How to Distinguish Antiques from Vintage, Second Hand, Retro and Artifacts

What is Antique?

An item must be at least one hundred years old to be classified as an antique. A Wassily chair by Marcel Breuer cannot be considered an antique, as it was first produced in 1927, whereas an early example of Gerrit Rietveld's Red and Blue chair from 1922 has now reached antique status. 

According to the terminology, a candlestick from the 1930s is not an antique, even if it is sold for a high price in an antique shop or by an antique dealer. Whether something is regarded as an antique or not has nothing to do with its value but solely with its age.

Part of collector Christopher O'Regans antiques collection, sold at Stockholms Auktionsverk.

What is Vintage?

Vintage furniture and other items have a broader age requirement than antiques, though they must be old enough to feel like they are from a pre-existing time period or a bygone era. This would include items ranging from about 20 to 99 years old.

Fridene Armchairs by Carina Bengs for IKEA, 2004. Turning Vintage this year.

The term Vintage is often associated with items that are not quite antique but are old enough to have nostalgic or collectable value.

What is Second Hand?

An item is considered Second Hand when it has been previously owned by at least one other person, no matter how old it is, but usually younger than 20 years. Older than 20 years it can be considered Vintage. 

Hermès Birkin Bag made in 2018. Second hand, not yet Vintage.

What is Retro?

The term Retro also sometimes comes up, but it actually has nothing to do with antiques or vintage. Retro refers to items that imitate or are inspired by past styles but are usually newer or recently made. Retro items may not be old, but they reflect earlier decades' design, fashion, or cultural trends, typically from the mid-20th century onward. Retro is more generally about style and nostalgia rather than the actual age of the object.

Retro, new items made in an older style. Record player in old style, new lamp in 60s style, figurine in 30s style, contemporary armchairs, Smeg kitchen machine.

What are Artifacts?

However, not everything that is more than a hundred years old is actually an antique. Some items, usually over 300 years old, are sometimes referred to as artifacts. Artifacts are objects shaped by human hands that have survived a previous era. These items can range from ancient pottery shards to medieval textiles and more. Unlike antiques, which are typically defined by age and craftsmanship, artifacts are valued for their archaeological or historical significance.

A Roman oil lamp, c. 400-500 AD.

So, is an antique item always more valuable than a vintage item? No, not by default. A vintage ring in excellent condition could be worth more than a similar ring from an earlier period. A vintage chair from the mid-20th century, designed by a famous designer, can be significantly more valuable than a simple wooden chair from the late 19th century by an unknown designer, even though the latter is considered antique.