Judith Miller, one of the world’s leading experts on antiques, has written more than 100 books—her latest is Decorative Arts—and she’s been a television regular with Martha Stewart and the BBC series House Detectives. You can meet her on November 16 for an intimate talk where everyone is encouraged to bring a handheld item that she will evaluate on the spot with her team. But first, we turned her over to Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, founder of the popular website ApartmentTherapy.com and author of Apartment Therapy: The Eight-Step Home Cure, for a proper pre-inspection.

MGR: Isn’t old furniture, old furniture? Particularly with “modern furniture,” how can we trust that it has any value at all? (I know it sounds like a dumb question, but this is what goes on in many people’s minds.)

JM: Yes, absolutely. Old furniture is exactly that—furniture made quite some time ago. Whether old or modern, value is determined by what a willing buyer will pay to a willing seller. Historically, items that have intrinsic quality, workmanship, high quality timber and good proportions are continually (with the odd fluctuations) in demand. When I am assessing value, I use the CARD system (CONDITION, AGE, RARITY, and DESIRABILITY) and add a PS (PROVENANCE and STYLE). But, in the end, buy what you like—you may have to live with it for a long time!

MGR: What are the chronological divisions that dealers go by when referring to furniture? (i.e., antique, vintage, modern, contemporary, new, etc.)

JM: This depends upon where you are; antiques can be broken down into the following categories: Colonial/ Pilgrim (17th-century); William & Mary (1690-1725), Queen Anne (1725-50); Chippendale (1750-80); Federal (1780-1820); Empire (1815-40); Shaker (1790-1900); 19th-century Revival styles (Gothic, Victorian, Eastlake, Romanesque, Rococo, Renaissance, Colonial); Mission and Arts & Crafts; Art Nouveau; Art Deco; the Modern Movement; the International Movement; Post-modern; and, Contemporary. While the term ‘vintage’ is very much associated with fashion and costume jewelry, it is not often used with furniture.

MGR: What do you think of eBay? Do you use it?

JM: Yes, I do, mainly to sell. eBay has transformed the collecting and auction world by creating a marketplace accessible to everyone, everywhere. It holds great possibilities but also great pitfalls if you do not know what you are looking for, or do not know how to ask the right questions. For the pros and cons of buying and selling, come to my talk at the 92nd Street Y!

MGR: What do you think of the web in general for dealing antiques? Do you use 1st Dibs?

JM: The internet is a fantastic tool for searching for antiques and collectibles, but you cannot always trust the information that is available unless you are searching auction sales and dealers’ sites. However, I think that you can find much more accurate information in full-color books. I have my own antiques and collectibles Price Guides that are updated annually with input from specialists in different fields. As for 1stDibs.com, I have not used it myself, but it does look quite interesting.

MGR: Do you think that there is growing interest in furniture and antiques among “regular folks” in this country and in what areas?

JM: I think there has always been an interest in furniture and antiques, as evident by programs like “The Antiques Roadshow.” Many folks are into collectibles—from Pez dispensers to Hot Wheels, and Barbie dolls to Bakelite. I attend an antique and collectibles fair called Atlantique City twice a year and see thousands of people with amazing collections. The biggest craze in antiques at the moment is costume jewelry and vintage fashion, and the hottest trend in furniture is mid-century modern. When you look at the popularity of estate sales, yard sales and flea markets, it’s easy to see that collecting has gone wild!

[Judith Miller: My Favorite Antiques—and Yours: 11/16/06]

Previously: 92Y Blog Q&As with Sydney Pollack, Arianna Huffington, Anthony Bourdain, Carly Fiorina, Gary Shteyngart and many more.