Appraisal, Valuation and Inspired Guesswork or the Rise of TV Antique Shows and the Collecting Bug
By Howard Lewis
The Price is Right.
Once upon a time you knew precisely where you stood. You were, metaphorically speaking, peering over the shoulder of the venerable Arthur Negus, denizen of that epitome of middle class culture, The Antiques Roadshow. Now, however, you�re turning this way and that, amidst a plethora of antiques discovery programmes, as you seek to satisfy your voyeuristic craving and perhaps learn a little something as you go.
Life used to be very simple in the antique firmament on TV. Its first airing was Going for a Song in 1965, so ancient a time that England had yet to win the World Cup and I was still in short trousers, in a programme memorably described as a
�Pooterish pottery riddleathon, chaired in its glory days by Max Robertson with Arthur Negus stapled to one side for a bit of gossip. Max would then proffer a vaguely familiar looking antique loom at teams of experts and a clueless public, demanding both date and asking price. Points were awarded for the closest bid.�
That won�t ring too many bells with today�s protagonists, by all accounts. This was an age in which most educated people were expected to have a routine general knowledge of art, antiques and collecting because it suggested some hint of engagement and appreciation of the world around them. Of course, the clueless public were a convenient prop to the cardsharps around them but the scenario hasn�t deviated too far over the last forty years. Having said that, presenters could always be relied upon in yesteryear to wear a jacket and tie and a sensible haircut � this was the BBC after all � so one wasn�t confronted, as is our current misfortune, by a bunch of D listers swathed in Hawaiian tee shirts and an all over tan.
Yet the extraordinary thing is that these programmes � and, believe me, there are plenty of them � have such enduring appeal. The antiques themselves obviously play their part but the real key is the human dimension and, without exception, it is a feature of all the latter day productions that the viewing public are encouraged to make contact and tell their stories. However, whereas The Antiques Roadshow was deliberately more formal in its approach, more recent entrants are positively gushing. The three best examples of this new genre are Flog It, Bargain Hunt and Cash in the Attic, each of which, like The Antiques Roadshow, have spawned some very ugly American hatchlings. More of that anon.
Back here, we have David Dickinson, full of grandiloquent gestures and gravelly tones, hosting Bargain Hunt. Dickinson, notwithstanding that he loves the sound of his own voice, has certainly done the rounds and knows his stuff unlike the motley crew from Cash in the Attic who look like cast offs from a lifestyle channel. Bargain Hunt is not designed to be too successful but just give a taste of what could be achieved with a good eye and a judicious approach though, as ever, it is most watchable when confronted by the unexpected. One contestant so successfully bought and sold a copper log box that Dickinson, momentarily speechless, had to dispatch a crew member to an ATM to cough up enough cash when he ran short. Priceless!
Howard Lewis, Chairman http://www.invaluable.com Only Invaluable gives you unrivalled access to pre-sale and post-sale information for auction houses and salerooms across the globe. Find art, antiques and collectables. Try our Keyword search, register at http://www.invaluable.com for a free 14 day trial.
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Sat, 10 Nov 2007 05:34:21 -0600
And an article about the value of antique grandfather clocks. To be
certain of a clock's authenticity, you should only buy from a trusted and reputable seller. Read any listing carefully to ensure that the product you are buying is truly an antique.
If that piece of antique jewelry were just a little cleaner, wouldn't you wear it more often? But the idea of taking chemicals or some other cleaner to your grandmother's broche is just something you don't want to deal with. What sorts of materials are safe for cleaning and what should be avoided? Are there any special tips or procedures I should follow? These are the questions this article will answer, and when you've finished reading you'll be better equipped to take out that piece of antique jewelry and wear it with pride.
As you might guess, it is important to read the label of any cleaning solution you intend to use on your piece of antique jewelry. It is important to make sure the cleaning solution doesn't contain ammonia, vinegar, or any other acids or alcohols. These chemicals might harm the finish of your antique jewelry. They could also damage any stones or materials used to mount the stones. But it's not just chemicals you have to watch out for.
Although the old standby of good old soap and water might be good for some cleaning situations, it isn't the best choice for cleaning your piece of antique jewelry. Soaps can leave a residue on your jewelry, making the metal look flat and the stones look dull. Aside from that, the water might dissolve mounting materials such as glue and run the risk of losing the gems from your piece.
If the primary problem is dust, you can simply use a very soft toothbrush to clean your piece of antique jewelry. Use the softest toothbrush you can find, and of course make sure there is no toothpaste residue left on the bristles. A brand new toothbrush, set aside for cleaning your older pieces of jewelry, might be the safest bet.
A very important step in cleaning any piece of antique jewelry is ensuring it is thoroughly dried when you're finished with it. Keep moisture and dampness away from stored jewelry also, since dampness is a culprit who encourages verdigris, rust, pitting of plated metals, and other damaging conditions.
So there you have a quick rundown on the care and cleaning of your antique jewelry. Of course, if you're still a little gun shy about damaging a piece from cleaning, you could always take it to a professional jeweler to have it cleaned. Remember it is important that you don't do anything to modify a piece of antique jewelry, since doing so could drastically decrease its value as a collectible.
Wouldn't your grandmother be proud if she could see her antique broche all spruced up and ready for a night on the town?
About The Author
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Unless you are a professional antiques dealer or knowledgeable collector, never buy an antique as an investment. Although you can usually recoup the purchase price on a fine antique, the chances that it�s an undiscovered treasure worth 10 times what you paid is exceedingly unlikely
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