Collecting Antiques

Collecting antiques is a much-loved hobby for many South Africans. With so many amazing treasures out there to find, we're looking at everything you need to know in order to get started.

So, you want to start collecting antiques - where do you start?

Collecting anything is a fun and invigorating experience, but collecting antiques is particularly special as these items not only hold historical meaning and give your home's décor a uniquely sophisticated look, but they can also be a great investment as certain items can appreciate in value quite considerably in the time that they are in your possession.

If you want to start collecting antiques for your home, you will need to do your homework and decide on what type of object you're interested in, whether it's furniture, clocks or antique silverware, and what period you are interested in collecting from. To do this you can research on the internet, browse through antique books, visit antique fairs and galleries or even start watching Antiques Roadshow.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

If you're looking for antiques to place in your home, you will first need to decide on what styles will complement your interior - after all, you wouldn't put an ornate Victorian suite in your modern minimalist-style lounge.
You can also make a Pinterest board of antiques and interior design inspirations, so you can keep all of your ideas in one place.
One of the easiest ways to get some information and advice about antiques is from antique dealers themselves, as they are extremely passionate and knowledgeable about the items.

Once you've decided on what style or period pieces you are interested in collecting, you can start by purchasing some smaller items for your home, this way you can see if antique collecting is a hobby you're truly interested in, and whether you actually like the aesthetic antiques give your home's interior - and to make sure that the novelty doesn't wear off. Most importantly, as you build up your antique collection be sure to pick items that you genuinely like and that add an extra something to whichever room they're placed in.

You may be wondering how to tell if the antique you're interested in is genuine and the answer to that is always to speak to a trusted antiques dealer to get upfront facts about the item. Then, you must remember the 100-year rule: if your item shows signs of post-1930s' construction it's probably a reproduction. Tell-tale signs are the presence of chipboard or plywood, staples and newer brands of screws. If you still can't tell, you can always pop onto the internet and do some more research or join an online antique forum to get the opinions of other enthusiastic collectors.

Check out our list below of some of the best places to score beautiful antiques in South Africa.

Antique shopping in Johannesburg