Condensed Outline Of Course Subjects Covered

The Asheford Program can turn virtually anyone into an expert on antiques and appraising in as little as six-months. The A.I.A. program is designed to teach the beginner even the most basic principles needed in order to succeed, as well as giving the experienced dealer/appraiser/curator an abundance of innovative new ideas and information that they may have never even thought of before…
The Asheford Course can literally benefit almost anyone interested in the world of antiques and professional-level appraising, and can show you how to succeed in this lucrative business where others often fail…


                               (For a FREE hard-copy COURSE PROSPECTUS BOOKLET, click HERE to email us your request)

The A.I.A. Course Has Been Divided Into Five Plans Of Study
(Twelve Volume Course - Over 1600 Pages)

Below, you will find a breakdown of the Asheford Course Texts (CD-ROM version also available). Each Plan of Study is divided into four main topics: Pleasure, Profit, Care & Restoration and Appraising. There are a total of 12 individual text books (or CD's) that comprise the core Study Plans of the Asheford Program.

Plan One - 3 Course Text Books

Introduction to Styles,  Periods, Monarchs, etc. See more below...

Plan Two - 2 Course Text Books

Victorian furniture, Mission, Registering your Business, etc. See more below...

Plan Three - 2 Course Text Books

Wistarberg, French Chinaware, Silver, Fakes, Brass, Auction Sales, etc. See more below...

Plan Four - 2 Course Text Books

Chairs, Tables, Selling at Antique Shows, Examining Wood, Louis XV Furniture, etc. See more below...

Plan Five - 3 Course Text Books

Pennsylvania Dutch, Shaker, Stripping Paint, Appraising. etc. See more below...

Condensed Outline Of Subjects Covered Within The Asheford Program...

Below you will find a "condensed" outline of some of the main subject "titles" covered within the Asheford texts. This is only an abridged version of what the A.I.A. Course contains, as there are many more sub-headings and categories listed in the 1,600 page program, which are simply too numerous to mention here. If you have a specific area of interest, and do not see it below, call or write to the Institute, and we'll be happy to give you a more in-depth listing of subject titles covered.

INTRODUCTION TO YOUR TRAINING
The Philosophy Of Antiques
The Pleasure Of Recognizing
Distinguished
Antiques
What Is An Antique?
When Does A Restored Piece Cease To
Be An Antique?
FURNITURE PERIODS
Historical Periods
Monarchs
Cabinetmakers
Regional Styles
TYPES OF CLASSICAL STYLES
Jacobean
William And Mary
Queen Ann
Chippendale
Sheraton, Etc.
CARE AND RESTORATION OF ANTIQUES
Introduction
Philosophy Of Restoration
Preserving Marks Of Age
Improvements Not Allowed
Use Of Style Books
TOOLS AND MATERIALS
Sanders
Grinders
Edged Tools
Hand Saws
Drills
Files And Stones
Clamps
Brushes
Glues
Sandpaper And Others
FINISHING MATERIALS
Dipping
Sandblasting
Urethane
Shellac
Lacquer
Waxes
Solvents
Sealers And Fillers
Stains And Colors, Plus Many Others
HOW THE ANTIQUE BUSINESS WORKS
How To Buy At Auctions
Selling From The House
Selling From The Barn
Selling By Mail
Antique Shows
Export - Import
Pricing Of Antiques
Locations
Advertising
Public Auctions
Private Sales
Decorating And Antiques
Dealing With The Public
Appraising Antiques
COMPUTERS & SELLING ON THE INTERNET
Online Auction Houses
Online Antique Malls
Building Your Own Web Page
Internet Providers
Selling On The Internet
Equipment Needed
ANTIQUE MAGAZINES ANTIQUES IN MUSEUMS
HOUSES AND RESTORATIONS VICTORIAN FURNITURE & EARLY AMERICAN FURNITURE
Spool Furniture
Cottage Furniture
Louis XV
Gothic
Renaissance
Eastlake
Mission
Golden Oak
Fads And Styles
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF EARLY AMERICAN FURNITURE TYPES OF WOOD
Whitewood Or Tulip
Walnut
Sycamore
Spruce
Satinwood
Rosewood
Red Gum
Pine (white)
Pine (southern Hard)
Holly
Hickory
And Many Others Too Numerous To Mention
OPERATION OF ANTIQUE BUSINESS
Business Cards
Lighting
Different Locations, attic, barn, Internet, store, etc.
Displays
Wall Shelves
Explanation Cards
Business Locations
Registering Your Business
Bookkeeping
Merchandise Book
Records
COMPLETE FINANCIAL AND OPERATING INFORMATION
Business Kit
Stationery
Bank Statements
Business Cards
Invoices
Sample Of Merchandise Book
Sample Of Expense & Sales Sheet
Partnership Declaration
Importing Forms
Sample Of Ads
GLASS
Wistarberg
Stiegel
Sandwich
Other Early Glass
Identifying Old Glass
Cleaning Old Glass
CHINA
History
Chinaware Of China
French Chinaware
German Chinaware
English Chinaware
American Chinaware
PICTURES
Lithographs
Daguerreotypes
Pictures On Glass
Illuminated Manuscripts
Silhouettes
Lithopanel
Paintings
SILVER
History
Style Periods
Rocco
Queen Anne
William & Mary
Federal
19th Century
Marks And Makers
Beauty Of Old Silver

Continued...
Museums With Silver
BRASS
History
Articles Produced
Purchasing Brass
COPPER
History
Articles Produced
Purchasing Copper
PEWTER
History
Objects To Be Found In Pewter
Decoration
Purchasing Antique Pewter
Britannia
BUYING ANTIQUES
Experience Necessary
Auction Sales
Auctioneers
Auction Houses
Auction Catalogs
Talking To Dealers
Antique Shops
Buying On Consignment
Antique Shows
Obtaining Antiques From Attics And Cellars
Junk Shops
Charity Stores
Second-hand Stores
Buying From Specialized Journals And Newspapers
Wrecking Companies
Real Estate Agents
HOW TO TEST FURNITURE BEFORE BUYING
Testing Chairs
Testing Tables
Testing Upholstery
Testing Chests
Examining Wood
FAKES
How It Is Done
Reproductions
Irregularities To Watch For
How To Protect Yourself From Fakes
SPECIALIZING
Lists Of Topics To Specialize In
RESTORING CHAIRS
Repairing Spindle-type Chairs
Repairing Windsor Backs
Mortise-and-tenon Jointed Chairs
Victorian Chairs
RESTORING TABLES RESTORING CHEST, BUREAUS & DESKS HISTORY OF STYLES
Furniture Of The Middle Ages
Furniture Of The 14th Century
Furniture Of The Italian Renaissance
Furniture Of The French Renaissance
Furniture Making In Germany & The Low Countries
Furniture Of The Spanish Renaissance
Louis XIV Furniture
Louis XV Furniture
Louis XVI Furniture
HISTORY OF STYLES IN AMERICA
Pennsylvania Dutch
Shaker
Frontier
Primitive Furniture
HOW TO SELL ANTIQUES
Selling From A Room In Your Apartment
Selling From The Living Room
Selling Through Advertising
Selling From The Home
Giving Speeches
Selling Through Newspaper Columns
Selling From The Garage
Selling From Other People's Business Locations
Selling From Shows
How To Sell On Radio & Television
ROUGH AND SMOOTH STYLES
PRICING
CATALOGS
CONSIGNMENT PRICING
BECOMING AN ESTATE SALE LIQUIDATOR
How To Set Up Your Business
Forms & Licenses Required
How To Price
Marketing Your Skills
Appraising Items At Estate Sales
HARDWARE
How To Select Proper Brass Replacements Stockpile Of Brasses
HOW TO REMOVE OLD PAINT & VARNISH
Feeding Old Varnish
Stripping Paint
Lye And How To Use It
Scraping
Sanding
Filling
Stains
Dents
DECORATING WITH STENCILS
How To Make A Stencil
How To Apply The Stencil Design
Heart Design
Zinnia And Cornflowers
Crayon Stenciling
REPAIRING SPRINGS & RECOVERING FURNITURE
How To Tie Springs
Stretching Webbing For Springs
How To Remove Coverings
CURTAIN STYLES AND FABRICS
Casement Curtains With Early American
Furniture
Tied-in Curtains For Casements And French
Doors
How To Hang Sash Curtains
Empire And Regency Influence
An Adaptation Of Victorian Styles
RUGS AND WALLPAPERS
Dramatizing The Colonial Theme
Books In Your Decorating Scheme
Use Of Patterns
Use Of Colors
How To Achieve Balance
HOW TO CREATE NEW FINISHES
Blending
Choosing The Right Finish
Wax Finish
The Shellac Finish
French Polish
Gilding
Antiquing Finish
Painting Without Overtone
IMPORTING ANTIQUES
Contacting A Supplier
Paying For Imported Antiques
Clearing Customs
APPRAISING
Methodology
The Fundamentals
"In-house" Appraisals
Theory & Practice
Professional Appraisals
"Mock" Appraisal
The IRS & Revenue Canada
Insurance Companies
Law Offices
PACC Rules
Sliding  Scale
Limitations

Partial Outline Only...

The above list constitutes only a very small portion of what is contained within the Asheford texts (or CD's). The complete Twelve Volume Course contains over sixteen-hundred pages, with material updates occurring every year. If you would like more information on the subjects contained within the Asheford Program, please call our toll FREE number at: 1 877 444-4508, or email us at the ADMISSIONS OFFICE.