To the moving claimant it is usually an old item inherited from within the family, or something found in an "antique" shop, estate sale or maybe even at a garage sale and the seller said it was such.
Estelle Tredway, AMSA Vice, President, Industry Relations has addressed the issue in "Moving World" 4/15/01
"The fact that an item is old does not qualify it as an antique (in the moving claim world). If it was not made prior to 1832 – when mass production began – it probably does not qualify as an antique.
"The reason this distinction is important is that antique value is compensable (in the moving claim world). However, because there is usually a wide variance of opinion as to such value, unassailable evidence of an item’s value must be presented to justify a claim payment.
"According to the U.S. Customs Service, an item must be at least 100 years old, but as previously stated, it should pre-date the introduction of mass production.
"Items newer than that should only be considered antiques when substantial independent evidence can be presented to support the contention.
"When responding for claims concerning items that do qualify as antiques, the claimant may be compensated up to the generally recognized value of the items.
"In such instances, the claimant will be required to prove that the item possesses a demonstrably inherent value regardless of its purchase price, the place where it was purchased, the prestige of the label it bears, or its sentimental or personal attraction.
"The fact that an isolated appraiser might be found who could assign a value to something in excess of its purchase price does not meet this burden of proof. In the absence of credible evidence of value, reimbursement should be limited to out-of-pocket loss, or the reasonable replacement price of a substantially similar substitute item."
