Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-06-20
CUR|O BUYERS BEWARE
Unsophistocated Collector OF
Antiques Warned Of Graft
ers in Europe
RELICS SOLD
Thrifty Foreigners Find = Easy
Method Of Parting Americans From
Their housekeeping From En-
cravings and Prints to Robert Burns
Furniture Manufactured.
MADE-To-oRDER RELICS SOLD

This is one of numerous warnings
to the unsophisticated collector of an
tiques who goes to Europe this sum-
1ner looking for the purchase of things
that have about them the hoary tinge
Of antiquity. Consul Maxwell Blake
sounds the warnings from Dunferm-
line, Scotland, and in a report to the
state department gives American tour
lists some highly Interesting advice
concerning curios in Scotland and the
Old World generally. Mr. Blake has
small respect for the average antique"
which the unwary American tourist
picks up at a low figure from the Eu-
ropean dealer.
Consul Blake says that as the sum
mer season approaches, in anticipation
of the usual influx of Americans, many
Of whom continue under the delusion
that all things in Europe are as old as
its history, the growing legion of So
called antique dealers. from cities to
remote villages and unfrequented farm
houses, are occupying themselves in
arranging for display of their various
stocks of de-to-order antiquities.
While Consul Blake does not say it,
it appears that the dealers in So
called antiques" in Europe would be
able to account. If they would. for a
large share of the shekels that Amer
lean tourists annually spend abroad.
Mr.. Blake emphasizes the fact that
the genuine antique has long ago
passed out Of the market as some-
thing to be bought at a cheap figure.
but he says this does not seem to be
known generally, Especially to the
average American abroad, in whose
lack OF knowledge of such things lies
the security from punishment and the
profits Of the fraudulent miscellaneous
antique dealer" 1t is largely due to
the American demand that the oppor-
tunities of high profits are opened to
the forger Of antiques.
The matter of making antiques"
has become regular business, ac-
cording to this report. Consul Blake
says:
"Rare old-period furniture given
the gloss and appearance of age by
constant rubbing with bone and pu-
mice stone; old hand-rolled copper
plate, which has not been made since
1910, a most favorite article of decep-
ton, over 1000 pieces Of which have
lately been examined without finding
half dozen genuine specimens; Span
fish worries, skilfully aged brown by
acids; first-state engravings and
prints; Queen Anne silver, superstruc-
lures of which are built up upon the
handle Of an old spoon bearing genu-
Inc marks; old Bristol and Waterford
hand-cut crystal; and that particular
kind of china which is In most mo-
mentary demand, whether 1t be the
Oriental blue and white, or Lovestoft.
abound everywhere in such wholesale
lots as one would think should serve
thoughtful person."
In preparing his report on this subs
ject, Consul Blake says he paid visits
to various antique" shops. from q
few of the more trustworthy ones to
"those Of the smaller and more cum
ming and less suspected ones in near
by villages and along motor-car high
the latter establishments gen.
el~lly conducted by some interesting
old character who sat smoking his
pipe indifferently, offering his wares
in some basement difficult of ap-
proach, the windows OF which were
conveniently screened by thick net
Of cobwebs.
It is pointed out that Americans
should rid themselves Of the idea that
collecting antiques is e. fad peculiar to
the people Of the United States, as 1t
has been passion since the eighteenth
century in Great Britain and on the
Continent. Consequently, Europe hav-
ing been ransacked for antiques, it is
useless to expect bargains in them.
Consul Blake advises that one purchase
only Of dealer Of recognized stand
ing, pay his price which is sure to be
high, and buy only on written guaran-
tee that an article is as represented,
genuinely old and actually of the per-
iod.
Reproductions Of historical objects,
Mr.. Blake says, can safely be put down
as spurious. He sounds an especial
warning against Sheffield plate, which
is practically all modern. He adds:
"Beware also Of engravings and
prints. Many reproductions Of old
prints are made by artists of great
ability, with no intention at deception.
Some Of these / have lately seen in
antique shops. artfully aged and hung
in old frames, the INSCRIPTIONS dealer
asking four or five times the price the
prints can be purchased for Of the pub
fishers. Crystal and china are also
made in the old shapes and often in the
actual molds Of a hundred years ago;
these are legitimate reproductions. 1t
is the so-called antique dealer who
buys. them up and offers them to the
as genuine"
Doctor Who Failed to Cure Killed.
Milwaukee, June 20-Dr. Frank
Stirn of Cudahy, suburb of Milwau-
kee, was shot and probably mortally
wounded by Hungarian laborer
named Anthony Kriz yesterday after