It's one of the questions I'm asked most often.
"Is it vintage or is it antique?"
The two words are often used interchangeably, but they don't actually mean the same thing. Understanding the difference won't necessarily make you love an object more, but it can help you understand its story.
As a general rule, an antique is an object that is at least 100 years old. A Victorian mirror, an early twentieth-century cabinet or a piece of Edwardian silver would all fall into that category.
Vintage, on the other hand, usually refers to pieces that are between 20 and 100 years old. Think Italian lighting from the 1970s, a Murano glass lamp from the 1960s, or a sculptural ceramic vessel from the 1980s. They're not old enough to be antiques, but they have stood the test of time and represent the design language of their era.
Of course, there are exceptions. Different dealers, auction houses and collectors sometimes use the terms a little differently, particularly when describing twentieth-century furniture and decorative objects. But the hundred-year rule remains the most widely accepted distinction.
Interestingly, age isn't the only thing that gives an object value.
I've handled antique pieces that were beautifully made but relatively common, and vintage pieces that collectors would happily pay far more for because they were exceptionally designed, incredibly rare or produced by a sought-after maker.
That's one of the things I love most about this world.
An object doesn't become interesting simply because it's old.
It becomes interesting because of its design, craftsmanship, rarity, provenance or the feeling it creates when it sits in a room.
Some of my favourite pieces are vintage rather than antique. Mid-century Murano glass, sculptural Italian lighting and expressive ceramic objects often have a boldness that feels remarkably contemporary decades after they were made. They're confident without feeling fashionable.
Likewise, some antiques have an extraordinary quietness about them. A worn timber stool. A beautifully patinated bronze. A hand-carved bowl that has been used for generations. Their beauty isn't in perfection but in the evidence of time.
I think that's why I've never been particularly interested in filling a home with only antiques or only contemporary furniture.
The most memorable interiors are usually the ones that mix eras.
A nineteenth-century mirror above a modern console. A 1970s Italian lamp sitting beside a contemporary sofa. A centuries-old ceramic bowl filled with fresh citrus on an otherwise minimalist kitchen bench.
Contrast is what creates interest.
When everything comes from the same period, or the same shop, a room can begin to feel predictable. Mixing vintage pieces, antiques and contemporary furniture creates layers that can't be achieved any other way. It gives a home the feeling that it has evolved naturally over time rather than appearing all at once.
Perhaps that's why I rarely think about whether I'm buying something because it's vintage or because it's antique.
I'm buying it because it has presence.
Because it makes me stop scrolling.
Because I can already imagine the room becoming more interesting the moment it arrives.
Age tells part of an object's story.
Good design tells the rest.