Illustrated Guide To Collecting Antiques

In today's ever-changing market, collectors need more information than ever before in order to identify the best categories and pieces, maximise investment potential, and eliminate risk. This is an invaluable practical guide to the investor, as well as a wonderful visual reference to some of the finest pieces available at accessible prices.

An illustrated guide to antiques and antique collecting.

This unique quide from the co-author of the Little, Brown Illustrated Encyclopedia of Antiques will be a required reference book for every collector of antique furniture, from beginner to expert. Featuring over 200 representative chairs, tables, sideboards, desks, cupboards, mirrors and other collectables with both large and close-up photographs, KNOW YOUR ANTIQUES provides a wealth of information on each piece's provenance and distinctive features. With notable variants pictured alongside the principal pieces, as well as illustrated charts of fixtures and other details, this all-inclusive sourcebook enables collectors to appreciate the fine points of period style and assess a potential purchase with confidence.

This book offers an introduction to collecting antiques, brought to life by one of the longest-serving members of the BBC's Antiques Roadshow team. It provides an invaluable introduction to the different collecting areas, ranging from furniture to ceramics, silver to glass. Eric Knowles describes the items available to the amateur collector and enthusiast, and how to get started. Organized by genre, the book introduces each category's major stylistic eras, telling the reader what to look out for. Each item has been valued by Eric, and examples from all price ranges are included, enabling readers to see both affordable objects and those that may be out of budget but nevertheless of interest in developing knowledge and understanding. Throughout the book, Eric has selected examples to illustrate at a larger size, with detailed annotation. These help the reader to learn more about a chosen topic, identify the typical, appreciate the extraordinary, and understand why some pieces are worth so much more than others.