Ten Condition Questions to Ask Before Buying an Antique

Condition is not a single grade. Ask how an object has changed, what is original, what has been repaired and whether any issue is active.

What to do

Request views of backs, undersides, interiors, feet, joints, labels and damaged areas. Ask about replacements, refinishing, worm, cracks, lifting veneer, missing parts and structural movement.

Before you commit

Clarify which defects prevent normal use and which are stable signs of age. For complex objects, ask who performed restoration and when.

Keep the record

A written answer is more useful than a general phrase such as “good condition for age.”

Trusted references

• [BADA: Buying antiques](https://www.bada.org/advice/buying-and-selling-antiques/buying-antiques)
• [CINOA: Code of Ethics and Charter](https://www.cinoa.org/about/code-of-ethics/)

This guide is general information, not legal, financial, insurance or valuation advice. Terms and consumer rights vary by location and sale method.

Continue learning

Watch practical examinations and restoration work on the [Antique Repair Shop YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@AntiqueRepairShop).