One of the most beloved aspects of antiquing, collecting, and thrifting is what we collectors call “the hunt”; knowing that your next great find is still out there just waiting to be discovered. It’s what keeps us motivated.
Traveling from place to place and meeting and engaging in a community of like-minded collectors and enthusiasts is all part of the experience that adds another, important dimension to what we love about what we collect, and collecting in general: infusing our own experience into the object’s history and story.
Those of us old enough remember the antiques marketplace before and after the rise of the Internet know that it has forever changed where and how we shop and how dealers and collectors do business, with all the benefits and drawbacks that come with such disruptive change.
When I purchased the Journal of Antiques in 2014, the internet was already impacting the antiques marketplace. To stay in the game, long-established Main Street antique shops needed to be online – at the very minimum with a website and Facebook page – to reach a broader market that was growing accustomed to searching and shopping online. Some in the business saw this transition as a sign that the time had come to sell or retire, while others leaned into the challenge by building online shops and partnering with auction sites, virtual shows, and e-commerce-based websites to keep pace with this rapidly expanding marketplace and the new buyers and sellers it was attracting.
During COVID, “online antiquing” went from being another, albeit rising market channel to becoming the industry’s primary lifeline as shops, auction houses, and shows waited to resume their live and in-person business, and buyers felt comfortable being out in public again. In our isolation and from the comfort of our couch, new platforms and services emerged as alternatives to in-person shopping, reinforcing the resiliency, convenience, and popularity of an online marketplace for antiques, collectibles, and all things vintage.
While live and in-person buying and selling has come back strong post-pandemic, that has not slowed down business online. According to research analysts IBISWorld, the market size of the Online Antiques & Collectibles Sales industry in the U.S. has grown 11.1% per year on average between 2018 and 2023 and generated $2.5 billion in revenue in 2023.
While many of us still prefer to do our buying and selling live and in person, and have not forsaken auctions, shows, estate sales and antique shops, it is hard to ignore the allure of shopping and selling online. Platforms such as eBay, Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, Instagram, AuctionNinja, Invaluable.com, and Ruby Lane attract a global audience with their powerful search engines, item images, and detailed product descriptions. The convenience of one-click electronic payment and home delivery only adds to their appeal. No longer is the marketplace or the buyer for that matter restricted by proximity or affected by the weather.
Another appeal of antiquing online is the “anywhere/anytime” access to resources and the information it affords. How often have you come across something in a shop or at a show that you wished you knew more about when considering a purchase? Now, you can take a picture with Google Lens and use the app to search for comparisons to same or similar objects; subscribe to sites such as Kovels, WorthPoint, or invaluable.com to check on current market values; search to identify maker marks; find more information about a brand; and connect with collector clubs for input from knowledgeable collectors. All these great apps and online tools, many of which we cover in this issue, are great on-the-go companions for the hunter and collector, whether you are shopping in person or from home.
But wait, say technologists, the best is yet to come:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is also expected to impact the online antique trade. According to an article in FIRSTonline (July 31, 2024), “one of the most significant impacts of AI in the antique and vintage community will likely be its role in authenticity assessments, as AI-based tools and machine learning algorithms can now analyze images, historical data and object descriptions to identify authentic pieces from reproductions or fakes. As a result of these advanced algorithms, it can be believed that the antique and vintage market will eventually become a more reliable and safe space to market. Furthermore, this technology will be able to assist in the restoration and conservation of historical artifacts. How image recognition can be achieved to better help conservators identify damaged areas in paintings or sculptures and suggest appropriate restoration techniques. No less important is being able to carry out a better analysis of the materials, helping to determine their age and origin.”
Another advantage of AI will be event notification. According to an article in Flea Market Insider from June 2023, “AI could keep us informed of upcoming events in our area by aggregating data from multiple sources, such as a fleamarket’s calendar of upcoming antique shows. By providing timely event notifications, Artificial Intelligence would ensure that we don’t miss out on interesting opportunities to explore new markets, meet dealers and discover unique antique treasures.”
Virtual showrooms are another potential advantage of AI in the antiques world. “AI-powered virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) platforms will be able to create immersive virtual flea market experiences. We could explore different stalls, interact with sellers and examine items virtually. These virtual showrooms will be able to partially replicate the atmosphere of a physical flea market, allowing us to browse through antique treasures without leaving the comfort of our homes. Virtual showrooms will also allow us to assess the authenticity, condition and attractiveness of items before making a purchase, increasing our confidence and satisfaction.”
While the term “Online Antiquing” may seem like an oxymoron, the use and integration of technology in searching, shopping, researching, and/or selling antiques and collectibles online is here to stay. One will not replace the other but together they offer the greatest potential for finding what we are looking for at the best price possible, wherever the hunt takes us.
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