I recently heard a GenZ person provide these definitions for antique, vintage, retro, and collectible:
- Antique: Things your great-grandparents should have thrown out.
- Vintage: Things your grandparents should have thrown out.
- Retro: Things your parents should have thrown out.
- Collectibles: Things that are worthless to all but a niche group of people.
As funny as this is, let’s take a serious look at these terms and how we can use them to describe our goods at downsizing auctions and estate sales.
Antique
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, an antique is an object produced a long time ago and is valuable because it is high-quality, rare, or beautiful. Many experts believe that you should only use the word ‘antique’ to describe items over 100 years old. However, specific categories of goods have different parameters. The Canadian government defines an antique vehicle as more than 30 years old and restored to a condition comparable to that on its manufacture date. Antique firearms are those made before 1898.
If you have valuable antiques, consider getting them appraised before you list them for sale. Some appraisers can give you an approximate value via email, while others will want to see the goods in person. When you describe an item for online auction as an antique, make sure it is an antique. Include as much detail as possible about the piece. Provide the date of manufacture (if known) and take detailed photos.
Vintage
Vintage is a term used to describe items of high quality and lasting value. You can easily recognize vintage items because they are icons of their era and have a timeless quality. They best represent a particular type of thing from the past and are usually between 20 and 100 years old. When you describe items for sale with the term ‘vintage,’ include the period in which it was made, for example, Vintage 1980s Princess telephone.
Retro
The term ‘retro‘ is short for rétrospectif (looking back). Retro items can be up to 20 years old or they can be new but represent past trends and fashions. For example, this new coffee table from IKEA is retro mid-century modern. It was made recently (2020) to reflect a style of the past (the 1960s).
Collectible
A collectible is an item of interest to a collector or an item acquired as part of a hobby. Investopedia defines collectible as an item worth more than the original purchase price because of its rarity.
From Star Wars figurines to Beanie Babies, collectibles in their original, undamaged packaging accompanied by a bill of sale, are the most desirable. If you are selling at an online auction, you may wish to separate your collection and sell the more valuable pieces in separate lots. Careful research will help you determine which items may be of higher value. Search the collectors’ websites for approximate prices rather than classified ad websites (e.g. eBay), which often have inflated sale prices.
When preparing your goods for a downsizing auction, remember to be as accurate as possible when using the terms antique, vintage, retro, and collectible. Including other relevant details helps the buyer decide to purchase your goods.
We have years of experience dealing with moving, downsizing, and estate liquidations. If you need some inspiration to describe and organize lots, please visit our Move Management Services or contact me through the website.
