Many people have a fondness for timepieces of all varieties, but collectible mantel clocks hold a special place in many collectors’ hearts Perhaps because mantel clocks were placed on mantels above fireplaces years ago, in the eras before electricity and digital clocks with their beeping and flashing. Something about a key wound clock that keeps time manually has a a certain charm. And fireplaces give the sense of coziness and warmth and bring to mind easy hours in front of a fire.

Around the year 1500, Peter Henlein invented a spring operated clock in Nuremburg, Germany. Now every household could have an accurate timepiece, with the first mantel clocks created in France in the middle of the 18th century. The mantel clock itself became very popular right away in France, because most large French manors had more than one fireplace, and the mantle was simply a handy place to place a clock, as the set up of most rooms focused inhabitants attention on the fireplace area, and it was a common place to gather for warmth. Collectible mantel clocks following this ear usually came with a pair of ornaments designed to go on each side of the clock that matched its deign in some way, until this went out of vogue in the 20th century.

While collectible mantel clocks are generally placed on a mantle, they also look nice on end tables, study desks, counter tops and any surface that needs an accessory. Some popular styles of mantel clocks basically define their shapes rather than their construction. Tambour style clocks are drum shaped with a wide base, arch style clothes are arched at the top with a narrow base, carriage and bracketed clocks are different only in that the carriage cocks generally have a handle on top. Nautical mantel clocks bear nautical designs and the designs on the face give it a nautical appearance.

Another type of collectible mantel clocks that are very popular are anniversary clocks. Typically glass and dome-shaped, the clock can run for one year without winding or changing the battery. Collectible mantel clocks can either be battery-operated or key wound. Many who prefer mantel clocks to other types of clocks prefer the key wound variety because it brings to mind an earlier more simple time. Key wound clocks typically have 3 holes in the dial which makes them easy to distinguish from quartz battery operated clocks.

Collectible mantel clocks can add charm to your room and are available in a variety of shapes, styles and finishes. You can find these clocks in a variety of places, though the more unique collectible and antique mantel clocks can probably be found in stores that specialize in clocks, or on eBay where you can look at browse from sellers all over the world. Be sure to establish that the clock is in good working order before you buy it, and find the age of the clock if you can to determine whether or not it might be an antique.

Originally posted 2008-11-04 05:00:28. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Purchasing Antique Rings for an Engagement If you are looking for the perfect engagement ring, you just may want to consider antique rings and the sentimental value that can be associated with them. Antique rings are capable of being purchased through reputable dealers in second hand jewelry stores. You may even be able to find antique......
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Years ago, before the introduction of plastics and resins, even animals’ indoor homes like antique bird cages were considered beautiful pieces of furniture. Of course, some were plain and utilitarian, but many more were actually created in the popular furniture styles of the times. Bird cages were designed to fit into the home’s aesthetic and enhance a room rather than stick out because they were different, or worse, be an eyesore.

Antique bird cages can be quite valuable, depending on the material, the style and the age. An important thing to remember about these cages is that years ago, materials were used that we know aren’t exactly healthy for pets today. Some cages may contain lead-based materials or paint that isn’t healthy for anyone, let alone the occupant of the cage. If you’re looking for a cage that’s not just for decoration, but will be home for your feathered friend, choose a modern cage. You can find bird cages today in many different styles and designs. Just look beyond your local pet shop or pet superstore to the more niche stores and you can find bird cages just as ornate as those from 100 years ago.

If you’re looking at antique bird cages as purely decorative and collectible items, then you can worry much less about the materials and concentrate on the design, instead. You can pay hundreds of dollars for some cages, so it pays to know what you’re looking for and how much you’re willing to spend before you start.

You can be eclectic and collect several different antique bird cages, representing many different styles and cultures, or you can focus on a particular country of origin, or furniture style. You might want to buy only those bird cages that look Georgian or Victorian, with ornate designs and scrolls popular in the furniture of the time. Or you might want only very exotic Tunisian-style bird cages with their recognizable shape and curvy wire design. Wooden bird cages that look like large mansions, or small ones with ornate wire and beadwork—it’s your choice, and you have lots of variety to choose from, especially if you search through online auctions.

Unfortunately, many auctions will say little other than “old bird cage” or “wooden bird cage, looks antique.” If antique bird cages don’t bear a manufacturer’s name, artist’s name or date, it can be difficult to tell how old they are, what materials were used, and even where they came from. Some styles are pretty obvious, as with most Asian bird cages, but other times it can be very difficult to tell a reproduction bird cage from an actual antique. And sometimes the country of origin is just a best guess depending on the style and materials.

Antique bird cages can be stunning pieces of art as well as interesting conversation pieces. In the end, you’ll want to purchase them for their beauty and how much they interest you, rather than their age or whether they’re made of wood or bronze.

Originally posted 2008-12-02 05:00:40. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Gothic Art Antiques -> Decorative-Arts Gothic art refers to any art, whether it’s a painting, a sculpture, or some other medium, created from about the mid-12th century through the end of the 14th century. Art was still created over the next century that’s often called International Gothic, but this type of art......
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Gothic art refers to any art, whether it’s a painting, a sculpture, or some other medium, created from about the mid-12th century through the end of the 14th century. Art was still created over the next century that’s often called International Gothic, but this type of art was more secular and generally had a more natural style than the Gothic art produced during the preceding 200 hundred years. It’s those 200 years that are considered the span of the Gothic art movement. The last century of International Gothic eventually turned into the Renaissance period.

Gothic architecture that was often used in cathedrals was created during the same 200-year period as the art. France was the birthplace of Gothic art, with the change springing from changes in the Romanesque style of art. Sculptures, paintings, fresco and stained glass were some of the most popular mediums.

Gothic art began as sculptures of Christian icons, and then artwork telling Christian stories. Eventually the art style became popular in the secular world, with it being used to tell non-religious stories, as well. It was during the Gothic period that often artists were required to belong to some sort of artists’ trade guild. Recordkeeping for artists and their work was more detailed than ever before. More Gothic artists are known than from any of the previous eras. It was also during the Gothic period that some artist began regularly signing their names to their work.

Gothic sculpture became a huge part of the movement, and popularized the idea of sculptures of Saints and other figures in cathedrals and abbeys. The first building considered to have been created in the Gothic style is the abbey at St. Denis, built in the early 12th century. Other buildings followed, with the idea becoming popular in Germany and throughout the rest of Europe.

Paintings done in that style didn’t really start to appear for half a century after the sculptures became popular. And like with many era changes, there’s no one moment when it’s clear that the Romanesque style had been replaced with Gothic art—the change is gradual, with more animated expressions and body poses, and slightly more realistic ratios as far as size. Panel paintings and illuminated manuscripts represent a huge amount of Gothic paintings. Oil paintings on stretched canvas weren’t really popular until the Renaissance period that would follow.

For this reason, finding authentic Gothic art from the original period is very difficult, and very expensive. Most surviving art is in the form of illustrations and sculptures. For the avid collector, a dealer is probably the best way to find pieces, though some sellers on eBay tend to specialize and may be helpful.

Reproductions and a variety of types of art in that style have been created since the end of the movement, of course, and almost any kind of dark, fantasy or Celtic art today is often called Gothic. Some vintage Gothic art done in an authentic style created just 100 years ago can be quite valuable.

Originally posted 2008-12-27 14:00:48. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Antiquess -> Antiquities -> Neolithic, Paleolithic

Although the first thing that springs to mind in many people when the term French antiques is mentioned is Louis XVI furniture, there are numerous antiquities from this region that are incredibly valuable. France was the site of some of the first Paleolithic peoples and they left behind many different antiquities and interesting artifacts that are highly collectible.

The location of France made it the prime place for these early peoples to live. It was close to water, the terrain was not terribly difficult to cross and the area was quite lush. During this time period many monoliths were constructed, but few know their exact origins. This is a time of mystery for many people, but scientists can use French antiques from this time period to learn more about these people.

Whether it’s a piece of pottery, a drawing on a cliff side or the leavings of an entire village, French antiques from this time period open up the doors and let in light on this unique time in history. Without these antiquities, much of what we now know about the ancient world would have never been discovered. Although other French antiques are certainly valuable, beautiful and interesting, for many it is the antiquities that tell the whole story.

Many of these priceless French antiques are stored at the Louvre, or in other museums across the world. However, there are many private collectors that are quietly building up massive collections of these priceless items. If you are interested in history, or you are just looking for a unique collectible that is unlike any other, you may want to think about investing in one of these antiquities.

French antiques from this time period are not easy to find however, and it may take some time to build up your collection. The best place to start is by looking at high end auction houses to see if they are going to include any of these items in an upcoming auction. These are the places that the high end collectors will go when they need to sell off an item, or reduce the size of their collection.

In many cases, shopping at one of these auctions will give you access to world class French antiques that cannot be purchased anywhere else. The next time you see one of these auctions advertised, take the time to look through the catalog. You never know what incredible finds you may come across.

There is always controversy over private collectors having access to French antiques from this time period, but without their efforts, many of these items would have been lost to natural disasters or wars. No matter what side of the issue you belong on, everyone can agree that there is a market for antiquities from this time period. You can decide to loan yours out to a museum after finding it, or keep it for yourself, but you will get the rare change to own a real piece of ancient history and hold it right in your hand.

Photo Credits: Le Petit Poulailler

Originally posted 2008-09-22 05:00:53. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Though its peak popularity was during the late 19th century in America, Victorian furniture still holds quite an appeal for many people today. This style of furniture is distinguishable by the time period in which it was created and the methods that were used. The name is given to furniture made during Queen Victoria’s reign from 1836 to 1901, though that time period actually gave way to different styles of furniture that all fell under the umbrella of “Victorian.”

Early Victorian furniture pieces were done in the Rococo style, which copied this period in France. This style is recognizable by the many intricate carvings in the wood. Extensive scrollwork, flowers and animals decorated the furniture—sometimes every inch of it. Scroll feet were very popular in these Rococo revival pieces, as were cabriole legs, which were legs shaped almost like an ‘S.’ Rococo pieces were ornate in a way not commonly seen in American furniture, but these pieces became very popular in American homes.

The newly created mechanical tools that allowed these ornate scrolls and carvings were responsible for much of the intricacy of early Victorian furniture, as was craftsmen’s new ability to used laminated wood. During lamination, one-inch thick stripes of rosewood were glued together to make wood that was 6 to 18 layers thick. Solid wood wasn’t the best medium for detailed engravings and carvings, but the lamination procedure lent itself well to the rococo style.

This Victorian furniture also marked the first time furniture was sold in America in sets, with matching pieces, and the first time furniture was mass produced. Though rococo style is probably the most recognizable style of furniture from this era, gothic style was popular too, with its more medieval look. Most gothic revival Victorian pieces were produced from about 1840 to 1865. Renaissance revival style reigned from about 1860 to 1875, with highly polished and parquet patterned furniture, often featuring brass findings and ornaments to give it a distinctive style.

Victorian furniture was popular in every room of the home, from the bedroom to the dining room, and still enjoys popularity today with antique lovers and interior decorators. Antique pieces can range in price from the reasonable to the expensive, depending on the rarity of the style and the condition of the furniture. If you find an antique piece for sale, be sure to ask whether or not is has been refinished or reupholstered as you’ll want to purchase furniture as close to its original condition as possible to make a good investment.

If it’s the beauty of Victorian furniture you’re after more than the value, then these things matter less. You might even want to look into reproductions. Either way, be sure that the joints are sturdy and the item is in overall decent condition. A refinished and reupholstered piece of this furniture can look gorgeous in your home, so if you don’t mind doing that yourself or having it done, a piece in less than perfect condition might be a great purchase for you.

Originally posted 2008-12-06 14:00:32. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Dealers -> Furniture -> Desks

When you’re shopping for antique desks, a secretary desk is just one of the many different styles of furniture you’ll find. There are standard desks, of course, elaborate (and now amazingly expensive) Wooten desks, old rolltop desks and variations on all of those. How do you tell the difference between these types of desks and secretary desks?

A secretary desk is distinctive from all these, even though it does have similarities to them all, because of the way the writing area is disguised when the desk is not in use. When the area is covered and the desk is closed, it’s closed off by a piece of flat wood that usually sit an angle when it’s closed. Sometimes this angle is as much as 45 degrees. The rolltop desk has the cover that actually rolls up into the desk, and the Wooten desk very rarely has a flat front, the front is usually curved, carved and very elaborate.

The size of a secretary desk can vary a great deal. The more modern reproductions or even less antique secretary desks tend to be smaller than the ones a hundred years old or more. Many of these desk are quite tall and very heavy. Newer ones might even be built in such a way that they can easily be taken apart, but antique desks were built solidly as a single piece of furniture meant to stay together for hundreds of years.

The hinged panel that hides the open area within the desk actually creates the actual writing surface. There are typically wide drawers on a secretary desk, and sometimes small drawers and small cubbies on the piece of furniture as well, to allow storage for a variety of different items. Older secretary desks might have a tall bookcase above the writing area or even a glassed-in bookcase or set of shelves. The top of these desks often look more like a china cabinet or a curio cabinet than anything belonging on a desk, and when the desk area is closed, it does often look like nothing more than a piece of display furniture.

Unlike a rolltop desk or other type of desk where the panel slides into the desk, everything must be removed from the writing area in order to close the desk, which makes the needs for the drawers and cubbies apparent. While a Wooten desk is similar to a secretary desk, a secretary desk has a more plain appearance. It will look more like a nice curio cabinet, china cabinet or even armoire or dresser on top, with drawers and the hidden work surface below.

Wooten desks are similar to these desks but they simply have a more fancy appearance—and typically sell for thousands of dollars. Secretary desks are the most prevalent type of antique desk available today, a type of desk once so popular it was commonly referred to as simply “a secretary.” You can find an antique secretary desk in antique shops, at flea markets and in online auctions like eBay.

Originally posted 2008-11-15 05:00:05. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Antiques -> Furniture -> Tables, Stands

If you’re looking for antique furniture like an antique school table or desk, one great place to find these items is estate auctions.  While you can find antique furniture in online auctions like eBay, you need to be very savvy about the purchases you make–just because something looks antique doesn’t mean it is. There are entire stores where you can purchase antique reproductions, after all, and own something brand new that looks like it was crafted 100 years ago.  So those auctions that claim to be for antique furniture and antique school desks should be able to offer more than just the claim of “antique” to prove that the item really is an authentic antique.

Your reasons for wanting to find an antique school table have much to do with how you should go about purchasing one.  If it’s merely the look you’re after, a certain style or type of manufacture, then you might decide to buy a reproduction.  Reproduction antiques are less expensive and have an appearance very similar to the originals they’re modeled after.  If it’s a sentimental quest because you remember how something looked or felt, or because maybe a grandparent or older relative had one that has become lost and you’d like to have that same piece, consider purchasing a reproduction.

But if you’re set on a real antique school table, then you’re going to need to do some homework.  You can probably walk into most antique stores today and find something to suit you, but if you’d rather pay less than the antique store price and enjoy the hunt for a piece that speaks to you personally rather than just purchasing what happens to be available in the store, then you need to shop around for some time before purchasing so that you can do a price check.

Visit many antique stores to get a feel of the average cost of an antique school table.  While some stores might not have one, you’re sure to find at least a few.  And even if they’re not exactly the item you’re looking for they should be similar in price to the one you’re hoping to find.  This will help you know how much cost you’ll probably look at when you find the piece you want.

It will also help you become more familiar with the look of an authentic antique school table.  Sometimes during estate auctions or even in online auctions, you’ll see piece for sale that looks antique but you’re not sure, and it seems the seller really doesn’t know that much background about the piece.  That doesn’t necessarily mean the seller or auctioneer is trying to cheat you by passing off something too new as an antique.  Often, the history of antique pieces, especially antique furniture, becomes muddied through the years. 

Become familiar with the look, and you might spot an antique school table when no one else recognizes the treasure. Beware of refinished furniture unless the purchase is purely sentimental. Refinishing often completely destroys the antique value of the item.

Photo Credits: gabyu

Originally posted 2008-10-21 14:00:34. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Secretary Desk Dealers -> Furniture -> Desks When you're shopping for antique desks, a secretary desk is just one of the many different styles of furniture you'll find. There are standard desks, of course, elaborate (and now amazingly expensive) Wooten desks, old rolltop desks and variations on all of those. How......
• Antique Mirrors Antiques -> Decorative Arts -> Mirrors Antique mirrors are a highly collectible item, with many of the frames boasting decorative carving and detail much like elaborate, wooden picture frames of old. A mirror itself is little more than glass covering a reflective surface and not very impressive—many of us carry......
• Antique Chairs Antiques -> Furniture -> Chairs In the market for a collectible that will not only be useful but also beautify your home? Antique chairs are the perfect solution. These are a very popular type of collectible and no matter what type of furniture you’re interested in, chances are you’ll be......
• Antique Goblet Antiques -> Decorative Arts -> Stemware How do you tell an antique goblet from an antique cup or mug? Goblets are stemware, with the earliest goblets made from earthenware and then expanding to other stronger materials as the years passed. The use of goblets pre-dates the Roman Empire, though the......
• Where and How to Buy Antique Furniture Unless you are shopping around in a museum, it may be difficult to buy antique furniture dated before the 16th century. Collectors are generally only able to obtain pieces of furniture from the 1485 to 1600 Tudor Period and onwards, and even the furniture selection from this period is relatively......

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Greek sculptures are amazing works of art, almost all of which reside in museums or private collections. A collector would do well to find painstaking reproductions of famous sculptures, or art depicting them. The history of these art pieces is interesting, though, whether you’d like to own a reproduction, a new piece created in the Greek style, or whether you’re simply interested in developing a new appreciation for the sculptures of the masters.

The earliest of the Greek sculptures we know of today dates back to 900 BC, and unlike the white marble structures that most recognize, it was made from terra cotta. The sculpture, which was unearthed from two separate graves where pieces had been buried, is known as the Lefkandi Centaur, because it’s believed that it represents Chiron the centaur from mythology. This also makes it the first time Greek myth appeared in an art form, if the experts’ guesses are correct about what the sculpture represents.

The Geometrical period, which ranged from about 900 to 700 BC, saw most Greek sculptures done in either terra cotta, ivory or bronze. The bronze sculptures were usually left as offerings to the gods. Many sculptures were of horses or men, but a variety of animals were also represented.

The Daedalic period saw Eastern influence in the depiction of the flowing hair and wigs and very triangular jaws on figures. Then the Archaic period of Greek art and sculptures gave way for more rigid figures and more Egyptian influence, in art that usually depicted myths, or sometimes even just daily life. And the Classical period saw Greek sculptures become more realistic and lifelike. It was this period that produced some of the most amazing and beautiful sculptures in the world, and likely the ones that you can look at and instantly recognize as Greek. The first sculptors whose names are widely known today came from this period in Greek history.

It’s also interesting to note that when you see Greek sculptures, they’re typically all white. But archaeologists have discovered that most such sculptures were actually originally painted a variety of colors. By using very detailed testing, some have even been able to reproduce the paint and colorings used on Classical statues. The sculptures are white now merely because the paint has dried with age and fallen away, some experts say.

Greek sculptures are timelessly beautiful, and any home can benefit from this type of artwork. If you’re looking for a piece to use on a table as a centerpiece, or a frieze to adorn a wall, then choosing a sculpture that speaks to you or fits the atmosphere you want to convey is the most important thing.

If you want to collect Greek statuary to display as a group for its own sake, do some research into the sculptors and pieces that are most well-known. Online auctions like eBay are a great place to look for Greek art in general, as well as reproduction Greek sculptures or sculptures done in one of the different Greek styles.

Originally posted 2008-12-30 05:00:38. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Secretary Desk Dealers -> Furniture -> Desks When you're shopping for antique desks, a secretary desk is just one of the many different styles of furniture you'll find. There are standard desks, of course, elaborate (and now amazingly expensive) Wooten desks, old rolltop desks and variations on all of those. How......
• Gothic Art Antiques -> Decorative-Arts Gothic art refers to any art, whether it’s a painting, a sculpture, or some other medium, created from about the mid-12th century through the end of the 14th century. Art was still created over the next century that’s often called International Gothic, but this type of art......
• Antique Mirrors Antiques -> Decorative Arts -> Mirrors Antique mirrors are a highly collectible item, with many of the frames boasting decorative carving and detail much like elaborate, wooden picture frames of old. A mirror itself is little more than glass covering a reflective surface and not very impressive—many of us carry......
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• Antique Bird Cages Dealers -> Antiques -> Decorative-Arts Years ago, before the introduction of plastics and resins, even animals’ indoor homes like antique bird cages were considered beautiful pieces of furniture. Of course, some were plain and utilitarian, but many more were actually created in the popular furniture styles of the times. Bird......

• Roman Coins Coins and Paper Money -> Coins: Ancient -> Roman: Republic When it comes to collecting coins or paper money, many prefer to go straight to roman coins. These are highly historic collectibles that may actually be worth a good deal of money and many are quite rare. When you consider......
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Antiques -> Decorative Arts -> Ceramics, Porcelain

Ceramic piggy banks have an interesting history. Why pigs, exactly, and not bank shapes or a tiny safe? Apparently, we use pigs because of language, and a simple mistake. The word “pygg” was an old English word for an orange clay commonly used to make jars, pots, dishes, and almost anything we use ceramic for today. Extra coins in a household were commonly dropped into a jar made from pygg. Language evolved over the next few hundreds years, and in the early 19th century when some English potters were asked to make pygg banks, they made banks shaped like pigs. They were a hit with customers, and the piggy bank was born—or so the most widely believed explanation says.

One other version of the origin of the ceramic piggy bank claims that a young boy in the early 20th century wanted to raise money to help lepers. He sold his pet pig and donated the money from the sale to help leprosy victims. His generosity caused people to call it the Pig Bank Movement, thus staring the name piggy bank. A church in Kansas bears a plaque commemorating the boy and his generosity, and the piggy bank in general.

Who hasn’t had a piggy bank at some point in his or her life? Ceramic piggy banks are popular items today, and are often given to children at birth or as a first birthday gift, as an heirloom and to foster the good habit of saving money for a rainy day. Silver-plated banks are often engraved with the child’s name and date of birth or some other milestone date when given as gifts. And often tradition has the gift-giver putting the first coin into the bank before giving it as a seed for future wealth.

The value of collectible ceramic piggy banks hinges on a number of things like the age, the condition, and the significance of the design or the bank itself (did it belong so someone noteworthy, or was it created by someone famous, for instance.) What kind of piggy bank you purchases depends on whether or not you’re interested in it as a collectible, or if it’s simply because you love the design.

Vintage ceramic piggy banks can be called vintage simply because they’re not in a currently popular style. Be sure it’s not just labeled as vintage, but collectible as well, if you’re looking for an investment piece to add value to your collection. The uniqueness of the bank, and the quality and condition all figure into the price and the value.

Very old ceramic piggy banks will often have cracks, chips or crackling. If you can find a very old bank intact, you’ve probably found a nice collector piece. Just be sure to ask the seller, whether online or in person, if repairs have been made, if any chips have been glued, or if any type of re-glazing has been done to the bank. You’ll want one as close to its original condition as possible.

Photo Credits: 23dingenvoormusea

Originally posted 2008-10-29 14:00:07. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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For anyone who enjoys Asian art, an antique silk screen can make a gorgeous addition to your home. Paintings and even silkscreened prints with an Asian theme can give a room a distinct atmosphere, but there’s nothing quite like a paneled screen that can be hung on the wall like artwork or placed on the floor. And while a new silk screen might offer a wider variety of colors and designs than antique ones probably do, new ones just don’t bring with them that ancient feel and authenticity.

A reproduction of an antique Chinese silk screen will probably cost anywhere from $100 to $300 today. Some reproductions are hand-painted in much the style one would have been done hundreds of years ago, so if you’re looking for a screen as close to an antique original as possible, these are your best option for finding one affordably.

A true antique silk screen could cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars and on up, but most likely you’ll find true antique screens priced well into the thousands, with some very exquisite pieces easy reaching five figures. Much depends on how the screen is made, its age, its condition and whether or not it has the original fasteners and findings.

An antique silk screen that’s handpainted with four panels and a very small, unobtrusive frame is the most common type you’ll probably find. In many, the entire painting was done as one solid piece of art across all four panels, and there’s no real border to speak of. In some screens, each panel has its own image, and most of these have some sort of frame or border around each panel. Some have the border around each panel, with each panel as part of the large painting, as well.

The least expensive type of screen will most likely be the kind with no border around the individual panels and one large artwork covering the whole thing. The price is determined by the age of the screen and its condition. Sometimes a silk screen isn’t painted, but embroidered instead, or finished with a combination of the two. Often these will have the borders around each panel. Ask what type of wood makes up the frame—zitan wood is especially valuable, as it’s so rarely used for things today. It’s an extremely dense wood that sinks in water, and was once a popular type of wood in China. A wooden-framed screen could be rather plain with only straight borders and legs, but some are intricately carved, adding greatly to the value.

When you’re looking a silk screen, either in person or on eBay, ask if the fastenings are original or if they’ve been replaced. Be sure and ask about any damage, as well, because pictures don’t always reveal small details. Any antique screen will likely grow in value at it ages, so they’re all good investments. The ultimate test in whether you should purchase an antique silk screen, though, is whether or not you love the artwork.

Originally posted 2008-12-07 05:00:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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