Antique - or Just Old?

Just how old does something need to be for ANTIQUE status?

If you think you’ve got a valuable antique in your possession – it could be tricky proving it. Objects must meet some specific requirements to be considered antique. In purest terms – and according to the U.S. Customs Service – an antique item needs to be at least 100 years old. Some experts, dealers and collectors however, define an antique based on its design and quality – NOT by its age – and that can spark some lively debates. There are even some real sticklers that will only deem an item antique if it was created by hand – before the industrial revolution of the 1830s.

Antique cars are in a category all their own. In most states, a car is allowed to be classified as antique at age 25. And before you refer to your car as classic – keep in mind that’s another controversial category that has no official definition yet.