How to Buy Antiques Online More Safely
Online buying provides access to dealers and objects around the world, but photographs can conceal scale, surface, repairs and structural problems. A disciplined process reduces avoidable risk.
Verify the seller
Check the business name, address, telephone number, trading history and specialist field. Membership of a respected dealer association can provide a code of practice and complaints route, but it does not authenticate every object. The [AAADA code](https://aaada.org.au/about/code-dealers/) explicitly notes that association membership itself is not a guarantee of authenticity.
Confirm that contact and payment details belong to the same business. Be cautious if communication suddenly moves to a different account or bank.
Save the complete listing
Keep the description, measurements, price, photographs, stock number, seller details and terms. Ask for material claims about maker, date, provenance and restoration to appear on the invoice.
Request targeted evidence
Ask for current photographs from all sides, plus the back, underside, interior, marks, labels, repairs and damage. For functional furniture, request a video of drawers, doors or extension mechanisms being operated safely.
Read the wording carefully
Distinguish "by," "attributed to," "workshop of," "style of" and "after." Ask the seller to define unfamiliar terms. Verify dimensions and whether frames, stands, keys, lids or other accessories are included.
Investigate condition and provenance
Request a written condition report and ownership history. [CINOA's ethical guidance](https://www.cinoa.org/about/code-of-ethics/) emphasises risk-based due diligence and provenance research. Higher-risk categories require greater documentary scrutiny and sometimes specialist advice.
Calculate the total price
Include shipping, packing, insurance, buyer's premium, tax, import charges and currency costs. Confirm who bears risk if the object is damaged in transit and what evidence a claim requires.
Review returns and payment
Read the terms and the rules applying in the relevant jurisdiction. Rights differ by sale type and location, so obtain current advice for a significant purchase. Use a traceable payment method with appropriate protection.
Plan delivery
Use a carrier experienced with antiques. Confirm packing method, insurance value and access measurements. Photograph damaged packaging before opening and follow the carrier's process promptly.
Warning signs
- A price far below comparable examples without explanation
- Stock photographs instead of the actual object
- Refusal to provide additional images
- Pressure to pay outside the stated platform
- Vague provenance presented as fact
- Bank details changing at the last moment
- No detailed invoice
The [AAADA guide to shopping for antiques](https://aaada.org.au/shopping-for-antiques-art/) recommends communicating with specialist dealers and using their expertise; online convenience should not remove that conversation.
For restoration demonstrations and workshop stories, [watch and subscribe to Antique Repair Shop on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@AntiqueRepairShop).
Sources and further reading
- [AAADA: Shopping for antiques and art](https://aaada.org.au/shopping-for-antiques-art/)
- [AAADA: Dealer Code of Practice](https://aaada.org.au/about/code-dealers/)
- [CINOA: Code of Ethics](https://www.cinoa.org/about/code-of-ethics/)