All About Antiques

Authentic Qing Dynasty Imperial Yellow porcelain can be identified by its distinctive, slightly iridescent egg-yolk hue derived from iron antimoniate. Genuine pieces produced exclusively for the Emperor between 1644 and 1912 feature a flawless, even glaze, precise reign marks on the base, and lack modern crazing or heavy pooling. Imagine you are at a dusty…

Authentic Japanese cloisonné enamel from the Golden Age (1880–1910) is identified by razor-thin, often invisible wirework (musen), flawlessly smooth polished surfaces, and intricate, nature-inspired motifs. High-quality pieces feature heavy copper or silver bodies, deep, rich enamel colors without pitting, and frequently bear the maker’s mark of masters like Namikawa Yasuyuki or Ando Jubei on the…

Starting an antique collection on a budget is highly achievable by focusing on undervalued categories like mid-19th-century pressed glass, early 20th-century postcards, and Victorian silverplate. Look for pieces with clear maker’s marks, minor wear rather than structural damage, and items produced in high volumes between 1880 and 1930 for the best entry-level fair market value.…

WWII emergency coinage: how to identify steel, zinc, and wartime-metal coins, and which ones are valuable to collectors.

Tang Dynasty tomb figures: how to identify horses, camels, and court ladies, judge authenticity, and read the market.

Japanese lacquerware: how to identify genuine urushi from imitations by finish, weight, and signature, and judge value.

Authentic antique hallmarks and maker’s marks are identified by their specific placement on an item (usually the base, back, or inside clasp), the precise stamping technique used, and the corresponding registered dates or country of origin codes. Genuine marks, unlike modern cast fakes, are deeply struck with crisp edges, often accompanied by purity stamps (like…

Most jade sold today is not genuine nephrite or jadeite. Authentic Chinese jade resists scratching from a steel knife, feels noticeably cold and heavy for its size, and shows no bubbles or swirl marks under a loupe. Dyed quartzite, glass, and serpentine are the most common substitutes. Confirmed fakes often fluoresce unnaturally under UV light,…