antiker

Antiker is a German adjective derived from antik, meaning originating from antiquity or produced in an antique style. It is commonly used to describe objects, furniture, art, or architectural motifs that come from past eras or are designed to imitate them. In everyday language, antiker appears as the masculine singular attributive form: ein antiker Stuhl; the corresponding forms for other genders and numbers follow standard German adjective endings (eine antike Kommode, ein antikes Objekt).

As a stand-alone noun, antiker is not typically used in standard German. A person who deals in antiques is more commonly called a Antiquar or Antiquitätenhändler, while a collector might be described as an Antiquitätenliebhaber. The term antiker thus functions primarily as an attributive adjective rather than a noun.

In usage, antik signals a style or period rather than immediate provenance; it contrasts with neu or modern. The word commonly appears in museums descriptions, auction catalogs, and interior design discourse, where antike Möbel denotes furniture from earlier centuries and antiker Stil refers to a look reminiscent of that era. The English equivalent is antique. Related German terms include Antike (the antiques of past ages), Antiquitäten (antiques in general), and Antiquar (antiquarian dealer).

See also: Antike, Antiquitäten, Antiquar, Antiquitätenhandel, Möbel im Antikstil.