News
Spot the
Difference – learn
how to tell the difference between a fake and a genuine
antique.
Period Ideas
While we all love hunting around
antique shops and auctions for period furniture,
most of us have moments when we’re not sure whether
a piece is exactly what it claims to be. But how do you
learn to tell the difference? There may be many books
on the market, and these can be indispensable in identifying
certain pieces. However, while they are well illustrated
with photographs of the featured antiques, the amount
you can learn is limited by the fact that you can’t
turn the pieces of furniture on end, inspect the insides,
or run a hand along the surfaces.
To my mind, nothing can beat learning
the subject from a professional – and from an expert
who is on hand. In person, to demonstrate examples of
what he is telling you about, and also answer specific
questions you may have. There are many short courses
in identifying antiques on offer around the country,
so why not take yourself along to one and find out more.
Rebecca Bailey attended the Antique
Restoration Course Study Day 1 at Wheathills
near Derby.
This course is designed to help you assess antique furniture,
and ascertain whether it is a bona fide original, or if
it is a marriage, a fake, or a reconstructed piece. This
is obviously a massive area to cover within a single day,
but I was pleased to find that Wheathills’ resident
expert, Nigel Heldreich, encouraged questions at any time,
rather than specified ‘Q&A’ moments, and
so everyone present (a small group of around 10) was able
to find out about their particular interests.
It was explained that style alone
is simply not enough to date a piece, since fashions
tended to repeat themselves, and that method of construction
and the finish are far more reliable indicators. Nigel
explained that furniture should be assessed by asking
yourself a number of questions about the piece – and he went into these in depth,
showing us many examples to clearly illustrate his points.
All this hard fact was lightened by numerous fascinating
tit-bits of information – for example, did you know
that furniture was never French polished until the 1830’s
or that a wobbly Victorian wooden chair cannot be dismantled
or repaired without damaging it if white glue has been
used in its construction? No neither did I, but now if
somebody tried to sell me a ‘George III’ sideboard
with a glossy French-polished finished I would indeed smell
a rat, and I will in future avoid buying Victorian chairs
that are a bit unsteady on their pins!
In summary, this course is a fascinating
day of discovery representing excellent value
for money – full marks too for the lunch and generous
afternoon tea (I recommend the scones with jam and whipped
cream!).
Reproduced with kind permission from Period Ideas.
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