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The Editorial Page   A place for Editorial comment and Letters to the Editor   By Sandy Neilly Everyone has a different reason for buying antiques.   Some love the look of antiques in their homes and use them purely for aesthetic reasons, to complement their decor and provide a warmth that newer items often don't provide.   There are those who have no particular love of a specific era, but who enjoy purchasing items to accentuate what they presently own - maybe memorabilia suitable to the old hoosier they bought at an auction, or treenware to add interest to an otherwise modern kitchen.   There are also those of you who seek out the very best in antiquities - the wonderful pieces with provenance, that you know are really only borrowed for a period of time and that will change hands over the decades after your careful and loving stewardship. You love antiques for their historical contribution to our modern lives.   As this type of collector, you are well aware of the arduous hunt involved to find certain things. And, you are probably (wisely) quite skeptical too, when someone tells you that a piece you are interested in was brought from France to Quebec by Mme de la Peltrie in the 17th century despite the fact it is of the Rocaille style, popular decades later.   If this is the kind of antique collecting you want to be part of, you have to know some history. You should also know and understand, to a certain degree, the many styles and their influences and be knowledgeable in materials used at any given time. Most of all, you have to be very passionate about all of the above.   This knowledge can lead to the acquisition of some very fine authentic antique pieces - especially (but not exclusively) if you have the funds to match your comprehension in this field.   Although most exceptional items belong to private collectors or are in museums that are blessed with adequate funding and/or wealthy patrons, there are still wonderful relics of the past to be discovered by those who develop their antiquing skills beyond thumbing through a book ... still highly recommended, but not a substitution for running your hand over a 200-year-old primitive pine corner cupboard, or studying a naîve piece of folk art.   Remarkable items can be found at some of the high-end shows, but the museum-quality pieces are not as available at these venues as they were in the last century. That being said, attending higher-end shows is always a learning experience and you should try to get to a few each year if you have even a slight appreciation of antiques and want to learn more.   Chances are you will leave empty handed, but you will also have a clearer understanding of what is available in our current markets, and why things are priced the way they are.   For the more light-hearted and pocket-book friendly antique hunter (by far the larger percentage of us), there are literally hundreds of shows to attend and what better way to go than armed with the knowledge you've gleaned from the shows just mentioned.   As with most of us, there has probably been a time when you kicked yourself because you hesitated over (for example) an exquisite little parlour table that would have been just right for your front hall, only to watch someone approach it, study it closely for a minute or two and then call over the vendor for a brief negotiation, and then take it away.   That's sad, (and no, it's not nice to trip the person as they're leaving) - but what is worse is when you see the same item in a shop, priced three times higher than the original amount that you were reluctant to pay.   "You snooze, you lose" is an appropriate quote here, but you should also have the knowledge behind you to help make those decisions more accurately and quickly.   Knowledge is power, and yes, you've heard that here before.   Concentrate on what you love the most and learn as much as you can. It will lead to many related items and create relationships with people who also deal in, or collect, the same things. Their knowledge becomes yours and soon you'll find that while others are asking for your opinion, vendors will develop a respect for your expertise and keep an eye open for those things that you enjoy most.   With the summer coming and a huge variety of shows being offered - from flea market to high end and everything in between - treat yourself.   Get your wish list going, do some research and fire up the bundle-buggy. Never hesitate to ask questions at shows - most vendors are happy to answer in great detail- if they aren't busy. If you feel you are being snubbed by a dealer because you don't meet their standards or qualifications (whatever they might be), move on. Most dealers are helpful, knowledgeable and friendly, and they deserve your business.   I hope everyone reading the print edition of the Wayback Times noticed it is our first ever issue with colour (photographs and display ads). Adding colour will be a great tool in many situations both on an advertising level (please visit our website for current rates) as well as being beneficial, of course, to showcase things more accurately when photographed.   It's an exciting phase for us - and has been another "learning curve" for me, which I've found is continuous in the business of publishing.   If you have any questions about shows, articles ... or anything antique related, drop us a line at waybacktimes@xplornet.com (please note that "XPLOR" has no letter "e") and we will be delighted to get back to you.   Enjoy the spring of 2010. It is a wonderful time to be out exploring, particularly if you love antiques and all things related. Shops, shows and markets abound. There truly is something for everyone.   Thank you for reading the Wayback Times.     Return to top of page   This Is Livin' Publishing © 2010 581 8th Line West, RR1 Hastings, ON, K0L 1Y0 Phone/Fax: 705-696-1833   webmaster