Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1910-10-14

European manufacturers of alleged
antiques look upon the people Of the
United States as their best customers
time in order that there may be pro-
duced sufficient specimens of the old
and unique to supply the American
trade. Some $4,000, 900 worth of old
tapestries were to be delivered in this
country before Christmas day that the
buyer living under the Stars and
Stripes may satisfy his artistic long
tngs and point proudly to things said
to have one time belonged to house
holds which were modern about the
time that Charlemagne was the po-
litical boss of the world.
The antique business is not confined
TO tapestries. 1t has assumed alarm
ing proportions in almost every other
line. 1t has become so widespread
that the legitimate dealers are already
suffering, for the cunning makers of
the spurious articles have done their
work So deftly that the casual observ-
er cannot detect the difference. A
brass ships lantern made in London
In the early nineteenth century at
$3.50 sounds like a bargain, as does
an %egg-boiler of the first empire at
$3.50, until you discover modern ma
terial therein. | bought a fine speci-
men Of dagger in a Spanish colony
and was nightly pleased with it I'M
til one day the handle slipped off and
/ found the mark showing 1t to be con-
%structed of American cast steel. An
odd bit Of cotton cloth picked up in
until l learned that 1t was made in
New England and shipped to the black
republic in order that 1t might return
to the United States in the hands Of
such unsuspecting purchasers as my
self. So widespread is the fraud per-
petrated by INSCRIPTIONS dealers and
so continuing is the imposition upon
collectors who essay to pick up old
silver, china and period furniture in
the United Kingdom and continental
Europe that the United States Depart
ment Of Commerce and Labor Is warn
ing Americans in its publications to
beware Of the frauds.
One of the crazes affected by some
Americans just at present is the col
lection Of miniatures and decorated
snuff and match boxes. These and
similar articles are manufactured by
'deft and dexterous copyists and are
ssold by the gross to dealers who rep
resent them to be genuine, If the deal
er happens to be a European devoting
his time and attention to the Ameri-
can tourist trade. The manufacturer
also ships these articles to this coun-
try for sale on their merits as copies
of originals.
"Old marks" on china are practic-
ally meaningless in this day of subter-
fuge and fraud. The amateur collect
or of china should beware of the oily
dealer in Europe. Genuine examples
of Dresden, Chelsea, Worcester or
Bow are worth more than their
weight in gold. Many pieces pur-
chased because of their refined deco
ration and simple gliding and because
they bore the golden anchor have
turned out to be fakes produced by
well-known firms on the continent.
Even examples of more recent china
and pottery, early nineteenth century
ware, as Derby, Worcester, Spode,
Coalport and Rockingham china and
Wedgwood, Spode, Mason and other
potteries are faxed and sold at exor
bitant prices as genuine. These do
not especially attract the collector, but
they are freely bought by travellers.
There Is a way, however, OF protect.
Ing ones self. Expert advice may be
sought and a written guarantee de,
manded. The English courts have
held, quite recently, that If a false de-
scription Of an antique is given in ar
Invoice, the purchaser is entitled tc
full recovery. Any evasion, or hesita
ton on the part Of a dealer to give
such a guaranty may usually be &C
copied as a token of his dishonesty.
Forgery of old English silver is no
common, owing to fear of the law. So
phistication of hall-marks In Grea
Britain is a hazardous occupation
e again, the almost prohibitiv,
price of old English silver confines IL
purchase to the wealthy. However
there are takers who will remove
hallmark from any old bit of silve
of little value and insert 1t into
piece Of modern manufacture 70
which an immense price may be oil
tanned. For these, Americans ar
found who will pay about twenty time