how do you date antiques?

Question

whenever I watch an antiques program on tv,they may date an item as 1750 (for example) ,and then refer to it as mid eighteen century,instead of mid seventeenth cenutry,does anyone understand this?

Answer 1

Years 0 - 99 were the first century; years 100 -199 were the second century.
etc.

Therefore 1750 was mid 18th century.

We are now in the 21st century yet it numbers 2,000+ whatever.

Anyway to get back to your question...

Best way to date an antique is to buy her chocolates and flowers and tell her that her bum doesn't look big in that. ;o]

Answer 2

Era's have their own unique styles. The fact that they refer to 1750 as mid 18th century is nothing to do with antiques. Think about it. The first century AD began with 0 and we're currently in the 21st century. Last century was the 20th century, not the 19th, etc etc.

Experts in the antiques field can be very specific when dating antiques, as they research the specific time the piece was made and can narrow it down to around a decade. They can say 'this piece is early victorian', ergo its from around 1860's, maybe because of the design in the table legs, that was different in the 1850's but the style changed in the 1870's. Its like decades of our age, you can tell distinctive styles from the 70's compared to the 80's and 90's etc. Its just like it was in the days of old!

hope this has helped!

Answer 3

Yes -

Century is always one digit ahead of the year.

summary at bottom of this...

In other words 1989 is 20th century.
1750 is 18th century.
1834 is 19th century...

I know its confusing but that's how the math works out.

Since we started on year 1, not 0, everything flips early. There simply a year zero in the calendar... don't know why.

So the 20th Century actually covers the years 1901 to 2000 NOT
1900 to 1999.

Which also means that the majority of the world celebrated the new millennium a year early in 2000 rather than the true start of the 21st century in 2001.

So

1501 to 1600 is 18th century.
1601 to 1700 is 19th century
1701 to 1800 is 18th century.
1801 to 1900 is 19th century
1901 to 2000 is 20th century
2001 to 2100 is 21st century

Does this make sense?

-dh

Answer 4

Why don't you try getting some book's on how to date antiques form a book shop or borrow them from a Library, If you are intrested in learning how to date antiques

Answer 5

Darling, right now we are in the 21st century, yet we name the century 20.... as in "2006". The last century was called the 20th century, though all labels for it called it "19..." as in "1999 (I'm gonna party like it's...)".

If you are thirty years old, you are in your 31st year. The counting starts at one, but the life started at zero. When you turned one you had just completed your first year and were entering your second, but your parents went around telling people you were "one" because you had completed one year (hence the Spanish "cumpleanos" (completed years) for "birthday").

Many people understand this. Many don't and spend their lives befuddled. I learned about it when I was in my eighth year. I was seven.

Answer 6

Just in case you are serious and not that stupid, I will answer your question by saying it is 2006 right now and we are in the 21st century. Ten years ago when it was 1996, we were in the 20th century. Do you see the pattern now? If not, forget it, you never will.

Answer 7

1998 was a date in the end of the 20th century.

Answer 8

hahahaha ... sorry. When I saw the question in the list I thought it was how do you date an antique as in how do you get to date a sugardaddy. Not the answer you were looking for I know ... but I had to share my amusing moment. hehehe

Answer 9

I can only suggest that you see an antique dealer I think that they will be the real people to ask

Answer 10

By how many times they tell you the same stories.