OFO No: 522101

What is an Antique Dealer?

Antique Dealers deal with the buying and selling of antique items. They can work for an antique company, an auction house, a store, or on an independent basis.

To be an Antique Dealer, you have to have a deep knowledge of antiques and what they are worth.

As an Antique Dealer you need to be able to sell and to establish a reliable network of contacts who you either buy from or sell to. You will spend your time meeting with potential contacts, visiting existing contacts, and working with their network to keep things current. They help clients make the best decisions when purchasing antiques which are not only valuable, but sometimes hard to come by.

Antiques dealers get involved in their own and also visit auction houses on a regular basis. They visit other antique salesrooms, and are constantly looking out to potential profitable purchases.

What does and Antique Dealer do?

• meet and liaise with clients and potential clients
• continually research and study the background and pricing to antiques
• specialise in a particular field: ceramics, paintings, art deco furniture, toys etc
• source objects/antiques to sell
• contact clients once you have found specialised collector’s pieces

Are you … ?

• interested in antiques?
• passionate about history?
• observant?
• a good negotiator?
• willing to travel to see clients and/or source items?
• reading and researching?

How do I become an Antique Dealer?

To become an Antiques Dealer one does not have to get any formal training or education. Having a sound understanding of antiques, the market place and trends in the antique industry is all you need to learn in order for you to be a dealer.

There are, however, some training courses which can help antique dealers expand on their knowledge and their approach to business.  Most of the time it’s knowledge that’s only gained through experience.

If you want to specialise, in say paintings, a degree or diploma in Fine Art and history might be beneficial.  If you want to specialise in Art Deco furniture – a diploma or degree in design and history, might be worth considering. 

Actually – any amount of knowledge gained through extra studies so that you can make an informed and reliable assessment of the item – will stand you in good stead with your clients and employer.

• SAADA: SOUTH AFRICAN ANTIQUE DEALERS ASSOCIATION

http://www.saada.co.za/

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER: Art Critic … or … Art Historian

Is becoming an Antique Dealer the right career choice for me?

OFO No:

What is a Wire & Recycled Artist?

Click Here

for interview with artist, Richard Mandongwe

Wire and Recycled Art is a wonderful and cheap way of using household tools and ‘waste’ to create long-lasting sculptures that can decorate any room.

Wire & Recycled Artists these days are being extremely creative.

They often recycle thrown away items into their sculptures.  For example old soda cans, bottle tops, plastic milk bottles, old plastic bags, bits of rubber, etc

Examples of work that can be made out of wire and recycled goods:

• Ornaments like beaded animals eg lions, giraffes, rhinos etc
• Keyrings with animals, hearts, fruit, AIDS symbols etc
• Household goods like napkin rings, bowls, coasters, placemats etc
• Pieces of art like giant wired people, animals, trees etc
• Wire and paper sculptures that can be converted to lampshades
• building things out of used ice-cream sticks, toothpicks or matches
• Giant wire words are fashionable these day eg: LOVE, RESPECT, PRAISE, etc
• Unusual jewellery and accessories
• ‘Paintings’ made from pieces of metal and other junk etc

So if you are good with your hands, can think and make things in 3-D and have a good sense of what may sell, then becoming a Wire Artist, may just be the job for you!

What does a Wire & Recycled Artist do?

• source materials like wire, pieces of metal, rubber, wood and other interesting things that could be used
• research what may sell and coming up with new ideas
• make beautiful wire work sculptures
• be quality driven
• go to libraries etc to search through books and magazines for inspiration
• build up stock
• talk to shop owners and other outlets with regard to selling stock

Are you … ?

• good with your hands?
• a person with a bucket load of talent?
• very creative?
• entrepreneurial?
• good with colour?
• detail orientated?
• able to work in 3d?
• fast worker?
• quality driven?
• observant?

How do I become a Wire & Recycled Artist?

No training is necessary, however, working alongside an already experienced Wire Artist may help you a lot. 

Otherwise, sit and work by yourself.  The more you practice, the better you’ll become. 

Look through old magazines and books, in libraries and bookstores for more inspiration. 

Keep a notebook and pen on you at all times, as you will never know what might inspire you.  You can always make a quick drawing to remind you later.

Constantly be on the look-out for new ideas or recycled goods which you could use.

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER: Sculptor … or … Fine Artist

Is becoming a Wire & Recycled Artist the right career choice for me?

OFO No:

What is a Wire & Recycled Artist?

Click Here

for interview with artist, Richard Mandongwe

Wire and Recycled Art is a wonderful and cheap way of using household tools and ‘waste’ to create long-lasting sculptures that can decorate any room.

Wire & Recycled Artists these days are being extremely creative.

They often recycle thrown away items into their sculptures.  For example old soda cans, bottle tops, plastic milk bottles, old plastic bags, bits of rubber, etc

Examples of work that can be made out of wire and recycled goods:

• Ornaments like beaded animals eg lions, giraffes, rhinos etc
• Keyrings with animals, hearts, fruit, AIDS symbols etc
• Household goods like napkin rings, bowls, coasters, placemats etc
• Pieces of art like giant wired people, animals, trees etc
• Wire and paper sculptures that can be converted to lampshades
• building things out of used ice-cream sticks, toothpicks or matches
• Giant wire words are fashionable these day eg: LOVE, RESPECT, PRAISE, etc
• Unusual jewellery and accessories
• ‘Paintings’ made from pieces of metal and other junk etc

So if you are good with your hands, can think and make things in 3-D and have a good sense of what may sell, then becoming a Wire Artist, may just be the job for you!

What does a Wire & Recycled Artist do?

• source materials like wire, pieces of metal, rubber, wood and other interesting things that could be used
• research what may sell and coming up with new ideas
• make beautiful wire work sculptures
• be quality driven
• go to libraries etc to search through books and magazines for inspiration
• build up stock
• talk to shop owners and other outlets with regard to selling stock

Are you … ?

• good with your hands?
• a person with a bucket load of talent?
• very creative?
• entrepreneurial?
• good with colour?
• detail orientated?
• able to work in 3d?
• fast worker?
• quality driven?
• observant?

How do I become a Wire & Recycled Artist?

No training is necessary, however, working alongside an already experienced Wire Artist may help you a lot. 

Otherwise, sit and work by yourself.  The more you practice, the better you’ll become. 

Look through old magazines and books, in libraries and bookstores for more inspiration. 

Keep a notebook and pen on you at all times, as you will never know what might inspire you.  You can always make a quick drawing to remind you later.

Constantly be on the look-out for new ideas or recycled goods which you could use.

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER: Sculptor … or … Fine Artist

Is becoming a Wire & Recycled Artist the right career choice for me?