Auctions - Love Them !

Hello and welcome to a new Auction Etiquette blog.  I am Kathy Shumate and the owner of Shumate Auctions in Warrenton, VA.  Some of my auction bidders suggested I post a sort of... tutorial of auctions...so to speak.   I know everyone has their own ideas and I don't want to step on any toes...so just remember...these are my thoughts.

So here goes...I hope to pass on some auction do's and don'ts, how to info,  and whatever other stuff I think of.

First things first...Antiques...

By law, an antique is an item that’s at least 100 years old. A collectible is just about anything that people collect. The age of a collectible is not important, except if an item is labeled a vintage collectible. A vintage collectible is an item that is at least 50 years old

Then there are Furniture Styles...

Furniture Styles

1710-1730 French Regence

1730-1750 Rococo

1750-1770 Transitional

1770-1790 Neo-Classical

1770-1790 Hepplewhite Era

1790-1810 Sheraton Era

1795-1810 Federal Era

1810-1830 Neo-Classical/Revival

1820-1850 Empire Era

1840-1900 Victorian Era

Rococo Revival 1840-1860

Gothic Revival 1850-1860

Renaissance Revival 1860-1870

East Lake Styles 1880-1890

One more thing for today...I know some of you buy online...at Ebay and Online Auctions.  Remember Buying Online...

If you decide to buy online, ask the seller to send you close-up photos of the item and look it over before you bid.  It’s ok to take the photo to a local expert to get another opinion.  Also confirm with the seller how the item will be packed and shipped and most importantly, the shipping costs.

That's all for today...I have LOTS more information...next time topics will be what to bring to an auction and how it works...

Kathy