• The catalogue

Antiques

Antiques are usually objects which show some degree of craftsmanship, or a certain attention to design such as the Desk or the early automobile. In a consumer society an antique is above all an object whose atypical construction and age give it a market value superior to similar objects of recent manufacture. 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 snob appeal or social acceptance only can ensure that it is actually worth something in the market place.

The term "antique" is used as an insult in some instances, usually to depreciate the usefulness of an object or a procedure. Those who reject the trappings of a consumer society reject the markets which inflate the monetary value of antique objects, regardless of their usefulness or esthetic qualities.

Antiques are usually bought at antique stores, or passed down as an estate. Some valuable antiques can be bought at auctions, such as Sotheby's.

External links

• Conker Collectables - Making antiques fun for children
• Antique Canes - Information about identifying and collecting antique canes and walking sticks.