Drew Pritchard: How To Collect Antiques

Learning how to collect antiques is a hobby that opens the door to the past. One of the first questions you may find yourself asking is what exactly counts as an antique? Technically, an antique is an item that is at least 100 years old. Historical documents, century old furniture, decor, and other artifacts are some of the more popular antiques being collected today. Antique collecting is an appealing hobby because it offers the antique enthusiast the fun and excitement of hunting for rare and valuable treasures.

A variation of learning how to collect antiques is the collectibles hobby. Collectibles are sought-after items that are less than 100 years old. Collectibles may be as new as Beanie Babies or older but not quite in the antique realm. Collectibles such as Depression glass and World War II memorabilia are some of the more popular types of collectibles.

How to Start Collecting Antiques

If you are learning how to collect antiques, start with a narrow focus. Choose one or two categories that interest you. Learn everything you can about the items, the time period, and current auction prices. Whether you choose to collect antique toys or firearms, furniture or china, start small. You learn about the market more effectively and avoid the risk of buying too much if you know what you are looking for and have researched prices.

Research in your chosen avocation is necessary. Fortunately, there are numerous books, magazines, and web sites about collecting antiques and collectibles. Learn the value of different items, how to spot a reproduction, and other vital information that applies to your particular pursuit.
Set aside a place in your home for the storage of your antiques and collectible items. The space should be climate controlled and dry. You may wish to invest in additional security measures, particularly if your collection is of significant value.
When learning how to collect antiques, you can start with as little or as much money as you wish. How much you spend depends on the type of antique or collectible you purchase and the condition of each item. The better the condition, the higher the price.

Tips And Tricks For Antique Collecting

Add to or change your antique categories. You may have become so knowledgeable about your genre that it is no longer challenging. Make your hobby more interesting by narrowing your focus even more. For example, instead of collecting antique toys, you may choose to collect the narrower category of painted tin toys. If, on the other hand, your category is too difficult and you are unable to find items, adding a second category or expanding your focus may be the answer.
Display your antiques. The same collection will look much more impressive if displayed properly. Just owning the items and having them stored in a box will not bring nearly as much enjoyment as displaying the collection. Consider shadow boxes for small items. Larger pieces may look striking when displayed on a special shelf circling the room. Combine collections for unique looks. For example, use an antique china cabinet to display other antiques.
Rent a booth at local antique and collectible shows. In addition to finding and selling pieces, you can learn about the current market and meet with other collectors.
If your collection is of historical importance or local interest, contact local businesses, libraries, or museums to find out about displaying your collection to a wider audience.
Expand your antique search online by using an electronic marketplace such as eBay. You may even try your hand at making a little (or a lot) money by selling your antiques online.

Drew Pritchard is an antiques dealer & salvage hunter. Find out more about Drew Pritchard online here. Follow Drew Pritchard on Twitter to learn more how to create balance and proportion in your home when you mix antique and modern decor. See Drew Pritchard‘s must have antique finds here.

Drew Pritchard: The thrill of an unexpected find

Welcome to the Drew Pritchard blog. In today’s blog, Salvage Hunter’s Drew Pritchard explains what fuels his continued passion for antiques. Read on to find out more.

I can’t quite explain it and, believe me, I’ve tried because I’ve been asked why I’m so fascinated by antiques many, many times. What I do know is that, even as a child, there was nothing better than hearing that there was a derelict barn or building that I could explore. The feeling I got racing across the countryside to reach one of these places in north Wales on my bike was the exact same sensation I get now when heading to a great antiques fair such as Newark or Ardingly. You just don’t quite know what you’ll find.

Two years ago, we got a call in the office from Salford Magistrates’ Court. They told me that deep underground in the cellars of the building were the original 19th-century wrought-iron racking systems, and they wanted to know if we would be interested in buying them. We were there like a shot.

It was a glorious summer and my team spent two months underground sweltering in what would have once been cells for prisoners. We could even see the tracks that had been made to bring the prisoners in by horse-drawn carriage on the solid stone floors. Weeks went by. The atmosphere of the cells was unrelenting. Some of my guys started to joke, ‘Don’t send me down there again, Drew!’ but we reclaimed 70 exceptional racks and they all sold immediately to major design houses and international interior decorators. We all pitched in until we could take no more. It was a great find – but it wasn’t the real treasure we unearthed in Salford.

On our way down into the cellars each day we saw a huge steel box that appeared to be part of the staircase. I mostly ignored it, just tapping it every now and then, wondering what it was. Then one day I said, ‘Let’s drag this out,’ to Gavin, one of my chaps, but we instantly got pulled on to something more urgent. The next day, I heard Gav shout for me. He had finally opened the box and, when I reached him, he was stood, aghast, in front of a 6ft-tall coat of arms wrapped in horse hair and straw (pictured below). It dated from the 1860s and was a thing of absolute beauty. We discovered that it had been made for the main court’s wall when the court was built but had never been fitted. We couldn’t believe the craftsmanship of the thing, its scale and the mint condition it was in.

Back at our warehouse, we pulled the heraldic bearings out of the crate, cleaned them all down and put a light air line on them to blow the dust off. We replaced all of the original straw and horsehair wrapping and put it in its original thick, heavy crate, for sale at the concession we had at Liberty. It was a serious piece – with a price tag to match. It sold to Liberty’s biggest American client, who shipped it to the US to display in one of his homes. Funnily enough, he was so happy with it, he called us and asked for a second example for another one of his houses, as if such things were available on tap!

It’s that sense of excitement when you stumble across something astounding and unexpected that keeps me fascinated in antiques. It’s spine-tingling when you walk into a country house and you know how old or rare a piece is, and it’s not been touched for years. Pieces are becoming much harder to find in their original settings but through auctions or even the internet, a long-forgotten item of furniture can give you the same feeling.

Some people might say that it was a shame that the coat of arms left Salford and travelled overseas. But someone is enjoying it and looking after it, they know its provenance and they have a responsibility to pass that on, to make someone else tingle when they discover an unlikely antique, a million miles from its original home.

Drew Pritchard has been dealing independently antiques since 1993. Focused on originality, good design and wherever possible completely untouched pieces. See Drew’s pieces for sale at the Drew Pritchard‘s website here. Read more about Drew Pritchard online here. Like the official Drew Pritchard Facebook page here for more tips about antique restoration & the Salvage Hunter himself.

You can also watch the Drew Pritchard video here:

Drew Pritchard: How to create country house style

Drew Pritchards on Decorating with Country Style

Welcome to the Drew Pritchard blog. Drew Pritchard is a restoration expert and has been dealing in architectural salvage and antiques for 33 years. Today Drew shares on how to get that country house you like for less with these tips using antiques. Read on to find out more.

I’ve always enjoyed messing around with architectural antiques and industrial vintage, but I inevitably come back to the country house style. I return to it because it’s all about comfort. I like my modern luxuries like my mobile phone, but I also want a squidgy old sofa that I can sink into when I have a glass of red wine in my hand and the dog is jumping up to sit beside me.

This is a warm, classic English look that is about layering and being playful. The best country homes have evolved over centuries, as their various owners have added layers of history with antiques. It’s all about solid pieces and timeless appeal, but it’s not precious. In a room with a roaring fire you might find a late 19th-century velvet upholstered Howard sofa that’s worn and slightly threadbare, alongside really good gothic revival English oak furniture. There may also be Grand Tour finds nestling beside ammonites and fossils from the Victorian era when natural history was all the rage. There could be art and mirrors on the walls, some oriental touches and the air that everything in the room is an heirloom. My favourite country house is Highgrove for its quintessential look.

The country house aesthetic has been around for a long time and is set to remain, so it’s a great look to invest in. Think of the work of Colefax & Fowler or more recent interior decorators like Robert Kime, who execute the style brilliantly. Many of my clients also snap up the books of Christopher Gibbs – a designer, antiques dealer and collector, prolific in the 1960s – for inspiration. Country house style is a difficult scheme to pull off, but it doesn’t have to be expensive – if you’re clever. This is mostly down to the fact that what you put into a room can be incomplete, unpolished and worn. That’s all part of its charm. You can add a unique stamp to it, as I do, with industrial pieces.

Yet there are some essential elements you will need to evoke the mood. You’ll find my tips for these key pieces, as well as how to achieve country house style on a budget, below. But before you take a peek, here’s a final word of advice. This isn’t ideal for every type of home. Generally, if you want to adopt country house style, you’ll have a sympathetic environment such as a cottage or house with some age. Don’t try it in a modernist 1970s flat. The best country homes have developed over decades, so if you put in a great piece now, you’re adding to its history. Don’t be tempted to add modern pieces that aren’t examples of good design – if you’re on a budget, look for antique bargains. This was a cool avant-garde look for many years, so be brave, bold and a bit mad. Buy what you love, but remember – in the case of design periods such as art nouveau or art deco – because they are so specific, they are complete looks on their own. Finally, don’t rush. As you look for items to add over time, think about what will work and where. Once you start, you’ll be hooked!

KEY ELEMENTS OF A COUNTRY HOUSE SITTING ROOM

Upholstered furniture Choose wonderful patterned fabrics – the brighter and more floral the better. Wear, patches and repairs really don’t matter – it will only make these pieces more of a bargain. Layer with cushions and a blanket or throw over the back of a sofa.
Rugs Layer small ones over large ones, pattern on pattern. Faded Aubussons and antique carpets work and are cheaper than those in pristine condition.
Tables Dot them around the room from little antique tripod-leg gypsy tables, which can be bought cheaply, to a big sofa table. For the latter, use a console behind a comfy sofa with a couple of reading lights positioned on top.
Lighting Replace wall and ceiling lights with standard lamps, table lamps (such as brass column lights) on your side tables. Mix styles, eras and shades.
A fireplace Add a club fender, if you can find one.
A pair of club chairs Mix and match them – this is a cheaper option than buying a pair.
An ottoman Pile it high with magazines or books you’ve thumbed through and place in the middle of the room.
A desk A great addition, if you have space. Team with a nice old desk chair, a lamp, vintage pens, books, pictures or lots of little photographs. It makes a great surface for displaying a collection of curios.

Drew Pritchard is one of the UK’s best known antique dealers and is the presenter of Salvage Hunters. Pursuing a lifelong talent for rescuing and restoring rare items, Drew is a real life treasure hunter! See pieces Drew Pritchard currently has for sale here. Follow the Drew Pritchard as he takes you to various antique dealers around the country, in hopes of finding antiques at great prices for restoration on his official Twitter page here. Read the Drew Pritchard news here.

You can also watch Drew Pritchard video here:

Drew Pritchard News

Drew Pritchard from hit show Salvage Hunters is known for his amazing knowledge on antique collectibles and artefacts, but he is also a huge petrolhead with an eye for collectible cars. Always on the hunt for that elusive gem, Drew has turned a childhood love of visiting car scrapyards to unearth rare and beautiful items into a thriving international business enterprise – and a hit TV show on Quest.
The presenter and antiques expert, is well known for his love of classic cars and is known to race his 1958 Volkswagen Beetle, recently racing in the Jack Seers Trophy at Goodwood. At the NEC event, Drew Pritchard was joined by fellow car nut Paul Cowland, from TV’s Turbo Pickers. The pair are launching a new show heading to Quest early 2018 – Salvage Hunters: Classic Cars.

Drew has been dealing independently since 1993 having trained initially as a restorer and designer. He has spent 23 years as an independent dealer working from his base in North Wales. His business is driven by passion, an innate knowledge of antiques and a fascination with mixing items from different periods which has earned him a loyal client base of private individuals as well as partnering the best in his field on global and UK based projects.

Drew has been dealing in architectural salvage and antiques for 29 years and is a member of LAPADA. He is also a presenter on Salvage Hunters, a TV show that takes you to various antique dealers around the country, in hopes of finding antiques at great prices for restoration. It was made before US show American Pickers, in which two guys also travel in a van to various locations hunting for antiques and collectibles.
Fans of the show can also look forward to new episodes of the series starting in February. Salvage Hunters: Classic Cars is a new show on Quest that sees Drew Pritchard teams up with Turbo Pickers’ Paul Cowland for a motoring mission. They scour the UK, buying, restoring and selling classic cars.

Find out more about Drew Pritchard on his profile page here. You can also read Drew Pritchard antiques reviews on Yell.com. Check back soon for the latest posts on antiques and products from the shop, classic cars and great finds. Find out more about the shop on the Drew Prichard TripAdvisor page and subscribe to our channel for the latest videos.