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170 Examples of Antiques

John Spacey, November 25, 2021

An antique is a valuable physical item that is old. These may be valuable due to the quality of their craftsmanship, uniqueness of their design or the role the items played in culture, society, history or art. Antiques are bought and sold in a competitive market whereby value is ultimately dictated by rarity (supply) and interest from collectors (demand). In order to be considered an antique an item generally has to be at least 100 years old. Valuable items that are newer than this are typically viewed as collectables or vintage. In practice, extremely rare items may be viewed as antiques before the 100 year limit. Valuable items more than 1,500 years old are known as antiquities. The following are common types of antiques.

Advertising & Packaging	Appliances
Architectural Features	Arms & Armor
Automaton	Automobiles
Beds	Bells
Bicycles	Binoculars
Bookcases	Bookends
Books	Bottle Openers
Bottles	Bowls & Dishes
Boxes & Cases	Cabinets
Calculators & Adding Machines	Cameras
Candlesticks	Canes
Carvings	Catalogs
Ceramics	Chairs
Champagne Glasses	Chandeliers
Chess Sets	Chests / Chests of Drawers
Chronometers	Clocks
Coffeepots	Coin Banks
Coins & Currency	Collectable Cards (e.g. baseball cards)
Collectible Plates	Comic Books
Commemorative Items	Compasses
Costume Jewelry	Couture
Cups	Curio Cabinets
Decanters	Decorative Arts
Decoys	Desks / Writing Tables
Dolls & Dollhouses	Dressers
Embroideries	Enameled Metal (e.g. Graniteware)
Ephemera	Farm Equipment
Figurines & Statuettes	Firefighting Equipment
Fireplace Accessories	Fishing Gear
Flasks	Folk Art
Games	Garden Statues
Glass Art	Glasses
Globes	Goblets
Hairpins	Hand Fans
Handbags & Pursues	Hatpins
Historical Artifacts	Housewares
Humidors	Interior Decorations
Jade	Jewellery
Jugs & Pitchers	Keys & Locks
Knives / Pocketknives	Lacquerware
Lamps	Lanterns
Letters & Documents	Lighters
Lobby Cards	Luggage
Magazines	Mailboxes
Maps	Marbles
Match Holders	Match Safes
Medals & Badges	Medical Cabinets
Medical Equipment	Mirrors
Model Trains	Models & Miniatures
Movie Props	Music Boxes
Musical Instruments	Nautical Instruments
Netsuke	Nutcrackers
Office Automation	Paintings & Prints
Paperweights	Patent Models
Pencils	Pens
Perfume Bottles	Phones
Phonographs / Gramophones	Photographs
Picture Frames	Pipes
Porcelain	Postcards
Posters	Pottery
Printing Presses	Punch Bowls
Puppets	Quilts
Radios	Rugs
Safes	Salt & Pepper Shakers
Scientific Instruments	Screens & Panels
Sculpture	Seal Stamps
Sewing Machines	Shaving Accessories
Sheet Music Signs	Silver & Metalware
Sofas	Spittoons
Sports Antiques	Stamps
Steins	Stonewear
Stools	Stoves
Swords	Tables
Tapestries	Tea Services
Teapots	Televisions
Thimbles	Ticker Tape Machines
Tiles	Tinware
Tools	Toys
Traditional Art	Traditional Crafts
Trench Art	Trunks
Typewriter Ribbons	Typewriters
Umbrellas	Vases
Wallets	Wardrobes
Watches	Weather Instruments
Weather Vanes	Wine Glasses

Automaton are historical mechanical puppets that resembled early robots.

Ephemera is anything that is designed to have a short lifespan such that it is essentially disposable. For example, a political leaflet.

Some types of antiques such as fine art, coins, stamps and sports collectables are viewed as a specialty in terms of valuation and sales such that they aren't typically handled by antique experts or shops.

Antiquities refers to ancient artifacts that are older than the middle ages. These are viewed as a separate category of antique that require specialized knowledge to evaluate.

Definitions
Antiquity	An item of culture that is over 1,500 years old.
Antique	An item of value that is over 100 years old.
Vintage	An item that is over 20 years old.
Secondhand / Used	An item that has been previously used.
Retro	A new item loosely based on vintage designs.
Classic	A new item based on vintage or antique works, styles, designs or form factors.