Are you a wondering how to tell the difference between Vintage and Antique finds when you’re out on your thrifting adventures? Here we’ll explain the key characteristics between these two terms, as well as how to tell vintage and antique items apart when you’re out shopping at flea markets, antique malls, thrift, or secondhand shops.
The Short Answer is this:
Consider Antique items to be 100 years old or more.
Vintage sits in a looser age range with roughly 30-40 years old, but not older than 100 being considered a Vintage item.
True-Vintage is a subcategory which refers to pieces at least 50 years old, but again, not older than 100. The wider range for making the Vintage cut allows for the inclusion of items from recent decades that have a certain cultural influence, bring all the nostalgic feels, or showcase the styles, trends, or aesthetics of the era or time period.
Vintage pieces can be easier to find when you’re out treasure hunting, depending on what you’re looking for. If a limited number of a certain item or brand were originally produced, they may be considered rare, with their price generally reflective of that.
Antique items are generally harder to find, especially in good condition, however they do tend to stand the test of time, especially when compared to the mass manufacturing quality we experience today. Perhaps the most coveted antique finds are those with a verifiable history behind them, or at least a good story from the previous owner.
Here are some ways to find the story behind your piece, and whether it might be a piece of Vintage or Antique history.
Look For Markings
Sometimes bits of an item’s story can be found in a marking somewhere on the item, many times on the bottom or back of the item. You may find an artist’s signature, maker’s or manufacturer’s mark, workshop stamp, country of origin stamp, or a year or date stamp. These can tell you a lot about your item, especially who the maker or artist was, the time period or era, or what part of the world it’s from.
Look for Clues to Identify the Time Period
As we discussed above, you may be able to identify the time period for your Vintage or Antique piece by finding the maker’s or manufacturer’s mark or date stamp. If you are able to identify the style of your piece, such as Victorian or Art Deco, you can determine the era your piece is from. Additionally, if you notice how the piece is made, such as the kind of wood or finish used, the style of carving or ornamentation, or even the wood joinery, these can give you clues as to the time period your piece is from. Imperfections, indicating an item was handmade, or layers of patina may also be hints that you have an older piece.
Clothing, for example, could be dated by checking the composition tag. Pieces with 100% composition fabrics are more likely to fall in the Vintage category, whereas items made more recently are often made with more than one fabric (ie: 40% rayon, 60% cotton). If you can identify handmade details on a piece of the clothing, you may also have an older piece in hand. Clothing details such as buttons or zippers were crafted with more quality in bygone eras than they are today, so this may also be an indicator as to the age of your piece.
Here are some notable style periods over the last 500-ish years:
- 1558–1603 Elizabethan
- 1603–1625 Jacobean
- 1625–1649 Carolean
- 1649-1660 Cromwellian
- 1660-1689 Restoration
- 1689–1702 William and Mary
- 1702–1714 Queen Anne
- 1714–1830 Georgian/Regency
- 1804-1815 Empire
- 1830-1837 William IV
- 1837–1901 Victorian
- 1845-1870 Rococo Revival
- 1800-1914 Naturalist Aesthetic Movement
- 1855-1890 Greek Revival
- 1895-1915 Arts and Crafts
- 1890-1910 Art Nouveau
- 1901-1915 Edwardian
- 1920-1945 Art Deco
- 1940-1960 Mid Century Modern
Have Your Local Appraiser Take a Look
Taking your item to a local appraiser is another great way to find out the age of your piece. These are professionals with a wide range of knowledge, and can take the guess work out of determining the time period you might have in your hands, as well as the value.
We hope this helps you feel more informed as you’re out hunting for your treasures. We’d love to see your latest finds from Vintage Marketplace. Be sure to tag us on your social media!
