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RIAM Blog
The experts at Rhode Island Antiques Mall share their knowledge and experience on a variety of topics around antiques and collectibles. Fun and insightful reading for everyone interested in antiques from the serious collector to the hobbyist.
Blog Posts by Category
Blog Posts by Category
Category: General Knowledge
Selling Old Automotive Items
While predecessors to what we know as today’s automobile were being developed as early as the 1600s, the first modern automobile with an internal combustion engine was produced by Karl Benz in 1888. Ever since, many folks have had a
Scott Davis
July 29, 2020
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What Makes Antique Electric Lamps Valuable
Let’s start out with a question that many people think they know the answer to: Who invented the lightbulb, and when? If your answer was Thomas Edison around 1880, then you’re off by a country mile. The first lightbulb was
Scott Davis
July 29, 2020
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Is Your Glassware Worth Anything?
RIAM does several estate or downsizing house calls per week, and while each visit is unique, one thing remains remarkably consistent. In preparation for the visit, virtually everyone covers their dining room table with dozens of pieces of unwanted glassware.
Scott Davis
July 29, 2020
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Your Old Holiday Decorations are Desirable
One of the big lures of antique hunting and ownership is the memories they help us recall and recreate. For most of us, special holiday moments with family and friends are among our warmest and most cherished memories. Somehow all
Scott Davis
July 29, 2020
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How to Sell Your Old Books
One of the most commonly misunderstood categories of antiques is books. Once again, it all comes down to the law of supply and demand. Considering just how many books there are in the world (how many have you bought in
Scott Davis
July 29, 2020
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Are All Collectibles Really Collectible?
Generally speaking, collectibles are mass-manufactured items made and marketed for the express purpose of being collected. Usually, they serve no purpose aside from filling an otherwise empty china or curio cabinet, but that never seems to stop folks from buying
Scott Davis
July 29, 2020
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Are Your Valuable Antiques Rotting Away?
As a high-volume antiques dealer, the vast majority of what RIAM sells comes out of homes. Our staff makes multiple house calls a week, and many of the people we visit are senior citizens or folks nearing retirement age. People
Scott Davis
July 29, 2020
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Is Your Furniture Truly Antique?
Chances are that you have old pieces of furniture that you think might be valuable. Perhaps they were passed down to you, or you purchased them second-hand. In this post, we’ll provide you with some guidelines to determine if your
Scott Davis
July 17, 2020
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Collecting Advice – General
Antique, Vintage and Retro: What’s the Difference?
One of the most frequently asked questions in the world of antiques is simply “what is an antique?” To some extent the answer is contextual. If you ask the U.S. Customs office, they’ll tell you that it’s anything that was
Scott Davis
July 14, 2020
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Ask the Experts at RIAM
With relevant college degrees and nearly 100 years of collective experience covering a broad range of art, antiques and collectibles – RIAM’s appraisers and experts can help you with your questions.
Submit your questions on anything from an object you can’t identify to how to care, collect, clean or restore your antiques. Your question might be the subject of a future article from our experts!
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