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Will the current depression in the antique market last? Will Milennials ever appreciate antiques?
I think that most antiques with the exception possibly of cars and definitely guns, will continue to drop in value.
If the millennials I know are representative, I think the antique market will continue to sink. Millennials seem to have less interest in showing off their possessions, less interest in houses and less interest in furniture and furnishings. I also have a lot of boomer friends who are downsizing. Their kids, millennialls or older, do not want the stuff.
For me, antiques are a mixture of history and art. I love the quality of things made in the past, love real wood and I appreciate the handmade aspect. I appreciate how the style reflects the period in which it was made or the area in which it was made. Antiques make me think of times in the past, historic eras, and of things that must have occurred in the life of that antique. (If that antique clock could only speak!)
Since they were mostly not mass produced, a good sense of design often went into them. So it makes me happy just to look at something that is beautiful as well as useful. If the antique is a homemade primitive, I think of who might have made it and I picture them sitting there, making it.
But I don't think the millennials take much interest in history. Schools can't even teach very much history, they are so caught up in dealing with drugs, guns, unruly students, that there isn't time. Only a few kids will learn to appreciate history and thus, appreciate antiques.
Then there's the distraction of all the techie items that interest them more and take what money they have.
Of course, they also say they don't want to settle down and stay in one place either, so all they want is cheap, portable or throwaway furniture.
Add it all up and, no, most will never appreciate antiques. I think it's a sign of our country losing its identity and culture that we no longer appreciate our history and study it. A lot of people only care about cheap Made in China objects and do not revere something of quality that was made in the past. We've become a shallow throw away society.
Will the current depression in the antique market last? Will Milennials ever appreciate antiques?
I think that most antiques with the exception possibly of cars and definitely guns, will continue to drop in value.
Don't expect millennials to be all that interested in guns. The vast majority of them live in cities and have never been hunting. The current runup in used gun prices is driven by affluent boomers. While guns sell briskly, the actual number of Americans who own a gun is declining. Expect used gun prices to drop as the boomers die off.
Antique cars are a separate issue. Unlike guns, most old cars get recycled for scrap. Their value is in their rarity. Antique tractors have the same appeal.
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But I don't think the millennials take much interest in history......
Then there's the distraction of all the techie items that interest them more and take what money they have.
Of course, they also say they don't want to settle down and stay in one place either, so all they want is cheap, portable or throwaway furniture.
Add it all up and, no, most will never appreciate antiques. I think it's a sign of our country losing its identity and culture that we no longer appreciate our history and study it. A lot of people only care about cheap Made in China objects and do not revere something of quality that was made in the past. We've become a shallow throw away society.
It seemsmost of your thoughts are highly negative. I look at this change in a more positive manner. Younger people are not enthused about collecting stuff....solid wood or otherwise. Being able to move and to experience new things is much more important. If it is "shallow" to throw stuff away, is it vain and ostentatious to hang on to a lot of material possessions? They can always go to a museum if anyone is interested.
There are niche collector markets that will maintain some value. I've been consistently amazed at the market for comic books. The 1960s comics only seem to grow in value and given the popularity of things like ComiCon, will probably continue.
Other things where there's an enthusiast market - like musical instruments, baseball cards, vintage books, etc... should continue to hold value. "Fashionable trends" will also have an impact. I just read an article about an increase in interest for old typewriters... apparently a lot of young writers have enthusiasm for the old "clack-clack-ding!" sounds and the decision-making that has to go into a typewritten page that you can't easily edit - that they think helps them write. Antique shops that deal in typewriters and maintaining them are doing well. http://www.columbian.com/news/2017/j...w-enthusiasts/
Also vintage vinyl records. Things to decorate "midcentury modern" houses are still popular, although the millennials like less of the stuff.
But millennials and Gen Z are simply not as interested in collecting "stuff" or "curios" for their own sake. There are several reasons for this... 1) in the age of digital you don't need hard copies of stuff or the furniture infrastructure to hold/maintain/display them. 2) The millennials are house poor. The baby boomers came of age during a series of building booms that held housing prices down. Millennials don't have the space or money to hoard as much stuff. 3) They move more so stuff is more of a burden. Yes it makes sense to buy Ikea furniture for cheap and just throw it away when you move rather than spending thousands on a moving truck.
I don't think it's dead forever because everything is cyclical. It may take several years for antiques to make a comeback. It wouldn't surprise me if the kids of Millennials end up going against their parents' values and go back to loving antiques. Antiques would be unique to this up-and-coming generation and, therefore, desirable.
I have had part time Antiques business for 40 plus years...buying, selling and restoration.
I am a 'baby Boomer'.
in the 1970s to early 1980s we could hardly keep up the demand..everyone of our contemporaries wanted good solid, real wood, funky old Oak and Walnut furniture...
Round Oak tables, Bow Front china Cabs...Hoosier cupboards, oak Ice boxes...muti-purpose furniture..use it anyway you wanted..
No one young wants this stuff now..:-(
Thank God the 'collector soul' is still in young people..believe me, they have their 'wants'..
As someone has mentioned...the 'niche' market is always there for we providers..you just have to find out what 'they' like.
We have never made a fortune, but the part time business was always fun and profitable..
Bringing back to life old treasures, bought, traded, found curbside will alway be my passion and raison d'être.
As long as someone is collecting something, I will continue to try and be the source and 'go to guy'
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