Antique Dealer

Antique dealers buy and sell items which are valuable because they are old or in demand. These can include furniture, household goods, industrial goods, china, glass, paintings, toys, books, records, coins, stamps and old postcards.

The Work

You could be:

• buying and selling in a range of items, or specialising in one area, for example, in furniture


• attending auctions, trade fairs, markets and house clearances to bid for goods


• buying, selling and checking prices of items on the internet


• constantly looking out for bargains


• studying the identity and value of items


• negotiating prices with sellers and buyers


• making minor repairs to damaged goods


• building up a network of contacts


• advising customers what their items are worth for insurance or sales purposes.

Conditions

• You spend part of your time in a retail shop or, perhaps, a market stall.


• You must be willing to travel widely to buy items.


• There might be heavy lifting.


• You will probably work long hours, including evenings and weekends.


• You could work part time.

Getting In

There are no formal entry requirements for antique dealers. You can get in by various ways.

• Find job vacancies in the antique field, for example: sales assistant, porter or driver - by approaching dealers yourself.


• Get experience and on the job training as a dealer's assistant or porter in a saleroom or auction house. You do not usually need qualifications.


• With some capital you can run an antique stall in a market one or two days a week.


• A degree in a subject like history, fine art or history of fine art, or even in a business related subject, is useful.


• If you have a degree in another subject, but are interested in antiques, you might also get in.

What Does It Take?

You should have:

• a good knowledge of antiques


• negotiating and selling skills


• business skills and an eye for bargains


• a driving licence


• good communication and number skills


• an ability to keep accurate records


• practical skills to keep items in good condition


• physical fitness if you are working with large items, such as furniture.

Training

• Museums and big auction houses run private training courses. The fees are often high.


• Most dealers build up their knowledge of antiques over years from a hobby basis.

Getting On

• Big auction houses offer the best promotion chances, with possible progression to valuer, specialist dealer or auctioneer.


• There are also jobs with small specialist companies.


• There is a lot of competition for jobs, and many antique dealers are self-employed.
• Some dealers also offer antique repair services.

Pay

The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:

• where you work


• the size of company or organisation you work for


• the demand for the job.

More Information

The British Antique Dealers' Association website publishes advice on making a career in antiques.

Addresses

The following organisation(s) may be able to provide further information.