According to Bill Smiley, antiquing is a modern-day treasure hunt. While most folks shop online these days or shop “old- school” in department stores, Bill opts to antique for all of his must-have items. He once spent more than a year visiting 100 antique stores to find the perfect oaken sideboard for his dining room. “When guests come over they say, ‘Wow, where did you get that?’” says Bill. “People don’t say that about stuff you buy at department stores.”
Recently, Bill and his sister Holly Smiley decided to turn their antiquing passion into a business with their mother, Linda. Utilizing the second story of a Victorian house in Burton, Ohio, the trio opened Valentine Antiques last year.
The Smiley siblings know their stuff, so they’ve offered up a few tips for the antiquing novices out there.
“Vintage” means an item is 50-99 years old; an “antique” is at least 100. While these terms get thrown around loosely, this is the general rule of thumb. Accordingly, anything made between 1914 and 1964, including Bill (by his own admission), is vintage.
Buy what you like. “If you like it, collect it—whether it is for your collection, use, or to set on a shelf,” says Bill, who worked for 10 years as a researcher with Macco Adhesives (the makers of Liquid Nails) and for 15 years as a salesperson for S. Rose, a commercial office furniture dealer.
Look at craftsmanship. You’re seeking dovetail cuts, nails instead of staples, and original parts. Run your finger around the rim of ceramics; check the makers’ signatures to ensure that any pieces you buy (like a tea cup and saucer) are paired.
Don’t be afraid to get dirty. While some antique shops are clean like Valentine Antiques, other venues vary from old barns to estate sales in dusty houses, says Holly, who still works as a paralegal for the Cleveland office of Thompson Hine LLP.
Bundle and barter. Antique stores bring back the old days of bartering, so here are some general rules: The more you spend, the more likely the seller is to negotiate, and if you buy something priced over $25, don’t be shy: ask for 10 percent off.
Research the history behind a piece. While much of this can be done online nowadays, don’t underestimate the library. Many times, you can find books specializing in a specific style of furniture or pottery. And research pays! The Smileys once discovered that they purchased a piece of pottery designed by the wife of Eliot Ness, the policeman who brought down Al Capone.
Embrace all parts of the search, including the time factor. “The item you’re looking for might be at our shop; it might be at the shop down the road; it might be at our shop three months from now. You just don’t know what you’re going to find,” says Bill.