Antiques - What You Need to Know to Get Started
By Martin
Swinton
Editor's Summary: The definition of a Canadian antique
varies from that of a Europen or American antique and this article
will explain the difference. If you are new of the world of antiques
you will find the terms in included in this article to be helpful
to you when you are ready to purchase an antique.
- Do you think that provenance is a region in France?
- Do you think that patina is an antipasto?
- Do you ever wonder what the difference is between original finish
and original condition?
If so, then please read on. The subject of antiques can be confusing;
it has its own language. In this month’s column, I’ll de-mystify
some terms commonly used in the business, so that you’ll be appropriately
armed for your next antique adventure.
Antique
Basically, an antique is something old that has value because of
esthetic or historical reasons. Generally, if a piece is more than
100 years old, it is considered an antique. Although, I have recently
heard people use the 50-year mark for Canadian pieces; the rationale
being that Canada is a young country relative to places such as
Europe and Asia. However, I’m old fashioned and apply the 100-year
definition to Canadian pieces.
Original Finish
You’ll often hear an antique dealer mention, in reverential tones,
that an item has its original finish. This often precedes the disclosure
of a price that exceeds your credit card limit. The term original
finish means just that — a piece has the same finish today that
it had when it was first made. It’s the original protective coating
— the varnish, wax and/or polish that was applied to protect the
wood when the piece was produced.
Why does original finish matter?
Original finish is significant because it is one of the factors
used to assess the value of a piece. If you have two end tables
— one with its original finish and the other without — the one with
the original finish is more valuable. As soon as a piece has been
stripped of its original finish, it has lost part of its integrity
and is, therefore, less valuable.
Original Condition
Just as an original finish adds to the value of a piece, original
condition also adds to its value. This refers to the overall state
of the piece. Does the piece have the same features that it did
when it was produced? Does it still have the original hardware,
shelving or drawers?
If the hinges have been removed, new shelving added or the drawer
pulls have been replaced, it’s no longer in original condition.
As soon as something has been removed or added to a piece, it is
less valuable.
Patina
Patina develops over many years. It results from a build up of polish,
dirt, grease, wear, and chemical changes. Patina gives a piece its
character — its beauty. The small nicks on the corners and gentle
wear marks on the surface of a table indicate that a piece has lived
a long and useful life. New wood furniture does not have patina
because it can only develop over time.
Occasionally, a client will look at piece that just glows with
a beautiful patina. He or she’ll say, "I like it but it has a little
scratch on the top. Can you fix it?" I’m often inclined to say to
them, "You’d have a few scratches on you if you were 150 years old!"
So, next time you are shopping, remember that wear is natural with
antiques.
Provenance
The word refers to the documented history of a piece. It’s the who,
what, when and where of it. It’s what separates the very good from
the truly exceptional.
Provenance is a great word to throw around at a cocktail party.
It packs a greater punch when it’s said in a highly affected tone.
A good use of the word might be, "You just won’t believe the provenance
of my new Louis XIV chair that I just received from France. It’s
the authentic chair that he sat in while Marie Antoinette told the
French peasants to eat cake!"
Yet, true provenance requires painstaking research. Continuing
with the Louis XIV chair example, if you can document through bills
of sale, letters, photographs, or anything else that your chair
is the real one, then you have the provenance. The provenance is
what would send the value of this chair sky high. Louis-style chairs
are not uncommon. However, a bona fide chair linked to the Sun King
is extremely rare. Serious collectors will pay top dollar for items
with a well-documented provenance.
Martin Swinton lives in Toronto, Canada and owns Take-A-Boo Emporium,
a popular local antique shop. He has appeared on a variety of television
programs and teaches courses on antiques. Contact him at www.takeaboo.com
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