Q antiques

[jlg]

How old does something have to be to be called antique by law? I was told 100 yrs but have since been told different,im 43 and my kids call me antique its not funny.

[PeckhamRose]

Well it made me laugh.

Depends what 'it' is, of course.

[jlg]

Why would it depend on what it is funiture,vase,jewellery ect.

[peleparso]

100 years is right - at least for tax purposes so probably backed up by t'law.

[Tarot]

Sir Jimmy Savile is heading towards that status then...

[Huguenot]

There isn't a legal definition for antique in the UK, it should be treated as a generalist term of no more importance than the words 'old' or 'ancient'. Instead you should ask for specific and legally binding statements about age.

In the US it seems it was a tax issue, and was originally defined as pre-1830. I can't find any evidence it was updated, so possibly now means that it's over 170 years old.

The '100 year' rule quoted above is often used to define antique, but actually doesn't do that, it's simply an inconsistently applied customs and excise regulation to do with import/export.

[Tarot]

I did see a television on e-bay described antique, that tickled me..