Founded 85 years ago, The Magazine Antiques is a monthly publication for connoisseurs of fine arts and antiques. I subscribed to the magazine a little over a year ago based on the topics and articles covered by the magazine, and my only disappointment has been the shortness of the articles. I have, however, found the articles to be thorough and well-researched — the writers tend to do a good enough job that I’d like to read more about the various topics, ranging from Masonic collectibles to colonial primitives to fine oil paintings. Because I tend to collect more epehemera and fewer decorative items, I often learn something new in every magazine. I must admit, I’m not exactly the magazine’s target audience. Primarily based on the advertisements, I’d wager the magazine isn’t focusing on a generalist readership consisting of antique dealers, casual collectors, or obsessives like me. The Magazine Antique is for the collector of high end antiques, those who decorate their walls with fine art and furnish their various rooms with fine furniture from past eras. Although I live a bit off the beaten path, I still appreciate The Magazines Antique’s calendars and travel recommendations, just in case they happen to reference something within driving distance of my home. These informational sections aren’t purely purchase-related — the calendar includes museum events as well, lending more towards their intended readers to be true enjoyers of antiques, rather than price-focused collectible investors.

As with all modern magazines, advertisements do dominate the content of each issue. The advertising content, however, is more reminiscent of that in a fashion magazine: the ads are full color and place all their weight on the photograph and one or two lines of text, rather than a hard sell. Nearly every page is full of photos, complimenting text when appropriate. Flipping through an issue is like browsing a museum catalog or paging through the plates from an old art book. The amount of advertising can make it difficult to casually flip to the articles, but I must admit the ads are not boring.

What sets apart The Magazine Antiques from a more rote antiques magazine is that this magazine tends to focus on collecting from the artistic lifestyle viewpoint. The readers of TMA include their love of antiques throughout their days, using antiques to decorate their walls, hold them up when they sit down, feature prominently in the design of their homes, and influence how they plan their vacations. The magazine balances this well with the historical and cultural values of the antiques, rolling the collection value and the aesthetic value into one. You can subscribe to The Magazine Antiques at their website and read some of the magazine’s columns. The website also has more calendar information than appears in the magazine, along with some other informational sections.

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