Objects of yore are still gold

Once upon a time they were symbols of pride --- bronze lamps, HMV gramophones, Tiffany lamps and grandfather clocks --- representing regal status.

After the 90s, bronze lost its sheen so did the light around these objects, the gramophone faded away and tiffany lamps faded into oblivion. As the young generation started to throw them away or put them in a place occupied by junk material.

But now the golden period is staging a comeback. The antique clocks, lamps and furniture are in demand these days. 'Father buys a product, son throws it out and grandson buys it again.' This is how the demand for antique goods has risen, said a shopkeeper dealing with antique goods. 'I started collecting pens 20 years ago and now I have around 500 pens in my collection. Later I started an antique clock shop,' said Ajith Kumar running a shop in Spencer Plaza.

''We have agents who help us find the antiques, we sell it to collecters and customers. It is difficult to win the trust of the customers as a lot of duplicate stuff comes up in the marketplace,' added Ajith.

Grandfather clocks and gramophones which have a very long histroy from mid- 1700s are now being using as a decorative piece in the mantle of the houses, hotels, offices etc. The tiffany lamp has proved that still it has its royal look.

'People still come to us for restoration of the old clocks. The cost of renovation depends on the condition of the product.' said Sudhakar working in an antique shop on Pantheon Road. 'Since there is a demand for the products, we collect them and sell them,' added he

One can get a gramophone for Rs 1,500- Rs 2000, it all depends on the size, condition of the product and antiquity, he added.

'I've been collecting coins. I have spent a lot of money and time on this, It's more or less a hobby.The satisfaction and delight that I experience after adding a new coin to my collection can't be explained.' said Haris a coin collecter.

Both the dealers and collecters agree that the decorative pieces should be maintained properly, only then it will have value. Today online antique shopping centres help to sell or buy antiques or collectibles.The city itself has around 30 shops dealing with antiques.

To buy a real antique, the customers have to approach a reputable dealer who has been in the business for many years and there are lots of websites and catalog books available in the market to give guidelines to buyers.For example Bronze fakes are often made of cast iron with a bronze plate. Magnets will easily stick to these items. If it sticks, it's not bronze!

Nobody know what is the reason behind the people's interest in purchasing antiques. 'Lifestyle is like a circle. The taste of people keeps changing every 20-30 years. So they will reach to the old point again and again. Maybe they have reached the era of gramophones and grandfather clocks, said Ajith.

(Courtesy: Newstoday)