Young Brunette Girl On The Antique Couch

Any historical museum makes a considerable use of antiques in order to illustrate historical events and give them a practical context. Virtually any object can become an antique if it survives long enough, but value of an antique in the market place is determined by its appeal, rarity and social acceptance. For example, museum collections consist of ephemera, that is, of objects and items that would normally be thrown away, such as packaging and advertising flyers and posters. In today's world, antiques have lost their appeal but not for some.
Pejoratively
The term "antique" is pejorative in some instances to imply that something is out of date.