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(EMAILWIRE.COM, May 06, 2008 ) WASHINGTON, DC—A bright spot lights up the gloomy days, for antiques-lovers anyway. Thanks to the recession, bargain-priced antiques abound.
“Consumers typically spend less on luxuries during a recession,” says Bob James, president, Armacost Antiques Shows. “The slow growth in recent auction prices for most antiques suggests that collectors have indeed reigned in spending.”
The lower demand for antiques has resulted in lower prices, so people looking for an inflation-hedge can do well in the current climate. The reason: antiques hold their value.
“The moment most other luxury items leave a store, they plummet in value,” says James. “Not so with antiques. As viewers of Antiques Roadshow know, antiques retain their value remarkably well. Most, in fact, represent an investment. That’s because antiques appreciate over the years. Like real properties, they’re just not making them any more.”
All kinds of people collect antiques, for all kinds of reasons, including protection against inflation. But experts agree that the fundamental reason most people collect is that antiques enrich life.
Five ways antiques enrich life:
1. Antiques are pleasing. Unless you’re into self-denial, surrounding yourself with beautiful objects can only make life better. Antiques possess a warmth and charm that are sure to promote serenity and happiness within any household. Antiques aren’t just “100-year old things,” they’re eye candy for the soul. And a home—even a contemporary one—sporting a few well-chosen antiques is more apt to impress guests than one decorated straight out of a retail store or catalog.
2. Antiques represent quality. Sheer quality is another reason antiques contribute easily to a happy and artful home. As scholars know, the reason most antiques have survived as long as they have is due to the fact that previous generations of owners recognized their quality and made efforts to preserve them. With few exceptions, antique objects—like old houses—are better made than their contemporary counterparts. Try as you might, you won’t find any particle wood, cardboard or staples.
3. Antique-hunting is a thrill. Then there’s the thrill of the hunt! Even infrequent antiquers admit they’re treasure-seekers who thrive on discovering and acquiring the next “find.” Antique-hunting offers an out-of-the-ordinary escape at the end a stress-filled week. Antique-hunting is also good for the mind and can help bond friends and family members.
4. Antiques are the original friends of the environment. If youÂ’re at all green-minded, youÂ’ll be happy to know that antique-ownership is the worldÂ’s oldest form of recycling. Living with antiques pleases Mother Nature, because it saves trees, minerals and energy, while reducing rubbish in our landfills. Acquire an antique and stop global warming!
5. Better than books, antiques teach history. Sure, you can read history books, but they will never give you the intense “you were there” feeling you get when you handle an antique. Short of building a time machine, you won’t find a better window onto the past. And the dealers in antiques are your trusty guides. When it comes to knowledge of what historians call “material culture,” antiques dealers are virtual fonts. If you’re at all curious about the ways people lived “everyday life” in the past, you just won’t find better sources.
About Armacost Antiques Shows
For nearly 40 years, Armacost Antiques Shows has provided distinctive opportunities for antiques lovers to buy with an assurance of quality and authenticity. All shows benefit nonprofits, including museums, churches, social service agencies and preservation groups. The nonprofit sponsors help generate enthusiasm for antiques while delivering much-needed financial support for their institutions and communities. More information is available at www.armacostantiquesshows.com
Armacost Antiques Shows
Bob James
202.537.1169
bob@armacostantiquesshows.com 
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