The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1910-01-20

and their factories are running oFeA
time In order that there may be pro-
duced sufficient specimens or the oiu
and unique to supply the American
trade. Some $4,000 worth OF olu
tapestries were to be delivered In this
country before Christmas day that the
buyer living under the stars anu
STRIPES NAV satisfy his artistic long
. ings and point proudly to things SAID
to have one time belonged TO mousse
holds which were modern about the
time that Charlemagne was the po-
litical boss Of the world
The antique business IS not connned
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 deity 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
H
$3.50, until you discover modern ma
terial therein. l 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 it to be con-
structed Of American cast steel. An
odd bit of cotton cloth picked up in
Hayt was also valued possession
until | learned that it 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 ard
80 continuing is the imposition upon
collectors who essay to pick up old
silver, china and period furniture in
the United Kingdom and continental
EuroGe that the United States Depart,
1nent 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
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 dc
not especially attract the collector, but
.hey 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 II 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
scepted 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
Then again, the almost prohibitiyt
price Of old English silver confines its
purchase TO the wealthy. however
there are takers who will remove ;
hallmark from any old bit of silve
Of little value and insert it into
piece OF modern manufacture TO
which an immense price may be oh
tanned For these, Americans ar,
found who will pay about twenty time
the real value.
Investigations by United States con
suls abroad show that in Holland Ok
chests, cabinets, desks and chairs 0
little value are collected, and, afte
being veneered with cheaply mad
marquetry, are sent to England. Ok
oak beams from demolished churche
and graneries are likewise in constan
demand for conversion into Jacobeal
refectory tables and Queen Anne fuI
niture Mid-Victorian pedestal side
boards are amputated into specimen
of Robert Adam, and conventional ii
lay suitable for Sheraton furniture
cut out b. machinery and supplied i
any quantity to those who have tn
skill and inclination to fabricate AZ