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AN-TIQUE (an-teek)
An object having
special value because of its age, especially a domestic item, piece of
furniture or decorative arts object esteemed for its artistry, beauty,
mechanical ingenuity, or period of origin. |
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The
Antiques Almanac, a five-edition-per-year online magazine for beginning and
intermediate antiques collectors and those just interested in finding out about
old things, is your first stop on the Web in your search for information
about antiques and collectibles. Here, you’ll find articles on a variety
of American and international antiques, including furniture, china,
glass, silver, and other decorative arts from the Colonial, Empire,
Victorian, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco Periods, plus vintage and modern
collectibles, interesting historical facts, antique tips, and
recommendations for caring for your collections. Come back often to see
what's new. And be sure to tell your friends about us.
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This
edition's
theme:
"Colonial America"
Volume 19 No. 1
This edition features articles about
antiques and history from Colonial America.
Throughout 2026, The
Antiques Almanac will feature articles and photos depicting
American antiques and history to celebrate the 250th Anniversary
of the United States. Editions will each feature a major period
in U.S. history---Colonial America, Federal America, Victorian
America, Early 20th Century America, and An American Christmas. |
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Unraveling Colonial American
Samplers
American
samplers fetch high prices, especially at Americana shows. There’s a
good chance that the unsuspecting buyer discovering a single one in
an antique shop will be taken, through no fault of the dealer. Most
antique dealers can’t tell real samplers from fake ones. It’s only
those who specialize in such things that can truly tell the
difference.
More
Antique Spotlights
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Poor Man's Silver
Colonial
housewives cherished their pewter. To fool their guests into thinking
they were wealthier than they were, they proudly displayed their pieces
on shelves since, when highly polished, it resembled silver.
More
Collecting Articles
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Caring for Antique
Pewter
Most collectors are more concerned with the
appearance of their pewter pieces, making cleaning and
polishing a must. This you can do if your patience and arm
hold out. If you plan on doing your own cleaning, then you
should practice on more modern pieces.
More
Caring for Collections |
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The
2026 Winter Edition
featuring
"Colonial
America"
is here
Go through the menu and read all the
New!
articles. |
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The Lure of Native American
Memorabilia
by Bob Brooke
Native
American arrowheads have long been collected by scavengers at known
settlement and battle sites. But since the turn of the 20th Century,
collectors desire to obtain just about any object made and used by the
tribes that lived throughout North America. And with the inauguration of
the National Museum to the American Indian in Washington, DC., awareness
of these objects is at an all-time high.
Read more. |
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Saving Mount Vernon
by Bob Brooke
Following the deaths of George Washington in 1799 and Martha in 1802,
Mount Vernon remained in the family for three generations. But
inheritance taxes, changing markets for agricultural products, and
throngs of visitors made it impossible for the owners to maintain Mount
Vernon. By the 1850s, the home Washington painstakingly developed was
beginning to crumble.
Read more. |
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It's All in
the Pattern
by Bob Brooke
Quilts played a major role in the trek west made by the
pioneers. Women prepared for their journey on the Oregon
Trail for up to a year before their departure. While the men
took care of the wagons, farm equipment, and animals, their
wives prepared and packed foodstuffs and household items.
Read more |
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That's a Crock!
Before
refrigeration, the only way to keep food from spoiling was to store it
in a cool place, usually a cold cellar or spring house. From the early
to mid-19th century, Americans stored various types of food products in
stoneware crocks, the most common piece of kitchen equipment in Colonial
America.
Read more |
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How to Recognize and
Refinish Antiques for Pleasure and Profit
Have
you ever bought an antique or collectible that was less than perfect and
needed some TLC? Bob's book offers tips and step-by- step
instructions for simple maintenance and restoration of common antiques.
Read an
Excerpt |
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BREAKING
NEWS
Menagerie Wagon Rolls in at Three Times Its Estimate
Beating out its $10/15,000
estimate was an extremely rare Märklin Hagenbeck’s Menagerie
transport train wagon, in gauge 1, that featured a lid that
opened to reveal two associated composition lions in a
single-compartment gondola car. Measuring 8½ inches in
length and in exceptional condition, it finished at $33,750.
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BIZARRE
ANTIQUITIES
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This is one of 10
mortuary chests from Winchester Cathedral in
England. Each contained the commingled skeletal
remains of 23 early medieval Anglo-Saxon
and early Norman kings and bishops. These
chests, originally 10 in number but now 6, were
disrupted during the English Civil War in 1642,
when Parliamentarian forces scattered the bones.
The remains were later recollected without
sorting by individual and stored in chests..
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