Antique Collection

People are catching on to collecting. This is not surprising when even something collected new a month ago is already worth more in the shops today. Here are just a few of the objets de virtu which are worth forking out a couple of fivers for, which will one day attract brisk bidding at Sothebys.

For most normal people a good collection of money seems to satisfy their acquisitive instincts. However, I have noticed that more and more denizens of the International Set are becoming cognoscenti and aficionados of the Ancient Object. ‘A thing of beauty is a Joy for Ever’ as the poet neatly put it (especially as [...]

Knives, forks and spoons are usually termed “flatware” by silver collectors. Depending on your budget there are many ways of collecting flatware. Complete services, which usually comprise settings for 12, may seem prohibitively expensive, but odd numbers of spoons and forks in the most common patterns, such as Old English, Fiddle,

Even though we no longer depend on candlelight for illumination, nothing graces a dining table more elegantly than a pair of silver candlesticks. Most candlesticks and candelabra were originally made in pairs or larger sets. Expect to pay more than double for a pair of candlesticks than for two single ones – even if they’re [...]

If you want to collect on a modest budget, the vast array of small novel objects made from silver can provide an ideal collecting area.

Not all “bracket” clocks stood on wall brackets. Clocks of this type were also used for tables and mantelpieces. Nowadays the term is used to describe all clocks with short pendulums and spring-driven mechanisms. These clocks are also sometimes called “mantel clocks” or “table clocks“.

Here we have a situation of supply and demand which can be exploited by the more enterprising faker. Let us first look at the glassware bearing the V.O.C. mark, as stated earlier a pair of wine glasses would fetch a great deal of money. (If a genuine pair were unearthed today it would amount to [...]

A well known and highly respected gentleman of the district has passed away quietly in his sleep. The grieving widow now approaches the auctioneer, informs him of the fact and asks him to sell the contents of her home, as she is now moving to a small flat. After much commiseration he gets down to [...]

Now comes the ‘piece de resistance’! A crudely made shelf unit is fitted on top of the transformed dresser complete with rounded end sections and stinkwood pegs. The whole contrivance is then stained in a light overall colour and finished with one of the many ‘antique sealants’ which are available today, and another ‘old Cape [...]

When discussing antique fakes the buyer is frequently curious and will often enquire as to the extent of antique faking in this country. The answer may be surprising. Obviously no exact figures can be given, only estimates. After all, the shady side of this business is very surreptitious.