Much has been written on the subject of Artificial Intelligence and the world of antiques. Lots of folks in the trade are quickly lining up to decry its use. Why? Because the argument made is that antiques and art require subjective evaluation and a machine cannot do what years of experience and having “the eye” provides. I certainly don’t disagree with that statement as I do believe that having “the eye” for antiques requires constant study, refinement and practice which a computer program cannot achieve.
However, we need to acknowledge that many auction companies are using AI to not only assess consignments but are also often writing the catalog descriptions. And that use of AI is spreading to popular auctions such as Etsy, eBay and others where the AI is writing sales descriptions and establishing base pricing.
The popularity of AI in the antiques world is understandable. None of us are experts in every area. I know a bit about brown furniture but don’t ask me to evaluate stamps or dolls.
That said, where I am troubled is how readily AI is being used in stores ranging from Goodwill to a high-end antiques co-op in Lambertville. It is now the new price guide tool that is used to determine if the piece of glass or the antique book are real and what it is truly worth. A quick snap of the camera phone and all is revealed. It’s easy, and stores for the most part do not restrict use of the camera phone for identification.
The issue in using AI with antiques is that condition is both critical and highly subjective. Sure, a doll missing its head is obviously flawed, but what about some missing paint on the bumper of a toy train. Is that acceptable or a huge problem? Only experience provides the answer to that question.
Second is the truism that there are no rules about pricing antiques in the second-hand antiques market. If I am selling a lamp for $25 and you tell me that AI says that it is worth $10, then we are at an impasse. The resolution is whether your will for wanting the lamp beats my will for asking a high price for it. And the answer to that question must be made immediately. Waiting to study and think about it may mean someone else will pay $25 for the lamp.
Third is the concept that regionalism plays a significant role in the antiques market. For example, suppose you want to start collecting Amish quilts and you live in South Carolina. With few to no outlets for antique Amish quilts in the South, you are going to be hard-pressed to price shop around if you should happen to find a lovely bars or center diamond quilt. Rather, you will acknowledge the scarcity of the item as warranting a higher price.
In the antiques trade, regionalism is well known. Victorian sells well in the Midwest. Early American in New England. The South likes formal, especially early English. Unfortunately, AI does not know that and thus cannot take this geography into account.
So before we all scream and yell about how AI is going to destroy the knowledge base of the antiques trade, step back and think about what really goes into dealing and collecting. Its much more than just a quick price guide reference check.

“Born to collect" should be the motto of Peter Seibert's family. Raised in Central Pennsylvania, Seibert has been collecting and writing about antiques for more than three decades. By day, he is a museum director and has worked in Pennsylvania, Wyoming, Virginia and New Mexico. In addition, he advises and consults with auction houses throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, particularly about American furniture and decorative arts. Seibert's writings include books on photography, American fraternal societies and paintings. He and his family are restoring a 1905 arts and crafts house filled with years' worth of antique treasures found in shops, co-ops and at auctions.