The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-12
MANY WORKS Of ART
ARE FRAUDULENT
So Declares Our Londen Cor
respondent
UNSCRUPULOUS DEALERS
Numbers of American Tourists Are
swindIed by These Fake Dealers.
Amateur Collector Is Warmed
to Be Very Careful.
BY PHILIP EVERETT.

Ion1on December 11.--(Special. ASTON
tshtne hut true is the statement that 80
per cent Of the antiques and works of art
collected by Americans In the United
Kingdom and continental Europe are not
genuine, but the fraudulent work of I'M
scrupulous manufacturers and dealers.
In the last few years the collection of
fake antiques has become a very profit
able means of livelihood for large
number of dealers. and it seems certain
that IL their frauds are not detected by
government experts or rejected by buy
ers, there will be an immense flow Of
spurious old silver and china and period
furniture to American shores.
It must be understood that this article
does not reflect on the experienced col
1ector, but on those who come to Europe
perhaps for the first time. and naturally
find these curiosity shops places of in
terest, and many of whom, doubtless, can
little afford to be so heavily penalized for
their creduiity by these dealers in fake
antiques
Maxwell Blake, United States consul at
Dunformline, who is credited with hav-
ing gathered the evidence to support these
statements, says that just now miniatures
being most extensively collected by Amer.
leans, and that these and other such
small articles are manufactured by dex-
trous copyists and are readily procur-
able by the gross.
China is another form of the alleged
antique which the amateur collector must
be careful in buying. for what may APP
pear to be genuine examples of Dresden,
Chelsea, Worcester or Bow. with their re-
nyuft lon nd a yf1rl yil
nothing more than pure fakes made by
well known firms on the continent.
These frauds and Misrepresentation
of old arts have been SO frequently ex-
posed of late that the English courts re-
Gently sustained the contention that II q
false description OF antique is given
in the invoice the purchaser is entitled
to full recovery. For this reason, when
a collector purchases an article he should
always ask for written guarantee, and
any hesitation on the part of the dealer
to give one may be accepted as sufficient
evidence of the dealers dishonesty.
Pewter is another ware which did not
come into demand until long after most
of 1t had disappeared into the melting pot.
1t might safely be said that a per cent Of
all that one could find in England and
Scotland today has been made in the last
10 years. Likewise, practically all the
''Old Dutch" brass articles, such as aims,
dishes, plaques and jardinieres, are OF
modern make, although they may reach
the dealer via Holland.
Old English furniture is one of the most
sought for antiques, and in buying 1t
the purchaser seldom gets anything more
than good modern copy.
In order to set both more clearly the
clever ruses many of these spurious.
antique dealers practice and their cum
ningness, which may be termed as sheer
genius, an instance >of recent occurrence
may be cited.
What purported to be some exception
ally rare Chippendale chairs were sold
by a well-known dealer to a certain
nobleman, who unhesitatingly accepted
the dealers word that they were genuine.
Some time later the nobleman employed
the services of an expert to further ex-
anime them, whereupon 1t was revealed
that swindle had been perpetrated and
that the chairs were nothing more than
good modern copies
The customer Immediately demanded
full payment under penalty of exposure,
but was much surprised when the dealer
refused to make restitution under circum-
stances which he alleged involved both his
reputation and his honor.
II the customer would simply state his
Dissatisfaction with his purchase then
he (the dealer) knowing the chairs to be
genuine, would thank him for the priv
ilege of being allowed to recover them;
but, 1t must be distinctly understood
only upon the terms and conditions of
an ordinary sale. The dealer thereupon
offered about $1,000 over and above the sum
for which the chairs had been previously
purchased.
To this the noble man demurred, pro-
testing that he did not want to make
any profit out of an unfortunate venture,
t.
recovery of his money he was prevailed
upon to accept this extraordinary pro-
posal.
Only little time had elapsed after this
exchange when new purchaser came to
buy the chairs, and the dealer pointed
with pride to the check he had saved,
which he had received from the nobieman,
and making the genuineness of the chairs
appear more substantial and enabling him
to make an easy and very profitable
SALE
This is only one of the many tricks they
have In their trade, which. can be safe
ly said. are almost daily occurrences.
Many so-called antique dealers actually
carry on a large business, and have not
one piece of genuine antique furniture
In their shops.
In Holland old chests, cabinets, desks
and chairs Of little value are collected and
after being veneered with cheaply made
marQuetry, are sent to Great Britain Old
oak beams from demolished churches or
graneries are likewise in constant de-
mand for conversion into Jackbean refec-
tory tables and Queen Anne furniture.
Mid-victorian pedestal sideboards are
amputated into specimens of Robert
Adam, and conventional inlay suitable
for Sheraton furniture is cut out by
machinery and supplies in any quantity
to those who have skill and inclination
to fabricate antiques.
Grandfather clocks are frequently made
up of such incongruities as a modern dial
with q forged makers name and date an
old case patched up and set of by mod
ern inlay. and perhaps works OF about 50
years ago.
Grandfather chairs are also, almost
without exception, modern. or old frames
debauched by new cabriolo or claw and
ball legs.
violins signed Stradiverius or Jacob
Stainer surreptitously hidden in rubbish
heaps, are replaced by others as soon as
sold. sold armor, medals. and medal
lions. all of modern origin, abound in
rich profusion. Antique" Spanish,
Portuguese and English paste jewerly ev-
verywhere introduces itself,
Hood of cheap and inarstistic Japanese
ware is also pouring out over the coun-
try; prints gold lacquer. cloisonno enam-
Ell, ivory and bronze contributing . full
share to the swelling volume Of alloys and
commercial antiques.
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