4 min readSometimes people get lucky with a rare antique find, plopping an item in their cart and bringing it home simply because they love the look or heft of it. But true antique collectors don’t just get “lucky” when winding through the stalls of a flea market or digging for treasure at a thrift store. They know exactly what to look for, and can quickly determine which items are valuable and which aren’t worth the spend.
It’s what you’d call an “antique collector’s eye,” and these are the signs you’ve got the gift, too.
You Notice True Craftsmanship
Mass-produced items are rarely as valuable as a one-of-a-kind item, and antique collectors understand this well.
“They know what you can't create or have custom made,” says Amber Lewis, interior designer, vintage collector, and author of Interiors: Curated Spaces from Start to Finish. “There are some patinas and finishes that just can't be replicated, and finding these unique, standout pieces or finishes will bring depth and story to a space.”
You Know to Look Underneath
Often, some of the most valuable information is usually on the underside of a vintage or antique item. This includes the maker's marks, country of origin, pattern name or number, old retailer labels, glaze quality and so much more, says Shannon Barker, antique curator and cofounder of Bessette. These are just part of the story, of course, but they can tell you so much about where and when an item was made, and just how covetable it is.
You Can Feel the Value
In addition to their eyes, antique collectors use the sense of feel.
“When shopping for home decor, I always pick items up to gauge their weight,” says Becky Ducsik, interior designer, antique curator, and creative director of The Phinery. “Heavy figurines, lamps, and even framed artwork often suggest the use of genuine, higher-quality materials and sturdier construction.”
She adds that in many cases, higher-quality materials contribute to the item's overall value, so lifting each item prior to purchasing is something antique collectors always do.
You Recognize Tiny Signs of High Quality
Antique collectors have done their due diligence on understanding what makes certain items high quality. For instance, they know dovetail joints are a hallmark of excellent work on wood furniture, and that when a flicked glass rings, it’s genuine crystal. They use magnets to detect whether brass is solid or coated, and they look for the pontil scar on glass to see if an item's handblown versus machine-made.
You Appreciate the Wear and Tear
One of the biggest signs of an antique collector's eye is seeing beauty where others see flaws.
“Gentle wear, rich patina, and subtle signs of age give a piece warmth, depth, and authenticity that simply can't be manufactured,” Barker tells us. Even some repairs create higher value. For example, antique plates with metal staple repairs often date back to the 17th to 19th centuries and are considered collector’s items.
But You Also Note Poor Condition
While gorgeous aging is sought after, antique collectors also understand when a piece has passed its prime. Ducsik says she carefully inspects every piece to ensure there is no noticeable damage and that nothing is broken.
“Because I decorate with a mix of antiques and newly purchased items, the condition of each antique is especially important,” she says. “Well-preserved antiques blend with newer decor, while damaged or heavily worn pieces can look out of place.”
You Have Remarkable Patience
Antique collectors are patient creatures, largely because they are thrilled by the hunt itself. They’ll spend an hour or two at a single thrift store, comb every single stall at a flea market, and show up early to wait in line at an estate sale. They scan, dig, and search, and their efforts are rewarded with beautiful finds others would pass over because they didn’t stop long enough to look.
You’re an Early Bird
On that note, the best antique collectors know what they’re looking for, and they arrive early to make sure they get first dibs.
“This may seem like a no-brainer, but having a first look at what's available can often mean the difference between finding that perfect piece or walking away empty-handed,” Lewis explains.
You Know What People Want
If you’re just collecting for you, that’s one thing. But antique collectors who resell have a good pulse on what’s trending.
“Colors, patterns, and even finishes like gold and silver go in and out of style, so I usually pass on pieces that feel dated,” Ducsik says. For example, she says she’d walk right past red decor because it's a color she stopped decorating with more than a decade ago. On the other hand, she’d scoop up anything with scalloped edges because they’re so popular right now.
You Let Your Gut Lead You
Sometimes an item doesn’t have a maker’s mark, and a quick Google search doesn’t bring up much info. But antique collectors use their eyes and their intuition to determine whether an item’s worth splurging on. It could be a wacky or weird thing that you love just because, and it may end up being surprisingly valuable.
Whatever the case, Lewis says, “Finding those pieces that stand out to you, or you gravitate towards, brings that personal lived-in quality to any design.”
