1. Home
  2. Home & Garden
  3. Antiques
photo of Pamela Wiggins

Pamela's Antiques Blog

By Pamela Wiggins, About.com Guide to Antiques since 1999

How Old is an Antique?

Tuesday May 26, 2009
Have you ever heard that an antique is at least 100 years old? Do you know where this definition originated? And is it a true measure of what's really antique? Among both amateurs and experts there are differing opinions, but I'm offering up answers to these questions and more for you in a new quick tip: How Old is an Antique? By the way, the masterpiece desk from the 1700s illustrating this post is considered antique by all definitions.

Comments

April 8, 2008 at 2:35 am
(1) Patrick says:

That’s a really nice table.

April 19, 2008 at 9:53 am
(2) gary says:

Yes that surelly is a great desk. I wonder how much it is worth

April 19, 2008 at 9:55 am
(3) Suzy says:

I go through the ebay listings for antique furniture on a daily basis but i have never seen a table like this before. I am really curious what would the price of this be if it was on sale

April 26, 2008 at 1:19 pm
(4) Pamela Wiggins says:

The reason you’re not finding pieces like this one on eBay (or elsewhere) is that it’s truly a masterpiece of American craftsmanship. Handcrafted in the late 1700s, a desk like this one doesn’t come on the market often. The worth is subjective, as only those with deep pockets would be able to afford bidding on it through a high-end auction house. It’s safe to say that it would sell in the $1 million range, if not for more under the right circumstances.

September 23, 2009 at 1:37 pm
(5) Jennifer B. says:

The desk looks more like a vanity without it’s mirror. The small stool would rest underneath when not in use. My opinion :)

Leave a Comment

Line and paragraph breaks are automatic. Some HTML allowed: <a href="" title="">, <b>, <i>, <strike>

Explore Antiques

About.com Special Features

Home Allergy Center

Banish mess, reduce allergens, and maintain a clean, healthy home. More >

Home Improvements Made Easy

Inspirational ideas and expert tips to help you pull off your next DIY project. More >

  1. Home
  2. Home & Garden
  3. Antiques

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.