Although art collection is becoming a rage these days but this trend is not new and its history can be traced back to the beginning of the social existing of human being . in those times so called riches used to patronize those people who choose to wander so called untraditional paths when It comes to choosing an occupation. Those people used to create sculptures, paintings and handicrafts specifically keeping in mind the need of their patronizer, off course there were no galleries or art summit present at that time but these rich people used to flaunt these artifacts in their palaces or holiday homes. Aetion, Agatharchos, Antiphilos these people were not active traders of their art but just created it to signify their time, off course these are precious pieces of history now but at that time they would have not thought of them becoming the historic icons of their times, with their work they have immortalized the moments, people or whatever topic they chose to vent their feelings.
So are these artist really work to just vent their feeling or do they have real motives behind their masterpieces, if we talk about historic icons then every talk is a matter of conjecture but we can talk about artists of our time for them everything is now just money making schemes, everybody wants to be an artist whether they have proper artistic acumen or not, now if we talk about this then we can go into another discussion that for later keep on checking my blogs on neokala.wordpress.com but for the sake of argument lets assume not everyone who becomes an artist is a sham but the morality of those who we are keeping outside can still be questioned, so finding a gallery which cater to the right audience and right artists is very important there are very few committed people out there who really wanted to provide quality to provide access to that niche market which a true art lover must have access to, so before stepping into the bandwagon of buying the art please assess all the options and then venture into the territory.

Travel through the myths and realities of ancient and contemporary Art on www.neokala.com. find out what great Artists are doing here.

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A Starters Guide To Finding Antique Bargains
By Sturgis Nikides

When a novice enters the exciting realm of antiques, the experience can be just as intimidating as it is stimulating.  You can read book after book about spotting the best deals at yard sales, negotiating for the best prices from dealers, or for a higher price with a buyer.  Even after studying the subject at length you still may not feel you’re prepared to scour the market place for valuable antiques.  And the truth of the matter is that online auctions can complicate it even more.

Even the most experienced antique dealer will return to the basics when yard sailing or bidding at auctions.  Examine the item and look for the following to determine a fair price.

Age: The general rule of thumb is that an item needs to be at least 100 years old before it can be considered an antique. Hallmarks or manufacturers labels are always helpful, as well as older auction or dealer tags. Any kind of documentation of age carries value over to the antique.

Condition: The condition of an antique is EVERYTHING! Try to determine how closely it resembles the original manufactured product. Short of mint condition, it is of great importance to closely examine every inch and every surface to find any flaws or issues, making sure to jot down all of your impressions. For example, if the drawers of a desk were repaired or replaced, it detracts from the original condition.  If porcelain or fine china has a repair, or a hairline crack or a chip, the value will be seriously diminished. If the wiring or any mechanical aspects are replaced on a mechanical antique it puts a dent in the value.

Quality:  The quality of an item refers to how well it was originally made. This might refer to the type of material used or the way the piece was manufactured. It might refer to the construction or the decoration of an item. Higher quality antiques are generally worth more…but lower quality antiques also possess an intrinsic charm of their own. Never pass up an item without careful examination and thorough research. One mans garbage is another mans treasure, IMHO.

Rarity: This boils down to the simple law of supply and demand.  For example, if a popular book had 4000 copies made on the first printing, those copies would be worth less than a popular book with only 1000 copies from the first printing. Using something mass produced isn’t really the best example, however. Due to it’s intrinsic rarity, a one-of-a-kind object will always be more valuable.

Provenance: The provenance is the documented history of an item.  When the provenance of an antique crosses with historically significant events or people, it turns an otherwise nice antique into a priceless piece of history.  The more documentation you can find, and the more significant the history, the more valuable the antique.

Patina: Patina is the wear  and tear to the finish, plus any nicks, chips, and/or other signs of use in an antique.  Generally speaking, the less patina, the more valuable the antique.  There are cases where patina adds charm, so don’t panic. An antique over a hundred years old is bound to have some issues no matter how slight. The question is whether or not it adds character to the piece or makes it look worn.

Original Finish: Original finish (paint, enamel, varnish, veneer or whatever protective coating the manufacturer used at the time it was made) is always more valuable than something refinished.

Finding the right price for an antique can be difficult because there’s often nothing to which you can compare the piece…especially when something is extremely rare or has interesting provenance.  If you have serious doubts about something as an investment, contact someone more knowledgeable than yourself. It might be a good idea to develop a relationship with a reputable dealer, or better yet, an appraiser at Sotheby’s or Christies (if at all possible). One technique I often use with collectibles is to do an ebay search, which at the very least will give you an idea as to how saturated the market may be for a particular item. As you learn more about antiques, the risks will shrink, and your rewards will grow!