Hobbies And Interests
Instructions
Know what types of antiques your local area is known for around the world. For instance, some parts of Pennsylvania have beautiful antique Amish furniture and quilts. In New Mexico and Arizona, you can often find antique Native American arts and crafts as well as Spanish furniture. In Los Angeles, there is a concentration of Art Deco antiques and silver-screen-era memorabilia.
Ask yourself if you want to concentrate on antiques that are prevalent in your area or if you would like to specialize in antiques from a different location--for example, French or Chinese antiques. If you live in a major urban area, you should be able to find antique importers who carry fine items from across the globe.
Call around to as many different shops as you can. Ask about selection, prices and specialties. During your conversation, try to get a sense of whether the shop owner seems like a dealer you would like to work with regularly.
Search for antique shops in your area online at the Antiques and Collectibles Guide. See the Resources section below for a link. The Shops Locator page lets you pick shops by state.
Go around to the different stores you have found. Check them out in person and see what their merchandise looks like.
Compare prices. How do the different shops stack up against each other on similar types of items?
Compare quality. Will the antiques you buy be in good condition, or will they need extensive repair and restoration? Will the shop do restoration for you? These are the types of questions you need to think about.
Get a feel for how knowledgeable the shop owner is about antiques. A good antique dealer should know the provenance (history) of most pieces he sells. At the very least, he should have a keen sense of the period his antiques come from, and be familiar with the major craftspeople and manufacturers of the era.