When buying a piece of furniture from an antique gallery that is labeled "antique," you want to be sure that it actually is so. Unfortunately, there are many clever ways to create antique replicas, and an untrained eye might not be able to tell them from the real thing. Some dealers are more honest, and will describe their items as "antique style," as opposed to "genuine antiques." If something is significantly less expensive than the items typical value, be cautious. While it might be attempting to assume that the dealer has made a mistake, this is probably not the case. Unfortunately, in some cases, the fake will not be low priced, so you need to take an even more careful look at the item. If you see too many examples of the same object in a single antique gallery, you can most likely assume that they are copies. Forgers are often careful not to make all their copies look the same, so don't assume that any slight variation is a true sign of authenticity. If you are seriously interested in collecting from an antique gallery, many of the trade magazines feature alerts regarding common scams throughout the country. However, you can use some elementary visual skills to determine the real from the impostor. Take a look at all parts of the furniture. Do they appear to be of the same age, or is one part just a bit too modern? Some forgers will add antique shelving to a modern cabinet and sell it as an antique. Look at the shape. Wood will shrink over time, so that a piece that is a perfect circle or a perfect square should raise a few eyebrows. If all of this sounds daunting, don't be discouraged. A careful study of the periods you are interested in will help you develop an eye for authenticity. |
