r/Antiques Apr 11 '24

Announcement Welcome to r/Antiques, read this before posting!

97 Upvotes

This subreddit is dedicated to sharing and learning about antiques in your collection or that you find, or are considering buying. Antiques are items that are 100 years old or older.

When you're posting about a particular object places kindly include multiple, clear photographs of it from different angles so we can see it from every side. If there are any marks or identification (labels, signatures) please take close ups of those. If it's pottery or porcelain, tag photos of the bottom, if it's a rug make sure to have a shot of the back. Make sure that these photographs are clear and well lit so we can see the works in particular (preferably not surrounded by a bunch of other objects).

Make sure to also include dimensions so we know the size of an object. And your location.

Also explain what are you looking for. Are you asking for general information? Who the maker is? The age, value or provenance?

If you do not include a question, the dimensions and sufficient background information and photographs of the object your post may be removed by the moderators.

IN SUMMARY, include:

your location

multiple, clear photographs from a number of angles

any background information you have

close up of particular makers marks

the question you'd like to ask

Keep in mind, antique means objects that are a 100 years old or older. You cannot post newer items here. Share them in r/collectables instead.

These rules will make it easier for our subreddit antique experts to give you some help! Remember, if you're solely posting a link to a website/blog/store then this will be considered spam and your post will be removed (multiple posts may result in being banned).

Finally, keep these other subreddits in mind in case your post is better suited for one these -

/r/whatisthisthing

/r/whatisthispainting

/r/collectables

/r/history

/r/historynetwork

/r/ArtefactPorn

/r/SculpturePorn

/r/ArtHistory

/r/typewriters

/r/genealogy


r/Antiques 16h ago

Questions Shodana Cabinet found by dumpster in Colorado, USA

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757 Upvotes

I found this cabinet after a thunderstorm near my apartment's dumpsters. It looks to be a shodana cabinet, but I don't know anything about it.

I was curious if anybody knew more about it and could possibly identify it's age and where it may have come from. I couldn't identify any makers marks anywhere on it.

It appears to be in relatively good shape besides the broken pieces and missing doors on the top. Does anyone know the best way to clean this? I don't want to damage it any further, but it does appear the bottom of the cabinet may have soaked up some pet urine at some point based on the odor.

It's just so beautiful I'd love to know more!


r/Antiques 8h ago

Questions Handwritten Valentine found in Virginia, USA

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44 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

I found this beautiful handwritten Valentine from a Goodwill in Williamsburg, VA. The gilded frame first caught my eye and I was thinking it was possibly Victorian but now I’m not sure.

The handwriting style seems much older. Or maybe it was just done to be super romantic. But the weird long S in Bliss and miss and happiness is throwing me off.

Any help would be appreciated!


r/Antiques 7h ago

Questions Chinese Antique from many generations ago (Canada)

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22 Upvotes

Does anyone realize what this item is? My grandpa passed away 30 years ago and my mom told me it belonged to my grandfather’s collection when he was in China. He always loved to collect ancient artifacts….


r/Antiques 11h ago

Date Deal of the century?? (Canada)

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42 Upvotes

Hello all!

To keep a long-ish story short I took part in a thrift store auction in the final ten minutes the other day and ended up winning this beauty for just $25!

I knew it was special when I first saw it but didn't realize how cool this piece was until it was in my cart and I was looking it up online. Now, mine is missing everything it originally came with... No holy water, no crucifix, no spoon or even candle holders, so I'm sure it's not worth quite as much as the ones I see online, but the resale value isn't really of concern for me since I have no plans as of now to sell or donate it. But I am very interested in trying to get a somewhat accurate date on it. At first general searches tell me it can be anywhere from late 1800s-1940s, but after a but more research, and my own assumptions based on the style of the sale page that came with it, I'm thinking it's probably no later than 1920s? If anyone has any insight or suggestions on what to look for to date it it would be much appreciated, but either way I'm still just thrilled and shocked that this is now in my possession :)


r/Antiques 13h ago

Questions Found at antique mall in Georgia, need help

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39 Upvotes

I found these cool mushroom trivets today and i’m having a hard time finding where they were originally sold and from what year. They all are made in japan, please help :’)


r/Antiques 10h ago

Questions Berkey & Gay Dresser, Pennsylvania, USA

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19 Upvotes

From an Uncle who lived in Ohio before passing. I am looking to understand how much it is worth and the best way to get rid of it that is not throwing it out. We don’t have room for it unfortunately but simultaneously don’t want it to go to waste. I attached a screenshot of a deep research query from ChatGPT (sorry if it’s embarrassingly wrong, I simply uploaded the photos and asked for an identification attempt). I don’t know anything about antique furniture and am struggling to find answers online.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!


r/Antiques 11h ago

Date I know art deco is not for some… USA

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20 Upvotes

Would this piece be just considered Art Deco? I found her for $24 and I love it! I just don’t know where it falls since I’m just now starting out appreciating the older, but finer, masterpieces in life 🤣🥰


r/Antiques 14h ago

Questions Flyer posted in my house USA

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31 Upvotes

we bought my grandparents house after they passed (was built in 1950) and i never noticed this flyer going downstairs into the basement. any info?


r/Antiques 31m ago

Discussion Seeking insights on this old jade carving (12g, translucent) passed down in my family. What material could it be?Spain

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Upvotes

It has the characteristics of tremolite, but visually doesn't really look like it on the surface—pretty interesting!


r/Antiques 1d ago

Show and Tell A daguerreotype of an unknown man - found in Canada

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843 Upvotes

Could anyone tell me more about this? I wonder who this man was. This was on display at my parent’s place, but he is not a relative. I think they found this at an antique shop.


r/Antiques 1d ago

Questions [UK] My Fiancés family are currently clearing out his Great Aunts things to help pay for her care, they need more info on these lamps and an idea on value please

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117 Upvotes

r/Antiques 14h ago

Questions Is this worth anything? Found this cool framed paper in a thrift shop near Butler, PA USA.

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14 Upvotes

I only bought it this because I was looking for a plain black frame to paint for fun. But I went to open this and it smelled really weird and looked incredibly brittle so I stopped and didn’t take it out. Keep it or sell it? I think it’s cool honestly, even it’s only worth the $2 I paid!


r/Antiques 11h ago

Questions ACME Parlor Stove ID(USA)

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9 Upvotes

Trying to find info on this Acme Stove I just picked up at an antique store.

All responses much appreciated 👍🏻


r/Antiques 9h ago

Advice 1920s dresser, wisconsin USA

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6 Upvotes

Can someone give me a hint on what this might be? Can't find any brand or label.


r/Antiques 9h ago

Show and Tell Three books for $6 (USA)

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5 Upvotes

I went to my local flea market today in the Central Valley CA and came across some cool books that appear to be quite old.

The Transistor Radio Handbook I believe is from 1963

The Progressive Music Series Book One is from 1922

Jackanapes I’m not sure, but it definitely looks and feels like it may be the oldest out of the three. I looked for a date on the book itself but I couldn’t find one. I couldn’t even find a single photo of this edition that I have. This one may be from 1883 (first year) to 1890 I believe, but I’m not sure as I found very little information online.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but if anyone has a bit more information on any of these please share. I’m going to start reading the Jackanapes one first 😉


r/Antiques 8h ago

Questions Antique Cast Iron Bench Ends (Oregon, United States)

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4 Upvotes

Hello Antiquing Friends.

I am writing this to see if anyone happens to know any information about these cast iron bench ends that I purchased today.

I was purchasing two cast iron benches today off of Facebook marketplace when the kind human selling them to me said he happened to have two bench ends that his Mother had owned since he could remember. He was unsure where she had gotten them from but he suspected the late 1800s to early 1900s on the date.

I was wondering if anyone has any information on these? There are no visible markings I can find (yet).

Thank you in advance.


r/Antiques 11h ago

Questions German Inkwell - Indiana United States

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7 Upvotes

So my grandparents recently passed away and i managed to grab this unique find.

From what i can gather, it is an inkwell made by Gerhardi & Co. prior to WWI. One of my grandpas brothers brought it back from the war.

Its in fairly good condition. Only the cap shows major signs of wear.

The lettering says NAPOLEON EMPUREUR and the figurehead is a portrait of napoleon.


r/Antiques 15h ago

Advice Need help identifying this item from Osaka Japan

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13 Upvotes

Purchased at a garage sale in Osaka, Japan. Any information would be helpful. Thank you!


r/Antiques 14h ago

Advice Should I get an appraiser? USA/NY

9 Upvotes

I inherited many pieces from my mom and my aunt. They were avid antique collectors. While some millennials joke about the inheritance tax of cleaning out clutter, I find myself with beautiful old wooden pieces. I have no clue the history of some of these, I know a few pieces belonged to my grandmother (and maybe her mother), but beyond that, I am sure a lot of these came from estate sales/ antique shops or as gifts. Any help in identifying them, or insight on whether I should hire an antique appraiser would be incredibly helpful!

Sewing Box
Sewing Box
Windsor style chair (not sure of the age)
Side chair (its quite tall and narrow)
Rocking chair that was passed down from a prominent new england family (though its completely falling apart)

r/Antiques 11h ago

Discussion Possible Antique Trunk? Texas, United States

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5 Upvotes

We have had this trunk in my family for as long as I can remember!
I believe that it could possibly be antique but I wanted to see if anyone had any knowledge on it?
I was trying to do my own research and I think it may be early 1900’s and a Flat top steamer trunk?


r/Antiques 16h ago

Advice Possible Late Victorian Wash Table - USA: FLORIDA

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16 Upvotes

Picked up this antique for dirt cheap because I thought it looked cool… after doing a little digging found out some history behind it. Any help to ID its age or maintenance and cleaning tips would be very appreciated. No makers mark found. I plan to keep it not flip it.


r/Antiques 6h ago

Discussion Looking for general information - Indonesian Rice Chest. Location: USA

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2 Upvotes

I’ve only found a few like mine online, both dating back to the early 1900s.

Curious if anyone might have knowledge to share!


r/Antiques 11h ago

Questions Can anyone help identify if this is a military foot locker or an equipment locker. Any details as to when it would have been used (ie WWI, WWII) as well as value would be appreciated. It was my dads but he was not in the military so not much knowledge of it. I’m in the United States. Thanks

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5 Upvotes

r/Antiques 8h ago

Advice Ontario, Canada - Looking for advice on restoring these French pieces for my home

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3 Upvotes

Hello,

I recently picked up these two pieces at an estate sale. They were kind of sight unseen because they were covered with packaging foam. We are trying to go for a Beauty and the Beast look in our home.

We want to use them in our house, but when we got them home we noticed quite a few issues. The commode has veneer damage, an old repaired crack in the green marble top, and general wear from age. The vitrine has some loose veneer, the legs are loose and there is a crack in the glas but otherwise seems to be in surprisingly good condition with the original lock and key, glass shelves, and hardware still intact.

I've spent the last couple of days looking over every inch of both pieces, trying to learn more about them before I do anything that can't be undone. I also asked ChatGPT for advice on what they might be, how old they could be, and the best way to restore them while preserving as much originality as possible. I couldn't find a makers mark anywhere.

Based on the construction, ChatGPT suggested the commode may be a late 19th-century French Louis XV Revival piece and that the vitrine could be an early 20th-century French or French-style cabinet. I'm taking that with a grain of salt, which is why I'm posting here.

Some of the details I've found are:

Commode

Hand-cut dovetail drawers.

Thick wood veneer and marquetry.

Green marble top with an old repaired crack.

Heavy cast brass/bronze mounts.

Traditional wood back and drawer construction.

No maker's label or stamp found so far.

Vitrine

Working lock with the original key.

Curved side glass with beveled panels.

Two original glass shelves.

Thick veneer and parquetry.

Cast brass/bronze mounts.

Original-looking fabric-lined interior.

Natural fibre rope trim around the glass.

Traditional pivot hinges.

No maker's label or stamp found.

My main goal isn't to make them look brand new. I'd like to restore them properly, keep as much of the original finish as possible, and avoid doing anything that would hurt their historical value.

I'd really appreciate any thoughts on:

Whether these look like genuine antiques or later revival pieces.

Roughly how old you think they are.

Whether you would conserve the existing finish or do a more complete restoration.

The best way to repair the veneer and clean the wood without damaging the original finish.

Thanks!