Antique dealers find antiques, buy them, and sell them on to interested buyers. Antique dealers often specialize in a certain kind of antique, such as books and manuscripts, art, or furniture. They will usually have their own shops, but may also sell antiques online. Antique dealers are specialized professionals with the skills and connections to identify antiques, assess their value, and find buyers for them.

Antique dealers find antiques in many places. They might shop at estate sales, for example, or bid at antique auctions, or travel around the world visiting antique shops and antique shows. The sources of a dealer’s antiques depend on the type of antiques he specializes in, his location, and the needs of his customers. Although it can sometimes be difficult to trace the entire history of an antique, any reputable antique dealer will give you as much information as he has about an antique's origin and history.

If you don't have specialized knowledge of antiques, it can sometimes be difficult to tell a genuine antique from a replica. In order to determine if an antique is authentic, you should inspect its certificate of authenticity. This is a document issued by the item's original manufacturer or a dealer that attests to the item's authenticity.

Of course, many antiques, especially items you might stumble upon at yard sales or in attics, won't come with a certificate of authenticity. In this case, the best thing to do is have the antique appraised by an expert. Expert appraisers will be able to determine if an antique is genuine, and can issue a certificate of authenticity for it.

Although the vast majority of antique dealers are trustworthy professionals, there are, unfortunately, a few dishonest or careless dealers out there. When you set out to find an antique dealer, remember that reputable antique dealers in the UK belong to the British Antique Dealers' Association (BADA).

The association has a strict code of practice that dealers must follow in order to remain members of the association. The BADA also has a free arbitration process to help you should any problems arise in your dealings with a member dealer. If your antique dealer is a member in good standing of the BADA, you can be confident that she is a reputable person to do business with.

You can have an item appraised in several ways. Some services offer online appraisal based on digital photographs that you submit. Other appraisers require you to bring your antique to their shops or offices. Some expert appraisers will travel to you to appraise your item. Depending on the fee you agree to, an appraiser will be able to tell you the age and origin of your item, its market value, and the likely cost of purchasing insurance for the item.

It's important look for an expert antique appraiser in the same way that you'd look for an expert architect, doctor, or dentist. Asking friends or family for recommendations, or speaking to antique dealers in your locality is the best way to find an expert appraiser.

Many antique dealers have online shops as well as bricks-and-mortar storefronts. Shopping online for antiques can be a great way to find what you're looking for, as you'll be able to browse inventory in shops all around the UK and the world. However, you should, of course, use the same caution when shopping for antiques online as you would when purchasing anything else over the Internet. If you're not familiar with the shop, verify that it is reputable before you hand over any personal information.

Many savvy online shoppers will give an antique shop a quick ring to make sure the store is still in business and the items listed in its online store are still in stock. This is always a good precaution.

Different antiques require different levels of care during transport. Some items such as paintings or rare books are particularly fragile. Your antique dealer is the best person to give you advice on transport precautions. He should take care to wrap or package fragile items for you if you're transporting them yourself or, if you're having an item shipped, should be able to recommend shipping methods and companies.

If you’re having in item shipped to you, consider having it insured against damage during transport.