Going to the highest bidder

What springs to mind when you hear the word "antiques"? Is it museums, centuries-old houses or auction rooms?

Listen to this story: In 1983, a dealer who had for sale a marble statue of a nude male youth dating from the sixth century BC contacted the J. Paul Getty Museum in California. The asking price was $10 million.

The museum took the statue on loan and carried out numerous tests on it. The experts appointed by the museum concluded that the statue was ancient and the documents attesting to its provenance were originals.

But when the statue was showcased to the public, a number of other experts felt that the statue did not look "quite right".

After more research, it was concluded that the statue was produced in a forger's workshop in Rome in the early 1980s.

This story is recounted by Malcolm Gladwell in his best seller Blink: The Power Of Thinking Without Thinking (Penguin Books).

So what should you look for when buying antiques?

Two seasoned collectors, Robert Attard and Romina Azzopardi, have put together their expertise garnered over the past 20 years on how and what to look for before you buy.

Their labour of love is presented in Antique Collecting In Malta: The Essential Guide For All Melitensia Lovers And Collectors (Midsea Books).

While Ms Azzopardi's interest lies in porcelain majolica, silver, costumes and furniture, Dr Attard's field encompasses arms and armour, books and paintings.

"Before you start buying, you ought to read and research and ask experts about the items you intend to acquire. The antiques community in Malta is quite large and auctions are well attended," Ms Azzopardi said in an interview.

The more you learn and seek expert advice, the easier it may become to spot a bargain. The internet has opened up a whole new world by bringing auction houses and what they have to offer into your home. Auction firms have their own experts, she added.

"The book is not a guide on how to gauge the value of an object. Rather it's the history of the object. In the book we treat artists that we discovered," Ms Azzopardi noted.

Buying antiques is a risky business. Even markers' trademarks can fool you unless you tread carefully. Do your homework well, she advised.

The book opens up a kaleidoscope of antiques photographed to a fault by Kevin Casha who carried out a tricky job extremely well.