Many individuals have a penchant for collecting antiques and other valuable items. They spend a lot to own rare collectors’ items such as cars, paintings, jewellery, clothes, coins, vintage toys, and many others.
Centuries ago, some families started the tradition of passing their own accumulated family treasures from one generation to the next. Their ancestral homes are now treasure troves not only of family memorabilia, but also of pricey, antique collections.
It is not surprising that their homes still keep a wooden trunk teeming with precious jewels. It may also be an ornately made vintage trunk proudly displayed in the living room.
Proper Care for your Antiques
You need to consider certain things to properly take care of or handle your antiques, especially when you put them on display in your homes. These antiques may include furniture, paintings, ceramics, and metal vases. You must also be aware that some items need to be stored in a safe and protected environment.
Dust, air, and other pollutants can damage your antique collections. Likewise, the improper ways of displaying them in your house can result in their deterioration. Here are some tips that would help you maintain the excellent condition of your collections.
Tip # 1: Avoid exposing your collections to direct sunlight
Direct sunlight should always be avoided in your display area. Most collection pieces are made of irreplaceable, organic materials, which are very sensitive to lighting. As such, you must install proper lighting that is mostly subdued or dimmed to preserve the original condition of your antiques.
Tip # 2: Control the humidity in the storage space
A less humid environment can cause your antique pieces to become brittle and result in shrinking or cracks. This is especially true for items made of wood such as furniture or art frames, ceramic figurines and vases, paintings made of special cloth or canvas, and some artefacts made of paper. Inversely, excessive humidity may cause dampness, result in the rusting of metal objects, allow moulds to develop, or turn your wooden trunks into breeding ground for insects and rodents. Monitor humidity (at about 50%) by putting a hygrometer in your storage area.
Tip #3: Control the temperature in the storage area
Temperature control is one of the essential ways to ensure proper handling and care of your precious collections. As in fluctuating humidity, extreme changes, from excessive heat to very cold temperature, can damage your antiques. The best place to either display or store your antiques is the coolest area in your home. Ideally, it should be around 64 degrees. If you want to preserve your collectibles, the display or storage area should be kept in that temperature.
Storing your Antiques
Here are some important tips on storing your antiques.
Antique Storage Tip # 1: Keep your jewellery in jewellery boxes
Always keep your antique jewellery pieces in a jewellery box when you are not using them. Preferably, get one that is compartmentalised and lined with cloth or soft fabric to enable you to separately keep each piece.
This would not only shield the pieces from dirt, but it would also keep them from being in contact with each other (if made from different metals), or accidentally getting near objects or chemicals that may cause discoloration or tarnishing.
Antique Storage Tip # 2: Use good packaging materials
When you pack your antiques (whether you are keeping them at home, moving them to a new place, or simply keeping them safely stashed away in a rented storage space), it is best to put them in durable packages such as heavy-duty corrugated boxes and wooden trunks.
Antique Storage Tip # 3: Ensure that your antique pieces are packed properly
Putting your collectibles in durable and labelled storage boxes is not enough. You must also use other packing supplies to ensure that you are storing them properly. You can wrap each delicate piece with bubble wrap, blanket, or flannel cloth to avoid breakage, scratching, or contact with rough and hard surfaces before putting them in the storage boxes.
Do not stack heavy collectibles against each other, as you would unnecessarily put strain on them.
Antique Storage Tip # 4: Ensure that your antique storage is accessible
Lastly, you must ensure fast access to your valuables whenever you need them. A rented storage space will only serve its purpose if you can access it easily whenever you need to. Select a storage company that can ensure not only the safety and security of your valuables but also its accessibility within a reasonable time.
Some antiques, especially the very rare pieces, are best kept in a safe and protected environment, which may not necessarily be your home. There are many options available, including renting storage space to properly store such collectibles. Whatever kind of storage space you need, Spacer has one that suits you. Visit spacer.com.au and learn how to access its services.
