Amulets & Talismans | Architectural Ornaments |
Ashtrays | Autographs |
Badges | Barware |
Beads | Beer Steins |
Belt Buckles | Belts |
Bicycles | Boats & Ships |
Bookends | Bookmarks |
Books | Bottle Caps |
Bottle Openers | Bottles |
Boxes & Cases | Brassware |
Business Cards | Buttons |
Calculators | Calendars |
Calligraphy Tools | Cameras |
Candlesticks | Candy Dishes |
Cars | Cash Registers |
Catalogs | Ceramics |
Cereal Box Prizes | Chairs |
Champagne & Wine Glasses | Chess Sets |
Clocks | Clothing |
Coasters | Coffee Pots |
Coin Banks | Coins & Bills |
Comics | Computers |
Condiment Jars | Consumer Products |
Corporate Reports | Crowns |
Curtains | Decanters |
Desks | Dice |
Dishes | Dolls & Dollhouses |
Doors & Doorknobs | Electronics |
Fabrics | Fashion Accessories |
Figurines & Statuettes | Fishing Gear |
Flags | Flasks |
Floppy Disks & Diskettes | Flower Vases |
Flyers | Folding Fans |
Fossils | Fridge Magnets |
Furniture | Games |
Garden Ornaments | Gems |
Glasses & Sunglasses | Glassware |
Globes | Goblets |
Greeting Cards | Handbags |
Hats | Historical Artifacts |
Holiday Decorations | Home Decor |
Horse Tack | Housewares |
Inkwells | Interior Decorations |
Invitations | Jade Items |
Jars | Jewelry |
Jewelry Boxes | Jukeboxes |
Keychains | Keys & Locks |
Kimono & Obi | Knives |
Labels & Packaging | Lamps & Lights |
Lanterns | Ledgers |
Legal Documents | Letters |
License Plates | Light Bulbs |
Lighters | Linens & Textiles |
Luggage | Lunchboxes |
Machines | Magazines |
Mailboxes | Match Books |
Medallions | Medals |
Menus | Metalware |
Meteorites | Military Memorabilia |
Mirrors | Money Clips |
Movie Memorabilia | Mugs |
Music Memorabilia | Musical Instruments |
Napkin Rings | Napkins |
Newspapers & Newspaper Clippings | Paintings |
Pamphlets | Paper |
Paperweights | Papyrus Scrolls |
Patches | Patent Models & Inventions |
Pencil Sharpeners | Pencils |
Pens & Writing Instruments | Perfume Bottles |
Phone Cards | Photographs |
Pinball Machines | Pins |
Pipes | Plaques |
Playing Cards | Police & Firefighting Memorabilia |
Political Memorabilia | Postcards |
Posters | Pottery |
Prints | Promotional Items |
Purses | Quilts & Blankets |
Radios | Record Players |
Records & Cassettes | Religious Artifacts |
Rocks & Minerals | Rugs |
Safes | Scales |
Scientific Instruments | Scissors |
Sculpture | Sewing Machines |
Shaving Accessories | Shoji & Fusuma |
Signs | Silverware |
Souvenirs | Space Memorabilia |
Sporting Goods | Sports Cards |
Sports Collectables & Memorabilia | Stamps |
Stationery | Stickers |
Stock & Bond Certificates | Stuffed Animals |
T-Shirts | Tea Sets |
Telephones | Telescopes |
Television Sets | Theater Programs |
Thimbles | Tickets |
Tins | Toolboxes |
Tools | Toys |
Trading Cards | Typewriters |
Umbrellas | Vending Machines |
Wallets | Watches & Pocket Watches |
Whistles | Woodcrafts |
Yearbooks |
Antiques
Antiques are quality items that are more than a century old. These are maintained, restored, collected, curated and enjoyed as a hobby but also as a passing interest whereby people may buy a handful of antiques to use in their home. Many antiques continue to fulfill their original function and serve as unique items that have distinctive properties as compared to modern equivalents. For example, antique furniture may be made from the sturdy heartwood of very large trees. This is exceeding rare in modern products.
Historical Artifacts
Things that are relevant to the study of history and other inquiries into the past such as archeology. This includes relatively recent artifacts that are closely tied to historical events. Things older than 1,000 years are also likely to be viewed as historical artifacts as opposed to antiques.
Vintage Things
Vintage things are old things produced within the past 100 years that are appreciated for their unique designs, qualities or styles. This would exclude secondhand goods that are simply appreciated as a form of reuse. Like antiques, vintage items draw collectors and hobbyists with a passion for things of the past. As vintage items are from the more recent past there is a strong sense of nostalgia surrounding them as people may collect things that remind them of decades they or their family experienced firsthand.
Old Technology
Technology that is no longer relevant, compatible or competitive with current models. This is collected for its vintage qualities such as the nostalgia associated with old audio equipment. Old technology is also valued by low technology enthusiasts who are commonly attracted to its simplicity and lack of features.
Collectibles
Things that are popularly collected and curated by hobbyists as new items. This is often done with the hope that these things survive into the future to become old and rare. Collectors are often driven by passion for some element of life such as pop culture, music, sports or science as opposed to the items themselves whereby a collection is a way to participate. For example, a collector of meteorites who is interested in space or a collector of old coins who is interested in history.
Ephemera
Ephemera are things that weren't intended to last that draw interest from collectors who acquire and preserve them. These are mostly paper things that aren't specifically designed to be collected such as a map or magazine. Collectors of ephemera potentially add much value by acquiring and preserving things that would otherwise quickly deteriorate.
Cultural Heritage
Physical sites, structures and artifacts of the cultural heritage of humanity. This includes remarkable ancient sites that have survived into the present day and artifacts that have cultural significance such as art.
Summary
Old things include vintage items, antiques and ancient artifacts and structures that are valued for reasons such as functionality, aesthetics, nostalgia, cultural or historical significance.
