Cautious investors choose safety of antiques

Arts and antiques are a safe investment amidst the current turmoil on financial and property markets, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) claimed this week.

A RICS survey found that antique prices have held in almost all segments, with silver, militaria and jewellery the strongest performers.

In the contemporary arts market, watercolours and oil have increased 5%, with price rises at the top end of the market driving the overall increase.

Overall, however, contemporary arts have fallen in value, together with ceramics.

Demand in the sector is expected to increase through the third quarter, RICS said.

“It is clear that some sectors of the arts and antiques market are fairing better than others at the moment,” said RICS spokesperson Andrew Davies.

“The traditional ‘safe havens’ of jewellery and silverware [are] still attracting the more cautious investor.

“The outlook for arts and antiques remains positive in the near-term as demand is strong and looks set to stay so.”

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