Inherited Antiques? The 5 First Steps Before You Do Anything

You’ve just inherited a house full of antiques. A cabinet full of porcelain. An attic with paintings. Maybe a safe with silverware. And you have no idea where to start.

This happens to more people than you think. And most mistakes are made in the first few weeks — out of haste, ignorance, or family pressure. Here are the five steps that make the difference.

Step 1: Don’t touch anything

The biggest mistake heirs make: polishing, repairing, or having items cleaned before an expert has examined them. A polished silver piece loses its patina. A cleaned painting can lose both varnish and value. A glued porcelain piece may be worth half as much at sale.

Leave everything as it is. Dust is not the enemy. Dust is evidence of age — and that has value.

Step 2: Inventory with photographs

Take at least three photos of each piece: front view, the underside (stamps, marks, signatures), and a detail shot of any damage. Do this in daylight, without flash.

This serves two purposes: you have an overview for the family, and you have visual material for when you later consult an expert or use an online analysis tool.

Step 3: Separate categories

Not everything old is antique. Not everything beautiful is valuable. Make a rough initial classification:

• Clearly mass-produced (imitations, modern reproductions, 20th-century Chinese export porcelain)
• Potentially valuable (signed pieces, European porcelain with maker’s marks, silver with hallmarks)
• Unknown or uncertain

You can let go of the first category later. Focus your energy on the second and third.

Step 4: Don’t ask a dealer for an appraisal

A dealer who clears your house has a different interest than you do. His appraisal is what he’s willing to pay — not what the piece is worth on the market. Those two numbers can be far apart.

Get an independent estimate first or use an objective online analysis. Only then compare with a purchase offer.

A piece can have an appraisal value of €2,000 and still sell for €400 to a dealer in a hurry.

Step 5: Talk to the family before you sell

Antiques in an estate cause family conflicts more often than money does. Not because the pieces are so valuable, but because each family member attaches different memories to them.

Agree on how you’ll make decisions before selling, donating, or giving anything away. Who has a claim to what? Who decides in case of disagreement? Put it in writing — even if it feels excessive.

When should you call in an expert?

If you’re in doubt about a single piece, an expert is worth the investment. Especially for:

• Chinese or Japanese porcelain with maker’s marks
• Silver with engraved or struck hallmarks
• Paintings with signatures or studio attributions
• Bronze sculptures with foundry stamps

For an initial screening, an AI analysis can already provide considerable clarity at no cost — particularly to determine what’s worth bringing to a physical expert.