This is a cheaper way for people to have the look without the spending more. Of course they also miss out on the history that goes with the original piece. But for many it is

an option that we welcome. Many of my original antiques are things that have been handed down through the generations of my family. These things I really treasure.
duie to their craftsmanship and of course for their sentimental value. It is such a shame to think that so many antiques have been thrown out or destroyed over time because they were old and not fashionable any more.

If you are someone who really loves the original product whether it be furniture, cars, glass wear, dolls and so on and you want to purchase some then you should know a little bit about antiques. Just because something looks old and you love it does not mean it is worthy of an expensive antique price tag.

Of course, in the end if you’ve got the money and that is what you want then price doesn’t really matter but generally for the average person you should only pay what the product is truly worth. Especially if you want this product as an investment as many collectors do.

You need to learn about things such as certain markings or numbers to look for on some antiques. It is a way of knowing that they are original. It’s sad to think that there are also many remakes that are being sold as the originals when they are really just excellent copies. That is why it is important to learn a few things.

Ask around to find an antique dealer that has a good reputation. Then go and talk to him or her about what you are interested in. They can be a great source of information. There are also many good books that will be very helpful and educational. Once you arm yourself with this knowledge then you can start shopping with confidence.

Based on the Affordable Art Fair budget of less than GBP 3,000, a collector can access nearly 64% of the art market at auction. However, with 5.2% of sale volumes, contemporary works sold for under GBP 3,000 still remain marginal compared with modern or antique art.
In the field of contemporary art, the most recent works are often restricted to the primary market. It frequently takes several years for an emerging artist to make his or her debut in the secondary market – unless, of course, they rapidly rise to prominence thanks to extensive media coverage. This was the case, for example, with Banksy, the new star of the London art scene. When this graffiti artist made his auction debut in November 2003, his work was accessible at practically all levels of budget, with Keep it real selling for GBP 800. Two years later, a metre-wide format like Pest Modernist sold for just GBP 1,100 (USD 1,900) at Bonhams Knightsbridge. On 18 May 2005, he posted a message on his website announcing the exhibition of a remarkable primitive cave painting at the British Museum. The treasure hunt was on, the media picked up the brief news story and the artist was launched, his stencils moving from the street and prohibited locations into the gallery. In October 2007, The Rude Lord, a recent 2006 work, was snapped up for GBP 270,000 (USD 550,000) at Sotheby’s! This art world success story has added two zeros to his price level in the space of just two years with prestigious galleries now showing his work. While this example is somewhat exceptional, it does prove that you don’t need to invest millions to be able to purchase works by a well-known artist. In contemporary art, intuition is enough.

In 2007, barely 2,500 contemporary artists shared the auction market at under GBP 3,000. Half have never exceeded this price level at auction. Those who are most represented, multiplying the sales at less than GBP 3,000, have often already seen sales achieving tens or even thousands of euros. Their works for under GBP 3,000 are thus mostly multiple editions, studies or small-format paintings.
Takashi Murakami is the most evident in this price range, thanks to his numerous prints. And then and then and then and then and then, a 1986 silkscreen in 300 examples, was sold for EUR 1,300 at Artcurial (Paris) in February 2008. However, this artist’s room for price appreciation is limited and a collector can no longer hope for significant capital gains in that his major pieces already sell for more than the million mark, as was the case with Vapor Trail (2004), which sold for USD 2.1 million in November 2007. Thomas Ruff leads the photography market for under GBP 3,000, with no fewer than 43 negatives sold for less than this level in 2007. A series of 6 small ‘nudes’ photographs, edited in 50 examples, recently changed hands for USD 3,500 at Phillips, de Pury & Company. For drawings, the top three are Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara, British artist Peter Howson and the Swiss Ueli Hofer. In terms of paintings, there is plenty on offer, with nearly 1,500 artists selling works at under the GBP 3,000 threshold, of whom Mark Kostabi, Marco Lodola or even Bruno Checa are the most prolific.
It is in sculpture where the offer is most limited, although it should be said that this medium involves significant fixed costs in terms of materials. However, paradoxically, the most expensive contemporary artist in the market, Jeff Koons, tops the list of affordable sculpture coming up most frequently at auction. While his monumental Hanging Heart (Magenta/gold) sold for USD 21 million 2007, no fewer than 46 of his multiple-edition sculptures, such as Balloon Dog and Puppy, have changed hands for less than GBP 3,000.

source : http://web.artprice.com/