When it comes to decorating your home, there’s no better way to make the space feel more like yours than by buying original art pieces for every room. But how? The next time you need a piece, skip the same old prints everyone and their mother has on display and head to your local antique mall. Who knows what amazing vintage art pieces are waiting for you?
Vintage Art vs. Antique Art
Antique malls are chock full of art from all styles and eras, but when it comes to technicality, what’s the difference between the categorizations? Vintage art refers to pieces that are at least 20 years old, while antique art describes paintings made more than 100 years ago. Authenticated pieces will often come with official papers declaring their age and value.
Popular Eras of Antique and Vintage Art
If you’re searching for original art for your home, you’ll probably come across works from these popular design eras:
Art Nouveau (1890s-1910s)
Art Deco (1920s-1940s)
Mid-Century Modern (1940s-1960s)
Impressionism (1870s)
Surrealism (1910s-1960s)
Why Should You Buy Vintage Art from Antique Malls?
Secondhand stores are good for more than vintage clothing and used kitchenware—in fact, they’re treasure troves for anyone interested in finding original art for their home. Antique malls, by design, house hundreds of vendors under one roof, giving you plenty of opportunities to find the vintage art design you’re looking for. With a keen eye, a little patience, and time dedicated to scouring each booth, you’re bound to find an antique or repurposed art piece that suits your style.
Some original art collectors rely on online auctions to find their pieces, but shopping at a Highland antique mall gives you an unbeatable advantage. Being able to see the antique or repurposed artwork up close and get a real feel for how the medium looks in person helps you understand the depth, color palette, and actual feel of the piece in front of you. From there, you can picture it in your collection and determine if it fits in!
How to Shop for Vintage Art at an Antique Mall
If you’ve never bought vintage art or repurposed works at a Northwest Indiana antique mall, it can seem like a daunting task. Don’t worry—it’s easier than you think! With our advice, you’ll feel like an original art aficionado in no time:
Look in Every Single Booth
The first tip to shopping for art at antique malls is simple: don’t skip around. Every single booth has something different to offer, and you’ll never know what’s waiting for you if you don’t stop to look. Vendors can specialize in specific eras of oil paintings, posters, and prints in general or even just have one or two original artworks up on their walls—anything is possible.
Measure the Art Piece
If you’re shopping for original art for a specific area in your home, don’t leave the house without measuring. Writing down specific measurements will take the guesswork out of your purchase. After all, there’s nothing worse than discovering a priceless piece of repurposed art, taking it home, and having it be too large or small for the space!
Pro tip: always bring the measuring tape with you! This is true when shopping for anything in antique malls, but especially art. Though some authenticated original art pieces will have measurements written down, it’s always worth being able to check for yourself.
Shop With Your Eyes First
Unless you’re hunting for a specific type of vintage art, we recommend going into the store with an open mind. When you shop “using your eyes,” you’ll find yourself naturally drawn to repurposed art and vintage artwork you may not have sought out before. Some original art collectors try to go into antique stores in hopes of finding a forgotten Van Gogh, and while there’s a time and place for them, the most important thing is to have a fun experience and love what you end up buying, whatever it may be.
Don’t Forget About Repurposed Art
While prints of Monet’s Water Lily Pond and valuable portrait paintings will always have a place in our hearts and homes, antique malls also house vendors who specialize in upcycled or repurposed art. This eco-conscious art form can mean using discarded materials to create new works or taking an old, damaged piece and transforming it into something new.
Repurposed art can include mosaics, needlepoint, sculpture, paintings—you name it! If you’re looking for something truly one-of-a-kind, keep an eye out for repurposed artwork in the mall.
Ask Questions About the Piece
If any questions come up as you browse original artwork, don’t be afraid to flag down an antique mall staff member—they’re happy to help. They can help you understand the vintage or repurposed art on a deeper level to determine if it’s worth adding to your collection. Potential questions to ask include:
Where does this piece originate from?
Has any restoration or damage been done to this piece?
Who was the artist?
When was the piece created?
What medium was used?
Shop According to Budget
When it comes to investing time, effort, and money into a hobby, it can feel hard capping yourself at a certain budget. But setting aside a specific dollar amount you’re allowed to spend each week, month, or year will help keep your new obsession under control. Luckily, vintage art and repurposed art can be found at a wide range of price points, so whether your budget is $20 or $2,000, there’s something for everyone.
Make Sure You Get Appraisal Papers for Your Original Art
When you buy a vintage art piece from a trustworthy Chicago antique mall, it will always come with proper documentation. Official appraisals draw up these papers to detail the original artwork’s condition, estimated value, artist information, and ownership history. If you were to ever sell, donate, revalue, or insure your pieces, these appraisal papers are absolutely essential.
Once you start buying vintage art, you’ll never go back. With a few tips and tricks, you’re ready to go out into the antique mall world and start curating your own collection of original art. We can’t wait to see what you find at America’s Antique Mall!
