<P> In the United States, the 1930 Smoot - Hawley Tariff Act defined antiques as, "...works of art (except rugs and carpets made after the year 1700), collections in illustration of the progress of the arts, works in bronze, marble, terra cotta, parian, pottery, or porcelain, artistic antiquities and objects of ornamental character or educational value which shall have been produced prior to the year 1830 ." 1830 was the approximate beginning of mass production in the United States . These definitions were intended to allow people of that time to distinguish between genuine antique pieces, vintage items, and collectible objects . </P> <P> The alternative term, antiquities, commonly refers to the remains of ancient art and everyday items from antiquity, which themselves are often archaeological artifacts . An antiquarian is a person who collects and studies antiquities or things of the past . </P> <P> Traditionally, Chinese antiques are marked by a red seal, known as a' chop', placed there by an owner . Experts can identify previous owners of an antique by reading the chops . The pre-revolution Chinese government tried to assist collectors of Chinese antiques by requiring their Department of Antiquities to provide a governmental chop on the bottom of a Chinese antique . This chop is visible as a piece of red sealing wax that bears the government chop to verify the date of the antique . The government of the People's Republic of China has its own definitions of what it considers antique . As of the Cultural Revolution and China's opening trade to other countries, the government has tried to protect the definition of a Chinese antique . </P> <P> Antiquing is the act of shopping, identifying, negotiating, or bargaining for antiques . People buy items for personal use, gifts, or profit . Sources for antiquing include garage sales and yard sales, estate sales, resort towns, antique districts, collectives, and international auction houses . </P>

What is antique how the antique can be practiced why it is necessary for the art of painting