 |
Check antique rugs for artificial aging. |
ANTIQUES 101
 |
| Bradbury’s comes in handy when purchasing antique silver. |
Q: What’s the best way to be sure I’m getting good silver pieces at estate sales?
A: I always carry a little book with me called Bradbury’s Book of Hallmarks, which is a guide to marks on English, Scottish, and Irish silver. This book is a must. The most important thing to look for when inspecting a piece of Continental silver is a mark called Lion passant which is a side view of a lion. This mark means that it’s silver. Don’t be dissuaded if the piece is black with tarnish, for some of the biggest treasures are hidden under tarnish. I have a friend who always takes a silver polishing cloth in her purse and goes looking for that silver mark by cleaning off the back of any piece she’s interested in.
Q: I love pottery and porcelain, but don’t know how to begin collecting real pieces. Suggestions?
A: Beware that some pieces of Majolica, Faience, and Delft have fake inscriptions. Be suspicious if the calligraphy seems to lack fluidity and if you see any gray specks in unglazed areas, a sign that it’s been refired. If there is no mark on the bottom, look at the decoration carefully. Don’t confuse hand painting, which increases the value, with less valuable hand-enameled print. Move the piece back and forth and study it closely. If you can see the outline of a print underneath, it’s been hand-enameled, not painted. As far as marks go, look for Royal in the trademark, which indicates it was made after 1850. Limited or Ltd after the name means it was made after 1860. Trade Mark was used after 1870. Bone China and Made in means it’s 20th-century. A good resource is Dictionary of Marks by Ralph and Terry H. Kovel.
 |
| Beware of fake inscriptions on porcelain. |
Q: I’d love to buy an antique rug, but I don’t want to be ripped off with a fake.
A: Check the pile with a magnifying glass. If the fading is soft and gradual, it’s old. If you can see three distinct bands of color, the rug may have been artificially aged. Another trick: Lick a handkerchief and rub it on the carpet. Dyes that come off copiously may be chemical, an indication that the rug is not old.
Guest editor Joanne Tomlin opened Tomlin Antiques with her husband Gerald in Highland Park Village 17 years ago. Her specialties include antique porcelain, china, silver, and jewelry.
