• Cash In on Antiques

• Find Out What's Hot in Antiques

• Get Top Dollar for Your Antiques

• Ship Your Antiques

• Build Your Reputation

Cash In on Antiques

Cash In on Antiques

Many Antique collectors use eBay not only as a place to buy unique Antiques, but as a way to fund their growing collections. Whether you are saving up for that must-have addition to your collection or need supplies to finish your latest restoration project, selling on eBay is the perfect way to earn extra money. Swap out your unused pieces—that art deco clock in your closet or that French bureau in the attic—and buy yourself a new treasure.

What's It Worth?

Already have an item in mind? Visit Antiques Seller Central to find out the average selling price of similar pieces on eBay. You can also search completed listings to see how others are selling similar items.

Find Out What's Hot in Antiques

Find Out What's Hot in Antiques

You can sell Antiques for every room of the house on eBay, from antique salt and pepper shakers for the dining room to antique wall clocks for the office. The following provides just a small sampling of the myriad of Antiques that you could sell on eBay. To get a real-time view of what’s in demand, what buyers are searching for, and what items are selling the most, visit Antiques Seller Central.

• Antique silver: Antique silver collections from any time period, style, or maker can be sold on eBay. Individual pieces, such as antique silver-plated serving forks are also popular with buyers. There are two major categories of antique silverware: Antique flatware includes utensils such as knives, forks, and spoons. Antique hollowware includes vessels like bowls, tea services, trays, and vases. Sterling silver is the highest-quality silver, but silver plate is also popular and retains all of the beauty of sterling. American silver that is slightly lower in value than sterling is often referred to as coin silver. Look on your silver for a hallmark, or stamp, which often indicates the standard of silver, origin, and other valuable information.

• Antique ceramics and porcelain: Porcelain is also known as china, so named for the country of its origin. Chinese porcelain was originally exported to the U.S. in large quantities, with patterns of rose medallions, honeycombs, and butterflies. English china was also widely exported, by makers such as Spode and Royal Dalton. Blue and white is a popular color scheme for dinnerware and other porcelain; well-known examples are Meissen’s Blue Onion and Royal Copenhagen’s Blue Fluted Lace.

• Antique pottery: The mineral content in clay gives antique pottery its basic color. Some varieties of antique pottery include redware, yellowware, and stoneware. American Art Pottery was created in large quantities during the mid-19th century and is now widely collected.

• Antique clocks: There are many varieties of antique clocks, including tall case clocks (or grandfather clocks), carriage clocks, mantel clocks, wall clocks, and pocket watches. The case design of clocks generally follows the style of furniture of the period. Clocks that are elaborately designed are usually more highly valued, but austere clocks are also popular on eBay.

• Antique metalware: Antique metalwork or metalware comes in many forms, from magnificent bronze sculptures to humble pewter utensils. Metals commonly found include bronze, iron, copper, brass, and pewter. One popular form of metalware being sold today is folk art.

• Asian antiques: Asian antiques can include antique furniture, carvings, statues, porcelain, and art; these antiques originate from areas like China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. Antique Buddha figures are quite popular and are made of varied materials like bronze and wood. Also popular are highly detailed antique jade statues and pairs of matching antique cloisonné vases.

• Antique furniture: Whether you have an antique bed, bookcase, cabinet, armoire, cupboard, chair, desk, dining set, dresser, vanity, sofas chaise, or other antique furniture, you can sell just about every style of antique furniture on eBay. Period furniture, as opposed to reproductions, were made in the time period when that particular style was new and popular. After furniture manufacturing technology became prevalent, revivals such as Gothic Revival and Renaissance Revival were created, which has led to the prevalence of antique reproductions. American furniture styles include: William and Mary (1690-1725), Queen Anne (1725-1750), Chippendale (1750-1780), Federal (1790-1815), Classical (1815-1825), Empire (1825-1845), and Country and Shaker (1690-1900). French furniture styles include: Louis XIV (1643-1715), Louis XV (1723-1774), and Louis Philippe (1830-1848). English furniture styles include: Georgian (1714-1812), Regency (1812-1830), Victorian (1837-1901), and Edwardian (1901-1910).

• Antique rugs: Many antique rugs are handmade and are truly folk art. Rugs can have a flat surface, like on a tapestry or a pile surface. Anything smaller than 9 x 6 feet is a rug, while anything larger is called a carpet. Runners refer to long, narrow carpets. Antique rugs refer to rugs more than 50 years old. Oriental rugs are of Chinese or Persian origin. Persian rugs include prayer rugs, urban-made rugs, village rugs, and nomadic rugs. Other rugs include those of American Indian origin, and folk rugs.

• Other popular antiques: Other popular Antiques on eBay include: antiquities, architectural & garden, books, manuscripts, decorative arts, ethnographic, maps, atlases, globes, maritime, musical instruments, primitives, science & medicine, and textiles.

Get Top Dollar for Your Antiques

Get Top Dollar for Your Antiques

Once you know what you are going to sell, it’s time to think about how to attract Antiques buyers. Here are the top tips from eBay’s most successful sellers.

Help Buyers Find Your Items with Keywords

Keywords are a great way to attract buyers to your listing, especially when used correctly in your Listing Title. Listing titles are used by eBay’s search engine to pull up listings during a search. Use your 55 characters wisely, and try to anticipate what buyers will be searching for. Find out what is being searched right now with our list of Top Antiques Searches. Be sure to include common search terms like “vintage” and “antique,” when appropriate. State important characteristics of your item—age of the item, country of origin, style or brand, type of material, and exactly what it is. Of course, you should only include keywords that are relevant to the item you are selling. You can also search current and completed eBay listings to see what other sellers include in their titles.

In your Listing Description, make sure to include both basic information and details about your item. A good description is concise, well organized, and easy to read. Create bold section headlines, bulleted lists, and be sure to restate the information featured in your title plus more details such as dimensions and weight, condition, estimated value, repairs or restoration, and any other interesting features. You can also insert photos or links to videos that highlight the unique attributes of your item. Think about your listing from the buyer's perspective. The more information you provide, the more likely the buyer will be to place a bid on your item.

Here are some abbreviations commonly used by other sellers to describe their Antiques. Make sure you only use a term when you are sure it applies to your item.

• C, CI: Circa. Circa is used to describe an approximation of a date.

• COA: Certificate of Authenticity. If your item was produced in limited quantity, it may have been sold with a Certificate of Authenticity stating important information such as artist, production number, production limit, and date. Some COAs can be granted by third-party graders and authenticators.

• KPSI: Knots per square inch. KSPI is sometimes used as a measurement of quality for rugs.

Do Your Research

Antique guides are available on almost every topic and will help you identify key markings for specific items. Porcelain marks and silver hallmarks, for example, can help you decipher symbols on a piece, revealing information about the origin and maker of an item.

Examining your Antique closely can help you identify details that will give away the age of your item. When looking at antique silver, most American sterling silver is post-1860 and marked “sterling” on the piece. Silver manufactured before industrialization may show signs of being hand-hammered. Also look for initials engraved in a piece which can provide clues as to the date and origin. For example, the style of the lettering might give you hits as to the time period. If you are selling antique pottery, look for marks stamped, painted, or incised on the bottom or back of the piece which can give you information of the date and country of manufacture. Antique furniture and woodwork styles can give away age—circular saw marks are a sign the furniture was made after 1840. Note if there are any smooth edges produced by a power saw. Look for branding that has been carved, painted, or burned into the wood.

When trying to sell a rare antique, it may be worthwhile to get your item appraised and authenticated. Authenticating your Antiques not only provides you with a good estimate on expected sale price, but it also builds buyer confidence. Third-party graders and authenticators are qualified, experienced professionals who pledge to provide unbiased opinions.

Note: Opinions expressed by evaluators are theirs alone. eBay does not examine items listed on its site and does not have the expertise to evaluate items. eBay cannot guarantee the findings of any evaluator — authentication and grading are difficult, often subjective matters where experts themselves occasionally disagree. Each of the companies listed on the Opinions, Authentication, and Grading page that provides authentication and/or grading services is an independent company, and eBay is not responsible in any way for any action, inaction, opinion or service in connection with these companies. You should review the credentials of each company and use your own judgment before using any company's services.

Showcase Your Antiques with Great Photos

As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words! Photos are the closest you can get to putting your Antiques in the hands of potential buyers. Here are some tips on how to best represent your item:

• Choose the Right Background: Use a contrasting, solid backdrop. By placing your Antique on a solid black or white backdrop, you draw a buyer’s immediate attention onto the item. This is easily achieved by hanging a bed sheet or placing poster board behind and under the item. Use a plain, colored fabric backdrop to make your item stand out. Most importantly, avoid background clutter that can distract buyers or confuse them regarding what you are selling.

• Cover All Angles: Take pictures from multiple angles and distances, zooming in on important details. Make sure you highlight any signatures, branding, dates, frame or painting style with a close-up picture. Zoom in to show textures. Include photos of any flaws, tears, or marks to give buyers a clear idea of what they are bidding on—this helps build a buyer’s confidence in your item.

• Use Proper Lighting: Natural light tends to give the best representation of your item, however direct sunlight can have the nasty effect of shadows. Find an area that receives indirect sunlight. Try taking your item outside on a sunny day and photograph it in a shady area. If you can't seem to find an area like this, or would prefer to use indoor lighting, try surrounding your item with desk, overhead, or floor lamps. Above all, avoid using your camera's flash which causes distortion and shadows

• Add Gallery: Including a Gallery photo with your listing is extremely important for success. You can attract attention to your item with a photo next to your listings in search results. In addition, when a buyer uses “Picture Gallery” to look at search results, your listing will be shown. Your Gallery picture should be a very clear, uncluttered view of your item. Since it is the only photo visible on search pages, make sure it provides a good representation of your item.

Maximize Profits with Low Priced, No Reserve Listings

Auction style listings are a great way to create excitement around your Antiques, which in turn can develop into a bidding frenzy among buyers—which could result in a higher selling price for you. The keys to a successful antique auction style listing are to get your first bid and encourage bidders to continue bidding.

• Low Starting Price: Getting that first bid is critical, as other buyers are generally more likely to jump in if they see there are already bids on an item. To do this, many sellers prefer to set an opening bid below what the item is actually worth. Try beginning with a low starting price—such as 99 cents—to jumpstart bidding activity.

• No Reserve: Be careful when setting a reserve price. Buyers may lose interest in an item if they place a bid and find it doesn't meet the reserve. Because they do not know the reserve price, they may assume the seller is simply asking too much for the item. To prevent this from happening, try listing your item with "No Reserve." Items sold with "No Reserve" typically attract more buyer interest, as buyers know that they will actually win the item if they are the high bidder.

• Accept PayPal: Buyers want to know that they can pay securely when making a purchase on eBay. By accepting PayPal payments, you can build buyer confidence and help protect yourself. PayPal transfers payments to a bank account of your choice and notifies you when a payment has been received. Best of all, PayPal offers free online tools to make managing your payments easier. You can even print shipping labels and track your shipments.

Ship Your Antiques

Ship Your Antiques

Specifying reasonable shipping and handling costs in your listing is essential for smart selling—and it improves your search ranking when buyers sort by total cost. Never leave a buyer wondering how much shipping will cost.

Calculate Shipping Costs

Often times, shipping costs will vary by distance. To make sure your shipping charges reflect this, incorporate a shipping calculator into your listing. With the shipping calculator, eBay can automatically calculate the shipping cost for your buyers based on the size and weight of your item and the buyer’s location. You can also program the calculator to add in the cost of packaging materials and your handling fee, if any.

Select a Service Option

To protect both you and your buyer against loss or damage during shipping, consider purchasing shipping insurance for your package—especially for higher priced items. Shipping insurance is available through most shipping companies, and can be purchased while you pay for shipping. You can factor in the cost of shipping insurance into your shipping cost—but make sure you state in your description that you are doing so. Buyers want to know that they are paying extra for shipping for a good reason.

If you are selling larger items such as bookcases, beds, vanities, or other antique furniture, freight shipping might be the easiest and cheapest way to get your item to your buyer. Freight shipping is usually reserved for items over 150 pounds, and is available in the United States and Canada. Find out more at the Freight Resource Center.

Package Your Antiques Securely

After your item sells, you are ready to ship it off to its new home. Make sure you package your item safely and securely. Use bubble wrap, foam, or other packaging materials to make sure your item is not damaged during its move. If you take an item apart to ship it, include a list of pieces and instructions on how to put it back together. Here are a few steps to think about:

• Wrap It: Individually wrap items and provide lots of cushioning (bubble wrap, peanuts, foam, corrugated dividers, or crumpled paper). Be careful if you choose to reuse newspaper—the ink can rub off and damage your items. If you use foam peanuts, be aware that they may shift in transit, so overfill your box. Remove any glass and package it separately wrapped in glass-skin or plastic to avoid scratches. If any pieces could be damaged by water, make sure you wrap them with a layer of sealed plastic. Protect edges of frames by cutting foam or cardboard to fit. Remember, wrap and pack firmly—you don’t want to hear any rattling!

• Box It: If the item is on the smaller side, you can order free USPS Priority Mail boxes right on eBay—the United States Postal Service will even deliver them right to your door for free! For larger items, use a corrugated box with rigid sides, intact flaps, and plenty of room for cushioning on all sides. Don't exceed the maximum gross weight of the box (usually printed on bottom flap).

• Seal It: Use strong tape designed for shipping, rather than masking tape, cellophane tape, string or paper over-wrap. Once you’ve sealed up your package, you can pay for shipping and print shipping labels right from your PayPal account. You can even request a pickup from USPS or UPS, saving you a trip to the Post Office or UPS location.

Build Your Reputation

Build Your Reputation

Communication is the key to a successful transaction. Make sure you’re available before, during, and after the sale. Answer any questions about your item promptly. Include a thank you note in your package—it’s a great way to surprise and delight your buyer and encourage them to leave you positive feedback.

Always Leave Feedback

Feedback is extremely important for all eBay users. Consistent positive feedback lets buyers know that you manage transactions well and that you care about your reputation. One way to help ensure good feedback is to communicate well, represent your item truthfully in your listing, and be polite. Also remember your buyer’s feedback score is as important to them as yours is to you—so be courteous, thoughtful, and truthful when leaving feedback.

Express Yourself

Be more than just a username to your buyers. Introduce yourself through your About Me page and MyWorld. Add pictures, keep track of your favorite buyers, and tell the community about your interests and collections. Show your expertise by writing Reviews & Guides. Connect with other Antiques traders and collectors on the Antiques Discussion Board. Remember, be yourself—and have fun!

Sell for a Cause

Support your favorite cause and enhance buyer trust and loyalty at the same time. eBay Giving Works listings tend to sell at higher final prices, because buyers are more willing to purchase, and often pay more for, items that benefit a nonprofit. Get more exposure and receive a receipt for your tax-deductible donations!