Antiques refer to items that are old and collectable. They are usually about 100 or more years old. Antiques are desired by people because they are enchanting, rare, beautiful and functional. Antiques are usually valued in relation to how old they are. They represent an era in human society.
Antiques are often intricately designed with great attention to detail. A lot of antique items are passed down the generations in families and can be attained only through inheritance. However, there are antique shops that sell such articles. Antique auctions are very popular. Such auctions are also conducted online. The confederation of art and antique associations or CINOA has 5000 antique dealers across 21 countries.
The act of finding, purchasing, bargaining and collecting antiques is called antiquing. Antique items are bought for many reasons; they can be bought for personal collections, given away as gifts or resold. Many antique items have a high utility value. The term antiquing may also be used to describe the act of making items appear antique by treating them with chemicals or painting them.
Antique furniture is one of the most popularly sought after items. The reason for this being that it finds practical application, although it may sometimes need restoration. The most commonly used wood for antique furniture is rosewood, mahogany, oak, pine and walnut. The styles of the furniture depend on where and during which period it was manufactured. Some common styles are Victorian, Georgian and Regency. | 
