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Collecting antique art is a popular pastime enjoyed by people everywhere, but what is antique art? This is a difficult question, indeed. In order for an item to be considered an antique, it must be at least a certain number of years old. Some definitions of "antique," including the one used by the United States customs office, state that the item in question must be at least one hundred years old. Younger items may be considered "vintage," "classic" or even "retro". Other definitions, however, say that the item only needs to be fifty years old to be considered an antique. Yet another definition states that an antique is any valuable object produced during a former period that is beautiful or rare.

The definition of art is equally as ambiguous. Art is anything that is deliberately arranged to influence one or more emotions or senses. Some may only consider paintings, sculptures, or drawings to be true works of art. Works of literature and film are often included in these stricter definitions as well. However, art can really be any type of creation from a road sign to a printed advertisement. Art is everywhere we look, and it is impossible to right a specific definition for it.

Combining these two definitions, we can see that the category of antique art encompasses a wide variety of creations from the past. Whether it be an old oil painting or a discontinued postage stamp, antique art can be found in many different walks of life. Of course all of the more traditional forms of art are included, but non-conventional creative pieces can be considered antique art as well. Sometimes, these non-conventional pieces are more rare and desirable than the typical forms of art.

One of the most sought after forms of antique art is the antique painting. Antique paintings can be painted in one of several different mediums including pastel, oil, acrylic, watercolor, fresco, tempera, and more. In addition, paintings can come from many different countries and time periods. Some antique paintings can only be seen in museums or art galleries and are worth a lot of money, while others can be purchased by civilians. The price of an antique painting will vary based on the type of painting, time period, and artist. Antique paintings by famous artists such as Van Gogh or Monet would be very expensive indeed.

Another popular form of antique art is the antique sculpture. Antique sculptures are typically formed from stone, marble, glass, or wood. Sometimes, softer materials like clay may be used. Like paintings, antique sculptures come from a variety of different regions and time periods. Due to the nature of the materials from which they are formed, sculptures can last a very long time. As a result, it is possible to find and purchase antique sculptures that are extremely old. The older and more rare the sculpture, the higher the price will generally be.

Perhaps a less typical category of antique art is written work, such as poetry, short stories, and novels. Older editions of such works can be very rare and difficult to find. In addition, older bound books and fragile and must be handled with extreme care. As a result, a piece found in good condition can be even rarer and extremely expensive in some cases. As is expected, the exact prices of these works will be heavily dependent upon the author, age, and condition of the work.

Non-conventional antique art can include such items as old costume jewelry, advertisements, stamps, signs, and much more. These art forms come from all different time periods and locations as well. In addition, the prices of these items vary considerably based on the nature of the item. In fact, the oldest and most sought after antique postage stamp, the Treskilling Yellow, can be priced as high as $2.3 million! Obviously, not all non-conventional antique art is that expensive. Smaller, more common pieces can be purchased for considerably less.

Collecting antique art can be a very interesting hobby. With all of the different kinds of antique art available, there really is something for everyone. All of the more conventional art forms, such as paintings, sculptures, and books can be antique art, but antique art can be anything that is aged and creative, from an old ring to a manuscript from the 1800s. The price of a piece of antique art can vary greatly based on the type of item, its age, and how rare it is. Even non-conventional antique art can sometimes be worth large amounts of money, especially when it is unique or difficult to find.