Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-03-07

short time ago a professor In New
iork imported an ancient shrine.
which he had purchased from some
italian dealers in antiques for 5000 =
600. The antiquity" which waa sup
posed 10 have given the bit OF marble
us great value did not survive tho
custom-houae inspection. Its stains OF
age were proved TO have been pro-
duccd with tho aid OF coffee. and it
went through simply as a ''manurac-
ture of marble
THIS ana several other recent in
stances show tina, tho great business.
OF supplying tn" conuoissrur-and c.-
pccially tho American connoissc,r-
with objects Of ancient art is still ac-
tive, although tho war has certainly
hlivhted il. There are not enough
Americans in Europe nov. and il is
the Americans ignorance OF such mat.
tcrS AMI his desire To conceal /, that
make fat living COR tho art forgcr.
SO the trade in Egyptian s;atuct,es
ana scarabs is soncw what dcnoralizcd
and the antique factories In Bohemia
and Austria. which formerly turned
out their products by the thousand
arc experiencing serious difficulties
The antique Industry. however IL only
lying dormant. Tie ar; forgcr is sim
ply waiting. knowing full well that
the end of the war Will bring an even
greater demand for curios
War VIII Increase Market.
Th"r" viii bc e tremendous call FOR
Victoria crosses. medals OF honor and
ancient relics supposed to he hurried
out OF Belgium upon the INVASION OF
the Germans. The Cnrrcts and eel
lars OF Europe viii continue "a supply
innumcrahle articles wearing the
look OF crumbiin: age fascinating TO
the art collector, who $ ignorant OF
tho results which may be accomplis he'd
by few acids and iicorIcc juice.
art foreer TO add q few thousand
years 10 the age OF an article. The
wooden statue which you buy in the
firm belief that II adorned the palace
OF Ramcscs II. was probably made :;
couple o. months ago IN the household
or modern Egyptian and sent 10 "a
dealer in Paris. Here il was painted
and placed in the ground for Il short
interval: then the paint was removed
by the use Of caustiC potash. leaving
just few traces OF color in the Veins
OF the wood. With a few dashes Of
gold IN The hollow places. the effect
IL such that YOU are convinced that II
is centuries old.
sometimes piece OF wooden rurni-
tnrc, just turned out by Il nearby fac
tory. is beaten with a thong ana then
buried in the ground. over which acid
- poured daily When dug up il is
indeed sorry looking object which
the dealer gives clumsy coat %. re-
pairs. The art collector, ON pcyc.lviug
II. Immediately thinks. Ny. what a
splendid piece Of antique furniture
ruined ~ modern repairs" Ten 10
on. he buys IL from the dealer to
one. he buys II from the dealer. TO
whom he carefully points ont til. adj
visibility OF leaving the next relic in
the condition In which ii is found.
Many Articles Employed.
Many other artiiiccS al" used to give
- % - -, - iat az 10 oct
died by washing II in salt and am
muuia and also by hNdrochloric and
sulphuric acids. With a little applica
ton Of lamphlack o. turpentiilc. 1t
looks aged enough 10 pleas" tho most
cXactinS collector. In tho case of
metal objects. the forfer applies q
coat Of black vnrnish and then polishcs
vigorously until the black part is Wis
ihlc only in the hollows. Gold and
silver assume AN ancient appearance by
the use Of bisulphide OF carbon. and
garlic viii impart just the right
amount Of patina TO tin.
The crcdulity of the art collector il
ineXhaus,iblc. Aware that there are
only "A few Rcmbrandts, held ss price
less by the owners. he will allow the
art dealer to persuade him that one
has been permitted to escape and is
now hidden In an old house in Paris.
which ne can secure FOR the small sum
of $4,000. SO easy has this par
forgcr has even presumed TO trade
upon the names Of living artists. One
writer states that Corot. iicnncr. IN
mcss. Wyamt and Homer Martin were
all successfully initiated and forged
in their lifetime. and that r. Sidney
Cooper found 2'5 spurious copies out
Of $50 works supposed TO be his.
The art forGcr, of necessity. must
be we'll educated in many lines. Iie
| must understand chemistry. he must
| bc well verScd in history, and he must
| hc an astutc business man. The study
| of human nature. OF acids with which
| to treat different articles, the kind OF
! - hat Mark Anthony wore and the col
| ors used in various periods must all
| he within his ken. Some art forEcrics
! have been so remarkable az to deceive
| even the best experts OF Europe.
Even Louvre Deceived.
For example, acting on tho advice OF
! q committee OF infalliblc art connoiS-
| scurs, the Louvre purchased for $4,000
| what was alleged to hc the crown OF
| the Scythian King Saitapharncs, pre-
| scented to him by tho Greeks OF Olbia
in 200 4. c. OF exquisite workman
| shin aud intricate design, the Louvre
! was Just CONTEMPLATING Itself upon
! its good fortune in obtaining this
| treasure when a French jcwclcr came
| forward with tho startling rcvcla tior
| that he had seen the crown made by
| g. Russian named Rouchomowski After
much heated discussion among the art
authorities. IL French editor went afte,
! EouchomowSki and brought him &c
| Paris. There he was locked up and
| told TO duplicate the crown, which he
| did with such apparent case that there
| was no longer any room FOR doubt.
| Giovanni Rastianini, Il sculptor OF
| tho nineteenth century, turned out
| cunning forgcrics that deceived thS
| leading art institutions of Europe. His