Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-15
NOW MY IDEA IS THIS!
Daily Tails Wuh Thinking Phadelphians Subjects The,
Knolv Best
KnO1U Best

fact that former Consul in Florence, Italy,
told me that before the war there were no
fewer than 10000 men in that city alone
engaged in the manufacture of antiques,
some of which were sold as originals and
others disposed of as copies. Some of the
work was fine and some of it was obviously
spurious.
Value of Real Antiques
"'rhc real value of antiques lies in that
they show to the last detail and in the
highest degree possible tho craftsmanship
and the thought of the time in which they
were produced. And both thought and
craftsmanship were immensely superior to
that with which the world was afflicted
during the Victorian age and from which
period of commprcalism and banality we are
Just now emerging.
''Ihe world of art cannot afford to dis
regard the manifold lessons which the fine,
antiques teach. We must stimulate our
powers of observation if we want to learn
their Secrets--Nnd they are secrets which
would have been of immense value to the
world i'll any age.
One must constantly guard against the
foolish notion which we now hear so fire.
Quently expressed that originality is the
main thing and lnu., be achieved at any
cost The trucst originality, in all lines of
art. al least, has always been eDgendered
by thorough knowledge of precedent and
what has been done by the previous genera
originality without this knowledge usually
produce nothing but mOnStrOSities
That artist-and | am speaking now of
art in its broad sense embracing all thc
1ormS-who would attain to the best and
highest originality must know precedent and
know IL thoroughly, and deviate from il only
when there is an obvious reason for SO doing
liereln lies the value of the antique He
should not inGulge in change for changes
sax" alone: he should be free TO depart from
precedent when there is valid reason for
| IT. otherwise he will do well TO follow if
This course will lead to the best originally
Interest in Antiques Growing
The interest in antiques has grown trp.
| mcndously in the last few years, and il has
Droadenrd as wei 1t Is not now restricted
| TO furniture as it once was bur Is mucL
| more catholic in scope. The interest which
| IN TINS country began with the study Of
| pieces of furniture of Colonial America has
DroadenGd until now it takes in the furni.
| ,urG OF England OF all periods. the furniture
| "l Italy, OF Spain and of France as we'll
The furniture of France was for n lonr
Time under more or less of a cloud. be-
| cause there was AN impression thot all
| rTehch furniture was mass OF silver and
gli' ana the real grace Of the best French
| furniture was entirely ignored. But nronIc
| Know better now, and with this interest bns
come corresponding one in all things
| Ohlncsc, japanese and of other nations
This in turn has led to n revival of
| interest in all things Of the carly American
| pcrIod--SllVrr, glass, pewter. textiles nnJ
| even wall paper terrible as most of if was
| There has also been rccrudesccnrc Of in
| t"rrSt IN the old hand worked rovcrlcts IN
| "lhrr early products of the American looms
ana even in the early vegetable dyes
Value Of Research
| ''fhc real value of all this lies in the fart
| Nhai the interest is becoming more intrIIi.
| gent as well as more widespread. prrs1ns
! are now taking pains to inform thrmecly",
| to an extent that they wouId not hDvo
| dreamed OF ten years ago. There is n prrot
| increase OF human as well as archaic inter.
| est in all those things
! AS this interest increases the colIprtor
| mas, to his SORROW, that the cost of articles
| has proportiOnatcIy increased. This Lns
| created fictitious value on many of Tho
smaller objects, but in the main tie values
| are not excessive.
''rhe study of antiques is not fad for
| 1t has II great practical value As uronIn
become Interested it broadcns their yi.inu
ana they take up additional lines Of 70.
| search. The study Of one subject lends tn
| anoth~' either along kindred or difrrrcnt
| branches and thus adds to the resprrt f".
history, OF which there Is too little in tLia
| country: The proper study of antiurns.
especially our own, adds to the natiHn,I
| self respect"