Last updated: September 2026
Antique Dealer is a magazine. We write to inform and entertain readers who love antiques, the trade, and the hunt — we are not appraisers, lawyers, financial advisers, insurers, or conservators writing on your specific piece, your specific transaction, or your specific circumstances, and nothing published on this site should be treated as a substitute for one.
Read Everything Here as a Starting Point, Not a Final Answer
A figure mentioned in a market piece, a technique described in a restoration article, or a summary of a regulation in a news update is meant to orient you — to give you the vocabulary and context to ask better questions of a real expert, not to replace that expert. Markets move, individual items vary enormously in condition and provenance, and laws differ by country and change over time. Treat every number, valuation range, and rule mentioned on this site as illustrative and potentially out of date the moment you read it.
If a decision involves real money, a real legal obligation, or the physical safety of you or an object in your care, get it checked by someone qualified and independent before you act.
What This Covers, Stated Plainly
- Buying and selling. Nothing here tells you what a specific item is worth or whether a specific deal is a good one. Get an independent appraisal for anything of meaningful value.
- Authentication and identification. Our guides teach general patterns — how marks, joinery, or materials typically behave — not a verdict on the one piece in front of you. Reproductions are made specifically to defeat general rules of thumb.
- Restoration and conservation. Techniques described in our articles can damage or devalue an item if misapplied, and some materials and chemicals involved in cleaning, stripping, or repair carry real safety risks. When in doubt, or when a piece has meaningful value, use a professional conservator rather than working from an article.
- Law and regulation. Coverage of topics like wildlife-material restrictions (ivory, tortoiseshell) or import/export rules is a general overview, never a complete or current statement of the law in your country, state, or situation. Confirm current requirements with the relevant authority or a qualified professional before you buy, sell, ship, or travel with a regulated item.
- Business guidance. Our coverage of running a dealership — insurance, shipping, sourcing — reflects general practice in the trade, not advice tailored to your business, your inventory, or your local requirements.
Composite Profiles and Illustrative Figures
Some articles — dealer spotlights, collector showcases, and similar features — describe representative, composite scenarios built to illustrate a broader pattern rather than reporting on one specific verified individual or transaction. Prices and figures used as examples are typical or illustrative ranges, not live quotes, unless an article specifically says otherwise.
No Liability for Actions Taken on the Basis of This Site
To the fullest extent the law allows, Antique Dealer and its writers accept no responsibility for losses, damages, or other consequences arising from decisions made in reliance on content published here. Use of this site is entirely at your own discretion and risk.
This Disclaimer supplements, and should be read alongside, our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.