Walk through any estate sale or online shop and you'll see the words antique, vintage and retro used almost interchangeably. They actually mean different things, and knowing the difference helps you shop smarter.
Antique: 100 years or older
The common rule, and the one U.S. Customs uses, is that an antique is at least 100 years old. Today that means pieces made in the 1920s or earlier.
Vintage: at least 20 years old
Vintage usually means an item is at least 20 years old but not yet an antique. Etsy uses the same 20-year rule for its vintage category. A 1970s pennant, a 1980s brooch and a 1990s handbag can all be vintage.
Retro: old style, newer item
Retro describes something made recently in the style of an earlier era, like a new diner-style toaster or a reproduction tin sign. Retro can be fun, but it isn't vintage.
Mid-century modern
This refers to the clean-lined design style popular from roughly the mid-1940s through the late 1960s: teak furniture, atomic patterns, sleek barware.
Collectible
Anything people actively collect, whatever its age, from Little Golden Books to sports pennants to Funko Pops.
Reproduction
A new copy of an older design. Reproductions aren't bad, but they should always be sold as reproductions.
How to tell what you're looking at
Check for maker's marks, dates and country-of-origin stamps, look for honest wear in the places that get handled, and be wary of an "antique" that looks brand new.
Want the real thing? Browse our Vintage & One-of-a-Kind Finds, every piece one of a kind.