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Antiques Resale Value

A used antiques typically sells for between £25 and £600, with most changing hands around £312. Antique values swing on maker, period and condition, and the market has shifted so that some categories are worth far less than they were.

The short version

  • Typical range: £25 – £600
  • Biggest single factor: condition — see the table below
  • Category: Art & Collectibles
  • Cost to sell on WishThrift: nothing, at any price

What a used antiques is worth by condition

Condition does more to the price than anything else. These figures are worked from the top of the range for antiquess, so treat them as a starting point and adjust for the specifics of yours.

ConditionTypical priceWhat it means
New with Tags£600Unused, tags or seals intact
Like New£510Barely used, no visible wear
Good£390Light signs of use, complete and working
Fair£270Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part
For Parts£150Not working or incomplete, sold as seen

These are the five grades WishThrift listings use, and sellers set the grade themselves — see what each condition grade means. Figures are shown in pounds as a reference point. On WishThrift prices display in your own currency, and sellers set their own asking price.

What raises the value of a antiques

  • Documented makers, marks and provenance
  • Original surfaces and untouched patina
  • Categories currently in demand rather than out of fashion
  • Matched sets and complete pieces

What lowers it

  • Over-restoration, which removes original surface
  • Reproductions sold as period
  • Brown furniture and categories that have fallen out of favour
  • Damage that requires specialist restoration

How to work out what yours is worth

  1. Photograph every mark, stamp and label you can find
  2. Note the dimensions, materials and any repairs
  3. Compare against recent sold results, not old valuations

Once you have those three answers you can place your own antiques on the table above with reasonable confidence. If it sits between two rows, price it toward the lower one — items priced honestly sell faster than items priced hopefully.

Ready to sell it? Listing on WishThrift is free, there is no commission, and you keep the full amount you agree with the buyer — see how selling works or create a free account.

Frequently asked questions

Are antiques still worth what they were?

Not uniformly. Some categories have fallen considerably while others hold firm, so check recent sold results rather than older valuations.

Does restoration increase value?

Often the opposite. Over-restoration strips original surface, which is much of what collectors pay for. Get advice before refinishing.

How do I identify a maker?

Look for stamps, labels and marks on undersides, backs and inside drawers, and photograph everything you find.

More value guides: art & collectibles guides · all value guides · browse live art & collectibles listings.