How do you figure out what your antique is worth? How do appraisers, antique sellers and other buyers determine the worth of your antique? Research first.
How old is it? If it has a patent number you can easily determine when it was patented. There are lists for patent dates available online that can help pinpoint your antique. For silver there are hallmarks. Pottery can be identified with Kovel's Dictionary of Marks. Companies sometimes used different marks for dates. Glass, too, often has identifying marks that can help with age and also identify the maker.
What is it? There are books and books about every kind of antique or collectible you can imagine. Dealers and avid collectors will have many of these. You can drop by an antique store with your antique and ask them what you have if you want. They might be willing to give you a rough estimate of its worth, too, but remain skeptical. eBay is a tremendous resource. If you have an unmarked pottery vase, for example, see if you can find a similar one on eBay. What do the sellers say it is? (You can also see if it is unique or common and what it's selling for)
Condition, rarity, provenance (or documentation of the antique's history) and collector's zeal all play into the value. An item missing parts or chipped or scratched can easily be worth less than half a pristine piece. On the other hand, an older item with its original box can be worth more than twice the price of the item alone. Items that were eagerly sought after last year might be dormant this year. And yet, if yours is the only one of its kind, there will always be buyers.
Are you buying or selling? "Book Value" is what an avid collector will pay for a sought after piece in perfect condition. Still, I have bought bargains from people who valued their piece based on a book 10 years old! Similarly, insurance value is what it would cost to replace your item and is usually the highest estimate. Auction price is what you could expect your item to sell for at an auction. Prices on eBay will give you a good idea of what your item might bring at auction, but remember, the auctioneer often will take 20 to 50% for his trouble. Wholesale value is what you could actually get from a dealer. He will generally give you 40 to 60% of book Value.
Roger has been dealing in antiques for over 15 years and even was an auctioneer for part of that time. Now he is semi-retired and living in the Caribbean. You can learn more about the business of antiques in his course at: http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/15269.htm
