Getting Involved In Antique Collecting Has Many Motivations

There are literally dozens of reasons antique collectors cite for first getting involved in the hobby. Whatever the actual reason though those who do get involved join a league of hobbyists the world over that enjoy treasures from the past with a passion.

Some of the top reasons for getting started in the antique collection hobby and some of the top motivators include:

Fun: It is, without a doubt, a fun hobby to get into. Whether you collect antique elephant statutes or hand-painted vases, the hobby is like treasure hunting on steroids. You never know when a trip to the store will net a rare find or what hides behind that garage sale's rack of clothes. From local trips to international excursions to find the right pieces for a collection, the hobby can take its fans to faraway places.

Passion for history: Many collectors get started because they're interested in a particular period of history and enjoy surrounding themselves with things from that time. Few things can help a history buff "feel" the period like the implements people from that age used during every-day life. From the dishes and farm tools to pieces of art, furniture and beyond, period collectors get to step back into the past with each purchase.

Penchant for a particular thing: Collectors collect literally everything. From matchbook covers and political buttons to dolls and toys, whatever floats a person's boat, so to say, goes in the collectibles market. It's hard to say what will strike a particular person's fancy, but when it does, the bug can bite hard.

Inheritance: Many a collector got their start after inheriting old items from a family member. Not wanting to get rid of the cherished pieces, they learned about them and began adding to the look.

Investment: Also a top reason for collectors to start collecting, some hobbyists find their collections are actually quite a financial investment. Antiques are fickle in their pricing, but some things simply don't lose their value, or much of it. Hand-worked cut glass made by the masters of days gone by, original dolls, period furniture made by master craftsmen and so on can all be worth a fortune now and an even bigger one later. More fun than the stock market for some, antique collecting can be a lucrative hobby that's an investment in the future.

No matter their motivations, literally millions the world over enjoy collecting antiques of one sort or another. Perhaps it's for the money or to achieve a set look in a home or even just because, the reasons behind the hobby matter little to the collectors. It's all out of love for them.