7 Reputable Antique Dealers That Buy Antiques (2025 Guide)

Do you have a family heirloom, a flea market find, or a carefully curated collection you're ready to sell? Finding the right buyer is the most crucial step in getting a fair price for your treasures. The process can feel overwhelming, with countless options and no clear path forward. This guide simplifies that journey by providing a detailed list of reputable antique dealers that buy antiques, ensuring you connect with trustworthy professionals who value your items.

We've compiled a roundup of the best online platforms and organizations where you can confidently sell your pieces. Whether you have antique furniture, rare jewelry, vintage china, or fine art, the right buyer is out there. This article removes the guesswork by detailing exactly where to go and how to approach each platform.

Inside, you'll find a breakdown of seven top-tier options, from high-end marketplaces like 1stDibs to specialized services like Replacements, Ltd. Each entry includes:

• Who they are and what they specialize in.
• The selling process for each platform.
• Direct links to get you started immediately.

Our goal is to give you a clear, actionable resource. You'll learn which service best fits your specific items, helping you move from appraisal to payment with ease. Let's explore the best places to sell your antiques.

1. Ruby Lane: The Curated Marketplace for Specialists

Ruby Lane isn't a single dealer but a large, curated online marketplace where individual, pre-screened antique dealers that buy antiques set up their own virtual shops. Think of it as an exclusive, high-end online antique mall. Its main distinction is the rigorous vetting process for sellers, which ensures a higher standard of quality, authenticity, and expertise compared to more open platforms like eBay.

This platform is ideal for those who have high-quality, valuable, or specialized items and want to connect directly with serious buyers and established dealers. Unlike selling to a single shop, Ruby Lane gives you access to a global network of collectors actively searching for specific treasures.

How to Sell on Ruby Lane

To sell your items, you must apply to become a Ruby Lane shop owner. This involves a one-time setup fee and monthly maintenance fees, which vary based on the number of items you list. Because of this structure, it's best suited for individuals with a collection to sell, not just a single item.

• Step 1: Apply for a Shop. You'll need to provide information about yourself and the types of antiques you plan to sell. Ruby Lane's team reviews applications to maintain the site's quality standards.
• Step 2: List Your Items. Once approved, you create listings with detailed descriptions, high-quality photos, and your set price. Honesty and accuracy are critical here, as the buyers are often experts.
• Step 3: Manage Your Shop. You handle all communication with potential buyers, negotiate offers if you choose, and manage shipping and payments directly.

Pro Tip: Before applying, browse existing Ruby Lane shops that specialize in items similar to yours. This helps you understand pricing, photo styles, and description formats that are successful on the platform, giving your application and future shop a competitive edge.

Website: RubyLane.com

2. 1stDibs: The Premier Marketplace for High-End Treasures

1stDibs operates as a luxury online marketplace connecting discerning buyers with a global network of highly vetted, professional dealers. It is the go-to platform for high-end furniture, fine art, jewelry, and design pieces. Unlike open marketplaces, 1stDibs focuses exclusively on the top tier of the market, ensuring that both items and sellers meet stringent quality and authenticity standards.

This platform is best for those looking to sell premium, often designer-signed or historically significant, antiques. It provides access to a sophisticated clientele, including interior designers and serious collectors, who are prepared to pay premium prices for verified, high-caliber items. The platform's emphasis on trust, with robust buyer protection and authenticity guarantees, makes it a leading choice for valuable transactions.

How to Sell on 1stDibs

Selling on 1stDibs requires becoming an approved seller, a process designed to maintain the platform's elite reputation. The platform is structured for professional antique dealers that buy antiques and sell them, rather than for individuals selling a single inherited item. Sellers pay for a membership plan to list their inventory.

• Step 1: Apply to Be a Seller. The application process is rigorous. You must demonstrate a history of dealing in high-quality, authentic items and provide professional references.
• Step 2: Choose a Membership Plan. Once approved, you select a membership plan that suits the scale of your business. These plans come with monthly fees and a commission structure on sales.
• Step 3: Curate and List Your Inventory. You are responsible for creating compelling listings with professional photography, detailed, accurate descriptions, and pricing. Your items will be showcased to a global audience of affluent buyers and design professionals.
• Step 4: Manage Sales and Logistics. Sellers handle direct communication, negotiation, and shipping arrangements. 1stDibs provides support for international sales, including guidance on taxes and duties.

Pro Tip: Invest heavily in professional photography. The buyers on 1stDibs have extremely high expectations, and your product images must reflect the quality and value of your items. Showcase pieces in well-lit, styled settings to capture the attention of interior designers.

Website: 1stDibs.com

3. Chairish: The Design-Lover's Marketplace

Chairish is a popular, U.S.-centric online marketplace focused on high-end vintage, antique, and contemporary furniture, decor, and art. While it caters to design lovers, it is also a powerful platform for individuals and professional antique dealers that buy antiques and sell them. Its key differentiator is its strong logistical framework, especially for large, bulky items like furniture, and its active curation of listings to maintain a chic, design-forward aesthetic.

This platform is best for those selling stylish, brand-name, or aesthetically pleasing antique and vintage pieces, particularly furniture, lighting, and art. Chairish simplifies the often-complex process of shipping large items by offering multiple managed options, making it accessible even for sellers who have never shipped a credenza across the country before.

How to Sell on Chairish

Selling on Chairish is a consignment-style process where you list your item and Chairish takes a commission upon its sale. The commission rate is tiered and transparent, decreasing as the price of your item increases. You can list items for free, and there are no monthly shop fees for casual sellers.

• Step 1: Submit Your Listing. Use the Chairish app or website to upload photos and provide a detailed description of your item, including its condition, dimensions, and history. The listing is then reviewed by Chairish curators to ensure it meets their style and quality guidelines.
• Step 2: Choose Your Shipping Method. When you list, you can select which shipping options you'll accommodate: white-glove delivery (Chairish Managed), parcel shipping, or local pickup. Chairish provides shipping quotes and coordinates the logistics once the item sells.
• Step 3: Get Paid. After the buyer receives the item and the 48-hour return window closes, Chairish processes your payment. Your earnings are your sale price minus the predetermined commission.

Pro Tip: Chairish buyers are design-savvy. Style your photos to show the item in a well-lit, attractive setting. Instead of a simple snapshot, create a "vignette" that helps buyers visualize how the piece could look in their own home. This can significantly increase your item's appeal and sale price.

Website: Chairish.com

4. LiveAuctioneers: The Gateway to Auction Houses

LiveAuctioneers acts as a massive online portal, connecting you not to a single dealer, but to thousands of auction houses across the country. It is a leading U.S.-based aggregator where you can find antique dealers that buy antiques through consignment for upcoming sales. This platform is perfect for those who believe their items could perform well in a competitive bidding environment, potentially fetching a higher price than a direct sale.

The platform is unique because it consolidates countless estate sales, art auctions, and specialty dealer clearances into one searchable marketplace. Instead of contacting individual auctioneers, you can browse upcoming auctions to find the one that best fits your item's category, whether it's fine art, jewelry, or historical memorabilia. For those trying to decide between different selling methods, understanding the nuances of this approach is key. You can learn more about the difference between estate sales and auctions to see if this is the right path for you.

How to Sell on LiveAuctioneers

Selling through LiveAuctioneers means consigning your item to one of its partner auction houses. The platform facilitates the connection, but the actual transaction is handled by the auctioneer. A significant advantage is the transparency in logistics, especially with features like LiveShipping, which provides instant quotes.

• Step 1: Find a Suitable Auction House. Use the platform to search for auctioneers that specialize in your type of antique. You can review their past auction results to gauge their success and reach.
• Step 2: Submit Your Item for Consignment. Contact the auction house directly through the platform or their website. You will need to provide high-quality photos and a detailed description for their appraisal.
• Step 3: Agree to Terms and Consign. If they accept your item, you will agree on the terms, including the seller's commission (the percentage they take from the final sale price) and any other fees. The auction house then lists, markets, and sells the item for you.

Pro Tip: Before consigning, use LiveAuctioneers' extensive database of past auction results to research what similar items have sold for. This gives you a realistic price expectation and helps you negotiate better consignment terms with the auction house.

Website: LiveAuctioneers.com

5. Everything But The House (EBTH): The Full-Service Estate Sale Solution

Everything But The House (EBTH) offers a unique, full-service approach to selling collections and entire estates. Instead of being a marketplace where you list items yourself, EBTH functions as a comprehensive consignment service that manages the entire auction process for you. They are essentially antique dealers that buy antiques on consignment for a national audience, handling everything from cataloging and photography to payments and shipping.

This platform is the perfect turnkey solution for those facing a significant downsizing, managing an inheritance, or liquidating an entire home's contents. Their model brings the traditional estate sale into the digital age, with all items starting at a $1 bid to attract a massive base of enthusiastic bidders from across the country.

How to Sell on EBTH

Selling with EBTH is designed to be as hands-off as possible for the client. The process begins with a free consultation to determine if your collection or estate is a good fit for their auction platform. They handle nearly all the logistics, making it an incredibly streamlined experience.

• Step 1: Free Consultation. Contact EBTH to discuss what you have to sell. An expert will evaluate your items, explain the consignment terms, and outline the potential commission structure.
• Step 2: On-Site Preparation. If you move forward, the EBTH team comes to your location to sort, catalog, photograph, and write descriptions for every item destined for auction.
• Step 3: Online Auction and Fulfillment. Your items are featured in a timed online auction. After the sale concludes, EBTH manages all buyer payments, coordinates local pickups, and handles the shipping of items to winners nationwide. You receive a detailed settlement and payment afterward.

Pro Tip: While EBTH handles the descriptions, provide their team with any known provenance, family stories, or documentation related to your key antiques. This background information can significantly increase bidder interest and drive up the final sale price.

Website: EBTH.com

6. Replacements, Ltd.: The Specialist for Tableware and Collectibles

Replacements, Ltd. is the world's largest retailer of vintage and current tableware, focusing on china, crystal, and sterling silver. While they are a massive seller, they are also one of the most active antique dealers that buy antiques from the public, specifically within their niche. Their entire business model relies on acquiring pieces to complete sets for their customers.

This platform is the ideal destination if you have inherited a partial or complete set of dinnerware, flatware, or stemware. Rather than trying to sell a collection piece by piece, Replacements, Ltd. provides a structured, predictable process for selling everything at once to a buyer who knows its exact market value. Their focus is laser-sharp, making them the go-to experts for these specific categories.

How to Sell to Replacements, Ltd.

The company has a well-defined "Sell to Us" program that is transparent and easy to navigate. They are primarily interested in patterns they are actively seeking to restock, but they review all submissions.

• Step 1: Identify Your Pattern. Use the pattern identification tools on their website, which include a massive photo library and guides. You will need the manufacturer and pattern name to submit an offer request.
• Step 2: Submit an Offer Request Form. Fill out the online form with your pattern information and the list of pieces you have. You will receive an email with an offer that details which items they want to buy and the price they will pay for each, pending inspection.
• Step 3: Ship Your Items. If you accept the offer, you are responsible for carefully packing and shipping the items to their facility in North Carolina. They provide detailed packing instructions to prevent breakage.
• Step 4: Inspection and Payment. Once your items arrive, their team inspects them for condition. Assuming everything matches the description, they process your payment within approximately 14 days.

Pro Tip: Before shipping, take clear photos of your items laid out with the offer form. This creates a personal record of what you sent and its pre-shipment condition, which can be helpful if any issues arise during transit.

Website: https://www.replacements.com

7. NAADAA (National Antique & Art Dealers Association of America)

NAADAA is not a direct buyer but an esteemed professional organization that serves as a directory for some of the most reputable antique dealers that buy antiques in the United States. Think of it as a meticulously vetted, high-end Rolodex. Its primary value lies in its stringent membership requirements, which guarantee that every listed dealer adheres to the highest standards of quality, scholarship, and ethical conduct.

This directory is an invaluable tool for sellers with fine art, important furniture, or significant decorative arts. Instead of cold-calling random shops, you can use NAADAA to pinpoint specialists who are actively seeking the exact type of high-caliber items you possess, potentially leading to a better offer and a smoother transaction.

How to Use NAADAA to Find a Buyer

Using NAADAA is about targeted research and outreach. The platform connects you with qualified experts, but you will manage the communication and transaction yourself. It is best suited for high-value items, as members typically do not deal in common collectibles.

• Step 1: Search the Directory. Use the website’s search function to find members by their specialization (e.g., "18th Century American Furniture," "Chinese Export Porcelain," "Old Master Paintings") or by their location.
• Step 2: Research and Select Dealers. Review the profiles of a few relevant dealers. Visit their individual websites to get a better sense of their inventory, focus, and submission guidelines.
• Step 3: Make Contact Professionally. Reach out to your selected dealers via their preferred contact method (usually email). Provide clear, high-quality photos of your item, a detailed description including dimensions, provenance (history of ownership), and any known repairs or damage.

Pro Tip: When contacting a NAADAA member, mention you found them through the association's directory. This signals that you understand their level of expertise and have a potentially significant item, which can help your inquiry stand out.

Website: naadaa.org

Top 7 Antique Dealers Comparison

Making Your Final Decision: Sell with Knowledge and Confidence

Navigating the world of antique sales can feel like a complex puzzle, but with the right knowledge, you can approach it with clarity and confidence. We have explored a range of platforms and resources, from high-end curated marketplaces like 1stDibs and Chairish to specialized buyers like Replacements, Ltd., and broad-reach auction sites such as LiveAuctioneers. Each option offers a distinct path for selling your treasured items, catering to different types of antiques, seller preferences, and desired levels of involvement.

The journey from possessing an antique to finalizing its sale is a significant one. Your primary takeaway should be that preparation is paramount. Thorough research, professional appraisals, and high-quality documentation are not just suggestions; they are the foundational steps that empower you to negotiate effectively and secure the best possible price for your pieces. Remember, the most successful sellers are those who understand the value of what they own and can present it professionally.

Choosing the Right Antique Dealer for You

Selecting the best partner from the many antique dealers that buy antiques depends entirely on your specific situation. To make the best choice, consider these key factors:

• For High-Value, Vetted Antiques: If you have authenticated, museum-quality, or designer-signed items, platforms like 1stDibs and Ruby Lane are your best bet. Their rigorous vetting processes attract serious collectors willing to pay premium prices, though you will need to meet their high standards for inventory and presentation.
• For Designer Furniture and Home Decor: Chairish offers a fantastic, user-friendly platform specifically for stylish, high-quality furniture and decor. It’s ideal for sellers who want to reach a design-savvy audience without the stringent requirements of a platform like 1stDibs.
• For a Hands-Off, Full-Service Experience: If you are managing an entire estate or a large collection and prefer a streamlined process, Everything But The House (EBTH) is an excellent choice. Their team handles everything from cataloging to shipping, making it a stress-free option for liquidating multiple items at once.
• For Specialized Items like China and Silverware: Don't overlook niche buyers. Replacements, Ltd. is the go-to resource for selling tableware, silver, and collectibles. They offer fair prices for specific patterns they need to replenish their vast inventory.
• For Access to a Network of Vetted Professionals: When you need a trusted local expert or want to find a dealer specializing in a rare category, the NAADAA directory is an invaluable tool. It connects you with some of the most reputable dealers in the country.

Your final decision hinges on what you value most: convenience, maximum profit, speed of sale, or reaching a specific type of buyer. By aligning your goals with the strengths of a particular platform or dealer, you set yourself up for a successful and rewarding transaction. Armed with this information, you can now move forward not just as a seller, but as an informed participant in the vibrant antiques market.

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