The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1910-01-27


antiques look upon the people Of the
United States as their best customers
and their factories are running over
time in order that there may be pro-
duced sufficient specimens of the old
and unique to supply the American
trade. Some 100000 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
ings 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. It 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.
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. I bought 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 it to be con-
structed of American cast steel. An
odd bit of cotton cloth picked up in
Hayti was also valued possession
until 1 learned that it was made in
New England and shipped to the black
republic in order that it 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 ard
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
sold 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 way, however, of protect
ing ones self. Expert advice may be
sought and written guarantee de-
manded The English courts have
held, quite recently, that If false de-
scription of an antique is given in an
invoice, the purchaser is entitled to
full recovery. Any evasion, or hesita-
ton on the part of dealer to give
such a guaranty may usually be &C
copied as token of his dishonesty.
Forgery of old English silver is not
common, owing to fear of the law. So
phistication of hall-marks in Great
Britain is a hazardous occupation.
Then again. the almost prohibitive
price Of old English silver confines it's
purchase to the wealthy. However,
there are takers who will remove a
hallmark from any old bit of silver
Of little value and insert it into
piece of modern manufacture for
which an immense price may be OBJ
tanned For these, Americans are
found who will pay about twenty times
the real value.
Investigations by United States con-
suls abroad show that in Holland old
chests, cabinets, desks and chairs of
little value are collected, and, after
being veneered with cheaply made
marquetry, are sent to England. Old
oak beams from demolished churches
and graneries are likewise in constant
demand for conversion into Jacobean
refectory tables and Queen Anne fur
niture Mid-victorian pedestal side
boards are amputated into specimens
of Robert Adam, and conventional in
lay suitable for Sheraton furniture is
cut out by machinery and supplied in
any quantity to those who have the
skill and inclination to fabricate an