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Elizabethan Antiques Buying Guide

The Tudors, perhaps the most famous monarch dynasty, ruled the Kingdom of England from 1485 to 1603. The last of the rulers to bear the name Tudor was Elizabeth who became queen in 1558. During the reign of Elizabeth Tudor, England turned into a maritime power and one of the most influential parties in international trade. As England grew richer, it developed a strong interest in art and especially the works of Italian, French, Flemish, and Dutch masters. Eventually, the refinement of tastes resulted in the emergence of new trends in architecture and applied art. Although the designs introduced during this period formally belong to the last phase of the Tudor style, they were so distinct that Elizabeth secured her own name for the style appellation.

Elizabethan antiques are rare and valuable. Many of the items created in the second half of the 16th century turned into museum exhibits. Nevertheless, if you intend to purchase 400+ years old antiques, it won’t hurt to learn about their distinctive features. 

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Edwardian Antiques Buying Guide

After Queen Victoria’s death in 1901, her eldest son Edward VII ascended the throne. Although his reign lasted only 10 years until the outbreak of the First World War, it was marked by pivotal changes in society and the economy. They, in turn, entailed shifts in cultural life, fashion, architecture, applied art, etc., which now allows us to talk about the so-called Edwardian style. By the way, Edwardian antiques are the last true antiques since their age exceeds the required 100 years. Pieces that are ‘younger’ are rather vintage than antique.

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Arts and Crafts Antiques Buying Guide

The Arts and Crafts movements emerged in the 1860s and lasted up until the first decades of the 20th century. Ideologically and stylistically, it was a continuation of the Aesthetic Movement but with an emphasis on traditional crafts. Thanks to the recognition of artisan skills and dedication to nature, Arts and Crafts antiques are the epitome of harmony, genuineness, and hand-craftsmanship.

The movement started as a reaction to the pretentious and ornate styles of the Victorian era. Criticizing machine-made products and exaggerated decor, Arts and Crafts put the beauty of nature and the true value of handicrafts to the fore. The adherents of the movement glorified traditional manufacturing techniques believing that the replication of consumer goods destroyed their beauty and individuality.

The ultimate goal of the Arts and Crafts movement was to produce designs ‘by people and for people’. Its ideal was a harmonious living space that combined the creativity of nature and contribution from skilful craftspeople. By and large, the movement attempted to achieve its ideal by joint efforts of architects, artists, artisans, and designers.

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Art Nouveau Antiques Buying Guide

Art Nouveau is a short-lived yet impactful design era that emerged at the turn of the 20th century. Although its dominance lasted only 20 years (1890-1910), Art Nouveau produced a variety of intriguing pieces. If you are looking for an investment option that is not only bound to increase its value but also put a smile on your face, Art Nouveau antiques fit the bill.

While many styles prior to Art Nouveau relied on visual forms of bygone historical epochs, artists of the late 19th century endeavoured to create something completely new. As a matter of fact, Art Nouveau in French literally means new art.

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Antique Barometers Buying Guide

Antique barometers are beautiful and a really practical piece of equipment – it is easy to see why they are so collectable and becoming increasingly popular to collect. Everyone loves talking about the weather – predicting whether it is going to rain or snow or just simply discussing it. Barometers are just as popular today as they were years ago due to how they look and what they do. But what are barometers and what should you be looking for if you would like to start collecting them?

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Antique Art Buying Guide

When it comes to buying antique art, it can often seem quite overwhelming if you don’t know where to start. Those new to antique buying often don’t have a clue where to start looking and even collectors sometimes struggle to find the best places to source items for their collection. When looking to buy antique art, there are many important things to consider.

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