As you can see, I have started to expand the categories in my shop. Alongside country cottage and artisan pieces, I have added an antiques category as well. The section is empty at the moment, and I am not rushing to fill it. Antiques require proper research, and I want to be as accurate and honest as possible about each piece—both in its description and its price. There is always more to learn, and I would rather take my time and do it properly.
In many ways, this feels like a natural next step for An Autumn Berry, because throughout my adult life I have always been drawn to pieces that seem to carry the feeling of another time.
That is why, as the collection gradually grows, you will find vintage and antique-style pieces alongside true vintage and genuine antiques. I choose both, but for different reasons.
Some pieces bring us the look of the past; others bring a real piece of the past with them.
What Does Vintage or Antique Style Mean?
Vintage-style and antique-style pieces are newly made but designed to have the appearance of something older.
Their shape, colours, materials or decorative details may be inspired by pieces from another period. Some are given distressed paintwork, aged metal, a weathered finish or an artificial patina to create that lovely “vintagy” character.
These pieces are normally more affordable because they are made today, often in larger quantities, and can usually be produced or ordered again. You are paying for their design, craftsmanship and appearance rather than their age, rarity or history.
I do not see vintage-style pieces as second best. They make it possible to bring the atmosphere of an older interior into your home at a more accessible price. They can also be practical when you need matching pieces, a particular size or something that can be replaced.
But What Is True Vintage?
Unlike antique, the word vintage does not have one universally agreed age.
I did some research, and some sources say that an item should be at least 20 years old. Within the antiques trade, however, many people consider an item vintage when it is approximately 30 to 40 years old but not yet 100. Some reserve the description true vintage for pieces at least 50 years old, while certain online marketplaces accept items from 20 years old as vintage.
What matters is that a true vintage piece was genuinely made in an earlier period—it is not a newly made object designed simply to look old.
Its fading, small marks and signs of wear developed naturally through age and use. It may have belonged to another person, stood in another home or been used for a completely different purpose before finding its way to you.
True vintage pieces are often more expensive because they are no longer being made. Once one is sold, finding another exactly the same may be difficult or impossible.
The price may also reflect the time spent sourcing the piece, researching its origin, cleaning it and carefully restoring it when necessary. Its maker, materials, condition, quality and rarity can all affect its value.
Whenever possible, I will include an estimated decade or period in the description, giving you a clearer and more honest idea of the piece’s age.
And Now an Even More Interesting Subject: What Is a True Antique?
A true antique is generally an item that is at least 100 years old.
Antiques can be more expensive because of their age, scarcity, craftsmanship and history. Many were created by hand using traditional materials and techniques that are rarely used today. Their condition, maker and provenance can add considerably to their value.
However, being old does not automatically make an object beautiful, rare or expensive. A younger Art Deco piece by an important designer may be worth considerably more than an ordinary object made a century earlier.
Age is only one part of the story. Rarity, quality, craftsmanship, maker, condition, provenance and current demand all influence value.
Vintage and antiques are not only things I sell. For me, they have also become a wonderful source of learning.
I do not know everything—far from it—but I am learning all the time. Every new piece makes me want to go deeper: searching for marks, studying how it was made, researching its possible maker and discovering what was happening during that period of history.
Sometimes one small vase, box or decorative object can lead me into a completely new subject that I knew nothing about before. I find that absolutely fascinating. Perhaps this is another reason I am becoming more and more drawn to true vintage and antiques—it is not only about finding beautiful pieces, but also about discovering the stories and history behind them.
Style Is a Clue—Not Proof
Recognising a carved-oak chest as Jacobean in style or a vase as Art Deco in appearance is only the beginning. Later generations repeatedly borrowed from earlier designs.
To estimate age more reliably, we must also examine the materials, construction, base, maker’s marks, hardware, natural wear and provenance. The original purpose of an object may also provide clues about the period in which it was made.
Sometimes the most honest description is simply “in the style of,” “believed to date from” or “age unknown.” There is nothing wrong with that. It is always better than presenting an uncertain object as something it may not be.
How Can Something Be True Vintage and Antique-Style at the Same Time?
My own Italian wall clock is a perfect example.
I bought it more than 25 years ago, and it is still working perfectly. It appears to have been made during the 1960s or 1970s, which makes it true vintage.
Its elaborate decoration was inspired by much older Baroque and Rococo designs. This makes it antique-style as well.
So, by age, the clock is true vintage. By appearance, it is antique-style. However, it is not a true antique because it is not at least 100 years old.
The back reveals that the clock was made in Italy from moulded, shatter-resistant polystyrene and fitted with a battery-operated movement.
The reverse is marked “Made in Italy,” “shatter-resistant polystyrene” and “registered design.”
This clock perfectly demonstrates why appearance alone cannot tell us the age of an object. It looks much older than it really is, but its materials, movement and markings reveal its true story.
What Matters to Me
What matters to me is that the difference is always clear.
If something is newly made, I will describe it as vintage-style, antique-style or vintage-inspired. If I describe a piece as true vintage or antique, it is genuinely old, based on the information and research available.
I love both for different reasons. One brings the look and atmosphere of the past; the other carries genuine age and history. And I believe there is room for both in a home with personality.
🤍Until next time…
Love,
AAB