A curio cabinet is one of the most collected antique items by enthusiasts and avid collectors.
It is a special kind of display furniture that is different from your typical cabinet. It is intended for display purposes and for showcasing your other collectible items, heirlooms, and antiques.
Antique curio cabinets are available in a wide range of styles, materials, and designs.
Over the years, there have been numerous designs introduced into the market and each one is valued differently according to the aforementioned factors.
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.
When it comes to appraising antique curios, you have come to the right place. Mearto offers a wide selection of antique appraisal experts who can provide you with an honest and expert assessment on your antique items. If you have an antique curio that you need looked into, give us a call now so our experts can have a look at them!
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