by Patricia Sabina

Created on: June 19, 2009   Last Updated: June 29, 2009

There are several ways to add value to your antiques. Some may need a little investment in terms of money; others require investment of your time and energy. Either way, you will be adding value, not just in monetary terms but also by enhancing your knowledge and appreciation of their context, the time and social conditions in which they were made.

Aesthetic appreciation

Firstly, you most likely chose your antiques because you were drawn to certain qualities such as their beauty or they may have a curiosity or rarity value. Perhaps their very age alone is a point of fascination, or the quality of workmanship and the perfection of the craft of the artisan who made them. These are aesthetic qualities which make your objects sought after and give them an appreciation value. Often the rarer an object is; the greater its value. Though it doesn't have to be particularly old or rare to have meaning and be of value to you.

Display
How and where do you display your antiques? Finding the right setting will enhance and add to their value. Each antique is an object of art in its own right. It should have pride of place in your home and the appropriate setting to bring out its qualities. Look in magazines for ideas on display and wherever possible display household objects in their natural setting, for example, your teapot collection on a kitchen dresser. Antiques can be a great complement to contemporary style interior decoration. But here, less is definitely more.

Preservation
The condition of an object is always a consideration. It may be quite rare and of a good age but if it is damaged, its value will be much reduced. So take great care of your objects. Source information on how to maintain and preserve them at their best and learn how to store them. They may need certain conditions, of temperature, light and so on. Furniture, jewellery, glass all have special cleaning agents which preserve and enhance. Keeping your objects clean and in tip-top condition will keep their value. But make sure you do your research before you start cleaning. Removing the patina from your great great grandmother's oak cupboard will irretrievably erase the years and its value!

Restoration
If the damage is minimal it may be worth getting your object restored. There are many good antique restorers who can bring your object back to its original glory. They will have the skill of the artisan who made it and the knowledge of what is acceptable in terms of restoration to maintain its value. They will also be able to advise you on how to keep it in good condition. You may find the cost of the restoration is less than the increase in its monetary value when the restoration is done. A 40 restoration job may add 100 or more to an object's value.

Historical context
Learn as much as you can about your antiques. The more information you have about an object, this will add to its value. You have a piece of history in your possession which tells a story of another time. Your objects were made in an age when the lifestyle and social conditions of people were very different to our present time, so your antiques are like a window on that time. Find out as much as you can about the manufacturer, where and how your objects were made and how they were used if they had a function. Your knowledge will increase their aesthetic value for you, and should you ever come to sell them you can pass all you know on to your buyer.

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