites that offer to broker the antiques whenever or from wherever. Many of the elite families have gone this route to sell off their family heirlooms in secrecy — either as a distress sale or just to augment their growing bank balance. But these firms provide a service that is exclusive. They seek out the buyers and handle the deal in private, providing a smooth deal in silence in comparison to the hullabaloo of an auction. Be it for investment or just passion, it's a great and different hobby to collect antiques. If you have the money, all you need to do is to keep an eye out for the unique and the exclusive. The best thing of these collectable antique items is that every item has its unique story. Now in this high tech age, where people roam freely on the information superhighway, there are sites that post the availability and the cost of items of your choice. So why should antiques be different. There are numerous collectors' sites where various products are put up for sale…and the collectors can call to collect. But check its provenance first.
