Antiques Magazine is an Acquired Taste

Do you like items like art and other things with an historical value? Do museums with an industrial/art theme and stores that sell like goods grab your attention? If so, then you might like Antiques, a publication made for collectors of antique products and for those who enjoy history. Let’s take a look at what this magazine has to offer:

Basic Contents of This Magazine:

Approx. 110 to 140 pages can be found in each issue of Antiques. Regular departments include:

Current and Coming- A couple of pages in length, this article examines some pieces of art or antiques with a common theme.

Report from Europe- This department offers a few short articles about European antiques complete with plenty of photos and information on how to find/view the featured items.

Books about Antiques- This section highlights a single book about Antiques with a lengthy book review accompanying a picture of the cover and other important facts like the author, publisher, etc.

Calendar- A few pages in length, this calendar highlights antique shows coming to a venue near you. The events are listed in state order, not in date order.

Editorial- This is a short piece about something with historical significance, complete with a large picture.

Design Notes- The closer to each issue, this one- page article focuses on an historic home or other locale.

Each issue of Antiques can also be counted on for about four to eight longer, featured articles each month, dedicated to art and history.

Cost to Subscribe:

Antiques is more expensive than the average magazine, selling for the base subscription price of $34.95 for twelve monthly issues. This means that each issue will cost you about $2.91, a savings of about 42 percent from the $4.99 cover price. Using the internet as a shopping tool, you might be able to find this magazine for a little less. A savings of approx. $10 per year can be found in the internet with little effort.

Customer Service/Magazine Website:

If you want to learn more about this magazine on the internet, the site to visit is magazineantiques.com. The web site is good for finding out a little more about the magazine and its contents but it is no substitute for the real thing. If customer service is needed, the number to call is 800-925-9271.

Final Thoughts:

Antiques Magazine is a publication made for antique lovers and history buffs and its pages are loaded with artistic paintings, handmade goods, rare pictures, and other items of similar nature. It is a magazine for those who love antiques and also those who consider themselves historians since many articles deal with historical collections of art and other items.

This magazine is overflowing with antique goods and information. The articles contained in this magazine are intended to be visually stimulating in some cases, educational in others. They offer history lessons on the art that was popular during a specific era (like the Civil War), a glimpse into an art collection at a museum, and more. The articles are meant to stimulate the interests of those who already like this subject and provide a means to learn more, discover places to see or purchase some of the featured works, and develop an appreciation for the craftsmanship that went into making these items.

Antiques Magazine is a publication dedicated to creative art and history but one thing that isn’t very creative is the titles of the articles. This might surprise some readers at first, but the editors at Antiques decided to get straight to the point in the naming of the featured articles rather than try to be creative. The features thus have titles like “The History and Collections of (fill in blank)”, “The clocks in the collection”, “American culture in art”, etc. Each title points out exactly what the article covers, leaving nothing to the imagination.

One thing about Antiques magazine is certain: It is a publication with a very high number of advertisements. The reason for this is, of course, the nature of the magazine itself. People who enjoy antiques want to know all about them- not just the basic facts describing how they were made and where they originated, but also where they can go to see them (like with exhibits) or where they can go to make a purchase. Antiques freaks are always looking for shows to go to, museums to visit, and shops to browse. This is why Antiques Magazine has so many ads. But before you allow this to turn you off, keep in mind that many of these ads are accompanied with large, colorful photos. They display great works of art that will appeal to anyone with an artistic side.

The writing in Antiques is certainly good and well- edited. But I’m afraid that many readers will find the articles a little dull. They describe things well and they usually offer a good history lesson. But they lack spark and readability. I have tried to read some articles in this magazine and found my mind drifting to a different subject as I read- a sure indication that the article in front of me isn’t very stimulating. This is why I generally stick with the pictures when I glance at Antiques. I don’t bother reading much because it doesn’t keep my interest.

Overall, Antiques is an acquired taste as far as the reading goes and unless you have a deep interest in antiques and their history, you will likely become bored quickly if you try to read the articles. But the pictures in Antiques are often very interesting. Even if you have little interest in reading a magazine like this one, the photos alone make it worth an occasional look.