Term Antique Means Different Things To Different People
The term may mean different things to different people, but the typical understanding of what makes something qualify for being an antique is age. The reality is that everything that is old is not necessarily an antique and many items referred to as such may not be as old as some people believe it to be. The age may be part of the equation, but its rarity, condition and functionality also are considered when determining the correct term to use. Many older items that have no obvious function and do not work are simply called junk.
Numerous people collect older items as a window into history, with such things as furniture, jewelry and even household appliances. Of course to qualify as an antique age plays a role, but for many people how something works is more important. For example, in the early and mid-19th century electrical appliances were not available any many household appliances were hand operated. If a person can find a manual butter churn for instance that is still in working condition, they may add it to their antique collection.
People may collect items from a certain area throughout history, not so much due to the age of the item, but because of their interest in the era. Furniture that was handmade in the Queen Anne fashion are some of the prized possessions of antique furniture collectors.
Not All Collectables Have Monetary Value Beyond Age
Persons who collect antique jewelry may be disappointed when they learn of the value of their collections as age and functionality may be the only thing the items have going for them. A two-hundred-year-old ring for example, may have been made of cheap metal, as they were before someone decided that gold and silver was the metal that should be used, and rarely would valuable gemstones be used, especially outside of royalty. As a result, many pieces of antique jewelry will be worth very little based on the content of valuable metals or stones.
In most states a motor vehicle has to be at least 32 years old to qualify for antique license plates, but if the vehicle is a rusting hulk of metal it is not worth more than the cost of the scrap metal. However, it someone is able to restore it with original parts and maintain it it near new condition, the value of the vehicle goes up exponentially. Less than 32 years they are usually referred to as classic, but their value is still judged by condition and functionality.
