In the world of art and antiques, there are five attributes that determine desirability: portability, quality, durability, scarcity and stylistic zeitgeist. These five elements are effectively universal. That means art and antiques that possess all of these attributes are investment grade, while those that lack one or more aspects will never reach that peak.
Out of the five attributes that render an antique investable, quality is perhaps the most important. Quality is what most of us notice first when examining exceptional antiques. It speaks to us. If you pick up a fine antique and handle it, its quality will immediately shine through.
Quality actually has two different dimensions: quality of materials and quality of construction. These two attributes, although distinct, are very closely related. Yet each is equally important.
Quality of materials simply refers to the rarity and desirability of the components used in a work of art. For example, gold, silver, precious gemstones and exotic hardwoods are some of the luxury materials frequently encountered in exceptional antiques. However, other, lesser known materials, like lacquer, enamel, horn or bone also fall into this category.
I personally find the more exotic luxury materials to be fascinating. Irish bog oak, ancient mammoth ivory and guilloche enamel are just a few of the unusual high end materials that often find their way into exceptional antiques. And yet, few people have ever heard of these materials, much less handled them.
Quality of construction is a slightly different concept. It involves the skill or craftsmanship used to design, assemble and finish exceptional antiques. It is uncommon for a well constructed antique to employ sub-par materials. Few self-respecting master craftsmen would waste their valuable time and effort on mediocre materials.
Likewise, truly fine components are rarely haphazardly assembled by journeymen. Instead, less skilled artisans typically work in less expensive materials, helping to keep costs down as they learn their craft. As a result, high quality construction is almost always associated with high quality materials, while mediocre construction is usually accompanied by mid-range materials.
Quality is not only a vital concept for the fine art collector, but also the antique investor. Quality is often the defining factor in how desirable and, by extension, expensive an item is. In addition to this, quality is usually instrumental in determining the future investment performance of a work of art. Exceptional antiques – those made from the finest components with the greatest care – usually appreciate at a fast pace. Those of lesser quality, on the other hand, tend to lag in price.
Czarist Russia’s world famous Faberge eggs exemplify this truism. These precious objets d’art were made from jade, gold, diamonds, platinum and enamel – some of the most valuable materials known to man. And Carl Faberge recruited the very finest workmasters from the Russian empire to create these masterpieces.
Faberge eggs represent the quintessential marriage of quality materials and quality construction. This perfect fusion of the two distinct facets of quality make Faberge eggs some of the most desirable works of art known to man. Predictably, prices start in the millions of dollars and rise from there.
Of course, there are many exceptional antiques in the world other than Faberge eggs. But the savvy antique collector or investor will take note of the attribute that make them all so coveted – quality. The higher the material and construction quality of the antique you buy, the better your chances for future price appreciation.
