Condensed Outline Of Course Subjects Covered

With the right knowledge, instructional tools, and a properly directed plan of study, the Asheford Program can turn virtually anyone interested in the field of antiques, vintage, retro and professional-level appraising, into an expert in a relatively short period of time. The A.I.A. Program can teach even the beginner the most complex 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 thought of before.

​The Asheford Course can benefit almost anyone who has a dedicated interest in the world of the decorative arts and appraising, and can show you how to succeed in this lucrative business where others often fail. The Course Outline below, provides a sampling of some of the topics included within the school's comprehensive course curriculum.
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The A.I.A. Course Is Divided Into Five Plans Of Study
(Thirteen Volume Program - Over 2400 Pages)

Below, you will find a breakdown of the Asheford Program in either e-Course or Textbook version. Each Plan of Study is divided into four main topics: Pleasure, Profit, Appraising and Care & Restoration. There are a total of 12 individual Textbooks (or 13 e-Course modules), that comprise the core Study Plans of the Asheford curriculum (Note: additional online teaching aids such as embedded videos, interactive multimedia, instructional online displays, and one-click links to related web sites, are only available within the e-Course format).

(*IMPORTANT: There are substantial differences between the two Course formats as relates to content and features. We strongly recommend review of e-Course benefits first before selection of Course format type).

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Plan One - 3 Course Text Books

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

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Plan Two - 2 Course Text Books

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

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Plan Three - 2 Course Text Books

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

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Plan Four - 2 Course Text Books

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

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Plan Five - 3 Course Text Books

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

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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 Program. 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 (some information may be specific to the e-Course only, such as videos, and web links, etc). Should you happen to have a specific area of interest, and do not see it listed below, call or write to the Institute, and we'll be happy to give you a more in-depth accounting 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.
GUN COLLECTING
Shoulder Arms & Rifles
Handguns
Pictorial Examples
SWORDS - HISTORY
Pictorial Examples
ARMOR - HISTORY
Pictorial Examples
COURSE VIDEOS
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
SUPPLEMENTAL STUDIES
"Vantiques" - Antique Stores Adapt
​Antiques For Modern Spaces
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
Pressed & Patterned Glass
Favrile Glass
Waterford Glass
Mid-Century Modern Glass
Art Glass
BOTTLES
Old Bottles
Bottle Collecting
Perfume, Cologne & Snuff
Decanters & Bar Bottles
Bitters, Beer & Soda Bottles
CHINA
History
Components Of China
Chinaware Of China
French Chinaware
German Chinaware
English Chinaware
American Chinaware
INFORMATION "SERIES"
IS* - About Jugs/Cups
IS* - Cutlery Fireplace Utensils
IS* - Antique & Costume Jewelry
IS* - Cooking Tools/Tiny Clocks
PICTURES & PAINTINGS
Oil Paintings
Paintings & Horses
Victorian Paintings
Lithographs
Daguerreotypes
Pictures On Glass
Illuminated Manuscripts
Silhouettes
Lithopanel
MODERN COLLECTIBLES
PAPER ANTIQUES
ANTIQUES' ADVERTISING
COLLECTOR PLATES
SILVER
History
Style Periods
Rocco
Queen Anne
William & Mary
Federal
19th Century
Marks And Makers
Beauty Of Old Silver
Museums With Silver
INFORMATION "SERIES"
IS* - Papier-mâché/Jewelry
IS* - Toys/Tortoise Shells
IS* - Decoys/ Seals/Fobs
IS* - Coins/Stevengraphs
IS* - Lamps/Valentine Cards
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
SHEFFIELD PLATE
GOLD
PLATINUM
ANTIQUE JEWELRY
COSTUME JEWELRY
INFORMATION "SERIES"
IS* - Carpets/Country Look
IS* - Hampton Court/Books
IS* - Antique Cars/Automobilia
IS* - Terms/Warmers/Flasks
IS* - Lamps & Glass (Tiffany)
MID-CENTURY MODERN
1940's Items
1950's Items
1960's Items
Lesser Known Mid-Century Names
Vintage Or Retro?
PETROLIANA
COURSE VIDEOS
BUYING ANTIQUES
Experience Necessary
Auction & Estate Sales
Auctioneers
Auction Houses
​Auction Catalogs
Talking To Dealers

Continued...
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 CHESTS, 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
ROUNDING OUT
Collecting Old Leather
Oak Furniture
Biedermeier & Belleek
Types Of Cupboards
Rocking Chairs
Small Tables
Victorian Chairs
"Signed" English Furniture
Dating Country Furniture
Chinese Furniture
Scottish Cabinetmakers
Scottish Dirks & More
David Linley Furniture
The Arrival Of Long Case Clocks
Japanese Cloisonné
Fragrant "Cottages"
Sugar Crushers
Ephemera Collecting
Buying Victorian Paintings
Modern "Fakes"
How To Judge A Painting
Apostle Spoons
"Royal" Keepsakes
Lalique Jewelry
Early Gaming Pieces
Architectural Antiques
Nutcrackers
Shabby Chic
Top "Collectibles"
Sports Memorabilia
INFORMATION SERIES
*IS - Antiques As An Investment
*IS - The Confident Collector
*IS - How It All Began
*IS - Most Often Asked...
DECORATING WITH STENCILS
How To Make A Vintage 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
Victorian Armchair: Before & After
CURTAIN STYLES AND FABRICS
Casement Curtains With Early American
Furniture
Tied-in Curtains For Casements And French
Doors
How To Hang Sash Curtains
Fabric Choices For Rooms
Empire, Regency & Victorian Influence
Colonial Cottage Style
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
Furniture "Blending"
Blending" Stains & Flecking
Choosing The Right Finish
Wax Finish
The Shellac Finish
French Polish
Gilding
Reasons For Not Using Varnish
"Antiquing" Finish
Painting Without Overtone
IMPORTING ANTIQUES
Contacting A Supplier
Buying Container Loads
Using "Trade" Papers
Paying For Imported Antiques
Shipping Antiques Home
Clearing Customs - Small Shipments
Customs Brokers
Freight Forwarders
Exporting Antiques "Into" Europe
Customs Requirements - England
Buying: Beyond Europe...
South America
ADVANCED OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS FOR AN INTERNET BASED BUSINESS
Set-up
Guidelines To Online Auctions
Acquiring Antiques At Online Auctions
Building Your Own Online Auction Site
Wholesaling Antiques
Building A Wholesale Business
ADVANCED INSTRUCTIONS FOR OPERATING AN ESTATE SALE BUSINESS
Conducting Estate Sales
Estate Sale Contracts
Estate Sale Preparation
Setting-Up & Settling Up
The Art Of Public Speaking
Public Relations Speeches For Your
Estate Sale Business
ASIAN ANTIQUES
Styles
Solely For Export
Trends
Availability
Fakes
Asian Influences
Glossary: Asian Antique Terms
NATIVE AMERICAN ANTIQUES
Fakes
BUYING IN INDIA
BUYING IN EGYPT
ETSY - A CASE STUDY
SPORTS MEMORABILIA
COURSE VIDEOS
APPRAISING
Methodology
The Fundamentals
"In-house" Appraisals
Writing Informal Appraisals
Theory & Practice
Professional Appraisals
"Mock" Appraisal
Writing Professional Appraisal Reports
Letter Of Transmittal
Appraised Work
Narrative Analysis
Comparables
Determination & Certificate Of Appraisal
Certification Of Appraisal
Disclaimer: Assumptions & Limiting Conditions
Definitions & Abbreviations
Curriculum & Vitae
The IRS & Revenue Canada
When Is An IRS/CRA Appraisal Necessary
How Does The IRS/CRA Determine Value
Considerations For Doing IRS/CRA Appraisals
Being Reviewed By The IRS
IRS & CRA Conclusions
Insurance Companies
Law Offices
PACC Rules
PACC: Rules & Guidelines
Appraisal Pricing
Sliding Scales
Limitations

PLUS MUCH, MUCH, MORE...

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Partial Outline Only...

The above list constitutes only a very small portion of what is covered within the Asheford Program. The complete Thirteen Volume e-Course contains over twenty-four-hundred pages, with material updates and revisions occurring on a monthly basis. If you would like more information about what the Asheford Program offers, please visit our Course Prospectus page, or call the school's toll free number at: 877 444-4508. You can also email the Admissions Office to find out more...

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