Antiques

Who this is for

Collectors hunting for a particular piece, and travellers who want to take home an object with a history from Georgia.

Also people living here who furnish their homes with old furniture, rugs or paintings.

Our role

We do not deal in antiques and take no commission from sellers: we help with the search, the checks, the export questions and the shipping.

You pay the seller directly for the piece and the expert for their work, and we never hold your money. The fee for our help is agreed separately and in advance.

Where we look

In Tbilisi antiques turn up in several places: an open-air market, shops in the old town, galleries and private collectors.

Regional towns have small flea markets too, where families sell old belongings.

The most interesting piece is often not on the stall but in the seller's home or storeroom.

The Dry Bridge market

Plenty of sellers stand by the Dry Bridge on weekdays as well, but at weekends the market is far bigger.

It pays to arrive early in the morning, while sellers are still laying out and crowds are thin.

In a single row you may see genuine old silver next to a freshly aged copy, so keep a careful eye.

Antique shops

In the shops of Old Tbilisi pieces are often already selected, cleaned and described.

Prices are higher than at the market, but the seller often explains a piece's origin and condition better.

Some shops also help with export papers, which matters for a valuable piece.

Private collectors

A collector sometimes sells part of a collection, and that is where rare pieces can appear.

Such a meeting is arranged in advance, on the basis of trust.

Buying from a collector follows the same rule: checks, a receipt and clarity on export.

Auctions

Art and antiques auctions are held in Tbilisi too.

At auction a piece often comes with a description and estimate, but checking it is still your job.

We read the auction rules, including any buyer's premium, before you bid.

Soviet items

Soviet cameras, watches, posters, porcelain and badges are the most affordable antiques.

Many were factory-made in large runs, so condition and rarity decide their value.

Exporting them is usually simple, though we still check in doubtful cases.

Old silver

Georgian silver cups, chased belts and jewellery are the loveliest part of the antiques trade.

Old silver often carries an assay mark that points to its period and origin.

Ageing a new piece is easy, so we show valuable silver to a specialist.

Drinking horns and cups

The drinking horn is a symbol of the Georgian table, and an old one mounted in silver is a rare find.

Some countries restrict importing horn, especially from protected animals.

So we establish the material before buying.

Old rugs

A Caucasian rug is valued for its motif, colour and knot density.

Natural dyes and a hand-woven foundation are the main signs of an old rug.

A rug should be rolled, not folded, and before shipping we often suggest professional washing and moth treatment.

Old enamel

Old cloisonne enamel differs from new in its fine details and natural wear.

Much that is called old was actually made in recent decades.

We write about contemporary enamel on the enamel page.

Blades and firearms

Old daggers and swords are popular with collectors, but they may count as bladed weapons.

Firearms, even old and deactivated ones, fall under separate, strict rules.

For such items we check the export and import rules on both sides before buying.

Icons

Buying an old icon is the most sensitive matter, as it is often part of the national heritage.

We do not buy icons of unclear origin, nor do we advise you to.

New icons sold in church shops are not affected by this.

Manuscripts and old books

Georgian manuscripts and early printed books are national heritage, and exporting them is as a rule not allowed or strictly limited.

Soviet-era books, postcards and photographs are a far simpler purchase.

Before buying a rare book we ask for an expert's view.

Archaeological objects

Coins, rings and objects dug from the ground often belong to the state by law.

Buying and exporting such an object is a serious legal risk.

We do not deal with archaeological objects, even if the seller promises a document.

Coins

Old coins are popular, but some of them are exactly that - archaeological finds.

Soviet and more recent coins usually pose no problem.

Do not clean an old coin, because cleaning lowers its value.

Paintings

Works by Georgian artists are sold in galleries, at auction and from private collections.

On a painting by a known artist a signature is not enough: an expert's opinion and a provenance history are needed.

Exporting a painting by a known master often requires a permit.

Furniture

Old furniture is beautiful, but it is big and heavy and travels as freight.

For wooden items some countries ask for a document proving pest treatment.

So before buying furniture we work out its shipping and customs in advance.

Musical instruments

An old panduri, chonguri or chianuri looks fine on a wall and in the hand.

An instrument often needs restoration before it can be played again.

Some instruments are decorated with animal materials, which changes the import rules.

Old clothing and embroidery

An old chokha, arkhalukhi, headscarf or hand-embroidered cloth often reaches the market from a family chest.

Moths and damp harm textiles, so we check their condition in daylight, including seams and lining.

Store old textiles in acid-free paper rather than tightly folded, so they do not tear along the creases.

Photos and family archives

Old photos and postcards often reach the market from family archives.

They are a living picture of old Tbilisi and village life.

Work by a well-known person or photographer calls for a separate price and more care.

Copper and samovars

Copper pots, samovars and trays come from the kitchens of old families.

Copperware needs a tin lining inside if you intend to use it for food.

Such pieces are heavy, so we factor their weight into your luggage in advance.

Signs of authenticity

A genuinely old piece shows natural wear where hands used to touch it.

Artificial ageing is often even and appears in odd places.

Screws, glue, materials and working technique say a lot about the period.

An independent expert

For a valuable piece we bring in an independent specialist with no link to the seller.

The expert assesses authenticity, period, condition and likely value.

The expert sets their own fee, and you pay them directly.

Restoration

Many old pieces were restored at some point, and that is not a flaw in itself.

What matters is that the seller does not hide the restoration and that the price reflects it.

Tbilisi also has good restorers, if you want to care for the piece yourself.

Agreeing a price

At the market the first price is often the start of a negotiation.

Too much excitement over a piece pushes the price up, while a calm conversation brings it down.

You set a limit in advance and do not change it under pressure.

Payment

At markets and with collectors people often pay cash.

For a valuable piece a bank transfer is better, because it proves payment.

You always pay the seller directly.

The receipt

The receipt should give a description of the piece, a photo, the price, the date and the seller's name.

The export examination, customs and insurance all need this document.

We do not buy a valuable piece without a receipt.

Provenance

A piece's history - who owned it and how it reached the seller - adds to its value.

Provenance also protects you from buying stolen goods.

When a seller dodges this question, that is already an answer.

The export rule

Taking an object of cultural value out of the country is under state control.

For some pieces an examination by the relevant body establishes that it is not cultural property, and export is then simple.

Other pieces need a permit, and some may not be exported at all.

How long the examination takes

The export examination and permit take time, from days to weeks.

So we buy a valuable piece at the start of a trip, not at the end.

If time runs short, we ship the piece later, once the documents are ready.

Which pieces need checking

Age, material, maker and historical significance decide whether a piece needs checking.

Mass-produced Soviet items usually pass easily; old icons, rugs, manuscripts and paintings do not.

In doubtful cases we always check, because the cost of a mistake is high.

Bringing it into your country

Your own country's customs also controls antique imports.

Some countries apply a reduced duty to old pieces if their age is proven.

So keep the receipt and the expert's opinion together with the piece.

Protected species

Ivory, tortoiseshell, coral and some horn are controlled under an international convention, CITES.

Importing a piece decorated with such material is banned in many countries or needs a special permit.

So we establish the material before buying, even if the piece is very old.

Fake antiques

A market in fake antiques exists, and it targets tourists above all.

Common fakes include new icons aged artificially, new enamel passed off as old and copies of Soviet badges.

A price that does not fit a genuine piece is the first warning sign.

Time on a trip

An hour and a half at the market during a tour is often not enough for antiques.

We plan a separate morning for it, when the market is just setting up.

On a long trip we leave the piece with the seller and check it before you return.

An interpreter at the market

Market sellers often speak Georgian and Russian.

An interpreter conveys the piece's history accurately, which also helps with the price talk.

Our interpreter takes no commission from sellers and stands on your side.

Buying remotely

If you are not in Georgia, we show you the piece on a video call.

We send you the expert's opinion and detailed photos before you buy.

You pay the seller directly, and we ship the piece afterwards.

Packing

Packing an antique takes special materials and experience.

A fragile piece goes into a wooden crate, in soft padding, with no room to move.

We take photos before and after packing.

Taking it in your luggage

A small piece, such as silver or photographs, is safest in your cabin bag.

At customs you should have the receipt and, where needed, the examination document to hand.

Putting a valuable piece in checked baggage is a risk.

Shipping as freight

A large piece, such as furniture or a rug, is shipped by a company experienced in moving art.

Such a company arranges the wooden crate, insurance and customs papers.

You pay the company directly for the transport.

Insurance

Insurance is essential when shipping a valuable piece.

The insured sum rests on the receipt and the expert's valuation.

We read the terms in advance, especially the exclusions for fragile items.

Furnishing a home

People living here often buy old furniture, rugs and paintings to furnish their homes.

In that case the export question comes up later, when leaving the country.

So keep receipts and photos from the day of purchase.

Ethics

Stolen or illegally excavated pieces sometimes reach the antiques market.

We do not buy such pieces, do not ship them and do not help conceal them.

If a piece looks suspicious, we simply decline, even without further explanation.

Antiques as gifts

An old piece is doubly precious as a gift, because it is one of a kind.

Pass on a short account of its history with it, so the recipient knows it too.

When sending a gift we check the receiving country's rules.

Common mistakes

Buying an old icon, rug or painting without knowing the export rule.

Buying without a receipt, and buying a valuable piece on the last day of the trip.

Agreeing a price on the seller's word alone, without an independent check.

What we need from you

What interests you: a period, a category or a specific piece.

A rough budget range and the size of the piece.

Where the piece is going and how much time you have.

Cost

The seller sets the price of the piece and the relevant specialists set the price of the examination and transport, and you pay each directly.

We take no commission from sellers, experts or carriers.

The fee for our help is separate and agreed in advance.