ANTIQUE hunting is not only about finding old and rare items.
It has moved into a new direction, a new territory indeed a brand new country.
What this means is while people still look out for collectables they are now hunting for re-useables.
I believe we are living in an era where people are valuing antiques, and I use that word in its widest context, as something which can re-used for its original purpose.
It is not about collecting and putting your find in a cabinet and hiding it behind glass.
What we have now is a breed of people who are in their own way interior designers.
It is to use the buzz words of today to be ‘on trend’, to know ‘what is hot and on fire’ and ‘finding the different and quirky’.
Interior designers or our inner designer, see items and look at them not in terms of money, although we all want a bargain, but in terms of how can that be used again.
It can for example be used be as a decoration in a kitchen, but it can also be used for what it was made. An example would be a 1930s-1950s bread bin. Looks good in situ but is also practical.
There is also a beer crate when put on its side can be used as an inexpensive wine holder.
This was a large slice of what I did last week. I bought items which while having a monetary value have a value in being used time and time again.
The items I purchased were:
• A 1930s perpetual calendar. It is a desk calendar made with a wooden case. You turn each handle to change the day, date and month. When you get to 30/31 days you rewind and start again.
• Two Le Creuset jars which can be used to store dried items like flour, currants, sugar, coffee 
• A large Le Creuset casserole pot with lid.
• Two wine glasses. One from the Victorian period and one from the reign of George III.
• Two enamelled jugs. Decorative pieces in a kitchen or a restaurant.
• A Triang toy truck with milk bottles. Some with tips some without. Missing six milk bottles
• A Royal Doulton gravy boat
• Four copper moulds used for pate, blancmange or possibly jellies Each item (apart from the toy truck) will be put back into action, back to being used for its original purpose.
Buying quality items which will look good today, tomorrow and in the future.
It all means you are being a green thinker-thinking how can this be used again and in many ways help the environment.
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