Identify from photos
Photograph marks, underside, damage, and scale. Record what is visible before naming a maker or period.
Antique identification & value research
Research antique value
before you buy.
Identify maker marks and condition from photos, compare real sold prices, then work back to a resale buy price. A field guide for antique and vintage resellers.
Cavio is in research. There is no live scanner or appraisal service yet.
A sharper sourcing decision
LOOK CLOSER→CHECK SOLD COMPS→SET A BUY CEILING
THE CAVIO METHOD / IN MOTION
A better find starts with a better question.
Look closer at the object. Check what comparable pieces actually sold for. Then decide what you can afford to pay.
This concept film illustrates the research process. Cavio is still in research; no live scanner is available yet.
01 / THE PROBLEM
What is my antique worth? Start with the right match.
Estimating antique value from a photo starts with confirming what the object is. Two pieces can look nearly identical in a thumbnail yet differ in maker, age, condition, size, or whether the price covers a whole set.
FIELD NOTE / BLUE-AND-WHITE CERAMICSILLUSTRATIVE
Before you trust a price, check the match.
A listing title is a clue, not proof. A useful comparison needs the object details to line up.
- ✓Object: Is the maker, pattern, form, and approximate period actually the same?
- ✓Condition: Do chips, repairs, missing lids, or restorations change the comparison?
- ✓Transaction: Was it sold, or merely listed? Was the price for one object or a group?
02 / THE APPROACH
How to research antique value before you commit.
A repeatable check for estate sales, flea markets, online listings, and the shelf you almost walked past.
Find antique sold comps
Compare completed sales with matching form and condition. Keep seller asking prices in a separate column.
Set a resale buy price
Allow for fees, shipping, repairs, and margin. If the evidence is thin, inspect further or pass.
PHOTO CHECKLIST
Which photos help identify an antique?
Take a full-object photo first, then the underside or back, any maker mark, close-ups of joints or decoration, visible damage, and one image showing scale. Use even natural light. A single attractive front view often hides the detail that separates an original pattern from a later lookalike.
PRICE CHECKLIST
How do you work out a vintage resale price?
Start with the price of the closest completed sales, not active listings. Note the sale date, currency, shipping, condition, and whether each result was for one item or a set. For a buy decision, subtract selling fees, shipping, possible repairs, and your required profit. If too few comparable sales remain, keep the range broad or wait.
03 / COMMON QUESTIONS
Good research leaves room for doubt.
Useful answers tell you what is known, what is inferred, and what still needs checking.
How can I identify an antique from a photo?
A photo can suggest a category, style, material, or maker. Marks, measurements, construction details, and provenance may be needed to distinguish an original from a later copy. A photo alone cannot authenticate an object.
Can I estimate antique value from a photo alone?
A photo can help narrow the identity, but it cannot establish a reliable price on its own. Research completed sales of closely matched objects. An active listing shows what a seller is asking, not what a buyer paid; check condition, date, shipping, and whether the price covers one piece or a set.
How do I find eBay sold comps for antiques?
Search eBay sold listings and auction-house result archives using the maker, pattern, dimensions, and material you can verify. Record sold prices separately from asking prices. When no close comparison exists, widen the research carefully and label the uncertainty; a precise buy recommendation would be misleading.
When should I ask an antique appraiser?
For a high-value, disputed, insured, or estate item, ask a qualified specialist to examine it. This guide helps with preliminary resale research; it cannot replace a formal appraisal or authenticate an object.
Is Cavio an antique appraisal service?
No. Cavio is currently testing whether photo-based research and source-backed comparisons can help resellers make better sourcing decisions. It is not an authentication or appraisal service.
04 / PROJECT STATUS
A better field tool is being tested.
Cavio is evaluating image recognition and source-backed evidence on real objects. We are measuring where it helps, where it fails, and when a responsible answer should say “not enough evidence.”
RESEARCH IN PROGRESS