In this new periodic feature, Bob Brooke offers personal insights into the world of antiques and antiques collecting.

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Antiques in the Moment
by Bob Brooke

Did you ever think about who may have owned or used a particular antique? One day as I was cleaning my living room filled with pieces dating from the early 19th century to the early 20th, I suddenly realized that every object in the room was at one time owned and used by someone else. So I put a CD of piano music by 19th-century American composer Louis Gottshalk in my CD player and wondered how many of the pieces had heard it before with a previous owner.

History can be fascinating. What we study in school is only the tip of the iceberg. But the items people used daily really tell about what life was like.

What is Social History?
If you’re going to collect antiques, you need to immerse yourself in whatever period of history appeals to you. Genealogists call this social history—the daily goings on of ordinary people. Unlike political history, which deals with affairs of state, social history is an outgrowth of economic history. It’s more of a combination of a economic history and sociology.

Finding out more about what happened at a particular time in history makes antiques come alive. How did particular social groups use them? The economic status of a group would have affected what they used and the quality of object.

Learning About the History Behind Antique Styles
Browsing through antique shops and malls, plus reading books and online articles as much as possible will help. But don’t just read books and articles about antiques. Learn about historic events and how they affected people’s lives and the styles of the time. No antique style just appeared. All evolved over time—sometimes decades—and all came into being for a reason.

Acquaint yourself with the major styles Jacobean, Queen Anne, George III, Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts, Art Deco. Learn the characteristics of each style.

Try to learn just the main product names at first. Delft, Blue Willow, Victorian and Staffordshire will take you a long way in the real world of ceramic antiques. Periods are also important. Late 17th century, 19th century and even early 1950s is the language that most antique enthusiasts know. Don't rush to learn everything at once as you’ll pick these up pretty quickly. You’ll be surprised how much knowledge you can acquire just by reading labels. Associating styles with descriptions will also bring your knowledge up to speed extremely quickly. A Saturday afternoon spent browsing will be invaluable.

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