Antique Pottery And Glassware Collecting

By Anna Cooper


Specialists will be aware that anything rare and valuable that is worth collecting does not come cheaply and will be much sought after. Often functional as well as decorative, antique pottery and glassware is a highly desirable collector's item. They will also know where the best deals are to be found and will deal with only reputable traders to preserve their own reputations.

The amateur collector approaches collecting differently. They may consider the aesthetics of a piece, if it will add to their existing collection, or the simply the cost of the item. Weekend collectors are more likely to attend an estate auction in search of what they want, or a small cluttered store that sells old bits and pieces.

Anyone who has done a little bit of internet research on their area of interest will be aware of the enormous amount of fake products in the market place. So many counterfeits are available and they are often hard to spot. They will also know what separates a fake from a genuine item. Examining the markings, weight and quality of workmanship before rashly spending money on it, will prevent a lot of unhappiness in the long run.

Flooding the market with a particular item would decrease its collectible value quite significantly as a collectible is valued by its scarcity. It's a safe assumption that anyone who assembles any kind of collection harbors the secret fantasy of one day achieving fame and accolades for being the person who found a rare and wonderful work of art hidden in the dusty corner of a junk shop in the middle of nowhere.

A collector may only be after certain things, such as perfume bottles or wine glasses and constantly seek to fill a gap on their shelf. A dinner table set with an eclectic collection of wine glasses in varying colors, sizes and shapes holds its own beauty.

With vintage making a recent comeback, Pyrex from the early years is now in demand. Gentle pastel shades of blue and green take us back to the 1950's and 1960's when it was all the rage. The testament of the Pyrex brand is that these dishes are still functional after more than sixty years. Many modern homes can boast at least a small collection of oven ware which has been passed down through generations and are still in daily use.

The clay that is used to make pottery can often be used to identify the region that it was produced it. Many clays contain ores specific to a certain area and once glazed, the colors are identifiers. When buying a pottery item, the buyer should have at least some knowledge of what to look for to ensure their item is what they are expecting.

Unless you are an expert in the field, buying a piece as an investment is bound to end in disappointment. If you collect things that are beautiful, that make your heart sing, you will never be let down. Those items that you have in your collection will forever bring you joy.




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