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1. Don't Clean Your Items..! |
By all
means, NEVER clean any of your antiques. This is by far the
most common mistake we see people make. It's an easy mistake to
make, because most of us believe the newer an item looks, the more
it's worth, RIGHT...?
Wrong.
Cleaning
can destroy an antique's value to a FRACTION of what it was worth
before it was cleaned. All the long years of natural development of the surface
qualities known as "patina" can be destroyed in a few moments
with a scouring pad.
The
original luster, paint, and finishes on coins, old toys, banks,
paintings, furniture, and the like can be permanently damaged
forever.
Serious
antique collectors value and demand this original patina, and pay far more
for untouched items than those that were cleaned.
While
some professional restoration can increase the value of some items,
cleaning serves no purpose in the majority of cases.
We love to see dust, rust, dirt, and tarnish on the
items you bring in. Old items are supposed to look old anyway.
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