Bargain Antiques Easy To Find

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31587, 26 January 1968, Page 2

Bargain Antiques Easy To Find

<Bv STELLA BRUCE' Antique - collecting, once it takes hold, can become less a hobby than a way of life. Usually it is possible to prevent it going that far. Indeed, many people I know who collect antiques do so simply because they can’t afford the modern counterparts.

There is a surprising number of bargains in antiques, particularly if you stick to utilitarian objects tables, chairs and so forth and steer clear of the Ming bowls and Louis XVI commodes. Virtually any antique Is likely to be worth at least as much as you gave for it, and most likely more, in a few years’ time, which is more than can be said for walnutveneer sideboards sparkling in the High Street store. An “antique” is strictly something made before 1830 and authenticated as such. But there is a surprising num-

her of historical periods which produced furniture and ornaments which, for some reason, are not in vogue and consequently do not command excessive prices. For instance, English Delft, Chinese objects and six-teenth-century and seven-teen-century furniture can often be obtained at quite reasonable prices. People do get “taken in” over antiques. But they also get “taken in” over cars, the price of cabbages and the amount of fat on the weekend joint. The buyer should use common-sense “shopping” rules. For example, do not spend a lot of money without an expert’s advice. Do not buy from a shop unless the prices are marked, and always ask for a written confirmation of date, style and period. Presumably, you would not buy anything in the grocer’s unless you saw the price marked on it The only real difference between buying a Queen Anne chair and buying a pound of potatoes is that the chair should last a little longer.