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Tips of the Trade

Click the boxes on the left to see Tips of the Trade articles arranged by category.


Antiquities:

Currently there are no Tips of the Trade articles available in this category.

Arms & Militaria:

"Pickelhaube" Picks

Tips for collecting this historic variety of military headgear


Spotting "Fake" Firearms

Those who venture into the antique firearms market have to watch out for fakes. Here's how to avoid an ambush

Asian Arts:

"Cintamani" and Islamic Tiles

Learn more about these beautiful tiles with variations to suit a range of tastes and pocketbooks

Discovering Chinese Woodcarvings

These lovingly crafted artifacts are often overlooked by dealers and collectors; that means they're affordable if you're willing to hunt


Books & Manuscripts:

Collecting Mistaken Maps

California an island? Find an old map that says so and it could be worth a boatload of money

Preserving Antique Books

Does the time-honored practice of oiling leather books help preserve them — or do them harm?

Sentimental Favorites, Roadshow Flops

Many of America's most cherished antique keepsakes have precious little market value. Fnd out why ...

Searching Out Maps

Learn how to start a collection of inexpensive maps


Clocks & Watches:

Currently there are no Tips of the Trade articles available in this category.

Collectibles:

African Americana

More on African Americana, also known as black memorabilia

An Audience With "The King"

Elvis pays a surprise "visit" to ANTIQUES ROADSHOW to learn about his own memorabilia and collectibles

Corn Collectibles

Everything you need to know about corn-inspired collectibles

Cornucopia of Crate Labels

Collecting crate labels: colorful and inexpensive collectibles from America's proud agricultural heritage

Culinary Collectibles

Memories from your childhood kitchen

On Track With Railroad Ephemera

Rudy Franchi explains how to get rolling on your own collection

Raging for Roadmaps

A road map for collecting road maps: some people love them even if they are hard to refold


Decorative Arts:

Preserving Your Garden Ornaments

The elements vs. the ornaments: How to save your garden antiques


Dolls:

Character Dolls: The Real Thing

Richard Wright offers his tips on collecting these realistic-looking dolls


Folk Art:

Hunting for Duck Decoys

If it looks like a duck, but doesn't sound like a duck, it's probably a decoy. Learn more about these collectible deceivers


Furniture:

Early Southwest Furniture

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW pays a visit to Casa San Ysidro, a historic rancho located in Corrales, to examine one of the country's best collections of early Hispanic furniture

Leave the Finish Alone

How can owners of antique furnitre preserve their finishes — and the value of their antiques?

Pull Up a Chair

With many late 20th-century chair designs already being widely sought as collectibles, an expert offers a few words of wisdom for savvy collectors-to-be


Glass:

American Pattern Glass

Ornate or simple, affordable or dear, there's usually a lot more to this glass than meets the eye

Lalique "Economique"

Learn more about collecting the beautiful and affordable high-class glass by decorative artist René Lalique

Tiffany "Wannabes"

Don't know your Loetz from your Steuben? Learn how to distinguish between the beautiful but confusing varieties of fine iridescent glasswork


Jewelry:

American Gypsy Jewelry

Alluring and rare, these ornaments are often worth more than their weight in gold

Ancient Beauties: Collecting Cameos

If you want an antique cameo durable enough to pass on to your grandchilren, there are a few simple rules to follow

Authenticating Gold and Diamonds

How to find out if your gold or diamond is real — or just a cheap pretender

Gazing Into Lovers' Eyes

More on these Georgian miniatures, one of the rarer examples of antique jewelry

Pearl Wisdom

Natural vs. cultured — can you tell the difference? Learn more with a whole string of tips from the ROADSHOW's guru of pearls


Metalwork & Sculpture:

Polishing Your Precious Metals

Learn how to polish your valuable metals without ruining them

When to Fix Metal Sculptures

Should you fix your broken metal sculptures? It all depends on what you have. Eric Silver explains when to bother, and when to leave well enough alone


Musical Instruments:

Collecting Guitars

Helpful guitar tips for the 'picky' musical collector

Violins: Buy American

The 19th-century American violin is a more affordable alternative for violin collectors. Learn how to start your own collection


Paintings & Drawings:

Audubon Originals

An expert offers some valuable tips for collecting the stunning wildlife prints of John James Audubon. And to the serious collector he says remember: Reproductions are for the birds

Pennsylvania Impressionists: Valued at Last

More on the Pennsylvania Impressionist school, a group of painters who gathered in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area at the beginning of the 20th century

Protecting Your Art from Thieves

Palm Springs, California (2009)

Tips on protecting your precious works of art.


Photographs:

Historic Photographs: Real vs. Fake

See what appraiser Wes Cowan has to say about how you can tell the difference


Pottery & Porcelain:

Detecting Fabergé Fakes

Peter Schaffer shares a few tips on making sure that if Fabergé is what you want, Fabergé is what you get

Fanciful Figurines

More on Staffordshire figurines, one of the more common types of Victorian pottery

How to Be a Porcelain Pro

Lark Mason offers his tips on collecting blue-and-white porcelain

School of Mines Pottery

Learn the basics of collecting this enduring art pottery from the University of North Dakota


Prints & Posters:

Chromolithography: Bringing Color to the Masses

Learn about the printmaking process that brought color to the masses

Lithography 101

You've heard of lithography. But do you know how it's done? Here's a primer on this versatile art form

Verifying Antique Maps

Don't be fooled by a reproduction "antique" map

World War One Posters: Easy Targets

Learn more about collecting these powerful antique tools of government propaganda


Rugs & Textiles:

Why Hawaiian Quilts?

Hawaii's quilt-making tradition is as unique as the Pacific island culture it comes from


Science & Technology:

Currently there are no Tips of the Trade articles available in this category.

Silver:

Chinese Silver

Precious advice: An expert offers tips on a lesser-known Chinese craft of centuries past


Sports Memorabilia:

Baseball Collectibles: Hitting a Home Run

Leila Dunbar's ground rules for collecting baseball memorabilia

Collecting Japanese Memorabilia

Catch it while you can! Relatively new to the American market, this field currently offers great deals for the savvy collector

Winter Olympic Memorabilia

Sports collectible expert Simeon Lipman shares some background and tips on memorabilia from the Winter Olympics


Tools & Implements:

Currently there are no Tips of the Trade articles available in this category.

Toys & Games:

Down on the Farm: Collecting Toy Tractors

More on collecting toy tractors — childhood favorites from America's heartland

Galloping for Rocking Horses?

More so than age, condition is the key to collecting these picturesque toys of a bygone era

Loving Lehmann Toys

Expert advice on collecting these ingenious German antique toys


Tribal Art:

Buying and Selling Native Artifacts

For collectors interested in Native American artifacts, there are a few important guidelines to bear in mind

Collecting Kachina Dolls

One of the most popular Native American crafts on the market today

Oceanic Art

A primer on the powerful and often overlooked art of the South Seas

Safely Collecting Indian Artifacts

For new and seasoned collectors alike, a simple primer on the legal and ethical issues that surround Native American collecting




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