Asheford Institute Of Antiques - Antique & Appraisal Home Study Course
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  • Home
  • Free Book
  • About The School
    • Our Objectives & Faculty
  • Course Prospectus
    • Course Outline
    • taking the e-Course
    • 15 Teaching Aids
  • Become An Appraiser
    • USPAP Testing & PACC
    • AIA Appraisers - National Columnists
    • Articles From The Founder
  • Start An Antiques & Vintage Business
    • FAQ's About The Course
    • 2024 Survey Results
    • Our Top Web Picks
  • Conduct Estate Sales
    • Student Testimonials
    • Articles About Asheford
  • Course Tuition
    • Our Pledge To You
    • Asheford News-Ticker Headlines
  • Course Enrollment
    • International Students
  • Student News
    • Student Essays
  • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy & TOU
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Condensed Outline Of Course Subjects Covered

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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.
 


The A.I.A. Course Is Divided Into Five Plans Of Study
(Thirteen Volume Program - Over 3000 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:
Three e-Course Modules

Introduction to Styles,  Periods, Monarchs, Georgian Furniture, Glossary Of Terms, etc. See more below...
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Plan Two:
Three e-Course Modules

Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Victorian furniture, Fads & Styles, Registering your Business, Bookkeeping, etc. See more below...

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Plan Three:
Three e-Course Modules

Glass, China, Silver, Fakes, Brass, Modern Collectibles, Dating Antique Jewelry, Auction Sales, Internet sales, etc. See more below...
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Plan Four:
Three e-Course Modules

Early European Furniture, Chairs, Tables, Selling at Antique Shows, Examining Wood, Creating An Online Business, Advertising, etc. See more below...
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Plan Five:
Four
e-Course Modules

Appraising Methodology, Mid-Century Modern, Pennsylvania Dutch, Shaker, Stripping Paint, 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. Please note that this is only an abridged version of the school's curriculum, as there are many more sub-headings and categories listed 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 within the decorative arts, and do not see it listed here, contact 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
Victorian Toys

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
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Auction Catalogs
MID-CENTURY MODERN, VINTAGE OR RETRO
Petrolina
Lesser Known Mid-Century Modern Designers
Mid-Century Modern Off-Shoots
COSTUME & VINTAGE JEWELRY
​Antique & Period Jewelry Pieces Popular
Anchor Hocking: Fire-King
SPORTING COLLECTIBLES
Cards & Gear
​FURNITURE OF THE MIDDLE AGES
The Norman Conquest
Gothic Styles
French Furniture - 14th  Century
Italian Furniture - 14th Century
Furniture Of The Italian Renaissance
​Italian Renaissance: Changing Styles
Furniture Of The French Renaissance
Furniture Making In The Low Countries (Belgium)
Furniture Making In The Low Countries (Holland)
​Furniture Of The Spanish Renaissance

Spanish Renaissance: Second Half
Louis XIV Furniture
Regence & Louis XV Furniture
Louis XVI Furniture
EVOLUTION OF EARLY FURNITURE
Early Furniture: Chests
Early Furniture: Cupboards
Early Furniture: Tables
Early Furniture: Desks & Secretaries
Early Furniture: Sideboards
Early Furniture: Chairs
INFORMATION SERIES: SPANISH ANTIQUES
Spanish Flea Markets
Antiques In Marbella
Hillside Town Of Monda
Mijas In Spain
Town Of Coin
Paradores
Gibraltar
Buying In Portugal
Buying In Morocco
Buying English Antiques
At Christie's
Purchasing Tips: UK & Europe
Traveling For Antiques
Pennsylvania Dutch
Shaker
Frontier & Early American
Furniture Illustrations & Drawings
15th & 16th Century Furniture
Louis XIV & Louis XV
Louis XVI
Pennsylvania Dutch/Shaker/Frontier
SYSTEMATIC GUIDELINE FOR DATING FURNITURE 
Checklist Chart 1: Forms, Woods & Designs
Checklist Chart 2: Construction
Methods & Graph
Pictorial Examples Of Furniture 
Chippendale - "The Gentleman & Cabinet-Maker's Director"
Chairs, Fire Screens & Candle stands
Chinese & Gothic Chairs (and "legs")
French Chairs & Fire Screens
Desks, Bookcases, Tables & Clocks
Bureaus, Tea Chests, Desks & Bookcases
Breakfast Tables, Bookcases, Sideboards & Desks
Clothes Press, Cabinet & Sideboard Table
Writing Tables, Commodes & Gothic Clothes Ch
SELLING
Loving "The Sale"
Selling From Your Apartment
Tips For Improving Apartment Sales
Selling From Your Home
Selling From Your Garage
Selling Online - Secondary Sites
GETTING THE WORD OUT
Classified Print Advertising
Display & Secondary Print Advertising
Psychology Of Selling
Writing A Column
Giving A Speech
Selling At Large Antiques Shows
Organizing A Small Antiques Show
Small Show "Particulars"
Optional Advertising For Small Shows
Commercial Rooms & Home Shows
The Big Leagues: Show Promoting 1
The Big Leagues: Show Promoting 2
Antique Parties
Exhibition Display Cases
Radio & Television Promotion
Appearing On Television & Radio
Creating Marketable "Antique" Videos
YOUR WEBSITE IS GROUND ZERO
The Importance Of Publicity & Advertising
How To Display Your Inventory
Showroom Style Displays
How To Decide On A Price
Pricing & Provenance
Loss Leaders
Cutting Prices
Bargaining
Having A "Sale"
Consignment Pricing & Delivery Options
Pricing Systems
The Price Of Alterations
Replacing Brass Hardware
Stockpiling Old Brasses
Hardware & Hinges Tell The Tale
Feeding Old Varnish
Stripping Old Paint
Lye
Scrapers & Scraping
Sanding
Stains, Dents & Wood Fillers
Design Illustrations (DI) Of Georgian Style Furniture
Sheraton Breakfast & Work Table
Sheraton Pembroke & Tavern Table
Mahogany Tea Table & Hepplewhite Work Table
Hepplewhite & Empire Card Tables
Tilt-Top Table & Brasses & Handles
ROUNDING UP
Collecting Old Leather
Oak Furniture
Biedermeier & Belleek
Types Of Cupboards
Rocking Chairs
Small Tables Remain Popular
Victorian Chairs Still Resonate
"Signed" English Furniture Is Rare
Dating Country Furniture
Chinese Furniture
Scottish Cabinetmakers
Scottish Dirks & More
David Linley Furniture
IS* - Changing Styles
IS* - Pugin & Morris
IS* - British Art Nouveau Designers
IS* - Understanding Oriental Rugs
IS* - Rug Classifications
IS* - Rug Buying Tips
Snuff Boxes
Clocks For Collectors & Dealers
The Arrival Of Long Case Clocks
Japanese Cloisonné
Fragrant "Cottages"
Art Glass
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
Black & White antique & Vintage Pictorial Examples
Top Eight "Collectibles"
*IS - Antiques As An Investment
*IS - The Confident Collector
*IS - How It All Began
*IS - Most Often Asked Question
IMPORTING ANTIQUES
Buying Container Loads
Contacting A Supplier
Using "Trade" Papers To Find Suppliers
Paying For Imported Antiques
Shipping Your Imported Antiques Home
Clearing Customs With Small Shipments
Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders
Hiccups & Contingency Planning
Exporting Antiques "Into" England & Europe
Customs Requirements For Shipping To England
Beyond Europe...
Argentina
Chile
Uruguay
Brazil
Shipping Home From South America
Using The Port In Buenos Aires
Using The Postal Service
Importing & Exporting Conclusions
Operating An Internet Based Business
AUCTIONS
XYZ Mission Statement & Set-Up
XYZ's General Guidelines To Auctions
XYZ's Tips For Acquiring Antiques At Auction
XYZ's Online Auctions
Wholesaling Antiques
​Building A Wholesale Business
Conducting Estate Sales
Sample Of An Estate Sale Contract
Preparing For Your Sale
Setting Up & Settling Up
Learning The Art Of Public Speaking
Public Relations Speech
BECOMING AN APPRAISER
Appraisal Practices & Methodology
About The PACC (Professional Appraiser Code Of Conduct)
PACC: Rules & Guidelines (1)
PACC: Rules & Guidelines (2)
PACC: Rules & Guidelines (3)
PACC: Rules & Guidelines (4)
PACC: Rules & Guidelines (5)
Theory & Practice
Appraising For Insurance Companies, Law Offices...
Appraising For The IRS & CRA
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 Final Conclusions
Appraising: "The Fundamentals"
About "In-House" Appraisal Forms
Sample Of An "In-House" Appraisal Form
Appraisal "Basics" (1)
Appraisal "Basics" (2)
Appraisal "Pricing" & Sliding Scales
Knowing Your Limitations
About "Professional-Level" Appraisals
Professional-Level "Mock" Appraisal (MA)
Letter Of Transmittal (MA)
Appraised Work (MA)
Narrative Analysis (MA)
Comparables (MA)
Determination & Certificate Of Appraisal (MA)
Certification Of Appraisal (MA)
Disclaimer: Assumptions & Limiting Conditions (MA)
Definitions & Abbreviations (MA)
Curriculum & Vitae (MA)
Online Appraisal Services
DECORATING WITH STENCILS
Working With Stencils
How To Make And Apply A Stencil
Heart Designed Stencil
Zinnia & Cornflowers Crayon Stenciling
Repairing Springs & Recovering Furniture
Attaching Strings & Webbing
Victorian Armchair: Before & After
Decorating With Curtains & Fabrics
Fabric Choices For Different Rooms
Casement Curtains For Early American Rooms
Hourglass Curtains
How To Hang Sash Curtains
Empire, Regency & Victorian Influence
Colonial Cottage & Books As Decoration
Furniture "Blending"
Blending: Stains & Flecking
Choosing The Right Finish
Wax Finish
Shellac Finish
French Polish
Lacquer Finish
Reasons For Not Using Varnish
Gilding
"Antiquing" Finish
Painting With & Without Overtone
SUPPLEMENTAL STUDIES
Chinese & Asian Antiques
Items For Sale
Signs Of Age
Authenticating Asian Antiques
Glossary Of Asian Antique Terms
Native American Antiques
Fakes
Estate Sale Case Study
Buying In India
Etsy - A Case Study
Sports Memorabilia
Buying In Egypt
PLUS MUCH, MUCH MORE...

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...


Free Prospectus Book

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To receive your free hard-copy Course Prospectus Book about the Asheford Program (or to ask us a question), simply click on the
link below:
​ FREE BOOK

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To Contact Us

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Admissions Office & Information Hotline
Toll Free: 877-444-4508

Outside of North America:
705-645-5589

Web Page Form: Contact Us
E
mail: [email protected]

US Offices:
Asheford Institute of Antiques
981 Highway 98 E. Ste. 3, Dept. 275
Destin, FL 32541-2525

Canadian Offices:
Asheford Institute of Antiques
Ste. 313, 200 Manitoba Street
Bracebridge, ON P1L 2E2


Our Friends & Awards

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"International Antiques & Arts Society"
Member & Award Winner

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"Antiques & Collectibles National Association"

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"Association Of Restorers"

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  • Home
  • Free Book
  • About The School
    • Our Objectives & Faculty
  • Course Prospectus
    • Course Outline
    • taking the e-Course
    • 15 Teaching Aids
  • Become An Appraiser
    • USPAP Testing & PACC
    • AIA Appraisers - National Columnists
    • Articles From The Founder
  • Start An Antiques & Vintage Business
    • FAQ's About The Course
    • 2024 Survey Results
    • Our Top Web Picks
  • Conduct Estate Sales
    • Student Testimonials
    • Articles About Asheford
  • Course Tuition
    • Our Pledge To You
    • Asheford News-Ticker Headlines
  • Course Enrollment
    • International Students
  • Student News
    • Student Essays
  • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy & TOU