If you're new to shopping for antiques and vintage, you might be confused by some of the terms used. One of the most common confusion points is understanding the difference between what's antique and what's vintage. In the strictest sense, the difference between an antique and a vintage item is its age. Antiques are items which must be at least 100 years old. That means, as of the date of this posting, an antique item was made on or before April of 1918. The 100-years-or-older rule applies to any of these items no matter what they are made of. So even though it may seem less likely for a book or glassware to survive 100 years than a piece of furniture, therefore making the fragile stuff seem like it should become an antique earlier; but it doesn't work that way. *wink* Items over 300 years of age generally fall into one of two categories depending upon whether they are manmade creations or natural finds. If they are not manmade, if they are the remains or impressions of formerly living things, they are fossils. If the items are manmade, they are called antiquities or artifacts (also spelled artefacts). Typically, items over 300 years are dug up either in the process of modern land development and construction, or by archaeological work. And they are also unearthed in attics, basements, and private collections too. Given the relatively short history of writing systems in the United States of America, the word prehistoric is often attached to any unearthed items older than 300 years. Naturally, in our Fargo-Moorhead area, this includes a number of Native American artifacts. Though it should be noted that not all Native American artifacts are so old. Vintage items are not as old as antiques. However, unlike the definition of an antique, labeling something vintage is far more subjective. The word vintage literally means "of age." With such an open meaning, there are many interpretations. Most antique dealers consider an item to be vintage if it is at least 40 years old. So, in the context of this blog date, a vintage item would be made between 1918 and 1978. Even though many vintage items are nostalgic, they are sought after for many reasons besides their age. This includes decorating and collecting. And, because so many of these objects are still useable, they are often practical pieces with a unique flair. In order to cover additional time periods, perhaps, many of those who buy and sell antique and vintage objects also use other words. Among them, the word "retro." Retro is an affectionate shortening of the French word "retrograde." Like the word "retroactive," the original meaning references the past -- but is not from the past. Instead, retro goodies imitate the styles of the recent past. They are not copies or fakes; but items which give a nod to the past. Think of classics such as bowling shirts and letterman jackets. However, over time, the definition of retro has also come to encompass things from the recent past -- things not old enough to be authentically vintage, but not merely "just used things" either. They are just old enough to be nostalgic. Many of these things still can be used -- or in the case of records, tapes, and CDs, played. Typically, the term retro is given to items which are at least 20 years old (but not yet 40 years old). Again using today's posting date, retro items would be those made between 1979 and 1998. Also found in antique malls like Fargo's F.A.R.M. are items which are not necessarily old at all, but still collectible. Among these things are what are called reproductions (sometimes called "repros" or "repops" in the antiques business). Reproductions are copies of older items. They are not "fakes" as they are not trying to pass themselves off as older or anything other than what they are: copies of, usually, much older things. Some of these things, such as reproduction drawer pulls and hardware, allow for folks to more readily and affordably restore their old houses. And, in fact, many reproductions, including reproductions of antique Coke A Cola trays and old cast iron toys, have real value unto themselves. Additionally, many antique malls -- the Fargo Antique & Repurposed Market included -- sell collectibles and curios. Collectibles and curios need not be old at all. They just have to be desired. Think of things like Breyer horses
Of course, often collecting new items leads to collecting the older variations... That's often how that collecting bug starts! You've been warned!
54 Comments
2/9/2020 06:54:19 pm
One thing that really made antiques popular is the elegance that these items possess. Having these items around your house will really enhance the way it will look like. The ambiance that these items provide to a room or area is exceptional. Thankyou for sharing this post.
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Betsania
9/27/2021 08:05:51 pm
This was a wonderful post. Super informative and I got just what I was looking for. Thank you!
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12/25/2021 02:29:44 am
The only word I could think is knowledge your knowledge
Reggie
11/2/2021 08:37:16 pm
You are wrong, a car only needs to be 20 or 25 years old to be considered an antique by the state
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Dave Puckett
11/2/2021 10:26:11 pm
I think he was referring to antiques in general as pertaining to the items he mentioned. I didn't see where anyone mentioned cars, which is defined differently as you pointed out. 1/25/2022 05:01:14 pm
Reggie, your mileage on older cars will vary by state - as you stated, between 20-25 years. And those cars will have various additional requirements and license limitations. However, these cars are deemed "classic" and not "antique". Hope this clarifies things for you, The FARM 3/11/2022 10:02:11 am
Cars are much different. They are called antiques simply for tag/tax purposes. Once a car hits 25 years, it gets a huge tax break. Should the state call them "really old" car?
Robin
6/6/2022 01:48:38 am
They are not wrong. Cars were never even mentioned. They are in a category all there own. They could have been describing/informing us on wild cats of Africa, and you telling them they are wrong, because they did not include the domesticated house cat. It's best when being critical, to use constructive criticism, as well as to know what it is you are speaking of.
Claudia Tart
9/7/2022 10:40:38 am
Thank thank you for the information it was just what I needed to know .thank
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Alicia
8/16/2022 05:38:15 am
I also agree with the 2previous comments, it's informative,factual,and to the point. I will be using it for a reference and sharing the good news to all that are worthy.
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Sherry
1/17/2021 09:22:49 pm
This is a wealth of information its exactly what I was looking for. Described clearly and simply to give me a guage to use. Thank you for this. I'm happy I found it. Now I'm going to share it.
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Tony Guerrero
1/23/2021 10:27:51 am
Very informative, thank you.
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Didi T
1/23/2021 01:40:06 pm
Thank you for this. Explanations are clear with examples reinforcing them. Am sure to "collect better" because of this post. Again, thanks.
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Theresa D
2/2/2021 11:22:29 am
Thank you! This was very helpful!
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Joy
2/15/2021 07:07:32 am
Thank you for this wonderful explanation! I have always thought items over 100 years old were antiques but wondered if it had remained so.
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NutMeg
3/15/2021 03:30:12 am
Very straightforward & informative! Question answered :)
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6/3/2021 12:24:22 pm
Thanks for clearing up how a lot of items are considered antique if they are older than 40 years old. My grandpa gave me some of his old household items. I wonder if any of them are antiques and if I can sell them or not.
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Luan
7/20/2021 01:01:45 am
don't expect your great grandfather's old tooth brush to get a million dollars at an auction though
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Adam Malek bin Ishak
6/29/2021 10:47:17 pm
This article makes me feel good.
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Celine Pitzen
7/10/2021 06:42:32 am
Thank you for for the most concise explanation of the eras I have ever read.
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Mogus
7/11/2021 05:16:48 am
according to this my dad is vintage
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Non parishable
3/27/2022 09:42:45 pm
Mine is a artifact
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Karen A Kapinos
7/11/2021 08:27:20 am
I just started collecting vintage and antique items. This article helped clarify so many important facts and I really found the examples to be relevant and easy to understand.
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Dodie P.
7/14/2021 11:42:28 am
Thank you for clearing up a usually confusing topic.
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Thanks for pointing out that vintage items are not as old as antique ones. As you said, this can be a more subjective label for an item. I just needed to know about this because I plan to buy vintage autographs for my brother since he has been mentioning wanting to have a collection like that ever since last year
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8/18/2021 12:07:46 am
Thanks for pointing out that antiques are items that must be at least 100 years old. My husband has been collecting antiques since last year. With this, I am hoping to find coin dealer services on Monday so I can give him a rare gold coin for his 40th birthday in September.
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8/25/2021 04:49:59 pm
It's good to know that antiques are more than 100 years old. My mom wanted to get antiques and wanted to know the difference between items being vintage. I'll make sure to pass these tips along to her so that she can know more about antiques.
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Shannon
8/28/2021 02:21:04 am
Is something only considered antique or vintage if the actual age can be proven? For example say I have a bed frame that someone says is over 100 years old if there is no actual proof does that mean it's not antique? I guess I'm saying if the manufacture date cant be proven what's to stop someone from making a new piece aged and calling it antique?
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9/9/2021 07:29:24 am
Jhardy Home Décor have a huge collection of Mosser Glass vintage plates items that you can buy online for decorating your home.
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Dennis D.
9/21/2021 11:28:54 am
You can't leave out another popular term applied to older objects and that is CLASSIC. I wish people would use these terms properly when selling items. I ser many people using the word vintage when selling repo items that are less than 30 years old and are STILL being currently made just so they can try and make a sale. Shameful.
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Kimberly Koon
9/25/2021 02:48:06 am
I have several items that are vintage and antiques . Were would I go to find out if they are of value. Also find individuals whom may be interested in my items . Buying them etc. Thank you for your information. Very helpful. Bless you
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Dave Puckett
9/25/2021 05:50:53 pm
It's interesting how that definition of antiques changed and didn't change over the past 50 years. When I was a young child in the 60's I was told for something to be antique it had to be more than 50 years old, so at that time an antique would have to have been from 1918 or older, and that's interesting because today for something to be antique it still has to be from 1918 or before.
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10/19/2021 08:13:40 pm
Thanks for pointing out how their age and overall aesthetic determine antiques. I have a friend who's thinking about starting a collection of old items. I believe he should try visiting a store that sells historical antiques as a start!
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Dearbhla McArdle
12/8/2021 06:57:41 am
Thank you so much for explaining so simply and clearly the difference between these definitions. I found it really helpful as I had been wondering, now that I have recently started selling some items that I can now say with confidence, are vintage. Thanks again.
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12/11/2021 04:41:54 pm
One of the most common confusion points is understanding the difference between what's antique and what's vintage. I’m so thankful for your helpful post!
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12/23/2021 01:32:04 pm
If they are not manmade, if they are the remains or impressions of formerly living things, they are fossils. I truly appreciate your great post!
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1/24/2022 09:18:42 pm
Very detailed. I just learned it from here that antiques are things of 100 years old and above while vantag has 40 to 100 years old. Thank you for enlightenment.
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2/5/2022 07:14:40 am
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2/16/2022 12:41:12 am
Thanks for helping me understand that antiques would be about 100 years old of items. I guess my brother should take his items to a coin dealer to check what he has found in our grandparents' basement. There was a stash of those there when we were cleaning up their place.
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4/5/2022 12:04:07 pm
I found it interesting when you said antiques are older than vintage products. Unlike the concept of an antique, however, the term "vintage" is far more subjective. I used to think differently about this and now it makes more sense. What you said about vintage was really interesting to me.
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4/17/2022 09:53:24 am
Thank you for explaining that an item is considered vintage if it is at least 40 years old. My mother loves decorating her house with vintage items. It's her birthday soon, so I better look for a vintage store to find something I can gift her.
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LaFawn Miller
5/27/2022 08:27:03 pm
I have a couple of items that are probably around the fifties, I think. They are stamped and one has a number on it. The one with the number is a woman feeding a cow. It has been cast, I believe, it has a hole in the bottom and has a seal logo that says by " Royal Eupehhigen" # 779 ( cpx ). If anyone has any information or can tell my how I can find out about it, I would be grateful
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Mary
6/9/2022 02:47:50 pm
I have a wood and glass cabinet from the 1940s but I know my grandmother would not have paid much for it. I want to sell or donate it but is it worth getting an expensive appraisal?
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7/12/2022 09:07:43 am
This was so helpful, thank you. Although I realized that I am vintage 😂
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Ruth P Allen
7/26/2022 05:37:42 am
Thank you for your helpful article, which helps clear up these definitions for me. I am clearing my parents' home, which has four generations of schtuff. It is hard for me to decide, once having narrowed it down to "older vintage" versus "newer vintage", what to keep and what to get rid of. I finally donated my Mom's well-kept Magnavox unit (the kind with large stereo speakers enclosed in cabinetry with faux front doors), which she purchased in 1976, which by your definition makes it vintage. The difficult part is deciding what is simply "junk"!
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8/10/2022 10:00:30 am
The other day, I had lunch with my mom and talked about how she'd like to start collecting vintage dolls since she always dreamed of having one when she was a little kid but never was able to buy one. I want to help my mom start her collection, so I'd like to take her on a shopping spree next weekend, and I believe your insight will help us identify vintage and antique dolls. Thank you for the information on how vintage items are used for collecting and decorative purposes.
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Blaine B.
8/25/2022 01:56:39 pm
Thanks for writing this post which helps clarify those similar terms regarding older items.
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Cheryl Armistead
9/4/2022 07:54:42 pm
I have been looking for this information for a while. I started a small junk business about 5 yrs ago at a vendor mall, and I never could figure out what I had. Some people would tell me one thing then someone else would say no it 70 yrs up to a 100 yrs is vintage and 20 or less is new, 20 to 70 yrs is just old. So now that I'm 71 I am vintage, some parts work and some are a little slower. Thanks for the information
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Mary
9/20/2022 07:32:04 am
I have a piece that was my grand parents I have a pic.the bottom of the drawer has No. 137. Then 11-40. The drawer has a tigers head with the ring in its mouth to open the drawer.
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Eug L
10/31/2022 03:32:26 pm
Very helpful article. The one term I didn't notice but used often as well is "MCM, Mid-Century Modern", 1945-69, but probably more related to an era, as with "Victorian", "Art Deco", etc
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Kathy
11/3/2022 09:08:17 am
Your knowledge is very much appreciated. Thanks for sharing.
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