People have been enamored with antiques since the search for Greek relics began back in the 12th century. It is not unusual for those with a love of “the hunt” to spend millions searching the sea for sunken treasure or hours and hours waiting for the telltale beep of a metal detector. For most of us, antiquing is our equivalent of a treasure hunt.
The prize doesn’t need to be an ancient relic, either. Although government officials define an antique as anything more than 100-years-old, the truth is any item with some age, wonderful patina and a sense of history is all it takes to be coveted and added to a collection. Pieces can appeal to a collector for a variety of reasons: their tactile sense, their uniqueness, their historical and cultural associations, their age, and/or their beauty or simply for the thrill of the find. That allure is what moves an antique from one owner to another.
So if you are on vacation in Cape Cod visiting corner antique shops, or cruising through the stalls in the Paris markets, we wish you success with your quest. If you aren’t, feel free to “pick through” this display. These are just part of the treasures we found on our most recent trip. Happy hunting!