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According to the website for the televsion show Antique Roadshow, “As
Michael points out, the word “antique” generally refers to an older
object valued because of its aesthetic or historical significance.”

The definition of the word antique, since in some ways it carries a
relative meaning [what is antique in a younger culture like the US may
be considered not antique in an older culture like the UK]. In the US,
the definition was set somewhat by the US Customs officials who needed
to determine what imports should be classified as antiques. Their
conclusions were as follows:

“Antiques, they concluded, were objects that pre-dated the mass
production of objects in the 1830s. Since the defining moment went
back about 100 years, the office defined an antique as something made
over 100 years ago. Duty was collected on objects younger than the
century-old divider, and it still is.”

[source: pbs.org/wgbh/pages/roadshow/speak/antique.html

Americas Collectables antique roadshow, customs officials, defining moment, wgbh