To some, art and antiques provide an aesthetic element or simple comfort to an interior. While art and antiques can be utilitarian, they also can be cumbersome and costly. Often they are fragile, requiring proper environmental conditions, regular maintenance, adequate insurance and security, and frequent appraisals. Transportation, marketing and selling also may be costly and time consuming. Limit the field of your investment collection.
Risk is reduced by information.
It's not so important what you collect but that you like it and want to learn about it. Read everything you can about your specific area of interest. Consult museums, design centers, universities, other collectors or dealers in your specialty, trade journals, magazines, books and related associations. Buy top quality. Medium-quality items often do little more than keep pace with inflation.