About Us

Our maritime antique collecting comes from years of experience in the collection of nautical antiques the world over. It’s more than a pastime or curiosity—it’s passionate research and planning that we find fun. The quest for fine antiques that bring our connection to the sea is a part of our lives. We think it should be part of more peoples lives, too.

Nautical Maritime Antiques ~ Our Connection To The Sea! The sea has long held a sense of mystery and romance in our lives—pirates, sunken treasures, exploration, discovery, faraway places—the sea and all its wonders stir a passion and interest in all of us. 

My husband and I love to travel and have discovered there is nothing more exciting than seeking nautical treasures during our salty dog journeys. It is the high seas and oceans that help quench our thirst in the discovery of new historical maritime antiques. The great lakes provide romance, excitement, and plenty of interesting and difficult to find maritime antiques we seek. From fishing nets and floats to sextants and marine chronometers we realize the thrill is in the discovery, regardless of the body of water.

We know we are driven in our mission/quest to seek more history from the salty seas and big, blue oceans. There is a certain pleasure, satisfaction and excitement that comes with collecting nautical treasures. And don’t think we only head to the wide open waters to quench our thirst in discovering the unique and rare maritime antiques—we step into countless shops and surf the web to round out our collections, too.

We have also discovered we like to share what we’ve learned with others. This is why we began our Maritime Antiques website to offer up some general background on nautical and maritime collectables in hopes others will be caught by this bug. Do you realize how fun it is to swap stories with other maritime collectors? It’s half the fun!

Thanks for stopping by our Maritime Antiques website.

Mary Hanselman

PS: We have plans for 2012. We need to see if our trip goes as anticipated and realize what exciting discoveries we make. A successful journey will provide you with our itinerary, maps, charts and logs, antiques collected and more. Stop back and see us soon.

 

 

Maritime Collectors

Preserving Your Nautical Antiques

If the lure of the sea is in your blood... and you’ve started collecting some nautical treasures, let’s presume you’d like to preserve and keep them safe from the elements.

Know that exposure to light, air, temperature and humidity can take its toll on your antiques. Preserving these priceless treasures is not difficult, but consider the following:

Antique Maps & Charts ~ These antiques are in vogue for collectors who enjoy the visuals of seafaring journeys and explorations of the past. Handle carefully and use gloves.

Paintings & Lithographs ~ The artworks of famous ships are another trend for the visually-inclined. Lessen the exposure to sunlight, keep in a temperate environment, and having a professional mat and frame your artwork will help reduce deterioration of these treasured works-of-art.

Brass ~ Brass lights, lanterns and ships’ instruments —anything brass— you'll want to determine if it’s raw solid brass or brass plated and lacquered. It makes a difference in the care they need.

Wood ~ High humidity is challenging. The more “temperate” the environment, the better.

Enjoy your maritime treasures and keep them safe and protected from the elements. Watch for changes in condition and act accordingly.

Discover more detailed tips in preserving your nautical antique collections.