Collecting antiquities is something that is done by people both young and old. There is just something fascinating about collecting a piece of history that is meaningful and symbolic. Collectors from far and wide add to their collections and treasure each and every piece they come across, especially if it is ancient Egyptian art or rare art that gives the collector and indication of what people held dear in times past.
If you are a collector of antiquities or Egyptian art, then you will know the importance of ensuring that the pieces you are interested in are genuine. Egyptian art in particular is extremely captivating due to the mystic that surrounds it. People are intrigued at the story behind the art. Collecting is a fun thing to do, but you must prepare yourself to know the difference between various types of art, what the value of certain types of art is, and whether the type of art you are collecting is rare or plentiful on the market.
The first step to collecting antiquities is to decide what type of things you want to collect. There are many types of ancient Egyptian art that include statuettes, bronze figures, amulets and other things, so your research will be different for each type. Many collectors choose to collect just one type, while other collectors choose to specialize in one area.
The next step is to do your research. Art galleries, museums, websites dedicated to information on antiquities and dealers are great sources of information to learn as much as you possibly can. Antiquities are not cheap by anyone’s standards, so you will need to inspect the pieces closely before making a purchase. Reputable dealers are the best places to get your items, because they will often have certificates of authenticity to go along with the pieces. These certificates are vital if you ever go to sell the pieces, because buyers want to ensure they are getting high quality, real goods.
When you add pieces to your collection, you need to ensure that they are cataloged in a safe location, and you need to take photos of each piece as well. It is also important to ensure that you have the pieces insured individually against theft, fire, or other things that could potentially happen. In most cases an insurance company will not even insure your collectibles unless they are catalogued, so it is good to get into the habit as you buy the pieces.
Medusa Ancient Art offers excellent information on collecting antiquities. View their website for further information.
