Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-08-23

1udusttN
Truquage, although a term probably
unfamiliar 10 many of our readers, never
theleSs deserves t. RANK among the finer
arts of mOderl civilization. such is the IN
lustry and skill and ingenuity with
which it is carried out. burns cottar
mother was chiefly, admirable for the skill
with which she gard aud things look
maist as well as new but the truqueur
Ievotes himself. on the contrary. to the
art of making new things look quite as
good as old. The ConnoiSSeurof furniture
Of the present day is well aware that, for
certain important qualities of soundness,
COOL workmanship, and good taste, that
the "oli is better" with valid reason also
for his opinioa. But the crowd, who have
neither his leisure, his knowledge, nor
his experience, naturally fall, into the
hands of the scientific experts of truquage
an easy prey-to the spoiler.
The stock in trade of the French tru-
queur and his English cOngener-quite rs
expert a. he-need not be large. Walnut
julce-which gives an agreeable mellow
ness Of tOne-and nitric acid are neither
of them expensive. The latter initiates
pretty closely the ravages of ants, and
holes bored with a fine auger easily give
the wurmeaten appearance whicn appeals
to the lover of the antique in carved fur
niture. The writer was informed by a
workman's wife that her husband was one
of those solely employed in the boring or
Ruger business; but in Paris live worms
are kept to do the work, and do it even
better, and to order, which is more sur
prIsiug. New oak can be stained by a so
luton of old iron in hot vinegar, which
darkens il TO a deeper tone; il Is then care
fully oiled and polished. The price de-
manded however, is such that bargains"
can be boasted of by the inexperienced,
while really fine work always commands
its value in the open market
FROM THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY.
The unhappy pieces of furniture which
have to date from the sixteenth century
are severely beaten with heavy bludgeons
which serves To give them the worn ap-
pearance necessary To the three centuries
of existence. common device is to
paint the panels Of cupboards, roughly
carved on the premises, with white paint.
They are then dried in the sun, and, after
keeping some months, are washed in pot
ash, which removes the paint in patches,
and the eXquis ite finish of the carving be-
utdAu - APT ~ bt AhhtAl lOl SiGuAN NhO
buyer, who is aware that in the last CEN
tury much good paneling was thus
painted, and preserved to our generation
in consequence in all its pristine freshness
of cutting and outline. Buhl OF a very
ordinary description is ornamented by
French dealers with brass scroll WORK,
after the designs of elliot, who succeeded
Buhl Those who can be taken in by
tb.Ea bay ranrAAnpfinnS n1nSf hA
left 10 their fate
In porcelain and faience one can only
say caveat emptor, 50 clever are the tricks
by which even the learned are deceived
At Cages mandatory at Versailles the
faience de Nevers Is reproduced 10 perfec-
tion; but here all is lair and open dealing.
If the buyer prefers his purchase ~an-
tique.~ NJ Cage will bake it for him until
the glaze Crackles. 1t is further mellOwed
in manure heap, and slight extra
charge is imposed. The special marks Of
favUrite potters are easily initiated, and
as much pains is taken with the
spurious wares, with intent to deceive, as
would suffice 10 give value TO real speci-
mems. The character of the early deCOra-
tions is carefully preseryed-.he even
white of the Muustiers ware; the dead,
dull white of the Marseillaise, and the
careful finish OF the old Delft potters.
OLD PALATIAL FURNITURE
At Venice the reproduction of the old
palatial furniture is a thriving industry,
aud the same at Florence: but it possesses
little or no artistic value. The ebony Is
black stained wood; the stipi are bone,
and not ivory; the shapes and patterns
are, however, carefully copied and the
prices are not excessive, and good patterns
are distinct gain in furniture, but the
modern production will not have the last
ing qualities Of the old Ivory trIptychs
are manufactured at Versailles. The
golden tint is gained by boiling in oil,
then plunging into boiling water, and dry
ing before a hot fire, which cracks the
ivory to perfection. These require Il very
skillful eye 10 detect, as the carving L.
often merltOTious.
The arts OF truquage extend themselves
even to literature. As long ago as the
seventeenth century we find the printers
Of Lyons and Rouen Stimulating princeps
editiuls of Racine and Molere. The
type, the paper, the colOphons, all being
reproduced with INSCRIPTIONS accuracy,
and then palmed off as genuine upon the
unwary purchaser. The manufacture
still prosperS, aided with the photo
gravure processes and the art of fac
simile So also are old letters and auto
graphs successfully fioated, signed by
Cardinal de RetZ, or Colbert, or whom you
please, fetching a good price and always
challenging scrunity. The history of the
Shapiro forgeries of the Pentateuch are
fresh in the recollection of our readers.
They were Offered at the moderate price
of q, 10000 So also the famous Vernis
Martin can still be bought at Paris, very
like, but still not genuine; and clever
painters whose work is as good as Ian
crets, can be found to figure as Watteaus
with no mean success. But at present the
secret of the real Martin vernis remains
;rpnanatrahle as IL is exauiSite -IOndon