Specialists will be aware that anything rare and valuable that is worth collecting does not come cheaply and will be much sought after. Often functional as well as decorative,
antique pottery and glassware is a highly desirable collector's item. They will also know where the best deals are to be found and will deal with only reputable traders to preserve their own reputations.
Unlike the professional antique dealer, most amateur collectors will be found at garage sales, estate auctions and flea markets. They will look for the most unusual or eye-catching piece and consider if it's worth the asking price. They will be thinking about adding to an existing collection and how good the item looks.
Knowing what you are looking for, how much you are willing to pay for it and where the best place to find it, is all things that the part-time collector will take into account. If they know what to look for, they may pay attention to marks on the item which will denote its origin or maker, the skill with which it is made and the weight of it, to be able to separate a fake from a genuine article.
Flooding the market with a particular item would decrease its collectible value quite significantly as a collectible is valued by its scarcity. It's a safe assumption that anyone who assembles any kind of collection harbors the secret fantasy of one day achieving fame and accolades for being the person who found a rare and wonderful work of art hidden in the dusty corner of a junk shop in the middle of nowhere.
Collecting glassware is a passion for some people. They eagerly hunt for the next piece of milk glass to add to their growing collection, or Carnival glass with its iridescent sheen. Setting their beautiful objects on display, making space to add another item becomes all-consuming.
Glassware also refers to cooking dishes such as Pyrex, which were originally designed for functionality combined with good looks and design. With a recently renewed interest in all things vintage, the pastel Pyrex dishes from the fifties and sixties are now highly desirable. Many of these items are kept in daily use by their proud owners, having either inherited or hunted for them.
The clay that is used to make pottery can often be used to identify the region that it was produced it. Many clays contain ores specific to a certain area and once glazed, the colors are identifiers. When buying a pottery item, the buyer should have at least some knowledge of what to look for to ensure their item is what they are expecting.
As an amateur collector, be cautious about buying something for its potential financial return. You will more than likely be disappointed by the result. If you collect with an eye for what you consider to be lovely, you will always be rewarded with the feeling of happiness that comes from looking at your collection.