Antiques, those desirable collectibles from another time, come in many forms. How old an item has to be before it becomes an official antique may be a contentious topic, though. Let's explore some fine finds that may or may not rate an antique moniker - and price tag.
Ah, the joys of aging. Those jarring little moments in life when you learn that what (seems like) recent history for you is ancient history for others. When an iTunes “Golden Oldies” playlist includes a song you thought was still relatively hip. Realizing that Do the Right Thing is more than 21 years old (!). Stepping foot into Urban Outfitters. Period.
Everything you buy for the home — furniture, rugs, lighting, artwork — can be plotted on an historical timeline and affixed with labels like “contemporary”, “antique”, “vintage” or “retro”. An item’s age is a key determinant of its value, considered alongside its condition, quality, and relative rarity. And the age of an item is evaluated not only in terms of its actual date of origin but also in the context of contemporary fashions and socioeconomic trends. For example, in lean economic times there may be nostalgia for decades associated with comfort and stability.
But not everything for sale has a certified date of origin. Instead, we have to rely on the often dubious claims put forth by a seller. A quick scan of Craigslist or eBay reveals that terms like “antique” and “vintage” are bandied about interchangeably and often illogically. The most egregious abusers of the jargon are sellers who follow this (inaccurate!) “classified” historical classification system:
1) Antique. Something that is, like, really old. Probably musty, dusty and moldy. Probably made of wood. Usually unstylish.
2) Vintage. Something that is too old to be considered “used” but not as old as Grandma. By calling it “vintage” the seller tries to distract the buyer from the item’s blatant imperfections. Like many “retro” items, “vintage” items are often either mid-century modern (in style if not in fact) or related to bygone pop culture, junk food or fashion trends.
3) Retro. Something that is basically outdated and out of style. By calling it “retro” the seller hopes to assign sentimental or historical value to something that is simply no longer cool. Or, the “retro” item may actually be quite new but is “preloved” (i.e., pretty beat up).
But if common parlance is unreliable and inaccurate, what are the official definitions of antique, vintage and retro?
OFFICIAL DEFINITIONS:
What is antique?
According to Merriam Webster, an antique is “a relic or object of ancient times” or “a work of art, piece of furniture, or decorative object made at an earlier period and according to various customs laws at least 100 years ago.” Ruby Lane, an online marketplace of independent antique and collectible shops, offers a similar definition, explaining, “Most authorities consider the actual definition of the term ‘antique’ to mean an age of at least 100 years. If an item is not definitively datable to 100 or more years in age, it should not be directly referred to as an antique.”
What is vintage?
If antiques are things that are 100 years old or older, what are vintage pieces? The defnition of vintage is trickier. According to Merriam Webster, the term vintage relates primarily to wine and is an altered form of the French word vendage, meaning “the grapes picked during a season.” One of its secondary definitions is “a period of origin or manufacture” (e.g., a vintage 1960s Mercedes) or “length of existence: age.” Ruby Lane provides a much more helpful explanation, noting that “an item described as ‘vintage’ should speak of the era in which it was produced. Vintage can mean an item is of a certain period of time, as in “vintage 1950’s” but it can also mean (and probably always should) that the item exhibits the best of a certain quality, or qualities, associated with or belonging to that specific era. In other words, for the term vintage to accurately apply to it, an item should be somewhat representational and recognizable as belonging to the era in which it was made.” Ruby Lane also suggests that ‘vintage’ should not be used in reference to objects less than 20 years old.
What is retro?
According to Merriam Webster, retro is “relating to, reviving, or being the styles and especially the fashions of the past : fashionably nostalgic or old-fashioned.” Retro furniture may not actually be old but it references styles of the recent past. Retro can also mean something that is not very old but is old enough to be more than just “so last season”. (i.e., the woman wearing the early 80s high-waisted jeans because she hasn’t updated her wardrobe since the Reagan Administration is not retro. She is just outdated.) I am still not entirely clear on the difference between retro and vintage, I must admit. There seems to be some overlap. For whatever reason, “retro” makes me think of mod, geometric shapes and “vintage” conjures up images of faded, floral fabrics. But that’s just me!
How do you define these words? What comes to mind when you hear “antique”, “vintage”, or “retro”?
Image: flickr member xrrr licensed for use under Creative Commons.
The term antique is used rather loosely these days and often ends up reflecting the age of the person using it more than a hard and fast definition. To a teenager, for example, a kitchen tool or gadget from the 1960s seems “antique,' while a senior adult might see antiques as the many objects they used or saw in the homes of their parents and grandparents as a child.
In purist terms, however, and according to the 'official' definition issued by the United States Customs Service, antiques have traditionally been considered items with at least 100 years of age under their belts. That means the scale slides every year as more objects grow older and fit into that timeframe.
Even so, this can still be a controversial topic among antique dealers, authors, and many seasoned appraisal experts.
Differing Opinions Among 'Experts'
The truth is, you can ask a dozen different antiques 'experts' what an antique is and you'll get some different answers. There have been heated debates on this topic when groups of antique experts have gathered together and were asked the question: what is an antique?
Some experts look more at the high style and uppercrust design when deeming an object to be antique. They see antiques as 'masterpieces' of design and only the highest quality. With this assessment, everything from primitive furniture of all ages to faceless Amish rag dolls from the late 1900s would not be considered to be antiques regardless of the rarity of the items in question. Many other authors and experts disagree with these folks.
One way to look at this conundrum is the dividing line drawn where styles dramatically changed from an old-fashioned look toward the modern. Hemlines were shortened and simplified, and angular Art Deco design was the all the rage during the 1920s moving into the 1930s. These fashion and design developments with a forward-thinking bend, among others during this transitional period, provide a stark contrast to the elaborate styles seen during the Edwardian, Victorian, and Colonial periods witnessed in the previous decades to centuries.
With this in mind, one viewpoint is to see items made before 1920 as antiques and newer pieces as 'collectibles.' The antique scale continues to slide regarding the actual age of these objects as we move forward through the calendar, however. As soon as we ring in 2020, all of these objects will be considered antiques by the U.S. Customs Service. This definition is widely followed by those who trade antiques and vintage goods.
Describing Items You're Selling
Even the most honest sellers with the best of intentions can make a mistake on occasion in describing their wares as antiques when they're not that old. But when sellers use terminology incorrectly, especially when they do it repeatedly, those blunders can very easily undermine their integrity. For that reason alone, it's a good idea to try to get the facts straight.
Identifying an item that is a collectible—something far less than 100 years old—as an antique makes savvy buyers feel like you're just trying to get one over on them. It can make you look ignorant about what you're selling, or even worse, dishonest.
If an object is newer than 100 years in age, call it a collectible, or perhaps 'vintage' if that's common terminology (such as with clothing and jewelry). If you honestly feel like an item is over 100 years in age after doing your homework, then it's perfectly fine to describe it as an antique. Some online selling venues have specific categories to follow that distinguish antiques from collectibles or vintage. You'll do better by getting it right, since potential customers may check those categories for what they are looking for in addition to relying on keyword searches.
Even if you're selling in an antique mall or at a show, labeling and representing your items accurately will serve you well. Customers will come back time and again to see what's new in your booth if you do your best to offer them great merchandise that has been thoroughly researched and is appropriately marketed.