How to start antiquing with a careful first shop visit

What you need to know

Choose a staffed shop

Check its hours, any entry cost and accessibility, and whether staff can answer questions. Plan to browse two small decorative ceramics of a similar type, without a purchase deadline.

Bring a short note template

Use a notebook or phone for the shop or stock number, label wording, asking price and currency, visible details, seller statements and questions. Ask before taking photos.

Let staff handle the pieces

Keep bags and loose sleeves clear. Ask before touching an object, and let staff show its base or move it. Do not lift a ceramic by its handle, rim or decoration, or test or clean it.

Spend 45–60 minutes at a staffed antique shop comparing two small ceramic objects, then check one question against a museum record. You can leave with useful notes and buy nothing.

Compare what you can see

Choose two decorative ceramics of a similar type, such as vases. Copy each tag’s wording and asking price, keeping seller descriptions separate from your observations. Note shape, base, decoration and any visible mark. If the material or mark is unclear, write “unknown.” A mark and a price are research clues, not proof of age, maker or value.

With permission, ask staff to show the rim, base and surface in good light. Look for chips, cracks, missing parts, glue traces or a change in colour or sheen. Describe what you see rather than diagnosing a repair from one clue. PBS’s ceramic-condition article suggests direct seller questions alongside visual inspection.

Ask about the description

Ask what supports the stated maker or date, whether repairs or replacements are known, and whether the shop has any ownership history. Attribute each answer to the seller in your notes. Leave the object on the counter while you talk. The V&A handling guide explains why minimal handling and supporting the body matter. Do not rub, scrape, tap or apply liquids to test a claim.

Check one question and decide

Search The Met’s collection with an object type and a plausible maker or material term. Read a record’s date, attribution, material, dimensions and photographs. Write one similarity and one difference, such as matching decoration but a different base. The museum record describes its own object; a lookalike does not authenticate the shop piece.

For each object, write one open question, then mark “pass” or “research further” and give a reason. Before any later purchase, set a spending cap and ask the seller for the written description, condition, return terms and transport plan.