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Antique Season Is Here

Staff -- Interior Design, 7/24/2001 5:20:00 AM

What's 'hot' in antiques? Rachel Meyer, one of the co-founders of Circline , a web-based marketplace for fine art and antiques suggests, 'Look at the clean lines of Asian furniture with its modern touch. You can combine Asian pieces with 20th century design. An 18th century Ming Altar table for $5,000 is worth a serious look. A pair of chic Art Deco armchairs is a great buy at $6,800. European paintings, starting at under $1,000, and Lucite and early plastic pieces are also possibilities.'

Art collection is an increasingly popular avocation, fueled by increasing numbers of successful museum exhibits, art shows and cultural events held around the country, and evidenced by growing sales of fine art and antique, which has reached some $22 billion in the past year. 'We keep our pulse on this market through our on- and off-line service, which connects some 1000 dealers globally and their collections with interior designers, art advisors and collectors,' Ms. Meyer said.

Buying an antique or work of fine art not only represents a choice of something you genuinely like and prize for your home but is also an investment because antiques hold their value far more than contemporary objects. 'This can be especially true in a slower economy like the one we're seeing now,' she noted.

If you're among the thousands venturing into an antique shop or antiques mall this summer, an ideal time for shopping whether you are home or on vacation, Ms. Meyer offers the following tips:

Education -- Before you begin, study the kinds of pieces, periods and styles you would like to own. Get familiar with these objects or paintings by visiting local museums, auctions houses, perusing books or look on-line. The more you know the better collector you will become.

Reputable Dealer -- If possible, choose a dealer who is a member of the National Art and Antique Dealers Association (NAADA), the British Antique Dealers Association (BADA) or CINOA, the federation of European art dealers. If you are a first time buyer, you may wish to visit a dealer in your own town and ask him to show you the key points in construction and style of pieces that interest you. It is to the dealer's benefit to help you get educated because you may revisit him for a purchase. When you buy, you should always ask any dealer for a guarantee of authenticity.

Negotiating: Usually every object shown by the dealer is negotiable, so do not be embarrassed to negotiate, whether it's a $300 or $300,000 dollar piece. However, do not insult the dealer by offering a specific sum that is far below their listed price. It's more acceptable to ask the dealer, 'what is your best price.' Negotiate from that point -- but don't haggle. You can suggest a lower price if you buy more than one piece and/or want the shipping included. 'Remember that a smart negotiator is a successful collector.'

Gifts: Antiques make distinguished gifts, especially for weddings, and are prized not only for their immediate value but also as investments. Consider a gift of early 18th and 19th century salt cellars, old glass decanters or silver wine labels, all under $500.

Shopping Online: As an alternative to visiting a dealer, try browsing and shopping online. For example, Circline's Internet service shows an extensive collection of art, furniture and decorative arts -- all at fixed prices -- which you can quickly search (http://www.circline.com). Prices range from $700 for selected European paintings to $175,000 for a Coromandel screen, (the highest price for an Asian piece sold on the Internet), to $415,150 for a 1780 portrait by the noted English artist Joshua Reynolds. Buyers may return objects within three days and obtain a full refund. Circline dealers provide a lifetime guarantee of authenticity.

'Buying antiques and fine art is not only about preserving the past. By examining the construction, form & shape of antiques, we learn about proportion, material, and a sense of scale that we can apply to contemporary furnishings -- if you study antiques, you can learn to buy quality in contemporary pieces,' Ms. Meyer observed.