​New York - For most people the allure of antiques and vintage pieces lies in their ability to transport us to a bygone era, whispering stories of craftsmanship, history, and timeless design. But for those working within the industry, dealers say it's more about zeroing-in on the actual items that customers want from bygone eras, rather than just whispers of what might be popular. In order to drill down on what some of those trends could be, writers at the Institute reached out to some industry-insiders, decorative experts, and knowledgeable long-term business owners, to get their take on six antique and vintage trends they say are likely to grow in 2025.​

1. Swedish Antiques
Antiques from Sweden, particularly those from the early 20th century, are gaining renewed interest. Celebrated for their simplicity, functionalism, and elegant design, these pieces blend modernist aesthetics with human-centric warmth. Interior designers like Giancarlo Valle and Lee Mindel appreciate Swedish antiques for their ability to provide comfort and connection in contemporary homes. Hannah Karlsson, a vintage dealer who's been importing items from Sweden for over twenty years, says prices have been jumping recently, citing a Josef Frank cabinet that recently sold for a record price of $347,600, highlighting the growing demand for what Karlsson says is, "all things Swedish."

3. Oxblood Furniture & Interiors
The deep, earthy hue of oxblood is making a significant comeback in many interior design circles. Historically prominent in ancient art and the Art Deco period, oxblood offers a sophisticated and rich aesthetic. Interior designers such as Stephania Kallos and Abigail Turin are incorporating this color into their projects, signalling a shift from the neutral palettes of previous years to a bolder, more maximalist approach. "This trend reflects a desire for interiors that exude warmth and timeless elegance," says Rachel Higgins, a leather furniture expert, whose UK antiques collective specialises in antique and vintage leather items from the turn of the twentieth century. "Leather furniture never really goes out of style," says Higgins, "but recently, its surged, as almost all areas of decorating are returning to more traditional and wood themed interiors." Higgins says that pricing for classic leather oxblood club chairs and sofas is up over eighty-percent from last year, and believes that those numbers will continue to climb as the general availability for authentic and untouched pristine examples continues to decline.  

4. Vintage Bathroom Fixtures
Unique and coloured vintage bathroom fixtures are experiencing a new found life says Dominic Taylor. A long-time staple of the community, Taylor's family-run Boston based antique and vintage salvage business has pivoted in recent years towards old plumbing and lighting fixtures. "We're still doing large-scale architectural salvage says Taylor, "but recently it's been about some of the 'innards' from these buildings that have really taken off." Taylor says that in the past, old plumbing fixtures were often overlooked, but that today people are willing to pay a premium for something you can't find at a big-box store. "Most of the older fixtures were simply made to last longer.," he says, "you're buying quality craftsmanship, but at half the Home-Depot price." Interior design specialist, Natalie Young also echoed that sentiment, and says that homeowners are seeking out rare and well-manufactured pieces from designers like Luigi Colani and Gio Ponti to add character to their spaces, while embracing these types of fixtures for their authenticity and distinctiveness. ​

5. Japandi's Gentle Embrace: Wabi-Sabi Charm
The fusion of Japanese minimalism and Scandinavian functionality, known as Japandi, is gaining momentum. This aesthetic emphasizes natural materials, clean lines, and a sense of wabi-sabi (finding beauty in imperfection). "Antique Japanese ceramics, wooden furniture with a natural finish, and textiles with subtle textures are perfect for achieving the Japandi look," says Hana Tanaka, a long-time collector and interior designer who utilises Asian antiques throughout her work. "These pieces bring a sense of tranquillity and harmony to a space," she says, "and are a perfect foil for the somewhat austere and rigid modernity associated with the Mid-century motif." Tanaka says she probably had fewer than ten requests a season for Japandi two years ago, but that today she's now seeing that on a monthly basis. "It's a trend for sure," she says, "but Japanese minimalism mixed with Scando has always had it's followers, it's just that there's a lot more of them now." 

​6. Eclectic Mix: The Art of Curated Collections
"In 2025, the focus is going to be on creating curated collections that reflect personal style and tell a story," says Sherry Golding of Seattle's Active Interiors & Antiques. Mixing different eras, motifs, and materials is going to be key she says. "We're decorating with everything under the sun this year - from Art Deco furniture blended with space-age 70s modular shelving units - to Victorian marble-topped tables and bean bag chairs." Golding says that interest in combining styles has really picked up over the last couple of years as many of her clients have begun to shy away from a one-size fits-all decorative look for their homes. "It's a nice mesh for the store too," says Golding, "since it means we're able to offer a broader range of antique and vintage items rather than having to compete with other dealers for a particularly popular style like MCM." Interior designer Scott Harvey, who also works with Golding at a number of national shows and display events, says the key to the 'curated' trends continued popularity is making sure that the look feels cohesive, personal and unique. "There's a lot of decorative items to choose from,  he says, "but in the end, they all have to blend."

As with any field that involves speculation, actual outcomes can differ widely from expectations. However, with careful planning, thorough research, and a keen eye for emerging decorative arts trends, savvy dealers can potentially position themselves ahead of the curve when it comes to anticipating this year’s best bests for top antique and vintage buys. And if things don’t pan out exactly as hoped—well, there’s always next year.

- A.I.A. Staff Writers​

​NOTE: For readers seeking more information about the Asheford Institute Of Antiques distance-learning program on professional-level appraising, the study of antiques, collectibles, vintage and mid-century modern items, please click here to visit the school's Home Page. 

Should you have additional questions about the Asheford program, you can also write to the school at: [email protected] or call the Registrar's Office toll-free at: 1-877-444-4508.

The 1950's Returns
While many baby-boomers still have fond memories of Happy Days reruns and Grease flashbacks, it's another generation that seems to be spinning the wheel forward, at least according to David Kirk, who runs a 1950's vintage themed store in Nevada. "It's all about the kids" says Kirk. "I've been doing this for almost forty years, when boomers were my only customers, but today it's like a third-generation removed." Kirk says that many of his 'younger' clients love the vintage leather jackets, sunglasses, retro-converted car seats, and sock-hop poster memorabilia that adorns his store walls. "It's not Mid-Century stuff per se," says Kirk, "but more like the chrome and vinyl soda-shop bar stools - or what I like to call juke-box décor." Kirk, who also runs an online version of his 50s store, says that sales really began to take-off last year. "I have absolutely no idea why," he mused, but thinks that some of the newfound interest in his 50s-themed Americana items may just be part of a younger generations desire to harken back to what was often perceived as a simpler and less strenuous time in life to grow up in. "I've sold more bobby socks and saddle-shoe combos to kids in their 20s over the last ten months, than over the last five years," says Kirk, "There doesn't appear to be any rhyme or reason to it, other than perhaps a possible breaking trend."  ​

American Folk Art - Portraits
According to some of the top auction houses, sales of Early American antiques are beginning their rise back to prominence within the decorative arts scene, however, a number of auction researchers are also reporting that one particular genre within this field is showing stronger than expected sales. Included in this group is Christie’s Sallie Glover, a specialist in Early American Folk Art who has been predicting the rise in art portraiture for a number of years now. “American folk portraiture appeals to many different types of collectors,” says Glover. “These works can go just as well with traditional American furniture as they do with a modern interior.” Glover's sentiments seem to match other results for online auction reports that also indicate a noticeable rise in popularity for this type of art form. Doris Henley, an Early American themed online dealer who also aggregates realized auction prices for her business, says that sales of her folk art portraits have ballooned over the past ten months. "I could see it coming," says Henley, "at first it was just a dribble, but then it really opened up about a year ago and the prices started to climb." Henley says she doesn't expect the popularity of folk art to wane anytime soon. "Brown wood and history are just coming back into vogue," she says, "this run has a long way to go yet."

Decorated Chests
Inaya Abbas, who runs a specialty themed bricks-and-clicks business devoted to antique blanket boxes and chests, says that while numbers ramped-up after the pandemic and remained constant for the next couple of years, it wasn't until the end of 2023 that she really began to notice an uptick in requests for items and sales of some of her more ornate inventory. "Shaker stuff was selling," says Abbas, "but the more exotic chests that I'd had shipped back from Asia and the Middle East really started to move by the early part of 2024. It's as if a light went off and everyone suddenly decided they had to have a blanket box - it's been crazy busy," she says. Abbas, who's been selling within the decorative arts scene for almost fifteen-years, believes that we're just beginning to see the tip of the iceberg now as people move further away from today's modern motif as a core decorating principle. "I think it's just time for a change, people seem to want more warmth and color now."

Rotary Phones
While it may be hard for some to fathom, since it might only seem like yesteryear that we were all on landlines (we were), Jin Chang says that sales from his retro collection of last century's rotary phones has been on a skyward trajectory since he opened his private collection website to the public and online sales in 2022. "Most of my buyers are Asian kids who love tech stuff." says Chang, "but it's slowly beginning to change." Chang thinks that most of his clients just want that connection to early past tech, and they're willing to pay for it. When he first started out, Chang claims that finding inventory was easy - it was plentiful and cheap - but no longer. "You can still buy some cool 'hole-dialers' at good prices," he notes, but admits that much has changed over the last year or two. "I now have to compete for inventory in some places," he says, "it's not like the old days where you could literally find examples that had been thrown out with the trash." Chang believes that on average, prices for many of his better quality rotary's have probably doubled in price over ​the last year, and he doesn't see that slowing down anytime soon. "I've got more demand than supply," he says, "so until that changes, I think the market will continue to remain strong well into 2025."  

Vintage Studio Ceramics
Once lacking in the doldrums, vintage studio ceramics finally look to be making a comeback as well, at least according to many auction-house insiders and industry dealers. Benjamin Walker, Bonham's head of global decorative arts and design department, says that the auction house is seeing a comeback in interest for clay. “The international market for contemporary British ceramics is well established and has been growing in strength,” says Walker, “We’re now seeing a growing trend in American studio ceramics that is following this interest. Over the past five to ten years the category has gained more public interest and climbed in value.” Recent sales would seem to back-up Walker's claim, as examples from auction results showing a 1968 Hans Coper vase (with top) being sold for a record-setting $790,000 last year. Pam Newley, a New York artist who works in clay, and who also runs an established online gallery devoted to early twentieth-century American ceramics, says that she's also seen a marked increase in interest by consumers for quality ceramic pieces as well - and not just those from studios. "Ten years ago there just wasn't that much of a market for clay anymore," she says, "but in the last two or three years it's all started to come back." Newley, who's been in business for almost thirty-years knows it's cyclical, of course, but says that, "It's just starting-up again," so for those looking to get in on the ground-floor as collectors or re-sellers, "now would probably be a good time."

For most though, trying to ascertain the vagaries and movement patterns of 'in-demand' objects within the field of the decorative arts can often make one feel like you've got a better chance of nailing water to the wall, than getting a reliable market prognostication of things to come. However, as David Kirk is fond of reminding people who visit his store's 1950s-inspired website, "Figuring out what's going to be hot and collectible is easy; it's all just a matter of heading back to the future again... right?"

- A.I.A. Staff Writers
​

New York - With the arrival of spring (one of the hottest antique & vintage selling seasons of the year), now just around the corner, we thought it might be the perfect time to reach out to a few long-term industry insiders from within the decorative arts field to get their take on some of the top lessons learned when it comes to the best buying practices for a successful "pick" of antiques and collectibles. For some, this hard-earned wisdom has occasionally come at the expense of a few mistakes, which is why many of these seasoned professionals were only too happy to share their expertise in the hope that others might avoid similar pitfalls along the way.

Trust Your Instincts
For almost all queried, this simple mantra came in at number one with virtually every dealer and curator polled. While research is essential, 'don't be afraid to trust your gut' was the most familiar refrain heard. "Often, the pieces that truly speak to you are the ones you should invest in," says David Lee, owner of Pixel Playground Retro Games. If an item resonates with you personally, it's more likely to hold sentimental value and potential financial appreciation.

Condition Is Key
While the history of an item is important, its condition is equally crucial. Dr. Lori Verderame, an antiques appraiser and host of "Ask Dr. Lori LIVE," points out, "Even the rarest antique can lose significant value if it's in poor condition. Restoration can help, but it’s always better to find pieces that have been well-preserved." She advises collectors to look for items that are in as close to original condition as possible, as these will retain or likely increase in value over time​.

The Value Or (De-Value) Of Restoration
Tom Robinson's east coast refinishing shop, which has been conducting high-end Georgian furniture restorations for over thirty years, says that restorations can be a double-edged sword. While it can restore an item's former glory, it can also diminish its value if not done correctly. "I've had many novice antique dealers come to me with items they bought 'on sale,' who didn't notice the botched restoration until later when they got it home." By that time it can often be too late says Robinson, who notes that it's incumbent upon the buyer to really examine the more expensive pieces closely before plunking down any cash. "Take some time to lift, prod, poke, turnover, or do whatever is necessary to get a full view of what it is you're buying, and make sure you ask the seller for any known 'fixes' that have been attempted." Robinson says that learning what's considered an "acceptable" restoration often only comes with experience. 

Do Your Research
Research is a cornerstone of successful antiquing. "Understanding the period, style, and maker of an item is essential," says John Atzbach, a specialist in Imperial Russian antiques. "Knowledge empowers you to make informed decisions, whether you’re buying or negotiating prices." Online databases, reference books, and expert consultations are invaluable tools for anyone serious about collecting​ or selling within the industry.

Keep An Eye On Trends
While personal taste can help guide you as a collector, being aware of market trends can be a necessity as a dealer. Michael Andrews, an auctioneer at Andrews & Co., notes, "Certain styles and periods come in and out of fashion. Keeping an eye on what's trending can help you make smarter purchases that appreciate in value." For example, he highlights the ongoing popularity of mid-century modern furniture, which has continued to rise in price recently, despite its decorative resurgence occurring almost twenty years ago. 

Patience Pays Off
Patience is a virtue in the world of antiquing. "Some of the best finds come to those who are willing to wait," says Jane Smith, a veteran antique dealer at Heritage Antiques. She recalls how she once spent years searching for a specific Victorian brooch, only to find it unexpectedly at a small estate sale. "Don’t rush the process. The hunt is half the fun, and patience often leads to the best discoveries," she advises.

Finally, one of the most important lessons according to many of those we spoke with, was the simple concept of 'enjoying the journey.' Antiquing is as much about the experience as it is about the acquisitions. "Don’t get so caught up in the value or rarity of an item that you forget to enjoy the process," says Dr. Lori. "Every piece has a story, and the joy of discovering that story is what makes antiquing such a rewarding endeavor." Whether you're visiting flea markets, estate sales, or antique shops, most dealers were unanimous in their belief that one of the most important aspects of 'antiquing' was to simply savoir the adventure and the connections made along the way.

- A.I.A. Staff Writer's