What is an Antique?

 • An antique, according to the dictionary, is one of the oldest of its type. It can be "a piece of furniture, tableware or the like, made at a much earlier period than the present." It is not, however, necessarily out-of-date or old-fashioned.  A chair that was built soundly from good hardwood around 1820 and is comfortable to sit on is never out-of-date.

• People often say that an antique is anything that is sold in an antiques shop, including items such as arts and crafts furniture, Tiffany lamps, and art deco bronzes.

• Paragraph 1811 of the Tariff Act 0f 1930 states antiques are "works of art (except rugs and carpets made after the year 1700), collections in illustration of the progress of the arts, works in bronze, marble, terra cotta, parian, pottery or porcelain, artistic antiquities and objects of ornamental character or educational value which shall have been produced prior to the year 1830.

• According to U.S. Customs regulations, items more than 100 years old and can be brought into the country duty free are antiques. So, anything made before 1907 is now an antique. By the strictest definition, everything gets to be an antique if it exists for 100 years. But not every antique is collectible.

• Motor vehicles, tools and other items subject to vigorous use in contrast, may be considered antiques in the U.S. if older than 25 years, and some electronic gadgets of more recent vintage may be considered antiques.

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