Antique
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{{For|other uses|Antique (disambiguation)}}
[[Image:Kepler-world.jpg|thumb|right|300px|An antique map]]
An '''antique''' ([[Latin]]: ''antiquus''; old) is an old [[collectible]] item. It is collected or desirable because of its age, rarity, condition, utility, or other unique features. It is an object that represents a previous era in human society.
Antiques are usually objects which show some degree of [[craftsmanship]], or a certain attention to design such as a [[desk]] or the early [[automobile]]. They are bought at [[antique shop]]s, or passed down as an [[estate (law)|estate]]. Some valuable antiques can be bought from antique dealers and auction services or purchased online through websites and online auctions. Antique dealers are often members of national [[trade associations]], many of which themselves belong to [[CINOA]], a confederation of art and antique associations across 19 countries, representing 5000 dealers.
==Purpose==
===In history===
Any historical [[museum]] makes a considerable use of antiques in order to illustrate historical events and give them a practical context. Just about any object can become an antique if it survives long enough, but value of an antique in the [[market]] place is determined by its appeal and social acceptance. For example museums exist of [[Ephemera]], that is of objects and items that would normally be thrown away, such as [[Packaging and labelling|packaging]] and [[advertising]] flyers and [[posters]].
===As heirloom===
The term "antique" is pejorative in some instances to describe something passed down from generation to generation.
==Definition==
[[Image:US mail letterbox.jpg|thumb|right|220px|An antique U.S mailbox]]
The definition of antique varies from source to source, product to product and year to year. But, some time-tested definitions of antique deserve consideration:
*''An item which is at least 50 to 100 years old and is collected or desirable due to rarity, condition, utility, or some other unique feature. Motor vehicles, tools and other items subject to vigorous use in contrast, may be considered antiques in the U.S. if older than 25 years, and some electronic gadgets of more recent vintage may be considered antiques''
*''antique (noun) - Any piece of furniture or decorative object or the like produced in a former period and valuable because of its beauty or rarity.''
This definition allow people to make a distinction between genuine ''antique pieces'', ''vintage'' items or ''collectible'' objects.
The alternative term ''[[antiquities]]'' is commonly used to refer the remains of ancient art and everyday items from antiquity, which themselves are often [[artifact (archaeology)|archaeological artifacts]].
== Antiquing ==
"Antiquing" is the act of shopping, identifying, negotiating, or bargaining for antiques. Items can be bought for personal use, gifts, and in the case of brokers and [[Antiques dealer|dealer]]s, profit. Antiquing is performed at [[garage sale]]s, [[estate sale]]s, [[resort town]]s, antiques districts, [[collective]]s, and international [[auction house]]s.
Note that the word "antiquing" may also refer to the art of making an object appear antique through [[Distressing#Antiquing|distressing]] or applying an antique looking paint application.
== Antique furniture ==
[[Image:Jaijus.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Furniture antiques from the Chinese [[Liao dynasty]]]]
{{Main|Antique Furniture}}
The collecting of antique furniture is a particularly popular area of antiques due to the practical characteristics of these antiques. Antique furniture includes dining tables, chairs, bureaus, chests etc. The most common woods are [[mahogany]], [[oak]], [[pine]], [[walnut]] and [[rosewood]]. In Chinese antique furniture the most common wood is elm a wood common to most regions able to sustain trees. Each wood has its own distinctive grain and colour. Many modern pieces of furniture often use [[laminate]] or [[wood veneer]] to cheaply achieve the same effect. There are a number of different styles of antique furniture depending on when and where it was made. The most common include Arts & Crafts, Georgian, Regency and Victorian.
== See also ==
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* [[Antiquarian book trade in the United States|Antique Books]]
* [[Antique furniture]]
* [[Antique shop]]
* [[Antique tools]]
* [[Antiques restoration]]
* [[Antiquities]]
* [[Auctions]]
* [[Authenticity]]
* [[Car donation]]
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* [[Collectables]]
* [[Collective]]
* [[Estate sale]]
* [[Jackson Square, San Francisco, California]]
* [[Marketing]]
* [[Original]]
* [[The San Francisco Fall Antiques Show]]
* [[Vetting]]
* [[Vintage (disambiguation)|Vintage]]
* [[http://www.greatbritishantiques.com]]
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==References==
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*{{1911}}
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