New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-14
MAKING FALSE ANTIQUES.
THE APPARATUS USED IN coLoRING


AND AGING WOODEN FURNITURE.
The manufacture of false antiques has reached
such proportions as to call forth few remarks.
First. dusty. dingy shop Is selected and few
pieces Of genuine antique furniture are put in the
show window and operations In the manufact-
ure of false antiques begin in the rear of the
shop. Poplar, bass and white maple are the
woods ordinarily used for the manufacture of
false antiques: but veneers of these woods. or
woods of similar nature. although having
good color, too soft for the manufacture of
some kinds of antiques. Some pieces are made
from the resinous woods. such spruce and
fir, but veneers Of such stock, while they are
harder and stronger. Of a dark color and
warp badly. In several types of antiques the
base for the work is some light wood.
such as pine, ETC.. over which is laid veneer of
oak BIRCH mahogany or any other hard wood.
whereby an article is produced that is to all
intents and purposes a hardwood affair." the
wood of which weighs less. while the warping
and twisting are effectualy prevented. Still an
other style is made from the waste products of
the sawmilL The stuff is reduced to
pulp and pressed into sheets The enor-
nous pressure to which the article is sub
mtted effectually prevents warping. From
one base may be made all kinds of fur
nture, after pay your money and take-your-
choice" plan If you want an antique in ma
hogany you can have it. or oak, or rose
wood walnut, ebony, and. in fact. any kind or
style. at the same price, all due to the new in
dustry that seems to be Of unlimited application
and value to those who cannot afford TO buy
genuine antique furniture in the original form.
1t is possible to make artificial antiques from
aut bf dc FIR hal
they are. Many people want the old Egyptian
types Of furniture for ornamental purposes. and
are often satisfied with a reproduction. If the
reproduction is made like the original and sold
as such, no harm is DONE and the purchaser
gets what he wants at low price. The writer
knows of one dealer who. owing to the difference
in price. sells a dozen reproductions TO one
antique now. and he does it honestly.
In making honest reproductions the stock Sc
lected is first prepared for manufacture into fur
niture ancient or modern. The white woods are
dyed to the required shade by device consist
ing OF a boiler to receive the charges of dye
stuffs into which steam and water are admit
ted and with a dye vat, where the wood Is
placed
Golden brown is dyed fifty pounds of white
wood as follows: 3 per cent chrome (bichromate
Of potash and LIZ per cent tartar (bitartrate OF
potasb).
The wood is entered at 160 degrees f., the
temperature Of the dye bath is raised to the
boiling point In thirty minutes and boiling Is
continued for one hour. Then the wood Is DYED
again as follows: 20 per cent golden brown,
per cent Glauber's salt (calcired sodium sui
phate) and per cent cOpperas Qerrous sui
phate).
Dark plum on one hundred pounds is effected
with three pounds bichromate of potash, TWO
pounds tartar. five pounds fustic liquor, one
Iound logwood liquor five pounds alizarine vio-
let and three pounds acetic acid.
Purple on seventy-fve pounds is made In
bath containing per cent suphuric acid. 10
per cent Gauber's SALT * per cent caromo-
trop and GIG per cent cyanine.
Olive green on fifty pounds is colored In a