Antique Tips

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  • Search Engines & Titles

    Websites that host auctions or online stores seem to be permitting longer and long titles.  This is being done so that more key words will show up in search engines and help to raise the visibility of the sellers on their site.
     
    Now this i...

  • Prehistoric Rock Art

    I recently watched the new film, "Cave of Forgotten Dreams," which documents German filmmaker, Werner Herzog's, excursion into the Chauvet Cave in southern France. The rock art images there are more than 30,000 years old. I was thinking about the Munch...

  • Tips on Dating Cameos

    In order to even begin to date a cameo, you will need a jeweler’s loupe.  Study the piece under the loop carefully.
     
    First off, determine whether it is hand carved or machine made. Lasers are now used to create cameos.  If the c...

  • Unsigned Pieces--How Much Are They Worth?

    You'd think that antiques & art works that are unsigned or unmarked are really worth nothing at all. You look at a painting, but you don't really look at it--you look for the signature. You pick up a piece of porcelain, and the first thing you do i...

  • Bargains in the Mall for Less Than $100

    In Tuesday's show I'll highlight good deals I've found in the Mall that are priced at less than $100. You know the drill--I spend several hours looking for bargains, then select 10 or 12, then at the end choose what I think is the best buy. Viewers the...

  • Maine Antique Digest--Bible for theTrade

    Don't ask me how it happened, but happen it did! The Maine Antique Digest (yes, Maine, the state, not main, as in most important) has become the absolute must read for anyone in the antiques business. In tonight's show we'll go through the April issue,...

  • Caring For Vintage Leather Handbags

    For some reason leather items can be intimidating. Probably because we all grew up with the notion that all leather items needed special care and therefore we sent things off to be dry cleaned. Although this is still an option, it is not a necessity.
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  • Understand & Use Effective Keywords

    First, let’s understand keywords.  A keyword is any word that someone uses to search for something on the internet.
     
    Read that last sentence again and then consider the importance of using the “right” keywords so that you...

  • Writing Effective Descriptions

    In the antiques world, there is no such thing as perfection.  Same pretty well goes for the collectibles world as well.  So, having stated that, how do you write an effective listing that will get your item sold?
     
    Honesty.  Be fo...

  • Tips for Photographing Vintage Jewelry

    As in any photography, a sharp image, good lighting and good exposure is important but how do you get those vintage gemstones to sparkle?
     
    Three lights are used to light up your gems.  Two, usually situated on the two sides should be diffu...