Have you recently inherited or purchased a curio cabinet and want to know its value? Mearto provides quick and affordable online appraisals of antique curio cabinets. All you have to do is click on the “Start Appraisal” button above and follow the steps to send us information about and images of your curio cabinet. One of our qualified and experienced specialists will review and get back to you with a fair market and insurance value, typically within 48 hours. Have questions about the valuation provided, or would you like some advice about selling your curio cabinet? We are here to help! Our platform allows you to chat back and forth with a specialist to ensure that all of your questions are answered.
Click the "Get Started" button below to set up a free account.
Answer a few simple questions and upload images of your item.
Receive a specialist's valuation by email in 24 to 48 hours.
Get help with the next steps, including consignment and sale.
Curio cabinets are designed to hold and display valuables, they are valuable items themselves. There are various forms and styles of curio cabinets that have been introduced over the years. But is it a different name for a cabinet? Not really. A typical cabinet can be used to display any item you have at home (school, office, or anywhere the cabinet is used). Curio cabinets are designed specifically for displaying antique items. Often, these antique cabinets display related items such as collectible toys, sports memorabilia, and figurines, among other things
The technical definition of the term is curios is a rare and unusual object. It is therefore not a new trend in the world of antique collecting. In fact, collectible curios have been sought after since the time of the Middle Ages and in the Renaissance period.
During the 15th to 16th century Europe, the wealthy intellectuals travelled across the continent. This resulted in the exchange of information and artifacts becoming more popular. With the amount of artifacts available, the collectors had to find a way to store those artifacts properly. Curio collecting became a subsequent option for these antique collectors. It was a favorite past time for the rich and famous. They needed a way to showcase all the things that they have collected during their travel within Europe and outside of it. There were collections from Asia, Americas, and Africa and they vary from works of art, sculptures, and tribal artifacts, among other things.
The purchase and collection of curios eventually caught on during this period. The need to use curios to display their antique collections developed into a more significant meaning. It was collected not just for entertainment but also for leaning and scientific exploration.
The use of the term ‘curio cabinet’ was not used until the 1700s. This is when actual cabinets were used by personal antique and artifact collectors. Since then, personal antique collecting gained more popularity and they are used for showcasing special heirlooms and rare antiques.
Over the years, there are numerous notable collections that were developed from the use of curios. Here are some of them:
As mentioned above, there are different types of antique curios in the market.
Aside from the design, antique curios are also distinguished by the materials that were used for making them. There are different prevailing materials used in different time periods. However, these are some of the most popular materials used for making antique curios:
Antique items, just like curios, should be preserved in their original state in order for it to preserve its value too. Hence, the first factor that should be considered when evaluating the value of curios is the condition. How similar is the current state to the original? While buyers do not expect to find antique items like curios to look brand new, it should be functional and has all of the essential components intact. A little wear and tear can be good though; it reflects the age and resilience of the furniture. Hence, you do not have to stress over some scratches or fading of the paint or color.
The authenticity is also very important. In fact, it is often the first thing that antique appraisers look into when evaluating antique curios for their value. It is important that you can provide documentation to trace the history of the curio cabinet that you have. If you do not have that document, you can have an expert appraiser look into your antique curio for evaluation. They can provide you with a certification on the origin and age of the item based on their own findings.
Mearto offers two opportunities to sell your curio cabinet based on its current fair market value:
Customers with curio cabinet expected to sell for $5,000 or more can take advantage of our complimentary Consignment Concierge service. We will contact leading auction houses on your behalf, collect offers and help you negotiate the terms of a consignment agreement. There is no additional fee or commission for this service.
For customers with curio cabinet valued between $50 and $5,000, Mearto offers an exclusive Marketplace, which is accessed by a number of art, antiques and collectibles dealers around the world. If there is interest in your item, you will be contacted directly with offers through our platform. In the event of a successful sale, Mearto takes a 7% transaction fee.
To learn more about options for selling your curio cabinet through Mearto, please click here.
Lindsey Bourret is the Managing Director at Mearto. In addition to overseeing the daily operations of the business, she also enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge of the fine art and antiques market with our customers through our website, blog, e-newsletter and social media accounts.